All credits for the Master of Medical Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies must be earned at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University. The PA program will not accept credit hours earned from other PA programs, graduate programs or medical schools.

Learn more about student attrition rates.

A physician assistant, also referred to as a PA, is a nationally certified and state licensed medical professional. PAs practice medicine on healthcare teams with physicians and other providers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and the uniformed services.

The United States is currently facing a shortage of healthcare professionals, and PAs are needed to fill the void. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is projected that the PA field will grow at a rate of 28% from 2021 to 2031, which translates into 38,400 new jobs for PAs. Currently, the PA profession is ranked as #4 in the best 100 jobs in the nation per U.S. News & World Report.