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 About the Career
The health care industry has experienced continued growth, despite recent economic pressures. As Americans live longer and have more health care options, the need for skilled professional health care providers will continue to increase. One of the fastest growing segments of the health care field is the Physician Assistant (PA).
PAs are able to independently see patients, under the general supervision of a physician. They are therefore able to dramatically increase the number of  patients that can be seen, diagnosed and treated by a single physician. Because of this, there is a large demand for PAs, both in established positions as well as in new positions. The PA occupation is a master’s level professional position. Here at College of Saint Mary, with our accelerated program, students entering the PA program as freshman will receive their Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and be eligible for PA certification after just five years.
Program Details
Length of Program: Five year combined Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS).
 Licensure: Upon graduation students are eligible to apply for PA certification through the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). Once certified they are eligible for licensure and practice.
Start Date: Fall 2013
Class Size: 24 students maximum at each level
Human Biology Degree: Students entering the Physician Assistant Program will graduate with a Bachelors of Science in Human Biology after four years at the college. This program is currently offered at CSM and is fully accredited. Learn more about the Human Biology Degree…
Accreditation Status: CSM is currently seeking accreditation for the graduate level component of the program through the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). CSM's PA accreditation will be considered in the spring of 2016 in time for students to take PA classes. The CSM PA program anticipates matriculating its first class in fall 2016 pending provisional accreditation. In all circumstances students will complete a baccalaureate degree in Human Biology in four years.
Progression: Must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA with no program grade below a B-.
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Admission Requirements
First-time / Full-time Freshman (High School Seniors)
· ACT ≥ 24 or SAT ≥ 550 Reading / ≥ 550 Math / and ≥ 1100 combined
· High school cumulative GPA: 3.0 or above
· Completed seven units of high school science and/or math
· Ready to enter Math 114 (College Algebra) or higher; Math ACT ≥ 24 SAT Math ≥ 560
· Ready to begin General Chemistry (CHM 110); requires completion of/or concurrent enrollment in College
Algebra (MTH 114)
· Essay
· Participation in high school extra- and co-curricular activities
· Names and contact information for three references
· Ability to comply with the CSM PA Program Technical Standards.
Transfer or Current CSM Student Admission
· Cumulative GPA: 3.4 (15 or more credits) or else use ACT scores
· No collegiate science grade below B-
· Ready to enter Math 114 (College Algebra) or higher; Math ACT ≥ 24 SAT Math ≥ 560
· Ready to begin General Chemistry (CHM 110); requires completion of/or concurrent enrollment in College
Algebra (MTH 114)
· Names and contact information for three references
· Essay
· Ability to comply with the CSM PA Program Technical Standards.
Admission Process
 Inquire Now
 Apply
 Essay/Extracurricular Activities
 Schedule A Campus Visit
 Rolling admissions decision dates: January 22, March 1 and June 10, 2013
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The CSM Physician Assistant (PA) Program anticipates matriculating its first class in fall 2016 pending provisional accreditation. Provisional accreditation is an accreditation status for a new PA program that has not yet enrolled students, but at the time of its comprehensive accreditation review, has demonstrated its spring 2016 preparedness to initiate a program in accordance with the accreditation standards.
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