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- Physician Assistant (PA) Facts According to the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)
“PAs (physician associates/physician assistants) are licensed clinicians who practice medicine in every specialty and setting. Trusted, rigorously educated and trained healthcare professionals, PAs are dedicated to expanding access to care and transforming health and wellness through patient-centered, team-based medical practice.”
- Program History
In May 1999, the Marietta College Board of Trustees identified the development of a Master’s level physician assistant program as a goal to serve the needs of the public by providing a health profession educational program to help meet the healthcare provider needs of Ohio and the region. Marietta College established the Physician Assistant program within the Physician Assistant Department in 2002 and graduated its first class of students in 2004. The Marietta College Physician Assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
The Physician Assistant Department offers a 26-month curriculum. Upon successful completion of the program, students graduate with a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS). As a graduate of an ARC-PA accredited program, students are eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), which is required for licensure.
- Accreditation Status
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Marietta College Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Marietta College. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be March 2028. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
To view the program's accreditation history, visit http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-marietta-college/ and click on the embedded accreditation document.
- Student Success
Marietta College PA graduates work in numerous fields of medicine, including family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, orthopedics, emergency medicine, and general surgery as well as specialty settings including ICU/critical care, urology, cardiology, dermatology, interventional radiology, colorectal surgery, and hematology/oncology.
Recent graduates have accepted fellowships both in state with the Ohio Health Acute Care, Hospital Medicine and Trauma APP fellowship as well as nationally with Weill Cornell as a Staff Associate in Emergency Medicine in New York City.
Graduates have continued to contribute on a national level with publication in Journal of the American Academy of Physician Associations (JAAPA) in September 2023, June 2024, and another publication pending.
A recent graduate in the 2024 cohort was awarded the Susan Lindahl Memorial Scholarship by the Physician Assistants in Orthopaedic Surgery board of directors for her manuscript on “Factor V Leiden and Hip Avascular Necrosis.” She was one of 4 finalists and received $5,000 along with an invitation the PAOS CME conference in Nashville where she was presented her certificate and award.
The profession and career opportunities are only limited by one's imagination.
What You'll Learn While Earning a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Degree
Our students are prepared to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) as soon as they graduate from the program. Our students have an overall graduation rate of 99% and an overall PANCE pass rate of 99.8%.
- Admission Prerequisites
Pre-requisite Classes:
- Upper-Level Human or Mammalian Biology*
- General Chemistry I with Lab*
- General Chemistry II with Lab*
- Organic Chemistry with Lab*
- Microbiology with Lab*
- Human Anatomy with Lab*
- Human Physiology*
- General Psychology*
- Upper-Level Psychology with emphasis on abnormal and/or developmental psychology*
- Statistics*
*Or comparable course as determined by the Admissions Committee.
The following courses are not required pre-requisites but are excellent additional classes to strengthen an application:
- Genetics
- Immunology
- Virology
- Biochemistry
- Histology
- Pathophysiology
- Toxicology
- Admission Considerations
- Prospective students must apply to the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) at www.caspaonline.org by Jan. 15 to be considered for admission to the following summer class.
- Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test (verbal and quantitative) must be submitted under school code 0937.
- Analytical writing is not required but highly recommended.
- The MCAT may be used as a substitute for the GRE test.
- PACAT is not required but will be considered.
- Two admission committee members review each application and score applicants based on GPA, GRE, LORs, health care hours, work ethic, leadership skills, and extracurricular activities. Successful candidates will be chosen to interview on campus before the committee.
FAQs
- Is the PA Program accredited?
The ARC-PA has granted Continued Accreditation to the Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Marietta College. Continued accreditation is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
Continued Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next comprehensive review of the Program by the ARC-PA will be March 2028.
- What is the length of the program?
26 months, with classes being in June.
- How many credit hours is the program?
102 credit hours; 44 credits during the Didactic phase and 58 credits during
the Clinical phase.- Is there a supplemental application?
No, applicants should complete all requirements through CASPA
- Does the tuition differ for in and out-of-state residents?
Tuition is the same for in state as well as out-of-state residents.
- Do you offer any scholarships?
Yes, the program offers multiple scholarships to students in the MC PA program. Click here for more information.
- Is financial aid available?
Information on financial aid can be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Aid at 1-800-331-2709.
- What does your "average" accepted student look like?
- What is the minimum prerequisite GPA required for admission?
3.0
- What type of setting is best to obtain patient contact hours?
Health care hours are not required, though they are strongly recommended. Examples of experiences include: shadowing PAs or physicians, nursing assistant/STNA, EMT, medical assistant, phlebotomist, ER tech, respiratory therapist, etc.
- Is there a separate form required for logging health care hours?
No, applicants should complete all requirements through CASPA
- Will I be able to work while in school?
STUDENT WORK POLICY AND COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION (A3.04, A3.05a,b, and A3.15e)
- The MC PA program is extremely intense and rigorous. Students should view their education as their primary responsibility and should not allow any outside activity to interfere with the ability to accomplish the requirements necessary as a PA student. Therefore, outside employment and collegiate athletic participation are strongly discouraged during the didactic phase and is prohibited during the clinical phase of the MC PA program. (A3.04,A3.15e). Collegiate athletic participation is at the discretion and approval of the MC PA program Progress and Conduct Committee.
- Students enrolled in the MC PA program cannot substitute for practicing physician assistants or provide unsupervised services common to a certified PA while at any learning or employment site while enrolled in the MC PA program.
- Students are not permitted to work for the MC PA program or any clinical affiliates while enrolled in the MC PA program. Students are never required to or permitted to substitute for regular administrative staff or instructional faculty or clinical rotation staff during didactic or clinical phase regardless of prior experience and are not to be the primary instructor or instructor of record for any component of the curriculum. (A3.04, A3.05a,b)
- How many applicants were there this year?
A total of 1,055, with 305 verified applications, were received in the 2023–2024 cycle.
- How many students are accepted each year?
40
- What is the waitlist?
After the class is selected, applicants are placed on the waitlist. Applicants on this list may be contacted anytime until classes begin in June and offered admission if another applicant declines their seat.
- Am I required to take my prerequisite courses at Marietta College?
No. You can take the prerequisite courses at any accredited college or university.
- Should I get a Bachelor's degree or a Master's degree in Physician Assistant Studies?
Most states, including Ohio, require a master's degree to practice.
- Are advanced placement courses accepted?
Advance placement (AP) courses (limit two (2) courses) will be accepted for pre-requisite requirements, but will not be calculated into the pre-requisite GPA.
- What do our preceptors have to say about our students?
"The program is well organized and professional. I enjoy the students."
"I have been thoroughly impressed with the quality of education that your students are receiving."
"Students are intelligent, motivated and show a lot of promise."
"Students are enthusiastic, quick learners and work well with others."
"Excellent knowledge base and basic diagnostic exam skills. Diligent, attentive, and interested in learning."
"MC starts with quality applicants which makes a big difference in the quality of the final product."- Do you accept transfer students?
At this time, the MC PA program does not accept transfer students directly into the graduate program.
In rare or unforeseen circumstances, the MC PA program may accept transfer of students due to closure of a program, change in accreditation status, natural disasters, or other unanticipated institutional situations.
Admission: The MC PA program will utilize current admission processes with some slight variations to ensure fair and consistent policies to transfer students. Transfer admission candidates will include a review of CASPA application, admission documents, healthcare and leadership experience, and any academic and/or professional documents in the student file from the previous PA program. Candidates are not eligible for transfer if returning from medical/personal leave from the previous institute. Additional MC PA program admission items may be required upon acceptance into the program. Depending on completed PA coursework and considering the semester of acceptance into the MC PA program, some previous institute admission requirements may be accepted.
Didactic: Any student that has not completed the didactic phase of training at another institution must provide previous syllabi for program review and to determine what courses may be accepted. Students will be required to complete all MC PA courses and competencies prior matriculating into the clinical phase of training. Failure to meet these requirements will jeopardize continued enrollment in and graduation from the MC PA program. Cost associated with additional didactic courses or delay in matriculation to the clinical phase will be the responsibility of the student.
Clinical: Any student that has completed the didactic phase of training at another institution in good academic and professional standing and has met MC PA program didactic courses, competencies, and outcomes may be considered for transfer into the clinical phase in the MC PA program requirements.
- Does the program grant transfer of credit?
The program does not grant credit for experiential learning, international medical experience, and transfer of credit from another Physician Assistant Program or medical school. In rare or unforeseen circumstances, the MC PA program may accept transfer of students due to closure of a program, change in accreditation status, natural disasters, or other unanticipated institutional situations.
Please refer to the FAQ “Do you accept transfer students?” above.
- Will I be expected to travel during the clinical year?
Yes. Students are likely to travel to distant sites, including out of state, for supervised clinical practice experiences. The clinical coordinator(s) will work hard to secure placements within a reasonable radius from the geographical location (60-90 miles).
- Am I required to secure my clinical rotation placements?
Clinical Site Recruitment Policy and Procedures (A3.03)
It is the responsibility of MC PA Program and not the students to identify and schedule sites used for rotations. Students are not required to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors.
- Does the program provide any travel funds during the clinical year?
Yes, the program provides a one-time travel stipend of $500.