Profession Overview
A Physician Assistant (PA) is a nationally certified medical provider who is licensed to diagnose and treat illness and disease and prescribe medication for patients. PAs work in physician offices, hospitals, and clinics in collaboration with a licensed physician. The physician-PA relationship is fundamental to the profession and enhances the delivery of health care.
Program Description
The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) Program is 24 months in length consisting of a 12-month didactic component followed by a 12-month supervised clinical practice experience (SCPEs). The didactic phase is comprised of classroom instruction in advanced basic sciences, clinical skills, clinical medicine, pharmacology, behavioral medicine, ethics, and research.
Advanced Standing Policy
No advanced standing is allowed in the program, regardless of previous graduate work or experience in healthcare. All incoming students must complete the entire PA curriculum.
Mission
The mission of the College of Saint Mary PA Program is to foster excellence, leadership, compassion, and inclusivity to prepare skilled, ethical, and service-driven clinicians, consistent with our core values.
Accreditation
At its June 2025 meeting, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) placed the College of St. Mary Physician Assistant Program sponsored by College of St. Mary on Accreditation-Probation status until its next review in July 2027.
Probation accreditation is a temporary accreditation status initially of not less than two years. However, that period may be extended by the ARC-PA for up to an additional two years if the ARC-PA finds that the program is making substantial progress toward meeting all applicable standards but requires additional time to come into full compliance. Probation accreditation status is granted, at the sole discretion of the ARC-PA, when a program holding an accreditation status of Accreditation - Provisional or Accreditation - Continued does not, in the judgment of the ARC-PA, meet the Standards or when the capability of the program to provide an acceptable educational experience for its students is threatened.
Once placed on probation, a program that fails to comply with accreditation requirements in a timely manner, as specified by the ARC-PA, may be scheduled for a focused site visit and is subject to having its accreditation withdrawn.
Specific questions regarding the Program and its plans should be directed to the Program Director and/or the appropriate institutional official(s).
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-college-of-st-mary/.