Physician Assistant
By choosing to earn your Master of Physician Assistant degree at Augusta University’s College of Allied Health Sciences, you’ll be part of a legacy of excellence that goes back to the program’s beginning 52 years ago.
As a physician assistant, you’ll be medically trained to practice autonomously or as a part of a healthcare team, providing high-quality healthcare in various environments.
Physician assistants are certified as medical generalists with a foundation in primary care, but they can also practice in a number of specialty areas, which means they enjoy the flexibility to adapt to changes in the workplace and the community.
Physician Assistant is for you if you consider yourself
Life-Changing
Life-Saving
Education
Want to learn more about the Physician Assistant program at Augusta University?
Request InfoWhat You'll Study
Coursework
The Augusta University PA Program is developing a curriculum revision that would include three semesters on campus, followed by the clinical phase in the second year. The proposed curriculum revision has not yet been approved by ARC-PA.
As one of three primary care providers (Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, and Physicians), you will receive training in general medicine as well as a variety of specialties.
After successfully completing the program, graduates are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).
Curriculum | Admissions Criteria | Tuition and Fees | Application Deadlines
Experience-based Education
Outside the Classroom
First year students learn human gross anatomy in a full dissection cadaver lab rather than a simulation lab.
Students learn by doing, spending their second year across the region, in a clinical setting.
Interprofessional educational activities occur with other health professions throughout training, including the University of Georgia School of Pharmacy, Augusta University Dental Hygiene Program, the Medical College of Georgia, and other health professions in the Augusta University’s College of Allied Health Sciences (Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech, Language, and Pathology).
Multiple volunteer opportunities exist across health care fields, including the Equality Clinic and Clinica Latina.
Student Success
99% Pass Rate – Five-year, first time PANCE takers
100% Pass Rate – Five-year PANCE takers within their first year after graduation
History of Excellence
The Physician Assistant employment rate, within six months of graduation, has maintained at 90% - 100% over the past 5+ years
Military Friendly
Augusta University’s Physician Assistant "Green to Grad" program allows veterans applying to the program to be able to use relevant ACE courses as credit toward the 90 semester hours of prerequisites
Accomplished Faculty
Eight faculty members in the Physician Assistant program are graduates of Augusta University’s program
Your Future
Career Options
According the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for Physician Assistants is $133,260 per year.
Physician assistant jobs are projected to continue to increase, with a growth of 35% over the next decade, much faster than the average. U.S. News and World Reports ranks physician assistant as the #2 Best Health Care Job and the #5 Best Job Overall for 2026.
Admissions Criteria at a Glance
Degree Requirement: A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution is required. Seniors are eligible to apply, provided they will receive the bachelor’s degree prior to matriculation into the Physician Assistant program. The Augusta University PA program does not accept degrees from other institutions (that are not regionally accredited), even if considered “equivalent” by an outside entity.
Grade Point Averages (GPA): Both the minimum cumulative and Biology, Chemistry, Physics (BCP) grade point averages must be 3.0 or higher on a traditional 4.0 scale. GPA calculations are based on all completed coursework taken at a collegiate level at the time of application. AP course credits are accepted but are not included in any GPA calculations.
Transcripts: Official transcripts are required from all universities and colleges ever attended.
Standardized Test Requirements: Completion of either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Physician Assistant College Admissions Test (PA-CAT), with qualifying scores, along with the CASPer test.
Letters of Recommendation: Recommendation letters from three individuals, with at least one being from a certified Physician Assistant, must be submitted through the CASPA application portal.
Shadowing & Hands-On Experience: Candidates must have a minimum of 40 hours shadowing with PA(s) at the time of the screening (additional shadowing hours will be preferred in later phases of admissions consideration) and a minimum of 160 hours of direct patient care/healthcare experience (e.g. work as an EMT/LPN/MA/CAN/RN/Scribe/Pharmacy Tech) (additional hours of experience will be preferred in later phases of admissions consideration).
International Students: Please review the verification process for international transcripts and the english proficiency requirement.
Tuition & Fees Estimate
$7,236*
Estimated total
Full-time / In-State / Per Semester
$603
Tuition Per Hour
$675
Mandatory Fees
View Detailed Program Tuition
*Tuition & Fees listed here are for in-state students enrolling in the university for Fall 2026 semester.
Detailed Program Tuition InformationApplication Deadlines
Proposed August 2027 Admissions Cycle
- July 1, 2026 - January 15, 2027
Supporting Documentation
- January 31, 2027
Interview
- End of August 2026 through March 2027
Early submission of all application materials is strongly advised.
Applications are reviewed in the order that they become complete. Applications are considered complete when all supporting materials (official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and test scores) have been received and processed by the Graduate Admissions Office, which can take several weeks. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure the materials arrive in time to be processed.
Why Augusta?
As a graduate from a program with over 50 years of experience training high quality physician assistants and a certification pass rate of 100%, employers will know you’re prepared to face the challenges of a dynamic career in medicine.
As one of Georgia’s four research universities, Augusta University provides unparalleled opportunities for research and scholarship, with state of the art labs and equipment.
With many program alums among the faculty, you’ll have the advantage of learning from those who have gone before you and can guide you to success in your journey to be a PA.
Volunteers roll out the blue carpet during on-campus move-in
Volunteers roll out the blue carpet during on-campus move-in
