Physician Assistant Programs: Best Schools & What to Expect

Physician assistants (PAs) are among the most versatile and in-demand healthcare providers in America. With a median salary of $130,020, the ability to practice across virtually every medical specialty, and a graduate program that takes just 2–3 years, the PA career path offers an compelling alternative to the 7–12 year journey to becoming a physician.

But PA school is intensely competitive — most programs accept fewer than 5% of applicants. Here's everything you need to know.

What Do Physician Assistants Do?

PAs are licensed medical professionals who practice medicine under the supervision of a physician (though the level of supervision varies significantly by state and specialty). PAs can:

• Diagnose illnesses and injuries
• Order and interpret diagnostic tests
• Prescribe medications (in all 50 states)
• Develop treatment plans
• Assist in surgical procedures
• Counsel patients on preventive care

Unlike physicians, PAs can switch specialties throughout their career without additional residency training. A PA who starts in orthopedic surgery can later transition to dermatology, emergency medicine, or primary care. This flexibility is one of the profession's biggest advantages.

PA Salary by Specialty

Specialty	Median PA Salary
Dermatology	$145,000–$165,000
Emergency Medicine	$140,000–$160,000
Orthopedic Surgery	$135,000–$155,000
Cardiothoracic Surgery	$140,000–$160,000
General Surgery	$125,000–$145,000
Primary Care / Family Medicine	$115,000–$130,000
Psychiatry	$125,000–$145,000
Pediatrics	$110,000–$125,000

Overall, the BLS reports a median salary of $130,020 for PAs nationally. In high-cost-of-living markets and surgical specialties, PAs regularly earn $150,000–$180,000.

Best PA Programs at Public Universities

University	State	Program Length	Key Strengths
University of Iowa	IA	28 months	One of the oldest PA programs in the country; strong rural medicine training
University of Utah	UT	27 months	High first-time PANCE pass rate (~99%)
University of Colorado	CO	36 months	Master's program with extensive clinical rotations
University of Washington – MEDEX	WA	27 months	Focus on primary care and underserved populations
Oregon Health & Science University	OR	26 months	Strong clinical placement network across Pacific Northwest
University of Florida	FL	27 months	Affordable; UF Health clinical rotations
University of Texas Southwestern	TX	30 months	World-class medical center affiliation
Stony Brook University	NY	24 months	Strong surgical and specialty training

PA School Admissions: What You Need

PA school is among the most competitive graduate programs in healthcare. Here's what competitive applicants typically have:

GPA

• Minimum: Most programs require a 3.0 overall and 3.0 science GPA
• Competitive: Average accepted GPA is approximately 3.5 overall and 3.4 science

Prerequisites

Standard prerequisites include:

• Anatomy & Physiology I and II
• Microbiology
• General Chemistry I and II
• Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry (varies by program)
• Statistics
• Psychology
• Medical Terminology (recommended)

Healthcare Experience (PCE)

This is the most critical component beyond GPA. PA programs require direct patient care experience (PCE), and competitive applicants typically have 2,000–4,000+ hours. Qualifying roles include:

• EMT / Paramedic — Most popular PCE pathway for PA applicants
• CNA / Patient Care Technician — Direct bedside care experience
• Medical Assistant — Clinical and administrative patient care
• Registered Nurse — Many RNs transition to PA careers
• Athletic Trainer — Direct patient care in sports medicine settings
• Phlebotomist — Some programs accept this; generally weaker than other options

GRE

Fewer programs are requiring the GRE — about 50% of PA programs have dropped the requirement in recent years. For those that do require it, aim for 300+ combined (verbal + quantitative).

Shadowing

Most programs want to see that you've shadowed a PA specifically (not just a physician). Aim for 40–100+ hours of PA shadowing.

What PA School Is Actually Like

PA school is often described as "medical school compressed into half the time." Here's what to expect:

Didactic Phase (Year 1)

The first year is classroom-intensive. You'll cover:

• Anatomy (with cadaver dissection at most programs)
• Physiology and Pathophysiology
• Pharmacology
• Clinical Medicine (differential diagnosis, treatment protocols)
• Physical Diagnosis and Patient Assessment

Expect 40–50 hours per week of class and study. The pace is relentless — you'll cover in one semester what medical students cover in a full year.

Clinical Phase (Year 2+)

The second portion of PA school consists of supervised clinical rotations across multiple specialties, typically including:

• Family Medicine
• Internal Medicine
• General Surgery
• Emergency Medicine
• Pediatrics
• Women's Health / OB-GYN
• Behavioral/Mental Health
• Elective rotations

Each rotation lasts 4–6 weeks. This is where you apply classroom knowledge to real patients, and many students discover which specialty they want to pursue.

PA vs. MD: Why Choose PA?

The PA path offers several advantages over the physician track:

• Time: PA school takes 2–3 years after your bachelor's, versus 4 years of med school + 3–7 years of residency for physicians.
• Cost: PA school costs $80,000–$120,000 on average, versus $200,000–$350,000 for medical school.
• Flexibility: PAs can switch specialties without retraining. Physicians are locked into their specialty after residency.
• Work-life balance: While both careers are demanding, PAs generally report better work-life balance than physicians in comparable specialties.

Talk to Real PAs Before You Apply

PA school admissions are nuanced, and every program has its own culture and expectations. Ask Kinsley connects you with current PA students and practicing PAs who can tell you what their program was really like, how they built their patient care hours, and what they'd do differently. Get the inside story before you apply.