‘Showing up for the community’: AU-MNI Rural Health Fair building trust
"It's an authentic outreach initiative for the workers and their community to have these resources and education for free," says Jessica L. Stewart, PhD.
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 52 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
Learning
like no
other.
Want to learn more about the Physician Assistant program at Augusta University?
Request InfoWhat You'll Study
Your journey to becoming a Physician Assistant begins with four semesters on the Augusta University campus, known as the didactic phase. Then, in your second year, you'll enter the clinical phase, where you'll participate in clinical rotations throughout the region. This is your chance to learn by doing, applying your knowledge in real-world healthcare settings.
As one of three primary care providers (Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, and Physicians), you will receive training in general medicine as well as a variety of specialties.
After successfully completing the program, graduates are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).
Curriculum | Admissions Criteria | Tuition and Fees | Application Deadlines
Experience-based Education
First year students learn human gross anatomy in a full dissection cadaver lab rather than a simulation lab.
Students learn by doing, spending their second year across the region, in a clinical setting.
Interprofessional educational activities occur with other health professions throughout training, including the University of Georgia School of Pharmacy, Augusta University Dental Hygiene Program, the Medical College of Georgia, and other health professions in the Augusta University’s College of Allied Health Sciences (Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech, Language, and Pathology).
Multiple volunteer opportunities exist across health care fields, including the Equality Clinic and Clinica Latina.
The Physician Assistant employment rate, within six months of graduation, has maintained at 90% - 100% over the past 5+ years
Augusta University’s Physician Assistant "Green to Grad" program allows veterans applying to the program to be able to use relevant ACE courses as credit toward the 90 semester hours of prerequisites
Eight faculty members in the Physician Assistant program are graduates of Augusta University’s program
Your Future
According the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for Physician Assistants is $130,020 per year.
Physician assistant jobs are projected to continue to increase, with a growth of 35% over the next decade, 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.
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.
$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 InformationEarly 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.
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.
"It's an authentic outreach initiative for the workers and their community to have these resources and education for free," says Jessica L. Stewart, PhD.
Each college’s alumni society board selects its recipients based on their outstanding contributions to their profession, positive impact in their community and dedication to their alma mater.
“Today was not just about getting a certificate or a diploma to go on your wall. It was about opening new doors for you,” says Steve Jones, EdD.
"These efforts reflect our faculty’s dedication to growth and student impact and directly enhance the quality of instruction for our students," says Doug Blackburn.