Years of Schooling Required to Become a Physician Assistant (PA):
7-8 years of education
- Undergraduate Preparation (~4 years);
- Physician Assistant Program (~3 years);
- Residency (~1 year, optional).
Many schools require a bachelor’s degree. Although not all schools require a bachelor’s degree for admission, few applicants are admitted without one. For those schools that do not require a bachelor’s degree, earning a bachelor’s degree is highly recommended. Admission into PA programs is highly competitive, and a bachelor’s degree significantly strengthens applicants' applications and provides applicants with greater options for advancement and career opportunities.
Degree Conferred
Upon graduation from a PA program, students are awarded a master’s degree such as:
- Master of Science (MS)
- Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
- Master of Medical Science (MMS)
Some programs offer bachelor’s degrees and certificates, although the master’s is the most common degree awarded. All master’s degrees are equivalent with respect to licensure and professional practice.
Matriculation Statistics
|
Applicants |
Matriculants |
Percentage of Applicants that Matriculate |
| 2023 |
|
|
|
| National Applicants |
31,304 |
12,664 |
40% |
| UH Mānoa Applicants |
32 |
15 |
46.88% |
| 2022 |
|
|
|
| National Applicants |
29,906 |
12,008 |
40% |
| UH Mānoa Applicants |
34 |
14 |
41% |
| 2021 |
|
|
|
| National Applicants |
30,197 |
11,191 |
37% |
| UH Mānoa Applicants |
35 |
11 |
31% |
Based on data acquired by the National Association of Academic Advisors for Health Professions (NAAHP).
Physician Assistant Programs in Hawaiʻi:
The MEDEX Northwest PA Program has a new campus in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi and offers a Masterʻs of Clinical Health Services degree. MEDEX Northwest is part of the University of Washington School of Medicine, which serves Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho (the WWAMI medical education region), as well as Hawaiʻi. The MEDEX Kona campus looks specifically to matriculate candidates with strong connections to Hawaiʻi, particularly those native to the state.
Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) has a new PA Program (accepting applications in 2024) on 'Oahu and offers a Masterʻs of Medical Science degree. HPU's program will be a full-time 24-month program that is a combination of both remote and in-person learning. The HPU PA program looks specifically to matriculate candidates with strong connections to Hawaiʻi, particularly those native to the state.
*Please note that the prerequisites for MICR 351/L are BIOL 171 and CHEM 272/L at UHM. BIOL 275/L are recommended for MICR 351.
If you are planning on taking a chemistry or math course for the first time, please make sure to fulfill the placement exam requirement prior to registration at UHM.
Pacific University's (PU) Hawai‘i Outreach Initiative (HOI) is both an admissions advantage and a clinical rotation advantage in Hawai’i. PU will extend interview invitations to the top 5 scoring HOI applicants annually.
To qualify, applicants must demonstrate a strong connection to Hawai’i in one or more of the following ways: current address, permanent address, high school diploma, college diploma, driver’s license, and/or Native Hawaiian ancestry.
If applicants from Hawai‘i are admitted, they will complete their didactic phase in Hillsboro, Oregon. HOI students will have a preference for the available clinical rotations in Hawai‘i.
There is no separate application for the HOI. Students are initially identified through their application materials and their stated commitment, on the Supplemental Application, to return to Hawai‘i following graduation to work as a PA. PU accepts medical scribing for direct patient care hours! Please click here to view accepted activities for this requirement.
Please contact PU Graduate if you have any questions.
The Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program seeks to address access to healthcare by developing a Native Hawaiian healthcare workforce of professionals committed to serving the unique health needs of communities in Hawaiʻi. If you are Native Hawaiian and interested in serving in medically underserved areas in Hawai'i after graduation, you may be interested in this opportunity. The program recruits and nurtures professionals in training for primary healthcare disciplines and specialties most needed to deliver quality, culturally competent health services to Native Hawaiians throughout the State of Hawai‘i.
Students may take a gap year after graduating with their undergraduate degree. A “gap year” is the period of time between the end of your undergraduate education and the start of your professional school. A gap year might be a year or more depending on each person’s particular circumstances. Students may choose to participate in longer-term engagement activities during their gap year. Taking a gap year would change when to apply to professional school, please see a PAC peer advisor to help you plan when to apply and fit in a gap year experience.
There are a large number of Post-Baccalaureate and Special Master's Programs offered across the nation. Although these programs vary greatly in terms of degree offerings, course curriculum, and program duration, they are all geared to help students in preparation for professional school by taking relevant graduate-level courses or to meet the necessary prerequisite courses for their intended program.
Combined Degree Programs
Many physician assistant programs offer combined degree programs: MS/MBA to combine medicine with business administration; MS/MPH to combine medicine with public health; and so on. Combined degrees can be offered concurrently, sequentially, or in combination, and often extend the number of years in PA school.
