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MMSc in Physician Associate Medicine

Our program strives to cultivate knowledgeable, adaptable, and empathetic PAs who can deliver patient-centered and service-oriented care in diverse settings. By doing so, we aim to transform healthcare and benefit both individuals and communities with a faith-based mission.

Cohort Begins Fall 2025| Credits 125 | Program Length 28 months | Format In-person, full time

Earn your Master of Medical Science in Physician Associate Medicine (MMSc-PA)

Our program is dedicated to fostering skilled, adaptable, and compassionate physician associates who can provide patient-centered and service-oriented care across various environments. Through these efforts, we aim to revolutionize healthcare and positively impact individuals and communities with a mission rooted in faith. 

At PBA, our unwavering dedication to advancement in the health sciences ensures that you can participate in robust, interdisciplinary collaboration. Our clinical education is meticulously crafted to prepare you for real-world challenges, encompassing a range of experiences, including essential rotations within our local community. With a strong focus on empathy and excellence, you will emerge from PBA ready to deliver empathetic care to those who require it most. 

Program Description

PBA’s new Master of Medical Science in Physician Associate Medicine (MMSc-PA) is a comprehensive 28-month graduate program integrating faith-based principles with training for individuals pursuing certification and licensure as a physician associate (PA). Over seven consecutive academic terms, students will complete 125 graduate credits, including nine clinical rotations meticulously designed to blend didactic education with real-world clinical experiences, effectively preparing students for clinical practice focusing on diverse rotations within our local community. 

PA Medicine envisions enrolling 56 students per cohort, fostering a collaborative and enriching environment for students and faculty. PA Medicine builds upon the esteemed reputation of Palm Beach Atlantic University’s nationally recognized pre-health, nursing, pharmacy, and other health science programs. Through immersive experiential learning, integration of faith, and dedicated mentorship from our faculty, you will be equipped to deliver exceptional, patient-centered, and compassionate care to all needy individuals. 

Cohort begins each Fall.

Applications for the Fall 2025 cohort will open on March 1, 2025.

Projected seats for the Fall of 2025 are 56

See more about How to Apply on the Admissions page   

PA Medicine Mission Statement

The Mission of PA Medicine is to develop highly qualified PAs that embrace servant leadership and provide culturally competent care.  

Career potential

PA’s are in high demand—U.S. News and World Report ranks physician assistants #2 among the best healthcare jobs. As the population increases and ages, the demand for healthcare services also grows. Physician associates play a vital role in independently attending to patients and providing many of the same services as doctors. 

  • Employment outlook: 28% increase from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.
  • Median salary (2023): $130,020

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration

Student Attrition (A3.12i)

Learn more about the program’s student attrition data Student-Attrition.  

*The PA program is currently undergoing the accreditation process and has not enrolled students. Therefore, these results are not yet available. 

NCCPA Certification (A3.12c)

Upon fulfilling all curricular requirements, graduates become eligible to sit for the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). For further details about the PANCE and eligibility criteria, please visit nccpa.net.

Following the first cohort’s graduation from PA Medicine, we will provide pass rates for the NCCPA exam and detailed information on the graduates’ PANCE performance.  

 

Accreditation (A3.12a, D1.02c)

PBA will begin interviewing for the inaugural class in the Spring of 2025, and pending ARC-PA approval, the first class will matriculate on October 1, 2025.

Palm Beach Atlantic University has applied for Accreditation – Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The PA Program anticipates matriculating its first class in October 2025, pending achieving Accreditation – Provisional status at the June 2025 ARC-PA meeting. Accreditation – Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding accreditation-provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.
In the event that the Palm Beach Atlantic University’s PA Medicine Program does not achieve Accreditation-Provisional status as planned, selected students will not matriculate and will receive a full refund of deposits.

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