PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PREREQUISITE STUDY
School of Health Sciences

Physician assistants, or PAs, practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician, providing a wide range of primary and specialized care. PAs perform physical examinations, diagnose illnesses and determine treatment plans, order and interpret laboratory tests, suture wounds, and assist in surgery. The role of the PA requires a high level of expertise and responsibility as well as a commitment to lifelong learning.

The School of Graduate Studies offers an entry-level program leading to a Master of Science in Physician Assistant (M.S.P.A.). Unlike most master’s degree programs, which require a bachelor’s degree for admission, the M.S.P.A. program requires 66 semester hours of undergraduate-level prerequisite study, followed by three years of graduate-level professional study. See the Mountain State University Graduate Catalog for additional information.

Prerequisite Application and Admission
Students may apply for admission to prerequisite study as either a first-time freshman or a transfer student. Transfer applications must include copies of any professional certifications, licenses, and relevant credentialing materials.

All applicants to prerequisite study must have the ability to meet the established technical standards of the PA program. These technical standards refer to the skills or attributes necessary to accomplish the desired task; in the case of medical education, several areas are of particular interest. Some technical standards may be met with the use of reasonable accommodations, but some may not. See the physician assistant program listing in the graduate catalog for details.

Program Admission
The M.S.P.A. program is highly selective and challenging, and program admission is competitive. Acceptance to the University and meeting the program application requirements do not guarantee admission. See the Mountain State University Graduate Catalog for additional information.

Students who do not meet program admission standards after completing prerequisite study, or who choose not to apply, may choose to transfer to another health sciences degree program subject to that program’s admissions process and criteria.

Prerequisite Study at MSU
The following sequence is recommended for students who wish to fulfill their prerequisite studies at Mountain State University.

PA program prerequisites specify 8 hours of anatomy and physiology, including both lecture and lab components, and a total of 66 hours. Because MSU’s course/lab combinations in undergraduate anatomy and physiology 5 hours each, the total for prerequisite study at MSU is 68 hours.

Any remaining prerequisites for program admission must also be completed in the second year.