Physician Assistant Studies

Studying to be a top physician assistant (PA) is a demanding educational experience that leads to an outstanding career.

Our department offers a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies degree in a 28-consecutive month curriculum. Accredited by the ARC-PA, we graduate high quality and compassionate PAs to successfully pass their certification exam to serve their patients and communities with pride.

If you are ready for that challenge and seek to serve others, we welcome your interest. We invite you to schedule an appointment to visit upstate New York and discuss your potential as a Clarkson PA student. Each fall we host an open house for the public to meet potential incoming first year students.

What is a Physician Assistant?

Physician assistants (PAs) are health professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. PAs perform a comprehensive range of medical duties, from basic primary care to high-technology specialty procedures. PAs often act as first or second assistants in major surgery and provide pre- and postoperative care.
In some rural areas where physicians are in short supply, PAs serve as the primary providers of health care, conferring with their supervising physicians and other medical professionals as needed and as required by law. PAs can be found in virtually every medical and surgical specialty.
The PA's responsibilities depend on the type of practice, his or her experience, the working relationship with physicians and other health care providers, and state laws. There are approximately 83,600 practicing PAs in the United States. The average salary exceeds $100,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Our Programs

Undergraduate Programs

Graduate Programs

Physician Assistant Students,MS

Department of Physician Assistant Studies Mission and Goals

The mission of the Clarkson University Department of Physician Assistant Studies is to prepare exceptional, highly skilled clinicians who actively demonstrate the University's core values of teamwork, caring, integrity, diversity, service, growth and diligence while compassionately providing for the healthcare needs of their communities.

Program Goals:

Produce highly skilled and compassionate health care providers licensed to practice medicine as part of a healthcare team.
Establish student competence in medical and evidence-based research through scholarly activity.
Develop in students the professionalism, medical knowledge, and clinical skills needed to provide comprehensive care to diverse populations in a variety of clinical settings.
Instill in students the core values of Clarkson University, while fostering a commitment to community service.

Mission and Goals Measurements

CUPA Programmatic Compentencies

Physician Assistant Studies (Accreditation)

Accreditation

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Clarkson University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Clarkson University. The program's accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website, here. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.

Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be March 2025. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.