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Physician Assistant (BS + MS)

Overview

Physician assistants are nationally certified and state-licensed medical professionals who practice medicine under the supervision of a physician. PAs' responsibilities include, but are not limited to: conducting physical exams, diagnosing and treating illnesses, ordering and interpreting laboratory and radiological tests, counseling on preventive health care measures, and assisting in surgery. PAs can write prescriptions in all 50 states, in the majority of the U.S. territories, and in the uniformed services. Within the physician-PA team, physician assistants’ specific duties depend on the setting in which they work, their specialty, and their level of experience.

Accreditation Status

At its September 2021 meeting, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc.(ARC-PA) placed the D’Youville University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by D’Youville University on Accreditation-Probation status until its next review. The next review is currently scheduled to occur in September 2024.

Probation accreditation is a temporary accreditation status initially of not less than two years. However, that period may be extended by the ARC-PA for up to an additional two years if the ARC-PA finds that the program is making substantial progress toward meeting all applicable standards but requires additional time to come into full compliance. Probation accreditation status is granted, at the sole discretion of the ARC-PA when a program holding an accreditation status of Accreditation-Provisional or Accreditation-Continued does not, in the judgment of the ARC-PA, meet the Standards or when the capability of the program to provide an acceptable educational experience for its students is threatened. Once placed on probation, a program that fails to comply with accreditation requirements in a timely manner, as specified by the ARC-PA, may be scheduled for a focused site visit and is subject to having its accreditation withdrawn.

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website here:  Accreditation History

Specific questions regarding the Program and its plans should be directed to the Program Director and/or the appropriate institutional official(s).

Why Choose D'Youville?

  • Studies show that teamwork across clinical specialties improves patient outcomes. D'Youville's unique interdisciplinary education lab offers the opportunity for you to practice teamwork while treating "patients" (played by actors) with a team of healthcare students from 7 other healthcare majors at D'Youville — all under the supervision of a skilled instructor.
  • Students who live in residence halls tend to perform better academically and are more engaged on campus. We require all students in the Physician Assistant program to live on campus for the first two years of pre-professional study.
  • Our close-knit faculty and staff help you complete an extensive clinical training program that includes nine rotations, two of which are elective rotations. Individualized rotations are offered in diverse areas of practice.

Explore D'Youville's PA Program

Current Students      Prospective Students   ARC-PA Accreditation

Physician Assistant Tuition & Fees   NCCPA PANCE Scores / Success Rates

Technical Standards   Interview Process  

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

What you'll gain:

  • Experience from a degree program designed to balance coursework and fieldwork
  • Support from staff and faculty at a better ratio than other major universities
  • D'Youville has developed relationships with a diverse set of clinical fieldwork sites in a wide array of settings, facilities, and treatment protocols

Clinicals

The clinical rotation experience is an integral part of your education in the physician assistant program. During your clinical phase you'll hone your skills hands-on while you determine the areas of medicine you'll pursue after graduation. And because D'Youville's program has developed a wide range of clinical rotation opportunities for our students, you'll be able to work in a diverse range of clinical settings.

Learn More About the Clinical Experience

Master's Research

During the research portion of the physician assistant program, you'll explore a topic and present your findings. This unique component of the program allows students to become better evaluators of information and to familiarize themselves with research techniques and processes. Though all students will benefit from the research component, students who intend to search out careers in research will find the experience leads to opportunities to develop proven success through presenting at national conferences to publishing their work.

Learn More About Master's Research

Admission Requirements

Due to the limited number of available seats, the selection process for admission to the PA department is extremely competitive. We accept applications for admission from first time in college and transfer students. 

Qualified applicants are determined on the basis of several criteria:

  • Verbal and written communication skills
  • Written application materials
  • Results of personal interview, including narrative writing at the time of interview
  • Ability to master the rigorous academic content of the program
  • Emotional maturity and understanding of and motivation to enter the profession

At D'Youville, we are committed to selecting students who are academically well-rounded and committed to meeting the challenges of a high-quality education. If you have been successful in a traditional college preparatory program in high school, you should be well-prepared for the academic challenges at D'Youville. While we don't require you to submit ACT or SAT test scores, if you have taken or intend to take a standardized test we encourage you to submit your scores if you'd like them to be evaluated as part of your application.

First Time in College Student Requirements
  • Submitted application for admission by November 1
  • Official high school transcripts
    • A minimum class average 85 with successful completion of high school graduation requirements and three years of math.
    • Math and science subjects must have a minimum grade of at least 83 (B).
    • One-year high school science courses in biology/living environment and chemistry.
  • Three letters of recommendation.
  • Admissions essay specifically addressing the topic of why the student wants to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant.
  • Compliance with technical standards of the profession as noted in the application.

Not Required (utilized in a holistic review for admission if provided):

  • Standardized SAT/ACT test scores
  • Direct patient interaction hours, either through volunteer activities or employment activities.
Transfer Admission Required Review Criteria

Admission to the Physician Assistant program is offered to a select group of transfer students who meet the following criteria. Applications and all required documents must be submitted and verified by CASPA by October 1st. Please be aware that verification of applications can take up to 4 weeks.

  • Cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher for competitive applicants
  • Official transcripts from ALL previously attended colleges/universities
  • Earned grade of B- or better in all science courses (which can only be transferred in for direct credit to the program if they are less than six years old at the time of matriculation into the department). Specific upper-level science courses need to be taken within 18 months; please see the D'Youville course catalog regarding coursework.
  • Three letters of recommendation.
  • Admissions essay specifically addressing the topic of why the student wants to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant.
  • Compliance with technical standards of the profession as noted in the application. 

Not Required (utilized in a holistic review for admission if provided):

  • Documentation of completed hours of direct patient interaction either through volunteer activities or employment activities.

Advanced Placement

The D’Youville PA program’s curriculum is administered in a sequential fashion with each subsequent semester of coursework building upon the previous one. Consequently, the program does not consider applicants for advanced placement.

Interview and Acceptance

Following the review of application materials, select applicants are invited for an interview by PA department faculty and practicing physician assistants. Not all applicants who meet the minimum application requirements will be invited to campus for an interview. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is shadowing a PA required for admission into the program

No. However, it is very important that applicants understand the role and function of a physician assistant. Therefore, if shadowing would strengthen the applicant's knowledge in this light, it is encouraged. The program does not arrange shadowing experiences for applicants. 

What qualifies as direct patient care experience?

Direct patient care experience can be completed through paid employment or volunteer work. Although not a requirement for application, direct patient care experience can expose applicants to patients, preferably in a clinical setting.

Shadowing: Shadowing a Physician Assistant or other healthcare provider (NP, MD, DO) can count towards direct patient care hours.

Acceptable direct patient care: Transporting patients, helping with meals, and leading activity times.

Excellent direct patient care: Participation in medical procedures, patient assessments, leading/assisting patients in therapy or daily activities such as dressing or eating, taking vitals, obtaining medical histories or previous work history as a paramedic, EMT, nurse, medical scribe, or other healthcare provider.

Examples of activities that do NOT count as direct patient care include:  Any clerical work, making beds, restocking shelves, or any other type of work that does not involve talking with and actively engaging with patients, etc.

Will I improve my standing if I complete my bachelor's degree in 'xyz' major before applying?

Yes and no. While students do not get any "bonus points" for already having a bachelor's degree, a student who has a bachelor's degree in a science discipline such as Chemistry or Biology, has already proven that she/he is capable of handling a difficult science curriculum. A bachelor's degree in a non-science program, however, is given no extra merit over any other candidate. Whether or not a candidate has a bachelor's degree, the committee will be looking for the number of college level science courses a candidate has taken and whether or not she/he did well in these courses.

In short, a bachelor's degree will not necessarily improve a candidate's standing in the application pool, but completing several college level science courses with solid grades, may help improve a candidate's application profile.

Are there certain prerequisites I need to apply and be accepted to the program?

No there are no prerequisite courses, but most of our applicants have demonstrated academic achievement of a 3.0 or higher overall GPA as well as a strong foundation and in their science coursework. Applicants should review the admission criteria tab for further details.

If I submit an application to CAPSA, will it be forwarded to the D'Youville program?

Yes.

Transfer Students

D'Youville is now accepting applications from transfer students to the physician assistant program using the CASPA application. Transfer students to the PA program should not complete the D'Youville College online application.

High School Students (First time Freshman)

High school (first time in college) students should submit their PA application via the D'Youville online application.

If I meet the minimum academic requirements, am I guaranteed an interview and admission into the PA department?

No. As applicants are accepted on a competitive, space available basis, not all applicants satisfying minimum academic requirements will be admitted into the program.

When will I find out if I'm being interviewed?

Completed applications are reviewed from May to October 1. Invitations to the interview will be sent to the email address you used on your application, and a letter will also be sent to your mailing address. Interviews are conducted in the fall.

What can I expect during the interview?

Interviews for qualified applicants are conducted virtually. Evidence of academic potential, knowledge of the PA role in the health care system, maturity, self-assurance, strong intrapersonal and interpersonal communication skills, and motivation will be assessed during the interview process. 

Each student interview will be conducted by a member of the PA Department Faculty. Applicants may be interviewed individually or in groups of up to four, at the discretion of the faculty member. Before the interview, a brief overview of the program as well as the interview day process will be given by the faculty member. Please note, that applicants interviewing in a group are not competing against one another. The interview session is designed to be collegial and informative, rather than competitive.

For more on the interview process please follow this link: Interview Process

When will I get a decision/what can I expect after the interview?

Applicants are notified of the department’s decision following the final scheduled interview day. Candidates will be notified, in writing, of the decision. If admitted, candidates will be notified of their placement in a class year. Should students qualify, acceleration may be possible into an earlier graduation class.

Some candidates may be placed on our waitlist and will remain there until a spot becomes available, up until the start of classes. Once classes start, anyone left on the waitlist will be denied admission for that cycle and will have to reapply to the program during the next admissions cycle.

Does the D'Youville PA Program offer advanced placement?

The D’Youville PA program’s curriculum is administered in a sequential fashion with each subsequent semester of coursework building upon the previous one. Consequently, the program does not consider applicants for advanced placement.

Curriculum

D'Youville's 175-credit combined bachelor's and master's physician assistant program is designed to be completed in only 4.5 years. Because of the robust nature of the roles physician assistants fill in healthcare, you'll learn a diverse set of skills, develop a deep knowledge of healthcare, and train hands-on in medical settings.

Example Course Subjects
  • Chemistry
  • Clinical Medicine
  • Pharmacology
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Applied Research Methods

View the Full Physician Assistant Curriculum

Careers

Physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision and your D’Youville training will prepare you to work with physicians in all clinical disciplines. Nationally, physician assistants are employed in both primary and non-primary care specialties.   

A Physician Assistant's Role

Physician assistants are nationally certified and state-licensed medical professionals who practice medicine under the supervision of a physician. PAs responsibilities include but are not limited to conducting physical exams, diagnosing and treating illnesses, ordering and interpreting laboratory and radiological tests, counseling on preventive health care measures, and assisting in surgery.

PAs can write prescriptions in all 50 states, the majority of the U.S. territories and the uniformed services. Within the physician-PA team, physician assistants’ specific duties depend on the setting in which they work, their specialty, and their level of experience.

The training you receive at D’Youville will prepare you to work with physicians in all clinical disciplines in a wide variety of clinical environments. In fact, because physician assistants are in such high demand, many discover they can take their pick of clinical placements, allowing for substantial career flexibility and mobility.

Post-Professional Degrees

While many of our graduates go into clinical practice, others enter advanced academic programs in order to pursue careers in research and teaching in both private and public organizations. These students typically pursue post-professional degrees such as doctor of science (D.Sc.), doctor of education (EdD), or doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees. If you choose to pursue this path you can rest assured that the rigorous academic, research, and clinical work you’ll complete in our PA program will provide you with a solid foundation for advanced study and practice.

Graduates who want to take their education one step further can also enter specialized residency programs that provide intensive training in specialties such as surgery, emergency medicine, pediatrics, and rural health. With the demand for physician assistants growing at such a rapid pace and showing no signs of slowing down — the opportunities for well trained, motivated, forward-thinking physician assistants like our graduates are limitless.

Career Outlook

Changing demographics and the expansion of the healthcare system in the United States have created a strong demand for healthcare professionals, and physician assistants are one of the groups in greatest demand.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment of physician assistants is projected to grow 28 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.

In fact, because physician assistants are in such high demand, many discover they can take their pick of clinical field of practice, allowing for substantial career flexibility and mobility.  In addition, physician assistants earn generous salaries and benefits, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting that the median salary for physician assistants in 2021 (the last year that figures were available) was $121,530 per year. 

For more information about the job outlook for physician assistants, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.