Master of Physician Assistant Studies coursework and accreditation information
The Master of Physician Assistant Studies program at UT Health San Antonio prepares physician assistants for their roles within the health care setting. Our classroom, laboratory and supervised clinical practice experiences emphasize quality care and clinical skills in the primary care setting. Our program consists of 126 credit hours of coursework and the class size is limited to a total of 45 students. The program begins in June and runs continuously for 30 months. It is composed of 14 months in the didactic lecture phase and 16 months in the clinical phase.
The second half of the program includes supervised clinical rotations that occur at sites throughout Texas. You must be prepared to be away from San Antonio for a period of time and to assume the costs of these rotations. There are a number of interprofessional educational opportunities available throughout the Physician Assistant Studies course of instruction within the School of Health Professions. Additionally, the TeamSTEPPS course of instruction is a required component of the PA studies curriculum and is embedded within PHAS 6004, Preventative Medicine and Community Health. Our students must complete a research project prior to graduation. Students who successfully complete the program receive a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (M.P.A.S.) degree. Graduates are eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) given by the National Commission for Certification of Physician Assistants. Passing the PANCE is required for licensure in all states.
Program accreditation
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC- PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued to UT Health San Antonio’s Physician Assistant Program sponsored by The University of Texas. Learn more about our accreditation.
Institutional accreditation
UT Health San Antonio is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, to award certificates and baccalaureate, master's, doctoral and professional degrees. The institution was last reviewed and reaffirmed in 2018. The institution's accreditation extends through 2028 and includes all programs offered on the institution's main campus as well as those offered at all extended program sites.
Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of UT Health San Antonio. Note: The Commission should only be contacted 1) to learn about the institution's accreditation status, 2) to file a third-party comment at the time of the institution's accreditation review, or 3) to file a complaint against the institution for alleged non-compliance with a standard or requirement. All normal inquiries about admission requirements, financial aid, educational programs, etc. should be addressed directly to UT Health San Antonio and not the Commission's office.
More Information
For more information about this program, contact the Physician Assistant Studies Department, or see the UT Health San Antonio course catalog.
210-567-4240
pastudies@uthscsa.edu