Physician Assistant Studies

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the University of North Texas Health Science Center Physician Assistant Program sponsored by the University of North Texas Health Science Center. 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remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards.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 September, 2024.  The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy. The UNTHSC program’s Accreditation Actions History can be accessed on the ARC-PA website. 

Forty-eight states and The District of Columbia Physician Assistant and/or Medical Licensure Boards recognize the Masters of Physician Assistant Studies Degree from an Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) accredited physician assistant program as fulfilling the academic requirements for PA  licensure. Minnesota and North Dakota do not require the degree, but do require passage of the PA National Certification Examination (PANCE) produced by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).  Applicants must graduate from an ARC-PA approved PA program to be eligible to take the PANCE. The ARC-PA, maintains national accreditation standards for physician assistant programs. The UNTHSC PA program is ARC-PA accredited and program graduates are eligible to take the PA National Certification Examination after successfully completing the program.

The mission of the Program is to create solutions for a healthier community by preparing graduates with knowledge and skills needed for physician assistant practice, emphasizing primary care medicine and meeting the healthcare needs of underserved populations.

Program Goals 2024

Goal 1: Graduates will demonstrate knowledge needed for PA Practice by achieving acceptable mean scores on the PANCE.

 Goal 2: Graduates will contribute to solving the healthcare workforce needs.

Goal 3: Students will demonstrate professional behaviors for clinical interactions in the PA program.

Goal 4: Students and alumni will report satisfaction in the quality of the PA program.

All students enrolled in the Physician Assistant Studies Program curriculum must meet certain health and technical standards in order to fully participate in the educational programs contained in the curriculum.

See Health and Technical Standards

Expected Physician Assistant Competencies

Medical Knowledge

• Apply knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, genetics and molecular mechanisms of disease to medical conditions
• Create a pharmacologic treatment plan suitable to the acuity of the condition
• Construct a patient-specific disease prevention plan that emphasizes lifestyle choices, complementary and alternative treatment options, screening recommendations, and disease prevention
• Interpret current and credible sources of medical information 

Interpersonal skills

• Utilize effective communication skills to establish therapeutic relationships with patients, their families, and support systems
• Provide effective patient-centered education
• Communicate professionally within the interprofessional healthcare team

Clinical Skills

• Obtain a thorough patient history
• Perform a thorough physical examination
• Present a patient encounter in an organized and concise manner to other healthcare professionals

Technical Skills

• Accurately document the full scope of a clinical encounter that satisfies requirements for medical, legal, quality and financial purposes
• Perform clinical procedures with technical accuracy

Clinical Reasoning & Problem Solving

• Differentiate normal from abnormal physical exam findings as part of the clinical decision-making process
• Utilize all available clinical information to develop and refine a differential diagnosis
• Interpret diagnostic study results as part of the clinical problem-solving process
• Utilize available clinical and patient information to create a patient-management plan
• Determine patient disposition with regard to both the clinical setting, patient situation, and need for referral/consultation

Professional Behaviors

• Perform as a dependable member of the interprofessional healthcare team
• Treat all patients equally

Societal Responsibility

• Communicate to diverse patient populations with cultural humility and responsiveness
• Identify social determinants that contribute to healthcare disparities

• TAPA
• AAPA
• NCCPA
• TMB
• PA Jobs

To see a breakdown of Cost of Attendance (COA), tuition and fees, click here.

The COA is based on anticipated enrollment of 10 credit hours for summer, 20 credit hours for fall, and 20 credit hours for spring. The Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of a student’s educational expenses. Since the COA is based on average costs, your actual expenses may be different. To help determine your actual tuition and fee charges, you can view the Tuition and Fee Link at 
https://unthscstaging.wpengine.com/tuition-and-fees/

*The COA is based on anticipated enrollment of 18 credit hours for fall, and 18 credit hours for spring.
**The COA is based on anticipated enrollment of 10 credit hours for summer, 20 credit hours for fall, and 20 credit hours for spring.
***The COA is based on anticipated enrollment of 10 credit hours for summer, 18 credit hours for fall, and 18 credit hours for spring.

All fees are subject to change.

Requirements for Graduation

Students who have met all course requirements and have been recommended for graduation may be awarded the Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree provided they meet all of the conditions listed below:

1. Have satisfactorily completed all academic requirements of the Physician Assistant Studies Program
2. Have complied with all legal and financial requirements of the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth.
3. Have exhibited the ethical, professional, behavioral, and personal characteristics necessary for practice as a PA.
4. Have completed and returned to the Physician Assistant Studies Program or the Office of the Registrar all graduation forms and paperwork required by the Physician Assistant Studies Program and the institution.
5. Have met other time limits listed below:
6. 1. The maximum time limit for completing all graduation requirements is seventy-two (72) months.
   2. Rarely, students may be required to meet additional requirements to meet other health science center, state, or national regulations.

Students who do not fulfill all graduation requirements by the day of graduation will not be allowed to participate in commencement ceremonies without permission of the Dean (or designee). Students will not be considered graduates in any capacity until they have successfully completed all graduation requirements.