Physician Assistant

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Physician Assistants

Physician Assistants (PAs) provide health care services under the supervision of physicians. Although PAs work with the supervision by a physician, they may be the principal care providers in certain practices. In such cases, the PA confers with the supervising physician as needed or required by law.

PAs are formally trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventative health care services, as delegated by a physician.  They take medical histories, examine and treat patients, order and interpret laboratory tests and X-rays, make diagnoses, and prescribe medications. PAs treat minor injuries by suturing, splinting, and casting. PAs also may prescribe medications in all 50 states.

View the scope of practice for PAs by state.
To see a comprehensive list of PA programs by state and their accreditation status, visit PA Education Association (PAEA) website.
For more information about the job outlook for PAs, visit the Occupation Outlook Handbook.

The oldest physician assistant program in Mississippi is located at Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi.  Visit this website for specific UM classes required at MC. Mississippi State University-Meridian’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies is provisionally accredited and has notably different (more upper level science) requirements than most PA programs (a Biology major is recommended for this specific program). Other examples among many include University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s PA Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)’s PA Program, and Louisiana State University (LSU) New Orleans’ PA Program (also notable in its upper level science requirements). PAEA’s Program Directory provides a comprehensive list of PA programs that can be filtered by state. The accreditation status of each PA program can be found at ARC-PA. 

Incoming freshmen indicate their interest in physician assistant on the UM application. Others complete the short online form to be assigned to an HPAO advisor and notified about HPAO programs and services.

Enroll in HPAO

Welcome to Pre-Physician Assistant

Whether you're considering a future as a Physician Assistant or actively preparing to apply to PA programs, we’re here to support your journey. Explore resources, tips, and guidance designed to help you excel academically, gain valuable experience, and take confident steps toward a fulfilling career as a PA.

Use my Calendly link to make an appointment.

Kelli Elaine Hutchens

Academic Advisor

B.A. in Allied Health Studies

Departments from across the University of Mississippi contribute courses to the B.A. in Allied Health Studies, which is organized by HPAO. The degree prepares students for application and admission to allied health professional schools.

UG

Allied Health Studies, B.A.

Create a foundation for allied health professional fields.

Oxford

PA Admission Requirements

Admission requirements are not standardized for all PA schools, but an undergraduate baccalaureate degree is required for matriculation. PA schools require a combination of science and non-science classes, such as General Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Psychology, etc. Be sure to investigate the pre-requisites for schools you are interested in with a pre-health advisor!

In addition to coursework, PA schools are unique from medical schools in usually requiring a certain number of direct Patient Care Experience (PCE) hours, which constitute hands-on patient care. Of the most recently accepted PA students, PCE hours ranged between 1000 – 2000 hours. For this reason, applying post-graduation after achieving more PCE hours often provides a higher chance of admission. PA school is highly competitive (31% acceptance rate). We highly suggest talking with a pre-health advisor about becoming a competitive applicant as far as your grades and PCE hours as soon as you become interested in the PA profession!

Most PA programs participate in a centralized application, Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistant (CASPA) and applications open at the end of April each year. A competitive PA applicant will have:

a strong overall and science prerequisite GPA,
a competitive number of DPC hours,
PA shadowing (we recommend 100 hours),
strong letters of recommendation, and
long-term community involvement.

How has HPAO helped you?

The Health Profession Advising Office has provided guidance and support since day one. They have offered valuable resources, helped me choose the right courses, and started preparing me for the application process. Overall, they’re like personal cheerleaders, guiding me to achieve my goals in the healthcare field.