Back to Top

Physician Assistant

By choosing to earn your Master of Physician Assistant degree at Augusta University’s College of Allied Health Sciences, you’ll be part of a legacy of excellence that goes back to the program’s beginning 50 years ago.

As a physician assistant, you’ll be medically trained to practice autonomously or as a part of a healthcare team, providing high-quality healthcare in various environments.

Physician assistants are certified as medical generalists with a foundation in primary care, but they can also practice in a number of specialty areas, which means they enjoy the flexibility to adapt to changes in the workplace and the community.

Physician Assistant is for you if you consider yourself

Helpful and Nurturing
Innovative and Cutting-edge

 

Learning

like no

other.

Want to learn more about the Physician Assistant program at Augusta University?

Request Info

Physician Assistant Program

paprogram@augusta.edu

706-721-3247

What You'll Study

Coursework

During the didactic phase of the program, physician assistant students will remain at the Augusta University Campus. During the second year, students will experience clinical rotations across Georgia and the Southeast.

After successfully completing the program, graduates are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).

As one of three primary care providers (PAs, nurse practitioners and physicians), students in the physician assistant program will receive training in general medicine as well as a variety of specialties.

Curriculum | Admissions Criteria | Tuition and Fees | Application Deadlines

Experience-based Education

Outside the Classroom

Physician assistant students learn by doing, spending their second year at clinical sites across the region.

Students learn human gross anatomy in a full dissection cadaver lab rather than a simulation lab.

Interprofessional educational activities occur with other health professions throughout training, including the University of Georgia School of Pharmacy, Augusta University Dental Hygiene Program and the Medical College of Georgia.

Multiple volunteer opportunities exist across health care fields, including the Equality Clinic and Clinica Latina.

 

Student Success

Augusta University’s physician assistant students have a five-year first-time-taker PANCE pass rate of 99 percent and 100 percent of graduates in the past 5 years have passed the PANCE within their first year after graduation. 

 

History of Excellence

The PA graduate employment rate (within six months of graduation) has maintained at 90-100% over the past 5+ years.

Military Friendly

Augusta University’s Physician Assistant “Green to Grad” program allows veterans applying to the program to use relevant ACE courses as credit toward the 90 semester hours of prerequisites.

 

Accomplished Faculty

Ten faculty members in the physician assistant program are graduates of Augusta University’s program.

Your Future

Career Options

According the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for PAs in 2021 was $121,530 per year.

Physician assistant jobs are projected to increase by 285 between 2020 and 2030, much faster than the average. U.S. News and World Reports ranks physician assistant as the #2 Best Health Care Job and the #3 Best Job Overall for 2022.

Admissions Criteria at a Glance

GPA: Overall GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) on all previous college work, with a minimum average of 3.0 on math and science courses.

Degree Requirement: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university.

Transcripts: Official transcripts are required from all universities and colleges ever attended. Unofficial transcripts from US colleges and universities can be used in the admissions review process in lieu of official transcripts for this program.

Standardized Test Requirements: Completion of either the GRE or the PA-CAT exam and the CASPer test. 

Letters of Recommendation: Recommendations from three individuals, with at least one from a certified PA, must be submitted through the application portal.

Hands-On Experience: A minimum of 100 hours shadowing a physician assistant in 3 different clinical settings and 100+ hours of health care experience is required.

International Students: Please review the verification process for international transcripts and the english proficiency requirement.

Complete Admissions Requirements »

Tuition & Fees Estimate

$7,149*

Estimated total
Full-time / In-State / Per Semester

$597

Tuition Per Hour

$675

Mandatory Fees

View Detailed Program Tuition  

*Tuition & Fees listed here are for in-state students enrolling in the university for Fall 2024 semester.

Detailed Program Tuition Information

Application Deadlines

May 2025 Admissions Cycle

  • July 1 - November 1, 2024

Early submission of all application materials is strongly advised.

Applications are reviewed in the order that they become complete. Applications are considered complete when all supporting materials (transcripts, letters of recommendation, and test scores) have been received and processed by Admissions, which can take several weeks. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure the materials arrive in time to be processed. 

Student smiles and hold sketchbook in art lab

Learning Like No Other

Why Augusta?

As a graduate from a program with over 50 years of experience training high quality physician assistants and a certification pass rate of 100%, employers will know you’re prepared to face the challenges of a dynamic career in medicine.

As one of Georgia’s four research universities, Augusta University provides unparalleled opportunities for research and scholarship, with state of the art labs and equipment.

With many program alums among the faculty, you’ll have the advantage of learning from those who have gone before you and can guide you to success in your journey to be a PA.

Four students in blue scrubs work on a dummy patient in the SIM center

Faculty Club awards five $2K scholarships to health sciences students

“This scholarship will assist in covering my daily expenses and enable me to continue my volunteer work, both locally and internationally,” says Evan Boland.

Continue reading Faculty Club awards five $2K scholarships to health sciences students
A group of eight college students sit in a circle in an office and talk about issues affecting them.

Jaguars on the journey to resilience

“I think processing their experiences out loud gave them grace and space to acknowledge their own grit in times of stress,” says Beth Huggins, EdD.

Continue reading Jaguars on the journey to resilience
Man posing in a medical professional's coat

Radiation therapy student receives scholarship from Elekta, ASRT Foundation

"He never takes anything for granted and is always seeking more opportunities to learn more about the profession that he has chosen to go into,” said Kevin Kindle.

Continue reading Radiation therapy student receives scholarship from Elekta, ASRT Foundation
Three PhD students wearing scientific lab coats use a microscope connected to a screen.

Biomedical PhD program experiences phenomenal growth

“The collaborative nature of AU has been so important in progressing our research and everything that we do," said Briah Bailey.

Continue reading Biomedical PhD program experiences phenomenal growth

Learning Like No Other

The College of Allied Health Sciences at Augusta University trains and educates today’s health care professionals: the therapists, technicians, administrators, managers and assistants who are the backbone of our country’s health care workforce.