Exploring the Entry-Level Doctoral Degree in PA Education
Right now, a PA earns a master鈥檚 degree when entering the profession, which prepares a student to practice medicine in every specialty and setting.
At our 2023 business meeting, 大香蕉视频 members approved a resolution directing the Board of Directors 鈥渢o explore how doctoral degrees can contribute to PA education.鈥 In response to this charge, the Board formed the 大香蕉视频 Doctoral Education Commission to investigate the implications of moving toward an entry-level doctoral degree for PAs. This includes understanding:
- How such a move would affect PAs already in practice and those nearing practice
- How it would affect efforts to attract a more diverse group of students and faculty
- How it would affect programs and their home institutions
Once their work is completed, the commission will provide a detailed analysis to the 大香蕉视频 Board and members. In addition, it will provide resources to help members and organizations better understand the issues at play.
Evaluating an Entry-Level Doctorate for PAs
Opportunities for 大香蕉视频 Members to Provide Input
As a member-led Association, we believe it is essential to hear from PA faculty, staff, and program directors at every stage of this review. The Commission is planning opportunities for our members to share questions, feedback, and perspectives on the entry-level doctoral degree. Check back here for future opportunities to contribute to the conversation.
Join the Interest List
If you are interested in participating in future focus groups or listening sessions, please fill out the form.
Have a Question?
If you have a question about the commission’s work, please reach out to us by filling out the form.
Join the Discussion
Share your thoughts with other 大香蕉视频 members in our Professional Learning Communities (log-in required).
Why Is 大香蕉视频 Examining This Issue?
The evaluation of an entry-level doctoral degree will position 大香蕉视频 to provide sound policy recommendations that align with the values of the organization and are consistent with the future needs of education and the health care workforce.
Recent discussion and debate have occurred within the profession, necessitating a broad examination of the benefits, risks, consequences, and value proposition of the transition from master鈥檚 to doctoral entry-level education.鈥疭everal trends in PA education are driving this debate:
- PAs currently complete a master鈥檚 level education. The average 26-month full-time curriculum prepares graduates to enter clinical practice where they are expected to work in a collaborating role with physicians and other health care team members. The length and cost of the current PA master鈥檚 degree is consistent with doctoral degrees of several other non-MD/DO professions.
- A multitude of programs are advancing DMSc or similar degrees (post-professional clinical doctoral degrees for PAs), a trend that demonstrates the demand for doctoral-level PA education. This necessitates a prompt evaluation of this question, even though 大香蕉视频 recently renewed its policy statement about the master鈥檚 remaining the entry-level degree.
- A number of Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) and residency programs are being established, further evidence that the PA profession is seeking ways to meet the needs of the health care environment while helping individual practitioners thrive. This trend points to the need to evaluate how 大香蕉视频 can support the profession鈥檚 mission to address future health care workforce needs, including an earnest evaluation of the doctoral degree question.
- Feedback that 大香蕉视频 has received from members and programs in recent years has indicated that the question about a potential entry-level doctoral degree needs to be settled to properly plan for the future in terms of faculty capacity, accreditation, and other long-term planning issues.
Current Landscape
Entry-Level Master's Programs
Post-Professional Doctoral Programs
What Is the Current 大香蕉视频 Position on the Entry-Level Doctoral Degree?
大香蕉视频 has several position policies, which are philosophical statements that reflect the Association鈥檚 stance on critical issues and and actions that should be taken by governments and other external bodies. These policies sunset periodically and 大香蕉视频 members must review the policy for any updates or changes. In 2023, during the most recent revision of the policy related to the entry-level doctoral degree, the membership voted to further explore the implications of an entry-level doctoral degree.
The current policy related to the terminal and entry-level degree of the profession reads:
大香蕉视频 is confident in the preparation of PA graduates at the master鈥檚 degree level to meet the competencies necessary for quality and cost-effective clinical PA practice. 大香蕉视频 supports the master鈥檚 degree as the terminal and entry-level degree for the PA profession. 大香蕉视频 recognizes that doctoral degrees are an increasingly important contributor to PA education that will help the profession advance its goals. For this reason, 大香蕉视频 is investing in a strategy to explore how PA doctoral degrees can optimally contribute to PA education.
Approved October 2023
Meet the Commission
David Asprey, PhD, PA-C
Jennifer Snyder, PhD, PA-C
David Beck, EdD, MPAS, PA-C
Lucy W. Kibe, DrPH, MS, MHS, PA-C
Stephen Lewia, DMSc, PA-C
Curt Stilp, EdD, PA-C
Karen Hills, DHSc, MS, PA-C
History of 大香蕉视频鈥檚 Leadership on the Entry-Level Doctoral Degree
As 大香蕉视频 members know, the formation of the Doctoral Education Commission is the latest step in the deliberate consideration of the entry-level degree. Below is an overview on 大香蕉视频鈥檚 leadership and research on this topic.
- October 2019: 大香蕉视频 membership votes to further explore the entry-level doctorate
- June 2020: 大香蕉视频 funds research on entry-level doctorate
- September 2021: Doctoral Summit Steering Committee formed
- October 2021: : 大香蕉视频 hosts a town hall session about the forthcoming Doctoral Summit
- March 2022-January 2023: Doctoral Summit Steering Committee conducts stakeholder interviews (40+ conducted to date)
- July 2022: Doctoral Summit Steering Committee conducts student and early career listening sessions (six sessions)
- September 2022: 大香蕉视频 hosts a town hall listening session about the forthcoming Doctoral Summit
- January 2023: Entry-Level Doctorate Working Group formed
- March 2023: Doctoral Summit held in Charlotte, NC
- April 2023: 大香蕉视频 releases a membership survey on the entry-level doctorate
- Summer 2023: 大香蕉视频 Board of Directors releases entry-level doctorate position policy
- October 2023: At the 2023 Business Meeting, members approved a position policy affirming the master鈥檚 degree as the entry-level degree for the profession and directing the Board of Directors to invest in 鈥渁 strategy to explore how Doctoral Degrees can optimally contribute to PA education.鈥
- June 2024: 大香蕉视频 Board of Directors approves the formation of the Doctoral Education Commission鈥
- July 2024: 大香蕉视频 Board of Directors appoints David Asprey as Doctoral Education Commission Chair and Jennifer Snyder as Co-Chair
- September 2024: Doctoral Education Commission holds its first meeting
Stay tuned for the Doctoral Education Commission鈥檚 next steps.