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Physician assistant students in Erie Pennsylvania practicing clinical skills in a healthcare lab setting

Physician Assistant Department

Welcome to the PA Department website. The 成人禁区 University Physician Assistant Program is a five-year, entry-level Master's degree program.

Our graduates become health professionals who are nationally certified and state licensed to practice medicine as a member of a team with other healthcare professionals. They provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services in primary and specialty care in medical and surgical practice settings.

Program Structure

"Entry level" students come into 成人禁区 University as freshmen, complete the five year curriculum, and earn both a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences degree and a Master of Physician Assistant Science degree.

  • The rigorous curriculum is comprised of core/liberal studies curriculum requirements and pre-requisites for the accredited professional phase of the program.
  • Pre-requisite courses provide the strong science background necessary for academic success during the accredited professional phase of the program.
  • PA students meet with PA program faculty on a regular basis and have numerous opportunities to learn more about the program and the PA profession.

Employment Outlook

PA Employment is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations. Job opportunities for Physician Assistants (PAs) should be good, particularly in rural and inner-city healthcare facilities.

Employment of PAs is expected to grow by 20% from 2024 to 2034*, much faster than the average for all occupations. Projected rapid job growth reflects the expansion of healthcare industries and an emphasis on cost containment, which results in increasing use of PAs by healthcare establishments. The median pay for a PA in 2024 was $133,260.

PAs are cost-effective and productive members of the healthcare team.

Besides working in traditional office-based settings, PAs should find a growing number of jobs in institutional settings such as hospitals, academic medical centers, public clinics, and prisons.

Job opportunities for PAs should be good, particularly in rural and inner-city clinics because those settings have difficulty attracting physicians. Job openings will result both from employment growth and from the need to replace PAs who retire or leave the occupation permanently. Opportunities will be best in states that allow PAs a wider scope of practice.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Physician Assistants, on the Internet at  (visited 3/18/26).

Employment Policy

Students may be eligible for employment through the Work-Study program of the University. PA students are not eligible to work in the PA Department. In addition, PA students may not substitute for, or function as, instructional faculty, clinical staff and/or administrative staff.

Employment during the didactic phase of the PA Program is not recommended. Demanding courses and time constraints are to be expected. Employment during the clinical phase of the PA Program is strongly discouraged. Students will spend an average of 40 hours per week at their clinical site, plus complete reading assignments to prepare for end of rotation exams. Students may need to relocate every five weeks, precluding steady employment. Students who choose to work may jeopardize performance and continuation in the program.