Best Online Physician Assistant Master’s Programs

Yale School of Medicine Physician Assistant (PA) Online Program awards a Master of Medical Science (M.M.Sc.) and prepares graduates to seek licensure as physician assistants. The curriculum blends online classes with in-person learning experiences, with students required to complete 15-months of clinical placements and attend three immersions on Yale’s campus.

Yale School of Medicine’s PA Online curriculum prepares students to become compassionate, well-rounded, patient-focused physician assistants. Students work closely with faculty members and other clinicians to build their skills and become excellent members of health care teams.

The program is designed to be completed in 28 months of full-time study. Learners explore the various organ systems, such as cardiology, hematology, and gastroenterology. Pediatric, emergency, and geriatric medicine are integrated throughout the curriculum.

Applications are only accepted through CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistants), which generally opens in late April of each year. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we recommend that applicants complete the CASPA online application and supplemental application as early as possible.

Applicants must have completed a minimum of 500 patient-care experience hours (paid) and have a cumulative undergraduate science GPA of at least 3.0.

UW offers more than 30 online graduate, undergraduate, and certificate programs. The university's community-based physician assistant program boasts a 96% national certification exam pass rate among graduates.

UW's online physician assistant master's program requires 93 credits and takes three years to complete. The hybrid program combines 80% online coursework with 12-week summer sessions and intermittent 3-4-day sessions held on campus. Students must also complete five eight-week clinical rotations at an approved medical facility. Distance learners complete online courses asynchronously in UW's virtual classrooms.

Applicants must satisfy prerequisites and attend a general information session online. Prospective students may also participate in additional online webinars covering topics like applied biotechnology and clinical and health informatics.

Located in Brownsville, UTRGV opened its doors in 2013 as the result of a merger between two state schools. The university now serves nearly 30,000 students through undergraduate and graduate programs. One such offering is the school's online physician assistant master's program.

This physician assistant track styles itself as a "bridge program," helping practicing physician assistants who hold a relevant bachelor's degree earn a master's degree. The program does not have any on-campus requirements, and distance learners can complete clinical requirements in their own communities. The curriculum consists of three clinical tracks — each lasting four weeks — and a research course.

Admission requirements include a bachelor's in physician assistant studies and a 3.0 minimum GPA. Applicants must also hold a physician assistant license, National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants certification, and medical malpractice insurance. Prospective students must also be employed as physician assistants when they apply.

Based in Grand Forks, UND is the oldest university in the state. Founded in 1883, the school gradually branched out over the years and now offers several degrees through distance learning, including an online physician assistant master's degree.

Requiring 90 credits, UND's physician assistant studies program usually requires two years to complete. The program uses blended learning to deliver coursework — students complete online and on-campus courses. The curriculum combines non-clinical and clinical experiences, with notable courses in diagnostic studies, pharmacology, and human physiology and pathophysiology.

Prospective students must have at least three years of full-time healthcare experience and a minimum of 500 hours of direct patient care. The program prefers applicants who live in North Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, or South Dakota. Applicants from rural communities (communities with less than 25,000 citizens) or underserved areas are also preferred.