About the Physician Assistant Program
What is the PA profession's outlook?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median annual salary for Physician Assistants was $135,880 per year in May 2025. Employment of Physician Assistants is projected to grow 21 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. According to U.S. News & World Report's 2026 rankings, the Physician Assistant profession is the #2 Best Health Care Job, #4 Best STEM Job, and #5 Best Job Overall in the United States.
Augusta University continues a long tradition of excellence in PA education.
The Augusta University Physician Assistant Program was first accredited in 1973, less than a year after national accreditation standards for PA education were established. As one of the nation's oldest PA programs, the program has a long-standing tradition of preparing highly skilled clinicians to serve patients and communities throughout Georgia and beyond.
AU PA graduates consistently demonstrate exceptional performance on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). Over the past 10 years, 100% of AU PA graduates have successfully achieved certification, with 99% passing on their first attempt. Combined with extensive clinical training opportunities, strong community partnerships, and a legacy of educational excellence, these outcomes distinguish the AU PA Program as a leader in physician assistant education.
Contact Us
Department of Physician Assistant
Health Sciences Campus
987 St. Sebastian Way
Room 3304
706-721-3247
Welcome from the Chair
Thank you for investing your time in exploring the Augusta University Physician Assistant (PA) program as you search for the right fit for your educational goals. If you are an applicant, make sure you access the section for prospective students information. There you will learn more about the curriculum, our students, and faculty. If you are a physician assistant alumnus from our program, please visit our Facebook page MCG/GHSU/GRU/AU Physician Assistant Program Graduates for job opportunities and to connect with other graduates, faculty, and staff. If you are a health professional who would like to get involved in our teaching program or in our community service activities please let us know how you would like to volunteer your time and talents.
On a personal note, I am a 2013 graduate of the AU PA program. I served as the Director of Clinical Education for five years and as the Program Director since 2021. I have been the Department Chair since August 2025. I take great pride in being a part of the leadership of the College of Allied Health Sciences. I work with an outstanding group of PA educators that are dedicated and committed to excellence. Our graduating classes consistently perform above the national average on the PANCE board scores and are highly sought after in the workforce.
Our program is based in Augusta, Georgia on the Health Sciences Campus during the didactic phase. We offer clinical rotations for the second year of training predominantly with community partners in the Augusta area but also with affiliates across Georgia and the Southeast. The AU PA program has been in existence since 1972 and accredited since 1973. We are the only publicly funded PA program in the state of Georgia and one of the oldest PA programs in the country. We embrace our statewide mission in meeting the healthcare needs of Georgia’s citizens.
Our faculty members have worked hard to build a strong graduate curriculum that will develop excellent clinicians and leaders of the future.
Warmest regards,
Elizabeth Prince-Coleman, DMSc, MS, MPA, PA-C
Chair, Program Director, and Associate Professor