Why Should You Get a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies?
The Master of Science in PA Studies (MSPAS) at Pacific University is designed to prepare graduates for entry level practice as a PA, with an emphasis on providing healthcare services in primary care settings.
Training includes didactic phase (classroom) followed by clinical phase (including clinical rotations). It is completed over seven consecutive semesters over 27 months.
The didactic phase of the PA Studies program takes place on the health sciences campus in Hillsboro, Oregon. Our innovative curriculum is delivered through modular courses, includes frequent group testing, and has a Pass/No Pass grading system to facilitate collaboration and mastery of content. It also routinely utilizes simulation labs and standardized patients to better prepare students for patient care experiences that occur in the clinical phase.
PA students can also self-select into The Rural and Underserved Service Track (TRUST) which provides additional training to prepare for a career in rural and global healthcare.
At the end of the didactic phase, PA Studies students complete a graduate project which further prepares them to become critically thinking clinicians who can effectively respond to the ever-changing demands of the healthcare system.
The MSPAS is travel program with clinical sites located throughout the United States. Students also have the option of selecting an international community medicine rotation as their elective. These opportunities enable students to experience the delivery of care across a variety of settings and cultures.
What Can You Do with a MSPA Degree?
In compliance with the Department of Education, 34 CFR 668.43, students who graduate from the Pacific University School of PA Studies with an MSPA degree are eligible to take the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). Successfully passing the PANCE is recognized as “certification” of the physician assistant in all 50 U.S. states, and confers the designation of PA-C.
The PA program at Pacific University has a first time PANCE pass rate at or above the national average from 2019-2024. During this same timeframe 100% of candidates ultimately passed PANCE, with the exception of the Class of 2022 when the pass rate was 98%.
PAs are listed as the fifth fastest growing profession in the United States according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pacific graduates with a MSPA degree have robust career prospects as PA employment is projected to grow 31% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. The PA profession is number three in U.S. News Top 10 Jobs of 2022. Data from the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) 2021 Salary Report lists the national median salary for all PAs to be approximately $115,000.
The Rural and Underserved Service Track (TRUST)
Pacific University alumni are more than twice as likely to work in rural areas or medically underserved communities than their peers nationally. The Rural and Underserved Service Track (TRUST) prepares Pacific physician assistant studies students to work with these populations. The track includes small group sessions during the didactic phase of study, as well as dedicated clinical rotations in an underserved community. Students who choose to complete the track also have priority access to international rotation options.
Outreach Initiatives
Pacific University is committed to supporting the needs of vulnerable and underserved communities through healthcare. This commitment is tied to both our admissions and clinical experience opportunities. The Pacific PA program offers special admissions opportunities for students from Hawai‘i and students who are veterans.
Interprofessional Education
Pacific’s PA program provides opportunities for students to explore models of person-centered healthcare and gain the skills to practice in a changing healthcare environment. Students who choose to pursue interprofessional experiences beyond what is required by their degree program can earn the Concentration in Interprofessional Education, offered by the College of Health Professions. This formal recognition is documented on transcripts as a specialization, indicating that students have gained specific competencies in interprofessional education.
Pacific was the right choice for me. It is everything I wished it would be and more. The pass-fail system really supports a cooperative learning environment as opposed to a competitive one. The faculty and staff are incredibly supportive and receptive to feedback. I also really enjoy that Pacific, as well as Oregon, are on the cutting edge for medical education and practice. After graduation I hope to serve kiddos and their families from rural or underserved communities!
— Mariah H. '23
Leah Baldwin | Director of Graduate and Professional Enrollment Operations
Hillsboro Campus | 503-352-7224 | leahbaldwin@pacificu.edu
The Pacific University School of PA Studies is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). It has earned accreditation-continued status, with the next validation review expected in June 2027. Graduates are eligible to take the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE). Accreditation information can be found here.
This program meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in these U.S. states and territories. View additional student data and program results. Student learning outcomes and additional curriculum information is available in the academic catalog.
