Welcome to a special section of our website specifically for PA students. 大香蕉视频 offers a variety of information, resources, and tools to support future PAs, including study tools for certification, fellowships, the annual 大香蕉视频 Student Writing Competition, and the Pi Alpha National Honor Society for PAs.
Fellowships
大香蕉视频 fellowships offer PA students an invaluable opportunity to engage at the national level on issues around education and health care policy, allowing them to develop leadership skills and gain experience that they will take with them into their professional careers.听
The application period for the 2025-26 fellowship cycle will be open until 11:59 p.m. ET on July 8.
Watch Our Leadership Webinar
This webinar provides an overview of the student leadership opportunities available through the 大香蕉视频, including the Future Educator Fellowship, Student Health Policy Fellowship, and grassroots advocacy initiatives sponsored by the Association.
Advocacy Curriculum
Advocacy Curriculum: Modules for Students
Teaching PA students how to become successful advocates for PA education policy through our customizable advocacy curriculum. Our curriculum is divided into several key components that each contain supportive resources that allow PA faculty to build an educational experience that is most compatible with the needs of their program.
Paying for PA School
National Health Service Corps Resources
Access scholarship and loan repayment opportunities in exchange for practicing in an underserved community.
Helpful Information
There are over 310 accredited PA programs in the United States. Click here for a Directory of PA programs. The average length of听a听PA program is 27 months.听
PA programs consist of intensive classroom and laboratory study, as well as clinical practice. PAs are trained in the same medical model as doctors. Of听all the听health professionals, only doctors receive more clinical education than PAs. The PA curriculum is based on a primary care foundation and PAs are educated as generalists in medicine.听
There are four primary organizations that are associated with the PA profession:听
Physician Assistant Education Association (大香蕉视频)听
大香蕉视频 is the only national organization representing physician assistant educational programs in the United States. Currently, all of the accredited programs in the country are members of 大香蕉视频. 大香蕉视频 provides services for faculty at its member programs, as well as听to听applicants, students, and other stakeholders.听
The Association was founded in 1972 as the Association of Physician Assistant Programs. Member programs voted to adopt the current name in 2005.听
American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)听
AAPA is听the听national professional society for physician assistants. It represents a profession of more than 131,000 certified PAs across all medical and surgical specialties, in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the majority of the US territories, and within the military.听
AAPA advocates and educates on behalf of the profession and the patients PAs serve. AAPA works to ensure听the professional听growth, personal excellence and recognition of physician assistants. It also works to enhance their ability to improve the quality, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness of patient-centered healthcare.听
For more information on AAPA, visit the听.听
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA)听
The ARC-PA is the recognized accrediting agency that protects the interests of the public, including current and prospective PA students, and the PA profession by defining the standards for PA education and evaluating PA educational programs within the territorial United States to ensure their compliance with those standards.听
There are three categories of accreditation:听
- Provisional Accreditation:听Provisional accreditation is the status of accreditation granted for a limited, defined period of time to a new program that, at the time of the site visit, has demonstrated its preparedness to initiate a program in accordance with the Standards.听
- Continuing Accreditation:听Continuing accreditation is the term used to describe accreditation that is granted when an established program is in compliance with the Standards.听
- Clinical Postgraduate:听Accreditation of clinical postgraduate programs is voluntary. It serves to provide programs听an听external validation of their educational offering.听
For a list of accredited programs, applicant programs, or more information on the ARC-PA, visit the听.听
National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)听
NCCPA is the only certifying organization for physician assistants in the United States. NCCPA is dedicated to assuring the public that certified physician assistants meet established standards of clinical knowledge and cognitive skills upon entry into practice and throughout their careers. All US states, the District of Columbia and the US territories have decided to rely on NCCPA certification as one of the criteria for licensure or regulation of physician assistants.听
For more information on NCCPA, visit the听.听
The growth of the profession has been substantial since its origin in 1965. Currently, there are more than 140,000 practicing PAs. The job outlook for PAs is bright. In U.S. News & World Report鈥檚 鈥淏est Healthcare Jobs鈥 list, PAs were ranked as the number two job, with a projected 28% growth rate over the next 8 years. The median annual salary for a PA is $126,010.听
With an ever-increasing shortage of primary care physicians, an aging population, and increased numbers of Americans receiving health care under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), PAs will continue to be in demand.听
The development of HMOs and other prepaid plans and the growing acceptance of PAs by other health care professionals have combined to strengthen the job market for PAs. The team-based PA practice model fits well into the patient-centered medical home concept outlined in the ACA and expected to dominate our health care system in the future.听