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SIUC PA PROGRAM

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What degree does your program offer?

            We offer a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPA) as well as a Master’s Completion Program (MCP) via distance learning. 

How long is the program?

            MSPA  -  26 months

            MCP  -  12 months

How many students do you accept each year?

            30

When do students start the program?

            MSPA  -  Approximately, late May or early June, each year.

            MCP  -  Fall Semester each year unless arranged with the program.

Can I start at a later date?

            For the MSPA, no.  All students begin the Program on the same date.

            For the MCP, by arrangement with the PA Program

What qualities are you looking for in applicants?

For the MSPA, the most academically and experientially qualified students will be invited to participate in formal interview sessions.  Preference is given to those applicants with health care experience, exceptional academic performance, considerable PA-C shadowing, and those from rural areas.  Selection of candidates for admission to the PA Program will be made by a full committee review following the applicants’ interviews.

For the MCP, an applicant must be NCCPA certified, work in a clinical position and hold a Bachelors degree from an accredited Physician Assistant Program.

What type of health care experience are you looking for in an MSPA applicant?

            We prefer applicants who have at least 2,000 hours of direct patient care experience in a variety of settings and those who have shadowed a PA-C.  If the experience includes contact with physician assistants, it provides you with greater insight into the role of the PA.  In the past, the average prior medical experience has been approximately 3-5 years.  However, some PA students have less, and some have more than 20 years experience.

            For the MCP, see information above.

Will volunteer health care experience be considered for the MSPA?

            The admissions committee considers all health care experience or exposure.

What are the prerequisite courses for the MSPA?

            To enter the Program you must complete both, a Bachelors Degree as well as the designated prerequisite courses or their equivalent as listed below: 

General Biology/Zoology 118 or 200A (for science majors); two semesters of College Chemistry 140 A & B or higher with labs (8 semester hours that covers both organic and biological); Elementary Microbiology 201 with lab (4 semester hours); Introduction to Psychology 102 or Developmental Psychology (3 semester hours); Statistics with Probability or Research Methods – ABE 318, ATS 386, ESPY 402, HED 326, HCM 365, IMS 365, MATH 282, PSYC 211 or SOC 308 (3+ semester hours); Physiology 301, (Human Cadaver Anatomy) 3 semester hours; Human Physiology 310, or higher (5 semester hours; Medical Terminology, AH 105 - at least two (2) credit hours, can be taken online or proficiency; Speech 101 – 3 semester hours; English Composition 101 – 3 semester hours and BCLS,  HED 334 or current certification in CPR for Healthcare Providers. Additionally, courses in Physiology must be completed within five years of the application deadline, should you be accepted to our Program. All Prerequisites must be completed by 12/31 of the application year.

Do you accept transfer credits for the MSPA?

            Courses may be accepted if they transfer with full credit and you have an acceptable grade in them.  No PA Program credit is given for experiential learning or if you are already a medical doctor.  No advanced placement is awarded toward the completion of either of our PA degree Programs.  Documents from foreign schools take longer to process, so be prepared for this delay.

I’ve worked in health care for many years.  I don’t have time to take the entire required Bachelor’s Degree and/or all prerequisite/support courses.  Will you waive any of these courses for the MSPA?

            No.  All applicants are required to have a Bachelor’s Degree and complete all prerequisite courses before entry into the PA program.

Do I need to take any tests to apply? 

            MSPA - Either the GRE, MAT or the MCAT is required.  None will be accepted if over ten (10) years old at time of applicaiton. You must place at or above the 50% ( Percentile ) range for either test.

            MCP – None required

What about Grade Point Average (GPA)?

MSPA - We utilize both the “overall” GPA and prerequisite course GPA in determining eligibility.  You must have an earned “overall” or a cumulative GPA of 2.8 (A=4.0) or higher for your Bachelors Degree. The GPA for the prerequisite courses (listed above) must be at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

MCP –  Must have an earned Bachelor’s in PA Studies.

How do I apply?

Application is a two-part process.  In Part 1, a prospective student must submit an SIUC generic online graduate information form directly to the Graduate School at http://www.gradschool.siuc.edu/ and apply for the summer semester.  When that is done, (Part 2), send the sipplemental application materials to the academic advisor. Then, go online to CASPAonline.org to apply. CASPA Applications are available starting April 15^th  and are due by the 4:00pm, October 1^st deadline.  The deadline to apply annually for the MCP is June 1^st.  A rolling admissions process is utilized and students are admitted only once each year to the MSPA Program.  Therefore, applicants are encouraged to apply early. International student documents take longer to process, so please be aware of this as you apply.  The MCP follows the regular University calendar.

What does it cost to apply?

            There is a one time $50.00 fee to apply for either the MSPA or the MCP.  This fee is subject to increase and absolutely must accompany either the Grad School information form or the Supplemental Application Information. 

What is the cost of the program?

Please click here for further information

            Tuition rates are established by the SIUC Board of Trustees and are competitive with other PA programs.  Financial Aid Office ( 618 ) 453-4334.

I will need financial aid.  Is this available?

            Yes.  Contact the Department of Financial Aid at 618/453-4334, and tell them that you want more information on financial aid to cover Physician Assistant Program costs.

Will I spend the entire 26-months entirely in Carbondale?

            No, the first year (Phase I) is spent on campus in Carbondale.  The second year (Phase II) is the year that students complete their clinical rotations.  Applicants must be aware that they may be required to relocate to one of our hubsites for Phase II (approximately 12 months) of the curriculum.  The hubsites are in central and southern Illinois, and include Carbondale/Delta, Decatur, Mattoon, Olney, Peoria Area, Quincy and Springfield. Phase III is an 8-week preceptorship arranged individually by each student.

How can I find out if the courses I’ve taken meet your prerequisite requirements?

            If you are uncertain, you should include a copy of the course description, syllabus and transcript in a letter to the academic advisor.  This will allow the admissions committee to have the necessary information to make the determination.

What if I have prerequisite courses in progress?  May I still apply?

            Yes.  However, during the Spring semester before the Program begins, you may take only medical terminology and CPR for Healthcare Providers that will be complete in the semester before entry if accepted.

What is the application deadline?

            All applications for the MSPA must be completed, and postmarked to the PA office by October 1^st of each year. Late applications will not be considered.

The MCP follows the regular University calendar and the deadline to apply each year is June 1^st or by consent of the Program.

International students’ applications need more paperwork and therefore take longer to process.  Please apply with this in mind.

When and where do these interviews take place?

            Interviews are held at the discretion of the Admissions Committee, but are usually scheduled July through November.  Interviews are held at SIUC, in Lindegren Hall and Life Science II.

Does everyone get an interview?

            No, only those identified by the Admissions Committee as the most capable applicants are interviewed.  Because we select only 30 students each year on a rolling admissions basis, the process is very competitive.

May I work while I’m in the program?

            Because the 26-month program is very rigorous, students are discouraged from working while in the Program.  Should the student insist upon working, his/her work schedule must be under ten hours per week, and not interfere with tutor sessions or any other aspect of Program activities.

May I specialize?

            In Phases II and III each student has one elective rotation and one preceptorship in which he/she may choose to complete clinical rotations in specialty areas, with faculty approval.

How do SIUC PA graduates do on the national board exam?

            Our graduates have done very well on the PANCE (national board exam).  The classes of 2004-2007 had a first time pass rates of 100% for each class.  The class of 2008 had a first time pass rate of 95%. The mean score for SIUC PA students has been between the 91^st and 99^th percentile for all graduating classes.

If I’m not accepted to the program in one year, may I reapply?

            Yes.  We encourage most applicants to reapply.  You’ll need to repeat the complete application process, however.

May I talk to or meet with the academic advisor?  

            Yes, you can reach the academic advisor at paadvisement-L@listserv.siu.edu or phone 618/453-5527 after submitting an unofficial transcript for evaluation. 

 Questions on the profession:

Q. What is a physician assistant?

A.        A physician assistant (PA) is a health professional licensed by the state or credentialed by a federal employer to practice medicine as delegated by and with the supervision of a physician. PAs provide a broad range of medical and surgical services that traditionally have been performed by physicians.

A hallmark of physician assistant practice is that PAs work as a member of a team, with their supervising physicians as the leaders of the team. As members of the medical team, PAs diagnose and treat illness. They can meet the needs of patients in a variety of clinical and hospital settings. PAs have long been recognized as quality health care providers.

Q. What does a physician assistant do?

A.        As part of their responsibilities, physician assistants perform physical exams, diagnose illnesses, develop and carry out treatment plans, order and interpret lab tests, suture lacerations, apply casts, assist in surgery, provide patient education and preventive health care counseling, and in virtually all states prescribe medications.

            To allow the physician-PA team to be more efficient in providing care to patients, the vast majority of states do not require PAs and their supervising physicians to be at the same location. All state laws require the supervising physician to be available, either in person or by telecommunications, when the PA is seeing patients.

Q. What kinds of conditions can PAs treat, and what situations require physician care?

A.        The scope of the PA’s work corresponds to the supervising physician’s practice. In general, a physician assistant and the supervising physician will see patients with the same kinds of illnesses. The cases handled by physicians are generally the more complicated medical cases or those that require care that is not a routine part of the PA’s scope of work.

            Supervising physicians determine which patients and what kinds of illnesses they want PAs to treat. Close consultation between the patient, PA, and physician is done for unusual or hard to manage illnesses. Physician assistants are taught to know when it is appropriate to have the patient seen by the physician.  It is an important part of PA training.

Q. What is the education process for a PA?

A.        They typical applicant to a physician assistant educational program has a bachelor’s degree and four years of health care experience. Commonly, nurses, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics apply to PA programs.

            PA programs look for students who have a desire to study, to work hard, and to be of service. All PA programs are accredited by one independent organization supported by the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Surgeons, and other national medical organizations. Whether located at a college, university, medical school, or teaching hospital, all PA programs must meet the same national accreditation standards.

            The typical PA program provides students a broad education in primary care medicine in two phases. The first phase includes lectures and lab sessions in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, medical ethics, and similar courses.

            The second phase is spent in clinical rotations in such specialties as family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, geriatrics, surgery, psychology, and other specialties. During this period, students treat patients in each of the major disciplines of medicine and perform additional course work on campus.

            A PA’s education doesn’t stop after graduation, though. To keep abreast of medical advances, PAs are committed to life-long learning. PAs take continuing medical education classes throughout their career and sit for a national recertification exam every six years.

Q. How did the profession begin?

A.        In the mid-1960s, physicians and educators recognized there was a shortage and an uneven distribution of primary care physicians. To expand the delivery of quality medical care, Eugene Stead, M.D., at the Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina, put together the first class of physician assistant in 1965. He selected four Navy corpsmen who received medical training during their military service but who had no comparable civilian employment opportunities. Stead based the education of PAs in part on his knowledge of the fast-track training of doctors during World War II.

Q. Where do physician assistants work?

A.        PAs are employed in virtually all types of health care settings – hospitals, clinics, private physician offices, schools, HMOs and even in the White House as members of the medical team taking care of the President and Vice President. The U.S. government employs PAs in the military, Veterans Administration, Bureau of Prisons, Public Health Service, and other agencies.

            PAs can be found in communities of all sizes, from the smallest rural town to major metropolitan areas, and in virtually every medical and surgical specialty. Although the majority of PAs work in primary care medicine – family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology – many work in specialty medicine, such as cardiothoracic surgery and orthopedics. PAs may also work in the areas of medical education, health administration, and research.

Q. What’s the difference between a PA and a physician?

A.        Physician assistants are trained in medicine, just like physicians, and in some programs PAs attend many of the same classes as medical students. Both professions are educated to detect diseases and treat them, and to assist patients in living a healthier lifestyle. A major difference between PA education and physician education is the amount of time spent in their formal education. In addition, physicians are required to do an internship after graduation from medical school, and the majority of physicians complete a residency in a specialty following their internship. PAs are not required to undertake an internship or residency.

Q. What is the difference between a PA and a Nurse Practitioner?

A.        “On a daily basis, in the United States, physician assistants and nurse practitioners function in similar roles.  Both can diagnose, treat, and prescribe, but the training of physician assistants is generalist in nature and modeled on medical school curriculums.  All physician assistants learn primary care and rotate through the major specialties while in training.  Nurse practitioners, on the other hand, have traditionally been trained in one specialty (pediatrics, women’s health, etc.).  Recently, family practice as a specialty has gained on popularity.  Physician assistants are employed more often as house officers within the hospital setting than are nurse practitioners; surgery and its subspecialties are the most popular in-house specialties.  Physician assistants are also more involved in emergency care than are nurse practitioners.

Politically, physician assistants consider themselves to be a part of medicine as a member of the physician-led team, and some physician assistants sit on physicians’ state medical boards.  In contrast, nurse practitioners come from a nursing background and feel closest to nursing.  Most state legislation for nurse practitioners sets up the state board of nursing as their regulatory body.  Although both groups seek to be part of the medical care team, most nurse practitioners do not feel a political need to be tied to a physician.  This has led some nurse practitioners to seek independent practice, which physician assistants have not done.  It is the setting and the specialty that determines how these two professions practice, rather than legislative or professional regulations.” (Obtained from: http://www.paworld.net/whatpadoes.htm  on May 23, 2007)

Q. Have physician assistants been accepted on the health care team?

A.        Most physicians who have worked with physician assistants like having PAs on staff. The American Medical Association, the American College of Surgeons, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Physicians, and other medical groups support the physician assistant profession by having voting members on the boards that accredit PA educational programs and certify individual PAs.

            PAs enjoy a collegial relationship with other providers because physician assistants have demonstrated their commitment to their patients and their competence in delivering quality medical care. Their training as team players enables them to work with other providers to ensure appropriate patient care in all settings.

            According to the Eighth Report to the President and Congress on the Status of Health Personnel in the United States, “physician assistants have demonstrated their clinical effectiveness both in terms of quality of care and patient acceptance.”

Q. What does the “C” in PA-C mean?

A.        Physician assistant-certified. It means that the person who holds the title has passed the certification exam developed jointly by the National Board of Medical Examiners and the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). The NCCPA is an independent organization, and its commissioners represent different national medical organizations and the PA profession. Only graduates from accredited PA educational programs are allowed to take the initial exam.

            To maintain the “C” after “PA,” a physician assistant must log 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years and take the national recertification exam every six years. The certification and recertification exams help ensure there is a core medical and surgical knowledge that each PA-C should attain and maintain.

Q. What is the American Academy of Physician Assistants?

A.        AAPA is the only national professional society to represent all physician assistant in every area of medicine. Founded in 1968, the Academy represents PAs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the federal services. Its mission is to provide quality, cost-effective, and accessible health care, as well as to support the professional and personal development of physician assistants. AAPA pursues these goals through government relations and public education program, research and data collection efforts, and continuing education activities.

Q and A on the PA Profession were taken from AAPA Pub #101 -  Revised fjk3/08;6/08;7/08;3/09