Physician Assistant Program Overview
Ashland University Physician Assistant Program Mission Statement:
Educate physician assistants based on a foundation of evidence-based medicine, to competently practice patient-centered care, exercise cultural humility and cultivate a team approach. Graduates will be prepared for the changing landscape of medicine to serve individuals locally, nationally and internationally. Physician assistants will be taught the Dwight Schar College Nursing and Health Science’s guiding values: integrity, caring, accountability, respect and excellence (ICARE), interprofessional collaboration and lifelong learning.
Program Goals
With a foundation of evidence-based medicine, the PA Studies program aims to:
- Recruit and select diverse and highly qualified applicants for admission.
- Provide a quality educational experience with an emphasis on patient-centered care, and produce practice-ready graduates.
- Deliver a curriculum that integrates interprofessional teams, professionalism and self-assessment to prepare graduates for team integration and continued self-learning.
- Graduate PA students who perform above the national average of first-time pass rates on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination.
- Promote leadership and service of students and faculty.
Program Competencies
Graduates will be prepared for the changing landscape of medicine and to serve individuals locally, nationally and globally. They will know how to:
- Apply knowledge from basic, clinical and social sciences to the diagnosis and management of specific diagnoses across all ages and patient populations.
- Use interpersonal skills to communicate clearly and effectively in verbal, nonverbal and written forms.
- Elicit an accurate and pertinent medical history across the patient’s lifespan.
- Perform a comprehensive and problem-focused physical exam.
- Integrate age-related factors, growth and human development milestones into clinical reasoning and decision-making processes.
- Order and interpret diagnostic studies to assist in the evaluation and treatment of the patient.
- Formulate a differential diagnosis based upon historical information, physical exam, laboratory and diagnostic study findings.
- Design personalized patient therapeutic management plans that consider cost, efficacy, possible adverse reactions and contraindications that include pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, monitoring and referrals.
- Communicate the findings of a clinical encounter in written and verbal forms to all members of the healthcare team.
- Deliver evidence-based education to patients and their families on the healthcare plan and clinical therapies and results, preventative health and public health.
- Use clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills to integrate up-to-date scientific evidence, patient preferences and clinical judgment to make informed decisions about the care of the patient.
- Perform common medical and surgical procedures.
- Demonstrate professionalism, including principles of integrity and ethical decision making, sensitivity and responsiveness in all interactions with patients, families and healthcare teams.
Admissions
The Master of Science in Physician Assistant studies at Ashland University is looking for students who demonstrate professionalism, dedication and commitment to patient care.
The program accepts applications through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Admission is limited to 36 students per cohort.
Apply early! Students will be accepted on a rolling admission cycle. Applications are processed and interviews are arranged* as applications are received, up to the application deadline of April 1. Students who meet the admission requirements but apply later in the process will be considered, but they may be placed on a waitlist.
*Applicants who have been selected for an interview will be notified via email with details for the interview day. Ashland University PA Program reserves the right to adjust the interview format based on local, regional, state and national restrictions.
Admission Requirements for the 2025 cohort include:
- Completion of a Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited US institution by June 1, 2025. Degree can be from any area of study.
- Official transcripts from all US institutions attended must be sent to the program through CASPA.
- GPA- Minimum Requirements follow CASPA's GPA calculation and course work reporting policies.
- Cumulative Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Science Undergraduate GPA 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Graduate Records Exam (GRE) - Ashland University Physician Assistant Program Code: 4781
- Required for all applicants- no other test will be accepted in place of GRE
- Results must be within five years of admission
- Scores must be submitted directly through CASPA via ETS
- CASPER Test
- Prerequisites must have been completed within the last 10 years from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants may apply with up to two “work in progress” prerequisites, provided they complete each with a “C” (2.0) or higher on a CASPA 4.0 GPA scale by June 1, 2025.
| Prerequisite Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| General Biology | 4 credit hours |
| General Chemistry | 4 credit hours |
| Upper Level Science of Applied Science (Example: 300-400 level course taken in the Junior or Senior year of undergraduate program) |
9 credit hours |
| Microbiology (must have Biology as a prerequisite) |
4 credit hours |
| Human Anatomy & Physiology with lab | 7 credit hours |
| Organic Chemistry | 4 credit hours |
| Biochemistry (must have chemistry as a prerequisite) |
3 credit hours |
| Statistics | 3 credit hours |
| Medical Terminology | 1 credit hour |
- CASPA: Personal Statement
- CASPA: Program Specific Essay
- Three Letters of Reference: one must be from a Physician Assistant.
- A CV/Resume uploaded into the Documents section of CASPA.
Applicants to the Ashland University Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program who meet the minimum admission requirements are evaluated and scored based on selected minimum admission requirements and the interview process. The interview process includes individual interviews and a group activity that further evaluate the following attributes:
- Reliability and dependability
- Ethical responsibility to self and others
- Resilience and adaptability
- Cultural competence
- Career development capacity for improvement
- Service orientation
- Fit with Ashland University’s PA program
- Teamwork
- Insight into the PA role
- Social skills
- Professionalism
- Written communication
Scores are awarded on a graduated scale for the below items:
- CASPA Calculated Cumulative undergraduate GPA
- CASPA Calculated Science GPA
- GRE verbal and quantitative score
- Reference Letter Average Score
- CASPer Overall Score
- Written Samples: CASPA Personal Statement and program specific essay
Preference will be awarded to applicants based on the below categories:
- Ashland University Alumni
- Military Veteran, Active Duty or Reservist
- First Generation College Student
- Medical Training/Certification preferred and increasing levels of points are awarded for candidates with at least 1 certification or training.
- PA Shadowing Hours preferred and increasing levels of points are awarded for candidates with at least 25 hours. Shadowing hours must be documented and submitted via CASPA on the Ashland University Shadowing Log Hours Form.
- Direct Patient Care Hours preferred and increasing levels of points are awarded for candidates with at least 120 hours.
- Service Experience preferred and increasing levels of points are awarded for candidates with at least 100 service hours.
Interviewees will be notified of admissions decisions within two weeks of their interview date. Applicants will be placed in one of three categories: Accepted, Waitlisted or Denied.
Students who are accepted into Ashland University’s Physician Assistant program will be notified of their acceptance and sent detailed instructions on next steps.
All candidates on the waitlist will be reviewed with each subsequent interview session and updated accordingly with admission status changes.
Cost & Financial Aid
Students who are accepted into Ashland University’s Physician Assistant program are responsible for a non-refundable deposit of $1000 to secure their seat. Based on rolling admission, $500 is required two weeks after an offer is extended and the remaining $500 is due June 1.
| COSTS* | 2025 Cohort (Enrolls in August of 2025 Graduation in August of 2027) |
|---|---|
| Total Program Tuition | $94,645 |
| Graduation Fee | $110 |
| Learning Technology Fee | $48/credit hour |
| Additional Costs | |
| Health Insurance (Ashland University option) | $2,174/year |
| Background Check & Drug Screen | $250 |
| Textbooks | $1,500 |
| Laptop (if purchased through Ashland University) | $1,500 |
| Professional Memberships | $125/2-year |
| Personal Medical Equipment | $1,000 |
| Estimated Living & Transportation Expenses | |
| University Housing (optional) |
$8,320/year (CONHS 1081) $10,800/year (CONHS 1071) |
| Personal Living Expenses | $3,020/semester |
| Transportation (car insurance/car payment/gas) | $3,160/year |
| Vehicle Permit | $105/year |
| Eagle ID replacement card | $15 |
*All costs are subject to annual adjustments.
Financial Aid
To learn more about AU’s policies governing Financial Aid, including the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy, Refund Policy and Outside Scholarship Policy, visit Current Students Financial Aid.
The Financial Aid Office will begin packaging aid and generating offer letters in April each year for Physician Assistant students who submit a FAFSA and meet eligibility requirements. Students are encouraged to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before April 1. For more details, visit Graduate Student Financial Aid.
Ashland University has been awarded a grant from the state of Ohio to provide Choose Ohio First Scholarships to outstanding students in a variety of majors. Our M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies (PA) program is eligible for these scholarships which support academically strong students who plan to continue their education or seek employment in STEM industries after completing their degree. Students can receive $3,000 per academic year for up to four years.
Curriculum
In addition to providing the medical knowledge to graduate practice-ready physician assistants, the program is committed to providing training and certifications to enhance each student’s portfolio and prepare them for employment upon a successful first-time pass of their PANCE exam.
The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies is a full-time, 24-month, year-round graduate program that consists of 103 semester credit hours completed over six consecutive semesters.
The curriculum is separated into didactic and clinical academic work. The didactic curriculum will be completed face-to-face with early integration of the state-of-the-art high-fidelity simulation lab. The clinical year curriculum is delivered primarily through Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (Clinical Rotations).
Students will complete four-week rotations in the disciplines of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, General Surgery, Women's Health, Pediatrics and Behavioral Health. Additionally, students have the opportunity to select two elective rotations.
| Course # | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | ||
| PAS 500 | Anatomy | 4 |
| PAS 505 | Basic Sciences I | 3 |
| PAS 520 | Clinical Medicine I | 6 |
| PAS 535 | Patient Assessment I | 3 |
| PAS 550 | Clinical Skills I | 2 |
| PAS 565 | Pharmacology and Therapeutics I | 2 |
| PAS 580 | PA Practice and Professionalism I | 1 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours: | 21 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PAS 510 | Basic Sciences II | 3 |
| PAS 525 | Clinical Medicine II | 6 |
| PAS 540 | Patient Assessment II | 3 |
| PAS 555 | Clinical Skills II | 3 |
| PAS 570 | Pharmacology and Therapeutics II | 3 |
| PAS 581 | PA Practice and Professionalism II | 1 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 19 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| PAS 515 | Basic Sciences III | 3 |
| PAS 530 | Clinical Medicine III | 6 |
| PAS 545 | Patient Assessment III | 3 |
| PAS 560 | Clinical Skills III | 3 |
| PAS 575 | Pharmacology and Therapeutics III | 3 |
| PAS 582 | PA Practice and Professionalism III | 2 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 20 | |
| Total Didactic Year Credit Hours | 60 |
Students complete Rotations 1 through 9 chronologically but are placed in different discipline-specific sections each rotation block:
- Section A: Family Medicine
- Section B: Internal Medicine
- Section C: Surgery
- Section D: Pediatrics
- Section E: Women's Health
- Section F: Behavioral Medicine
- Section G: Emergency Medicine
- Section H: Elective I
- Section I: Elective II
The sequence of disciplines completed by individual students may vary. All students are required to complete rotations in the seven specified disciplines and two electives.
| Course # | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | ||
| PAS 601 | Rotation I | 4 |
| PAS 602 | Rotation II | 4 |
| PAS 603 | Rotation III | 4 |
| PAS 583 | PA Practice and Professionalism IV | 1 |
| PAS 680 | Capstone Experience I | 1 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PAS 604 | Rotation IV | 4 |
| PAS 605 | Rotation V | 4 |
| PAS 606 | Rotation VI | 4 |
| PAS 584 | PA Practice and Professionalism V | 2 |
| PAS 685 | Capstone Experience II | 1 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| PAS 607 | Rotation VII | 4 |
| PAS 608 | Rotation VIII | 4 |
| PAS 609 | Rotation IX | 4 |
| PAS 585 | PA Practice and Professionalism VI | 1 |
| PAS 690 | Capstone Experience III | 1 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Total Clinical Year Credit Hours | 43 | |
| Total Program Credit Hours | 103 |
Student Attrition
Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) Student Attrition
Graduated Classes
| Class of 2023 | Class of 2024 | Class of 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum entering class size (as approved by ARC-PA) |
24 | 30 | 36 |
| Entering class size | 24 | 30 | 30 |
| Graduates | 20 | 27 | N/A |
| Attrition rate* | 16% | 10% |
N/A |
| Graduation rate** | 84% | 90% | N/A |
* Number of students who attritted from cohort (decelerated + withdrawals + dismissals) divided by the (entering class size + number joining class cohort).
** Number of cohort graduates divided by the (entering class size + number joining class cohort).
Accreditation Statement
The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Ashland University Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program sponsored by Ashland University.
Accreditation-Provisional status is granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA standards. It may also be granted when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.
Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class. The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-ashland-university/.
PANCE Results
The first-time Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) pass rates for the five most recent graduating classes compared to the national average, as provided by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, are published once information becomes available for each class year.
Student Resources and Policies
Ashland University’s PA program does not allow students to work for the PA program in a paid or volunteer capacity under any circumstances.
- The PA Program does not allow students to substitute for clinical or administrative staff, regardless of their prior knowledge, education or experience.
- Students are not to be the primary instructor or instructor of record for any component of the curriculum under any circumstances.
- Students will not be permitted to serve as an instructor during courses, labs or Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences.
- Students cannot be used to substitute for regular or administrative staff under any circumstances during clinical rotations.
- If a student is asked to substitute for a staff person on a rotation, they must contact the Director of Clinical Education immediately.
Any form of employment during the duration of the intensive, 24-month program is strongly discouraged. The program requires full-time attendance in both didactic and clinical components, and outside work obligations will not be considered an acceptable excuse for poor performance or absence from any program-related activities.
Students who choose to withdraw from the university must contact their Graduate Advisor and the Registrar’s Office to complete the Ashland University Withdrawal Request and Information Form.
Fees paid directly to the university are nonrefundable.
Students of the Ashland University Physician Assistant program must possess and demonstrate the capacity to complete the curriculum in its entirety and to perform the essential functions required of practicing Physician Assistants upon graduation.
The program requires demonstration of competency in the following categories with or without reasonable accommodations.
- Observation
PA students must demonstrate the ability to:- Acquire knowledge through a variety of observational methods, including classroom demonstrations and presentations in lectures and laboratories.
- Observe a patient accurately at a distance and up close.
- Use their senses of sight, hearing, sensation and smell as part of the observation process.
- Communication
PA students must demonstrate the ability to:- Communicate sensitively and effectively with patients and families in a culturally competent manner.
- Communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written forms with all members of the healthcare team.
- Elicit information from patients, perceive nonverbal communications and describe changes in mood, activity and posture.
- Effectively use speech, reading, writing and computers as part of the communication process.
- Communicate effectively in small and large groups.
- Motor
PA students must demonstrate the ability to:- Execute the patient care necessary regarding diagnostic maneuvers such as palpation, auscultation and percussion.
- Provide continuous general care and emergency treatment to patients.
- Manipulate equipment and instruments, without interruption, necessary to perform basic laboratory tests and procedures required to attain curricular goals. Examples include: needle, stethoscope, ophthalmoscope, tongue blade, intravenous equipment, gynecologic speculum and a scalpel.
- Transport instruments and equipment from one location to another in a timely fashion to facilitate patient care responsibilities and receive educational training.
- Intellectual
PA students must demonstrate the ability to:- Comprehend three-dimensional relationships and the spatial relationship of structures.
- Collect, organize, prioritize, analyze and assimilate large amounts of technical and complex information within a limited timeframe, and present the information in a variety of educational settings, including lectures, small group discussions and individual clinical settings.
- Analyze, integrate and apply information appropriately for problem-solving and decision-making.
- Be alert and attentive at all times in clinical settings.
- Behavioral and Social Attributes
PA students must demonstrate:- The emotional health, maturity, sensitivity, intellectual ability and good judgment needed to complete all responsibilities associated with the diagnosis and care of patients.
- Tolerance toward physical, mental and emotional stress related to training and the profession.
- Adaptability, flexibility and the ability to function in the face of uncertainty.
- A high level of compassion for others, motivation to serve, integrity and a consciousness of social values.
- Sufficient interpersonal skills to interact positively and in a culturally competent manner with people from all levels of society, all ethnic backgrounds and all belief systems.
- The ability to accept criticism and respond by appropriate modification of behavior.
The Ashland University PA Program believes that no person shall be denied admission to the program, or awarded the degree of Master of Science in Physician Assistant study on the basis of any disability, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, provided that the person demonstrates the ability to meet the minimum standards set forth herein. Ashland University’s Physician Assistant program will reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities, provided that the standards required by the program and the integrity of the curriculum are upheld. Mastery of essential skills is required of all students.
For additional questions, please contact Ashland University’s Student Accessibility Center.
Ashland University’s Physician Assistant program does not offer experiential credit toward the PA program curriculum. Students who have been in a previous Health Science or Medical Science program are not eligible for credit transfer toward the PA program curriculum and are required to take courses in sequence.
The majority of our clinical sites will be located in North, Northeast and Central Ohio. However, students may be required to attend rotations at a site outside the commutable area and will be responsible for all expenses related to such assignments.
Physician Assistant students will not be required to provide or solicit preceptors or clinical sites, but they may submit a request for the development of up to two new clinical sites. A completed “Student Request for Preceptor Form” must be submitted to the Director of Clinical Education six months before the proposed clinical rotation. This form does not guarantee placement. It is the program's responsibility to evaluate and assign each Supervised Clinical Practice Experience.
Based on the information provided by the student, the Director of Clinical Education will initiate the formal contact representing the Ashland University PA program with the clinical agency. The proposed site must meet all of the established educational goals for the clinical experience and agree to become legally affiliated with Ashland University College of Nursing and Health Sciences during the time that the student is on clinical rotation.
Can You Give Me a Glimpse of My Future?
As a graduate, you'll join the ranks of highly skilled medical providers, equipped with the knowledge, clinical expertise, and compassion to make a tangible difference in the lives of patients. Whether you find yourself working in primary care, surgery, emergency medicine, or another specialized field, your role as a physician assistant will be vital in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a physician assistant is $126,010 per year.
Physician assistants examine, diagnose, and treat patients in collaboration with a physician.
The job outlook for physician assistants is growing much faster than average (27%), with an anticipated 39,300 openings through 2032. Graduates may work in physician’s offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and other healthcare settings.