Best Online Physician Assistant Programs
America’s aging population is contributing to a shortage of healthcare providers.
Besides, the advanced US healthcare trends have started making physician assistants an extremely important aspect of the country’s primary healthcare industry.
Physician Assistants (PAs) are trained professionals in the current US healthcare system.
Although PAs are not considered full-fledged doctors because they only need a master’s degree, they are also trained and certified to perform many of the tasks that doctors perform, such as:
- Diagnosing injuries and illnesses
- Prescribing medication
- Developing and implementing treatment plans
- Counseling patients regarding care and treatment options
- Pre- and post-surgical care
Online physician assistant programs allow individuals to pursue a career as a physician assistant without requiring a medical degree and residency for physicians.
Why should you choose an Online Physician Assistant Program?
Earning a graduate degree is quite remarkable.
However, before embarking on such a journey, you will need to consider the time involved, cost of term, job prospects, and the return on investment, as well as whether the career choice suits your lifestyle.
Here are the top reasons for physician assistants to choose online programs:
High demand
Physician Assistants are in great demand. According to a 2018 NCCPA study, the number of PAs grew by an astonishing 54% between 2010 and 2017.
The study highlighted that the number of PAs per 100,000 people grew by as much as 25%. The Bureau of Labor Statistics terms this intense growth in the number of PAs as “much faster than average”.
High Salary
The 2022 median pay for PAs was $126,010 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Flexibility
Online physician assistant programs offer students significant flexibility to complete their degrees.
While you can complete coursework online, clinical training requirements must typically be completed in person.
Best Online Physician Assistant Programs
Now that you know the importance and benefits of these courses, let’s take a look at the top online physician assistant programs available in 2021:
1 – Doctor of Science in Physician-Assistant Studies (Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences)
The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences offers the Doctor of Science in Physician-Assistant Studies (DScPAS) program.
This doctoral-level degree trains you to be efficient at advanced healthcare trends and techniques.
This degree will help you gain the knowledge and experience required in a growing, competitive field.
This course trains PAs to collaborate effectively with other healthcare practitioners and healthcare providers.
For additional information on eligibility criteria and the admission process to the online physician assistant program, please visit the official website at: https://www.mcphs.edu/academics/school-of-physician-assistant-studies/.
2 – MPAS for already-certified PAs (Pace University)
Pace University offers the Physician Assistant Master’s Degree Completion Program. This completion program lets aspiring Physician Assistants complete their Master of Science degree (MSPA).
This Master’s Physician Assistant Completion Program is to provide additional professional skills to prepare clinically practicing PAs for handling responsibilities in research, administration and academia.
This program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
All the courses are taught online, and the program lets you enhance your professional experience and achieve your degree conveniently.
Students will benefit greatly from diverse courses, such as health promotion, epidemiology, research methods, evidence-based medicine and leadership.
For more information on eligibility criteria and the admission process, visit the official website at https://www.pace.edu/program/physician-assistant-masters-degree-completion-program-ms?college-health-professions=.
3 – Physician Assistant Program (Stony Brook School of Health Technology and Management)
The Physician Assistant Program provided by the Stony Brook School of Health Technology and Management is an excellent first step to learning more about the school’s advanced graduate-level entry and post-professional programs.
Stony Brook University’s Physician Assistant Post-Professional Master’s Program is designed to give PAs the best opportunity to enhance their academic credentials and meet new challenges in their practice.
This post-professional program is designed to deepen a student’s medical knowledge and skills beyond what is typically covered in entry-level PA programs.
This course is designed to help prepare graduates for career advancement and to become leaders in management, administration, research and education.
The advanced post-professional course helps promote professional and personal development and helps improve the services they provide to their communities and patients.
Remember, this program is meant for certified PAs only. For more information on eligibility criteria and the admission process, please visit the official website at https://healthprofessions.stonybrookmedicine.edu/programs/pa/papp/description.
4 – Physician Assistant Master’s Completion Program (Touro College School of Health Sciences)
Touro College’s School of Health Sciences offers the Physician Assistant Master’s Completion Program for graduates with a bachelor of science in physician assistant programs.
This program is aimed at graduates who wish to further their academic credentials.
The course has a 30-credit curriculum and can be completed in a year. The program schedule is flexible and cost-effective, so you can acquire your master’s degree at your convenience. Besides, the course offers extremely high-quality education through expert faculty.
The program follows an independent guided format, and the curriculum is delivered through Canvas. You can study at your own pace, according to your work schedule, and contact instructors anytime during business hours.
To learn more about eligibility criteria and the admission process, visit the official website at https://shs.touro.edu/programs/physician-assistant/pa-masters-completion/.
5 – Master in Physician Assistant Studies Bridge Program (University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley)
The University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley offers the Master in Physician Assistant Studies Bridge Program (MPAS). This course aims at bachelor-degree physician assistants to acquire a Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies.
This is a great way for physician assistants to join their community while completing their academic pursuits.
This is a completely online MPAS course that offers incredible assistance in the form of online learning, telephone conferencing and emailing with faculty and a vast online library resource.
This is an excellent way for physician assistants to earn an MPAS, which helps maximize their abilities and makes them an integral part of their community health infrastructure.
To learn more about this master’s degree, visit the college’s official website at https://www.utrgv.edu/pa/graduate-programs/master-physician-assistant-studies-bridge/index.htm.
Conclusion
These are just the top five online physician assistant programs offered by the best medical schools in the US.
We highly advise contacting the relevant department to learn the admission and curriculum details.
See Also
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