Northeastern University

Program Information

Degree Offered

M.S. - Physician Assistant

Format: Campus

Program Description:

Physician assistants are highly sought after members of the health care team who, working with physicians, provide diagnostic and therapeutic patient care. PAs practice medicine, take medical histories, perform physical examinations, and order laboratory tests/studies. After diagnosing a problem, the PA develops and implements a treatment plan in consultation with the supervising physician. PAs can prescribe medication in all 50 states.

Patient education and counseling are important aspects of a PA's role. Pas advise patients on all aspects of health promotion and disease management. One distinctive feature of the PA profession is that PAs are dependent practitioners. PAs perform medical tasks and procedures with the supervision, but not necessarily in the presence, of a supervising physician. The PA scope of practice is authorized by state law and determined by the supervising physician.

Physician assistants are currently employed in a wide variety of settings: hospitals, health centers, health maintenance organizations, emergency rooms, college health services, physician's offices, nursing homes, and specialty clinics. PAs provide hospital care for surgical patients and assist in surgery. They provide care both in teaching institutions and in hospitals where there are no physician residents. Employment opportunities and the career outlook for physician assistants are excellent.

The Physician Assistant Program at Northeastern University was established in 1971. The program is a rigorous full-time, 24-month graduate program that offers students an opportunity to earn a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. Since its founding, the Physician Assistant Program has been accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. and its predecessors. The U.S. News and World Report Graduate Rankings 2007 ranks Northeastern University's Physician Assistant Program #17 in the nation.

Graduates of the PA program take the PA National Certifying Examination (PANCE) after graduation. Certification is required for initial licensure / registration in all states. The first-time pass rates for the six most recent PA graduating classes is consistently above the national rate.

Accreditation:

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Tuition & Financial Aid

Financial Aid Offered: Yes

Classification: Doctoral/Research Universities - Extensive

Institution Sector: Private not-for-profit

Locale: Large City

Size & Settings: 20,000 and above