Monmouth University offers one of just three physician assistant programs in New Jersey. The Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies’ physician assistant (PA) program prepares students to enter this highly sought-after profession. Because of an increasing need for healthcare providers, the PA field is expected to grow rapidly through the next decade. This three-year Master of Science program provides close, personalized training so that students can successfully achieve PA certification.

What is a physician assistant?

A PA is a medical professional who works as part of a team with a physician. PAs have a variety of responsibilities.

To become a physician assistant, students must graduate from an accredited PA educational program, which is modeled on the medical school curriculum. They must then become nationally certified and state-licensed to practice medicine with the supervision of a physician.

The physician-PA practice is described as delegated autonomy—physicians delegate duties to PAs, and within those range of duties, PAs have autonomous decision-making in patient care. PAs embrace this team model in providing and enhancing medical care.

Read more about PAs and physician supervision...

Accreditation

At it's March 2017 meeting the Accreditation Review Commission on the Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)placed the Monmouth University Physician Assistant program on Accreditation-Probation status until its next review in March 2019.

Probation is a temporary status of accreditation conferred when a program does not meet the Standards and when the capability of the program to provide an acceptable educational experience is threatened. Once placed on probation, programs that still fail to comply with accreditation requirements in a timely manner, as specified by ARC-PA, may be scheduled for a focused site visit and/or risk having their accreditation withdrawn. Specific questions regarding the program and its plans should be directed to the program Director and/or other appropriate institutional officials.

Accreditation Action Plan

Monmouth University, immediately upon receipt of the ARC-PA report, began working on a comprehensive action plan designed to bring the program into full compliance. The faculty and staff are working diligently to deliver a robust and successful program that addresses a changing health care environment.

The status of Accreditation-Probation means that Monmouth University's Physician Assistant program is accredited. Students must graduate from an accredited program in order to be eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). Students who graduate from Monmouth University's PA program are eligible to take the  PANCE and are eligible to be licensed in all 50 states.

Additional Information

•  Information on program costs and financial aid can be found at: http://www.monmouth.edu/university/pa-financial-aid.aspx