Physician Assistant, M.M.S.

The Saint Louis University physician assistant program’s Master of Medical Science (M.M.S.) is a 27-month, year-round graduate program with a rigorous full-time didactic and clinical curriculum that provides a broad medical and surgical foundation.

The primary mission of the SLU physician assistant program is to educate individuals to become competent, compassionate PAs dedicated to excellence in health care and the service of humanity.

The following are just a few of the ways the Saint Louis University PA program sets itself apart from other PA programs:

• A tradition of academic excellence, with first-time PANCE pass rates at or above the national average. Academic highlights include intentional course sequencing to promote a holistic understanding of course content, multiple hands-on laboratories, a full-dissection human gross anatomy course and activities and partnerships with health care systems in and beyond the metropolitan area, offering a wide range of clinical opportunities to students. 

• A multilayered mentoring and support system, which pairs each matriculating student with three mentors (a second-year student mentor, a faculty mentor, and a clinical mentor), and offers support and wellness services through the program and the University. 

• A mission-driven program emphasizing service to humanity, mandatory community service hours for all students and an optional service track for students who want to incorporate additional service and reflection into their PA education. 

• A joint M.M.S./M.P.H. dual-degree option for students who are passionate about pursuing both PA and public health interests and are accepted separately into both programs. 

• An active branch of the national AAPA student academy, which takes part in or leads service, legislative and social activities. 

• Dedicated, cohesive, supportive and experienced faculty and staff. 

• Over 50 years of continuous national accreditation.

As one of the first universities in the country to offer a PA program, SLU maintains a tradition of academic excellence and has earned a national reputation as a leader in PA education. The learning environment is challenging yet supportive. Educational facilities include a medical library, various lab spaces and a simulated medical office with exam rooms equipped for patient history and physical exam practice, and recording/reviewing student performance.

Traditional pre-PA tracks can be found in many Doisy College of Health Sciences (DCHS) programs. In addition, DCHS proudly offers the PA Scholars option for eligible incoming freshmen.

Graduates of SLU's PA program are eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE).

Annual NCCPA PANCE Exam Performance Summary

SLU PA Program Attrition Rates

SLU PA Program Costs

Most fees are nonrefundable despite the many reasons a student may leave the program. Tuition refunds usually cannot be granted due to the timing and sequencing of our curriculum. If, however, a tuition refund is applicable, the student will be guided through this process. Information on withdrawal and tuition and fee refunds may be found at Student Financial Aid Services.

Clinical and Service Opportunities

Clinical education is an essential and significant component of our students’ PA education. Students begin phase II, their clinical education, after completing four semesters of didactic education (phase I). Through clinical rotations in the major disciplines of medicine and surgery, PA students at SLU learn to integrate clinical knowledge and skills with active patient care. 

Additionally, in keeping with the mission of our program and the mission of Saint Louis University, all SLU PA students must complete service hours.

Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences

Saint Louis University is clinically affiliated with various healthcare systems and clinical practices in and outside the St. Louis bistate (Missouri and Illinois) metropolitan area. The program assigns clinical rotations and clerkships. PA students are assigned to St. Louis metro area rotations and are also assigned to a maximum of three out-of-town rotations. These are at least 60 miles outside of St. Louis and are typically regional, within a five-hour drive of campus. Throughout the program, including clinical rotations that are out-of-town or have a long commute, students are responsible for their transportation and housing. 

Students are not responsible for developing their own clinical sites or finding their own clinical preceptors. They may request clinical placements in locations where they have housing available, but this is not guaranteed. Students would first discuss this with the director of clinical education and then may be able to initiate contact with potential new preceptors/sites to allow the program to establish new clinical rotations. 

Saint Louis University is a member of the National Council for State Authorization and Reciprocity Act (NC-SARA), which allows students to complete a portion of their education in a different state. PA students work with clinical preceptors and actively participate in patient care in six six-week and three four-week supervised clinical practice experiences in the following disciplines:

• Clinical elective: This is a student-choice rotation in terms of medical or surgical specialty/subspecialty. Specific clinical disciplines may be chosen based on student interests or what students believe would best augment their clinical knowledge and skills.
• Emergency medicine: This clinical experience explores patient assessment and management in an emergency department setting. It includes patient care for acute and emergent encounters, emphasizing focused patient assessment, diagnosis and emergent treatment.
• Evidence-based medicine clerkship: This is a student-choice rotation in terms of the medical or surgical specialty/subspecialty. The application of evidence-based medicine in clinical practice is prioritized and documented as a part of this experience.
• Family medicine: This clinical experience allows students to gain outpatient/ambulatory primary care experience in a community setting. It includes the care of patients presenting for chronic, acute and preventative visits across various age groups.
• Surgery: Students actively participate in a surgical practice that exposes them to concepts and principles that characterize the operating room and surgical patient care. They participate in preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative care during this rotation.
• Internal medicine: This clerkship allows students to participate in inpatient (hospital-based) medical care for adult and elderly patients. It expands understanding of patient presentations, diagnostics and the complexities of disease processes and their management.
• Pediatrics: This four-week clinical rotation includes assessing and treating infants, children and adolescents with attention to acute care visits, well-baby and well-child care, preventative pediatrics and parental counseling.
• Psychiatry/behavioral medicine: This four-week clinical rotation provides a foundational patient care experience across the spectrum of mental health. It includes outpatient or inpatient settings that allow for patient assessment, treatment and management of chronic and acute behavioral health conditions.
• Women's health: This four-week clinical experience encompasses the fundamentals of obstetrics/gynecology/women's health, and may include pre-pregnancy, prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum and general gynecologic care.

Community Service and Joanna May Service Scholars

Providing community service allows students to live out SLU’s Jesuit values and the program's mission during their PA education. All SLU PA students must complete service hours, document their experience and complete a reflection paper about it. 

Additionally, the program offers an elevated service experience for students who wish to create a larger impact. The Joanna May Service Scholars is an optional track for those who wish to provide stronger contributions within the community, as well as additional reflection on the benefits that service provides individually and for the greater good. In keeping with the Jesuit value of being men and women for others, JMSS encourages the development of future providers who are deeply rooted in service. 

JMSS members complete a minimum of 50 service hours throughout their time in the program and engage in additional elements. Students coordinate and participate in a PA day-of-service and other activities. Students also showcase their involvement in the community and reflect on their experiences during the clinical year.

Certification and Licensure

PAs are certified nationally and licensed by the state. After graduation from an ARC-PA accredited program, PA graduates can sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE). The PANCE is administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, the nationally recognized certification organization for PAs. 

NCCPA assures high standards in the profession and provides the patient/consumer with safeguards and the employer with evidence of competency. Saint Louis University PA program graduates have consistently performed at or above the national average on the PANCE. 

National certification via NCCPA is required for clinical practice as a PA. Certified PAs are also required to demonstrate continued competency with mandatory ongoing continuing education and successful completion of the national PA recertification exam every 10 years. 

State licensure is also required for clinical practice as a PA. Specific requirements for licensure vary by state. Note: Many state regulatory and governing organizations will not grant a license, registration or other professional practice documents if one has been convicted of a felony, or in some cases, a misdemeanor. Prospective applicants are encouraged to consult the state licensing organization and the NCCPA for more detailed information before applying.

Careers

The PA profession is thriving with a positive growth outlook and high rankings on many "best careers" polls. PAs work in all medical and surgical specialties and in hospitals, clinics and other settings. PAs obtain histories, perform physical exams, order diagnostic tests and imaging, interpret the results, diagnose and treat illnesses, counsel and educate patients, assist in surgery and prescribe medications.

Admission Requirements

Since there are many applicants interested in PA education and there are a limited number of students who can be accepted, admission to SLU's PA program is highly competitive. Those who meet minimum requirements only are unlikely to be successful applicants. 

Baccalaureate Degree

Applicants to SLU's PA program should possess or be on track to a baccalaureate degree earned by the May prior to matriculation. An exception may be considered if students will earn an August degree, have completed all prerequisites and have three credits or fewer to complete during the summer.

Sufficient GPA and Prerequisite Coursework

Applicants must have a science GPA of least 3.00 and an overall GPA of at least 3.00. These are minimum GPAs only, and the GPAs of successful applicants are typically greater than 3.60, depending on the overall application.

Prerequisite coursework includes:

• Medical terminology (1-3 credits)
• Statistics (3 credits) *science-based statistics is preferred
• College chemistry I and II (8 credits)
• Organic chemistry I and II (6-8 credits)
• Microbiology (3-4 credits)
• Vertebrate or human anatomy (3-4 credits)
• Vertebrate or human physiology (3-4 credits)
• A combined Anatomy and Physiology I and II (6-8 credits) will be accepted in place of separate anatomy and physiology courses.
• Genetics (3-4 credits)

Students cannot transfer into the PA program. No advanced placement is allowed for any coursework, degree or experience.

The GRE general test is not required. All prerequisite coursework must be completed by the May prior to matriculation. All science prerequisite courses must be those for science majors. If offered, accompanying laboratories are highly recommended. Only grades of C or better are acceptable for prerequisite courses; grades of C- or below are NOT accepted and grades of B or better are preferred. Prerequisite coursework should be completed within seven years of application. Coursework at a four-year college or university is recommended. 

Patient Care Experience

PA program applicants must have acquired a minimum of 500 hours of patient care experience by the time they submit the CASPA application. Hours earned after this, regardless of when the file is reviewed by the PA admissions committee, are not considered. This experience varies and can be acquired on a full- or part-time basis. The program critically assesses the complexities of the position(s) held and the duties required and ranks applicants accordingly.

Paid direct patient care experience requiring specialized training and/or certification is most competitive. Depending on job specifics, emergent or inpatient experience is typically ranked more highly than outpatient work or long-term care experience. Successful candidates may have experience in any category, though. For example, a background as an RN or physical therapist would be ranked more highly than a scribe. Examples of typical work experience include CNA, EMT, scribe, medical assistant, or patient care technician, but vary widely.  The average successful applicant has over 2,000 hours of healthcare experience.

Unless you are already closely working with a PA, shadowing a PA is recommended but does not count toward health care experience. Only 100 student clinical hours (obtained while fulfilling the required components of an educational program or course), if accepted, can count toward the 500 hours of health care experience needed. Only 250 volunteer clinical hours, if accepted, can count towards the 500-hour minimum. Paid healthcare experience is considered more competitive than student and/or volunteer clinical experience.

Background Checks and Drug Testing

Students admitted to the PA program are required to obtain a criminal background check and undergo drug testing prior to matriculation and during the program. A positive background check or drug screen could have significant consequences for the student, including forfeiture of any or all classes of clinical rotations and/or inability to complete the program. The potential to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) may also be impacted.

Additionally, many state regulatory and governing organizations will not grant a license, registration or other similar professional practice documents if there is a positive criminal background check or drug screen.

Application Process

Apply through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) between mid-April and Nov. 1. The SLU PA supplemental application, found in the CASPA Program Materials section, must also be completed during the same time frame. CASPA will not send your application materials without the completion of this section. Payment for the supplemental application processing fee of $45 is made by going to SLU Marketplace.

Applications completed and verified by CASPA will not be reviewed without the supplemental fee or appropriate fee waiver.

A limited number of processing fee waivers are available for applicants experiencing severe financial hardship. To be considered for a fee waiver, applicants must email a request to pasupplemental@slu.edu. The request should outline the reasons for the request and the nature of the financial hardship. Requests must be emailed by July 31 to be considered.

Three letters of reference submitted to CASPA should be from people who know applicants well, either professionally or academically, such as a job supervisor, professor or academic adviser. Although CASPA completes an application with only two letters of reference, the SLU PA program requires three letters of reference.

Application Deadline

The CASPA application cycle begins in April each year. Our program begins application reviews by June 1. It is highly recommended to submit all application materials by August 1, as applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. 

Applications close November 1, meaning that applications must be completely VERIFIED by CASPA by November 1. Due to this verification process, it is recommended that applications are submitted to CASPA by October 15 to meet the November 1 deadline. Completed applications are reviewed in the order applications are received.

PA Scholars Program

Saint Louis University offers the PA Scholars program. This is a competitive process for those applying to be SLU freshmen. PA Scholars are guaranteed an interview for admission into the PA program their senior year. Scholars must complete an undergraduate degree from SLU and adhere to specified program criteria.

Requirements for International Degree Holders

Graduates of an international college or university, with the exception of Canadian institutions, must have a minimum of 30 credits, or 10 courses, of college coursework from an accredited US university or college and must meet all prerequisites. Full-time enrollment in a four-year institution is recommended, but community college coursework is accepted. In-person course work is preferred. The US coursework must include: Organic Chemistry I and II, Human Anatomy and Physiology (or A&P I and A&P II), and a minimum of three social/behavioral courses to include Psychology (with other options such as Sociology, Anthropology, History, etc.).

International medical graduates with 500 hours of health care experience outside of the United States must also acquire at least 250 hours of patient care experience in the United States by the time of application.

Applicants whose native language is other than English are required to take the TOEFL® Internet-based Test by Nov. 1. A combined minimum score of 100 is required, along with minimum component scores of 22-Reading, 22-Listening, 26-Speaking and 24-Writing. Scores should be submitted to CASPA and to the PA Program. The school code is R6629. The department code for health science is 0601.

Interview Process

Between September and January, there are typically six interview days scheduled with 16-20 applicants invited for each date. Interviews for highly qualified applicants will be extended no more than 3-4 weeks prior to a scheduled interview date. It is not unusual for applicants to be invited much closer to the interview date. Interviews are conducted via Zoom or in person, depending on the preference of the applicant and space available. There is no preference given for applicants who interview in person or via Zoom. Offers for acceptance into the program are made 2-3 weeks after each interview date.

Tuition

 For more details on total PA expenses and fees, please see above link "SLU PA Program Costs."

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Net Price Calculator

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The PA program offers several scholarships to students within the program. These include:

• The David Wagner Scholarship, typically awarded to three students in their second or fifth semesters of the program. 
• The Joanna May Service Scholarship, offered each fall to a newly matriculating student who has demonstrated commitment to service.
• A Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship, offered each fall to a newly matriculating student who has demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion. 
• A Clinical Housing Scholarship, offered to students in the clinical year of the program who have unusual expenses for travel and housing required for clinical rotations. 

For more information about Saint Louis University scholarships and financial aid, please visit the Office of Student Financial Services.

Accreditation

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Saint Louis University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Saint Louis University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.

Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be June 2033. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-saint-louis-university/.

Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)
3325 Paddocks Parkway, Suite 345
Suwanee, GA 30024
770-476-1224
arc-pa.org

Program Competencies

Students matriculating in the Saint Louis University physician assistant program undertake a difficult, rewarding and life-changing journey. The SLU PA program competencies help prepare students for this responsibility and correlate with entry-level PA practice expectations. Students work toward attaining the program competencies as they progress through the curriculum. 

A summative evaluation of each student occurs in the last few months of the program. It is an assessment that determines whether every student has met each of the program competencies and is ready for graduation and the transition from PA student to practicing PA. 

SLU PA Program Competencies

Program Goals/Learning Outcomes

Prior to graduation from the physician assistant program, each PA student will: 

1. Accurately demonstrate the medical knowledge and clinical skills necessary to provide effective patient care. 
2. Demonstrate appropriate critical reasoning skills in the evaluation and management of patients. 
3. Integrate key components of professional behavior, including communication skills, ethical behavior, reliability, and respect for patients and colleagues from all walks of life. 
4. Demonstrate an understanding of Jesuit values such as cura personalis and magis as they serve patients and their communities.

Effectiveness in Meeting Program Goals

The SLU PA program has a long and rich history of excellence in didactic and clinical PA education. The program goals interact within the context of the program mission and broadly capture many of the details and components that come together to create our program's curricular and operational framework. Program competencies, learning outcomes and instructional objectives are interwoven as part of the support for this framework. Information about our SLU PA program goals and success in meeting them is outlined here: Outline of SLU PA Program Effectiveness in Meeting Program Goals 

Withdrawal from any course or modification of the curricular sequence of the PA program is not permitted except as part of an approved leave of absence. If, for any reason a student needs to request a leave of absence, the student should schedule a meeting with the PA program director. The student will be guided through the University process for leave of absence and course withdrawal with help from program faculty and staff.

Despite potential reasons for leaving the program, most fees are non-refundable. Tuition refunds usually cannot be granted due to the timing and sequencing of our curriculum. If, however, a tuition refund is applicable, the student will be guided through this process as well. Information on withdrawal and tuition and fee refunds may be found at Student Financial Aid Services.

Enrollment in the physician assistant program is full-time. This roadmap outlines the required semester-by-semester plan of study. 

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Program Notes

Phase I

The didactic phase of the PA program consists of four semesters of preclinical lectures, small group discussions, laboratory sessions and demonstrations. The student studies the basic medical sciences like anatomy and physiology, as well as applied behavioral sciences and clinical medicine. Educational material is presented through organ-system-based courses and population/discipline-based courses that support integrating complex disease processes with diagnosis and treatment. Rather than discrete courses in pathophysiology and physical examination, the curriculum integrates these components within the courses. Among other things, phase I coursework incorporates patient assessment, clinical documentation, risk assessment, interpretation of labs, diagnostics and imaging/studies and patient plan/management/ treatment. It also includes clinical procedures courses across three semesters and a clinical reasoning course prior to the start of phase II.

Phase II

The clinical phase of the PA program includes rotations in internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, emergency medicine, women’s health, family medicine, psychiatry/behavioral medicine and two rotations in clinical specialties of each student’s choice — clinical elective and EBM clerkship. The PA program assigns sites and preceptors for phase II and a maximum of three out-of-town assigned rotations is required (students are responsible for all transportation and housing). 

Students are not responsible for developing their own clinical sites or finding their own clinical preceptors. While working under the supervision of a clinical preceptor, students actively participate in the daily care of patients and will interact with patients of all ages, backgrounds and medical conditions. 

With their clinical preceptor, students may function as integral members of a medical or surgical team. They may also serve one-on-one with a preceptor, depending on the rotation. Students complete rotations in many settings and sites for broad clinical exposure. This includes experiences in medically underserved, rural, urban, suburban settings, the Department of Veterans Affairs and in sites providing emergency, inpatient, outpatient and operating room experience.

For additional admission questions please contact:

Julie Miller
Recruitment specialist
314-977-2570
dchs@health.slu.edu