Physician Assistant
Physician Assistant Program Overview
Do you have a passion for helping people with the latest advancements in medical care? Are you prepared to enter a challenging, rewarding, and high-paying profession with countless employment opportunities?
If so, our physician assistant (PA) degree offers multiple advantages that will help you secure a promising future in medicine. Our faculty of physician assistants, physicians, pharmacists, and other health care professionals are eager to guide you throughout your academic journey, whether you are first time student or a professional looking to advance your career.
Phyisician Assistant Program Description
Mission Statement
The Department of Physician Assistant Studies educates students in a primary care-based curriculum that emphasizes the mastery of knowledge, technical skills, critical thinking, and moral reasoning. The department fosters excellence in teaching and forms highly competent professional healthcare providers committed to patient-centered, compassionate care, and the inherent dignity of every person.
Physician Assistant Degree Program Goals
Our curriculum is designed with an emphasis on primary care. The King's College physician assistant program in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., utilizes the Competencies for the PA Program, the content blueprint for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), and the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) accreditation standards for PA education, as a guide for the curriculum content.
- Develop and maintain a comprehensive didactic and clinical curriculum that will prepare students to successfully pass the PANCE and become competent health care providers
- Model an interdisciplinary approach to medicine which utilizes effective oral and written communication between members of the healthcare team and the patient
- Develop PAs that utilize a comprehensive approach to health and disease by emphasizing primary care, health maintenance, and disease prevention
- Advocate information literacy and the technological competency to be effective healthcare providers
- Cultivate moral values, and ethical and professional behavior required for the practice of medicine
For more information, review the program outcomes here. Also review the King's College Physician Assistant program competencies here.
Undergraduate Medical Studies Major to PA Program Track
Undergraduate students entering into the five-year BS/MS program submit an application to the Kings College admissions department.
The five-year physician assistant BS/MS program is composed of two parts:
- Once accepted, students follow a prescribed academic sequence for the first three years. These medical studies course requirements consist of liberal arts, PA classes, and preparatory science prerequisites for the later professional phase. Students must fulfill all the core requirements during these first three years.
- Afterwards, students will embark on a two-year professional phase and train to be a physician assistant, beginning with 12 months of didactic instruction in all areas of general medicine. Direct patient encounters become the core instruction during the 12 months of the clinical curriculum. In addition, students are mentored as they develop and complete a master's research project.
Upon successful completion of the first four years of the physician assistant degree program, students receive:
- A Bachelor of Science Degree in Medical Studies.
- A Minor in Biology.
Upon successful completion of the two-year professional phase, students receive:
- A Master of Science Degree in Physician Assistant Studies (M.S.P.A.S.)
- Eligibility to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
View the five-year BS/MS track degree requirements and curriculum here.
FIVE-YEAR BS/MS PROGRAM DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Every undergraduate student in the five-year BS/MS program must meet all the progression criteria to remain in the BS/MS program and progress to the professional phase of the PA degree program. They must also meet with their academic advisor at least once per semester. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate this meeting.
Students are assessed on their ability to meet certain minimum cumulative overall and cumulative science GPAs (see below) while taking specific science/math courses and carrying a designated credit load. GPAs will not be rounded.
| Year | Fall | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | N/A | 2.9 |
| Second Year | 3.0 | 3.2 |
| Third Year | 3.2 | 3.2 |
- A student who has achieved a grade of less than a C- in any course cannot continue in the five-year BS/MS Program. Students are not permitted to repeat prerequisite science/math or core courses. However, students unable to continue in the medical studies major are welcome to remain at King's and choose another major.
- Science and math prerequisite courses must be completed in the sequence outlined in the PA Academic Planner. College Discovery and Advanced Placement credits are not accepted for science/math prerequisites but will transfer as elective science courses.
- Students are permitted to transfer credits for core courses. These credits may be achieved through College Discovery, Advanced Placement, and summer study.
- The five-year BS/MS PA requirements include a minimum designated credit load each semester regardless of transfer credits (see below). Workload for all credits must be completed in the semester in which the credits are awarded. Transferring courses which meet core requirements offer students the opportunity for electives or the completion of a minor.
- Students must complete a minimum of 500 clinical experience hours with a minimum of 300 Category I hours and 8 hours of PA shadowing prior to the completion of Year 3 of the five-year BS/MS Program. 75% of the total required hours (375) must be completed and logged on or before December 1st of the fall semester of the students' junior year (Pre-Professional Year 3).
- Any student in the medical studies major who is found in violation of the academic integrity policy and receives an academic integrity probation sanction or suspension will forfeit their guaranteed seat into the Professional Phase and be required to change their major.
All five-year physician assistant undergrads are guaranteed a seat in the professional phase of the program if they meet the progression criteria and submit an application that includes a personal statement and documentation of community service and extracurricular activities.
An interview will be required to matriculate into the professional phase. During this time, students will be informed about program polices and given details regarding both the didactic and clinical phases of the program. In the unlikely event that the number of qualified BS/MS students exceeds the number of available seats, candidates with the highest overall and science/math GPAs will be given priority. If there is still a tie, the higher science GPA, then the number of patient care hours, will factor in the selection. Qualified students who were not offered seats because of capacity will be deferred until next year.
FIVE-YEAR BS/MS PROGRAM CURRICULUM
For a complete program outline and course details, please review the program planner and course catalog.
Medical Studies Major Phase (Years 1-3 )
Students fulfill the core requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree, as well as the following science/math courses (see the program planner).
Expand Medical Studies Phase course requirements
- Evolution and Diversity with Laboratory (4 credits)
- Organisms and Their Ecosystems with Laboratory (4 credits)
- Cell and Molecular Biology with Laboratory (4 credits)
- Microbiology with Laboratory (4 credits)
- Immunology and Clinical Microbiology with Laboratory (4 credits)
- Anatomy and Physiology with Laboratory (8 credits)
- Biochemistry for Medical Studies with Laboratory (4 credits)
- Topics in Biochemistry/Physiology/Genetics (3 credits)
- General Chemistry I and II with Laboratory (8 credits)
- Organic Chemistry I with Laboratory (4 credits)
- Intro to Neuroscience for Medical Studies (3 credits)
- Drugs and Behavior (3 credits)
- Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis (3 credits)
- Introduction to PA Essentials (1 credit)
- Fundamental PA Skills (1 credit)
- PA Career Foundations (1 credit)
Students must also complete all core requirements by the end of the spring semester of their junior year before entering the professional phase of the program. View full course descriptions here.
Professional (Didactic) Phase (YEAR 4)
Expand physician assistant course requirements
Summer Semester
- PA 475C Medical Terminology (summer self-study included in grading for Basic Medical Sciences I)
Fall Semester
- PA 450 Diagnostic Methods I (4 credits)
- Physical Diagnosis I
- Physical Diagnosis Lab I
- Diagnostic Imaging I
- Laboratory Medicine
- PA 554 Clinical Medicine I (4.5 credits)
- Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat (EENT)
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- PA 556 Clinical Medicine II (4 credits)
- Dermatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Behavioral Health
- PA 475 Basic Medical Sciences I (5.5 credits)
- Pharmacology I
- Anatomy and Physiology I
- Medical Terminology (summer self-study)
- Medical Interviewing and Documentation
- Gross Anatomy Lab I
- Seminar
Spring Semester
- PA 455 Diagnostic Methods II (4 credits)
- Basic EKG
- Physical Diagnosis II
- Physical Diagnosis Laboratory II
- Diagnostic Imaging II
- PA 557 Clinical Medicine III (5 credits)
- Gastroenterology
- Neurology
- Cardiology
- PA 558 Clinical Medicine IV (5 credits)
- Pulmonology
- Urology
- Gynecology/Obstetrics
- PA 476 Basic Medical Sciences II (4 credits)
- Pharmacology II
- Gross Anatomy Lab II
- Medical Anthropology
- Anatomy and Physiology II
- Seminar/OSCE
Intersession Semester
- PA 559 Clinical Medicine V (6 credits)
- Emergency Medicine
- General Surgery
- Cardiology II
- Orthopedics
- Rheumatology
- Seminar/OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Exams)
- PA 565 Clinical Medicine VI (3 credits)
- Clinical Reasoning
- Hospital Based Practice
- Patient Centered Care Plans
- PA 510 Foundations of Clinical Practice (3 credits)
- Research Methods
- Health Care Policies/PA Practice
- Medical Ethics
- Genetics
Professional (Clinical) Phase (YEAR 5 )
Expand all Year 5 Clinical course requirements
Physician assistant class requirements
- PA 515 Emergency Medicine (6 credits)
- PA 520 Internal Medicine (6 credits)
- PA 525 Obstetrics and Gynecology (6 credits)
- PA 530 Pediatrics (6 credits)
- PA 535 Psychiatry (6 credits)
- PA 540 General Surgery (6 credits)
- PA 545 Family Practice (6 credits)
- PA 555 Elective Rotation (6 credits)
- PA 560 Capstone Course (4 credits)
Students will complete a master's project using up-to-date medical research. They must also pass computer-based and practical summative examinations.
Graduate Student into PA Program Track
Students with four-year degrees may apply into the 24-month professional phase of the PA Program as graduate candidates. The progressional phase consists of 12 months of didactic instruction and 12 months of clinical instruction. In addition, students are mentored as they develop and complete a master's research project. Upon completion of this phase, students will attain a master's degree in physician assistant studies and are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
Seat availability is determined by the number of undergraduate BS/MS students who matriculate successfully into the professional program. If seats are available, enrollment will be available through the Centralized Application System for Physician Assistants (CASPA). The PA Program will open CASPA and King’s Alumni Applications for admission into the class entering into the fall of 2025. The application process will be open until Oct. 1, 2024.
When opened, the deadline for final CASPA application and verification to King's College is October 1st. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible to allow time for CASPA verification. Keep in mind there are instances in which enrollment through CASPA is not open, but there may be a small number of graduate seats available. This information will also be included in the notice below.
View the graduate student track degree requirements and curriculum here.
Alumni Applicants
Physician Assistant graduate degree applicants who have received a previous degree from King's College are not required to apply through CASPA. They will, however, be considered in the same applicant pool as all other graduate applicants. If there is seat availability, alumni can call the PA program at (570) 208-8086 to request an application. These applicants will be required to meet the same minimum criteria as the CASPA.
These applicants do not have to pay the CASPA application fee when applying to the King's physician assistant program. The deadline for these applicants is October 1st.
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Physician assistant master's degree candidates must complete all the following prerequisite science courses from any two or four-year regionally accredited U.S. college or university, preferably with labs, by the end of the spring semester prior to the start of the program in August:
- Anatomy and physiology (8 credits)
- General biology (8 credits)
- General chemistry (8 credits)
- Organic chemistry (4 credits)
- Genetics (3 credits)
- Microbiology (4 credits)
- If the applicant's college did not offer labs with these courses or offered 3-credit science courses including a lab, we will accept these courses.
- Candidates must have a cumulative GPA. and a cumulative science GPA of 3.2. GPAs will not be rounded.
- We do not require GRE, MCAT, or USMLE scores.
No grade less than a C- can be accepted for any prerequisite science courses (satisfactory or pass grades will also not be accepted). If any courses are repeated, both grades will be incorporated into the calculations for the overall science and cumulative GPAs.
We cannot accept required science courses that have been taken online. However, exceptions will be made for classes taken during the COVID-19 pandemic until the spring of 2022. Also, while we consider candidates who possess degrees granted 10 or more years ago, we encourage these candidates to retake prerequisite courses like anatomy and physiology and microbiology.
Other Requirements
- Candidates must have a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution by the end of the spring semester prior to the start of the program in August. Candidates that complete any courses after submitting their application must forward King's an official transcript as soon as they receive their spring semester grades.
- Candidates cannot have more than two outstanding prerequisite science courses in the spring semester prior to the start of the program in August or any outstanding courses in the summer prior to the start of the program in August. Courses will be accepted from any 2 or 4-year regionally accredited US college or university.
- Students must maintain a minimum cumulative overall and cumulative science GPA of 3.2. GPAs will not be rounded.
- Candidates whose native language is not English must pass the online TOEFL exam or have completed a bachelor's degree in a U.S. college or university. The passing score on the TOEFL is 108/120. Official TOEFL scores must be submitted by the CASPA application deadline.
- Candidates must have all coursework completed at an institution outside the U.S. evaluated by World Education Services Inc. and submitted to King's by the application deadline of Oct. 1st.
- Candidates must complete 500 clinical hours by the CASPA application deadline. The hours may be voluntary or paid. Of these 500 hours, a minimum of 300 must be Category I while the remainder can be Category II. These hours must also include eight hours of physician assistant shadowing. Please read this document fully describing clinical hour requirements.
- Candidates need two letters of reference. We suggest one letter from a professional that a student has worked with in a clinical setting and one from an instructor, preferably someone they had for multiple science classes.
- You must also include a personal statement discussing your desire to be a PA.
- You must adhere to all other requirements here.
Physician Assistant Graduate Program Acceptance Process
Once an application is completed, the Graduate Enrollment Counselor and Data Coordinator will review and evaluate each applicant's academic transcripts, work experience record, and any other requirements. Candidates selected by the PA Admissions Committee will receive an invitation for an interview. Upon completion of all interviews, the committee, at their sole discretion, recommends the applicants selected for admission to the professional phase.
Graduate applications are scored based on:
- GPA (cumulative GPA and overall science GPA). Extra points are awarded for a science degree.
- Additional points are also awarded for advanced degrees and over 15 graduate course credits.
- The quality and quantity of the health care experience and shadowing hours are also scored.
- Your personal statement, references, and other experiences (work experience, community service, extra-curricular activities) are also scored.
- Points may be deducted from scoring for disciplinary actions, revoked privileges in previous career, dismissal from another PA or medical program, repeating courses multiple times, etc.
Selected candidates will receive an invitation for an interview, which is also scored. The Department of Physician Assistant Studies will decide and notify accepted candidates within three weeks of their interview. This interview and selection process will continue until the class is filled or until July 20th, whichever comes first.
Meeting minimum prerequisites neither guarantees the applicant an interview nor admission. Once accepted, graduate applicants will be required to submit a non-refundable deposit to secure their seat. This deposit will then be applied to their tuition.
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT CURRICULUM
For a complete program outline and course details, please review the planner and course catalog.
Expand Physician assistant course requirements
Summer Semester
- PA 475C Medical Terminology (summer Self-Study included in grading for Basic Medical Sciences I)
Fall Semester
- PA 450 Diagnostic Methods I (4 credits)
- Physical Diagnosis I
- Physical Diagnosis Lab I
- Diagnostic Imaging I
- Laboratory Medicine
- PA 554 Clinical Medicine I (4.5 credits)
- Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat (EENT)
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- PA 556 Clinical Medicine II (4 credits)
- Dermatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Behavioral Health
- PA 475 Basic Medical Sciences I (5.5 credits)
- Pharmacology I
- Anatomy and Physiology I
- Medical Terminology (summer self-study)
- Medical Interviewing and Documentation
- Gross Anatomy Lab I
- Seminar
Spring Semester
- PA 455 Diagnostic Methods II (4 credits)
- Basic EKG
- Physical Diagnosis II
- Physical Diagnosis Laboratory II
- Diagnostic Imaging II
- PA 557 Clinical Medicine III (5 credits)
- Gastroenterology
- Neurology
- Cardiology
- PA 558 Clinical Medicine IV (5 credits)
- Pulmonology
- Urology
- Gynecology/Obstetrics
- PA 476 Basic Medical Sciences II (4 credits)
- Pharmacology II
- Gross Anatomy Lab II
- Medical Anthropology
- Anatomy and Physiology II
- Seminar/OSCE
Intersession Semester
- PA 559 Clinical Medicine V (6 credits)
- Emergency Medicine
- General Surgery
- Cardiology II
- Orthopedics
- Rheumatology
- Seminar/OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Exams)/Observations
- PA 565 Clinical Medicine VI (3 credits)
- Clinical Reasoning
- Hospital Based Practice
- Patient Centered Care Plans
- PA 510 Foundations of Clinical Practice (3 credits)
- Research Methods
- Health Care Policies/PA Practice
- Medical Ethics
- Genetics
Professional (Clinical) Phase (YEAR 2)
Expand physician assistant class requirements
- PA 515 Emergency Medicine (6 credits)
- PA 520 Internal Medicine (6 credits)
- PA 525 Obstetrics and Gynecology (6 credits)
- PA 530 Pediatrics (6 credits)
- PA 535 Psychiatry (6 credits)
- PA 540 General Surgery (6 credits)
- PA 545 Family Practice (6 credits)
- PA 555 Elective Rotation (6 credits)
- PA 560 Capstone Course (4 credits)
Students will complete a master's project using up-to-date medical research. They must also pass computer-based and practical summative examinations.
Physician Assistant Program Requirements and Policies
Policies are subject to change at any time to comply with ARC-PA standards, King's College, the PA Program and Hospital policies. The King's College Department of PA Studies will make every attempt to notify its students of these changes in a timely manner. The King's College Department of Physician Assistant Studies reserves the right to alter and or modify policies and curriculum with notification to the affected students.
View all requirements and policies
Experiential Learning Credits and the Professional Phase
The professional program does not allow for exemption from courses, clinical skills, laboratories, or clinical education regardless of prior experience, degree, or credential. Students must matriculate through all aspects of the program and successfully complete all program requirements in order to graduate.
Technical Standards
There are written technical standards that all PA students must meet in order to complete professional phase training. Please review these standards before making an application to the program.
Clinical Rotation Solicitations
Students are not required to provide or solicit their own clinical sites or preceptors. Students may, however, arrange some of their own rotations. This must be discussed with the clinical faculty before arrangements are made and approval is not automatically guaranteed.
Employment During the Professional Phase
Due to the rigorous nature of the PA program during both the didactic and the clinical phases of training, it is inadvisable for students to hold a job during their professional training. Employment demands will not justify an excused absence from any academic or clinical requirements of the program, nor will any special accommodations be made.
Physical Exams and Transportation
Matriculating students must have yearly physical exams completed and maintain current health insurance. Students must also have a reliable car to use for clinical experiences and a current driver's license.
Immunization Policy
The King's College Department of Physician Assistant Studies requires that all students maintain immunizations as recommended by the CDC for healthcare providers and any Pennsylvania specific mandates. Read the full professional phase Immunization Policy here.
Background Checks
For the Professional Phase of the Program, students are required to have the following annual background checks: A fingerprinted Federal Criminal History Record Check (FCHR), a Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check (PATCH), a Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, and a comprehensive background check performed by Universal Background Screening. All costs incurred in complying with these checks are the responsibility of the student. A student who does not have a clear background check may be denied access to hospitals and/or clinical rotations. This may affect his or her ability to complete the program. A background check which is not clear may also affect one's ability to sit for the PANCE, obtain professional licenses, or institutional privileges. In an attempt to schedule clinical rotations, any information found on these checks will be disclosed to clinical facilities and preceptors. Background checks which reveal a felony offense may result in denial of admission and/or dismissal from the program. Read the full policy here.
Drug and Alcohol Policy
The King's College Department of Physician Assistant Studies follows the policies outlined in the King's College Student Handbook. The use of drugs or alcohol prior to or during any activities pertaining to the program is strictly prohibited. If there is reasonable suspicion of impairment, the student will be removed from that activity/class/rotation immediately.
Prior to the start of the professional phase of the program, students will be required to undergo an annual 10-panel urine drug screen performed at a licensed laboratory. An institution, clinical site or the PA Program may require additional and/ or unannounced drug and/or alcohol testing. Referral for counseling and treatment may be required by the Program. Students will sign a consent form with a waiver of liability releasing this information to the Program and clinical sites. The student is responsible for all associated costs. If the student refuses, they may be unable to complete the requirements of the program. Specific disciplinary actions and/or dismissals will be handled on an individual basis. For detailed informations, read the full policy here.
Laptop & Software Requirements
Professional phase PA students should have a laptop computer with wireless compatibility. For specifications and other information, visit this link.
Additional Requirements
King’s PA students must submit a yearly medical release form signed by their health care provider clearing them to participate in the King’s College PA Program. Students must also maintain current health insurance while enrolled in the Program.
