What are you looking for in an application to the program?
The ideal applicant demonstrates a balance between strong academics and a substantial amount of hands-on patient care experience. You need to provide evidence of being a motivated learner. The CASPA essay should make clear the reasons for wanting to be a PA. Moreover, you need to show the ability to be compassionate, empathetic, and open to the diversity that a career in health care entails. Lastly, an Assumption PA student must bring not only the desire to help others but the willingness and heart to serve, very often in their patients’ most trying moments.
What is the program’s accreditation status?
The Assumption College Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program has applied for Accreditation-Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The Program anticipates matriculating its first class in January 2021, pending achieving Accreditation-Provisional status at the September 2020 ARC-PA meeting. "Accreditation - Provisional" is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program's ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.
If the Assumption College program is not granted accreditation, no students will be enrolled in the program, and any deposits paid will be refunded. CASPA application fees will not be refunded.
What sort of medical experience do I need?
The program requires that applicants have a minimum of 500 hours of verifiable patient contact experience. Those with compensated hands-on patient care experience and a greater number of hours will be scored higher. Those applicants with experience that required advanced training or expertise will also be scored higher.
Will every applicant be granted an interview?
No. Each application will be evaluated and the Admissions Committee will determine those who will be invited for an interview.
Where will classes be held?
We will be located in a new Health Science Building on the Assumption College campus along with the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
Will you use CASPA, the centralized application service?
We will. Applications for the cohort beginning January of 2021 will open on May 1, 2020.
When is the deadline for applications?
Applications must be completed and verified by CASPA by November 1, 2020. However, we will use a rolling acceptance policy, so the earlier the application, the better your chances.
How many students will there be?
The first cohort is projected to be 24 students.
When are interviews held?
Those dates have yet to be scheduled.
What happens after the interview?
Candidates will be either accepted, rejected, or placed on an “Active” list for further consideration. Once all interviews are completed and acceptances offered, a formal waiting list will be established.
Why choose a newly developed PA program?
New programs have been recently provisionally accredited and have undergone an extensive examination of their ability to begin educating students. Two more site visits are done over the next few years to assure compliance with accreditation standards. Graduates of provisionally accredited PA programs are eligible to take the PA National Certification Exam (PANCE).
New programs often allow greater ability to engage learners with more modern methods and technology than some established programs. The “we’ve always done it this way” attitude that can occur in established programs (and inhibit growth and innovation) does not occur in a new program. As a member of the earliest cohorts, you also have the ability to help shape the culture of the program going forward.
The program director brings significant experience in the development of PA programs to the Assumption College program. Experienced clinicians will guide your learning. The current program faculty have nearly 100 combined years of clinical experience and this number will increase as more faculty are hired.
When will the program start?
The first cohort will begin in January 2021.
How long is the program?
The program will be seven consecutive semesters, 28 months.
Can I transfer credits into the program or receive credit for my experience?
Credits may not be transferred and no experiential credit will be granted.
What will my education consist of?
Most of the first 13 months (Didactic Phase) will be classroom and laboratory-based. The program will use lectures, Problem-Based Learning, simulation, case studies, along with other methods to engage our learners. We plan to employ Apple-based technology using iPads to enhance learning and understanding. This phase will also include clinical and technical skills labs as well as community-based patient experiences. This phase of the program engages the students throughout the entire day, with a scheduled lunch break.
In the Clinical phase, your education will consist of 5-week Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPEs) that will extend into the third program year.
The final Summative phase will bring you back to campus to complete and present your final project, complete your final written and clinical skills evaluations (which you must pass to graduate), polish your employment seeking skills, and prepare for the PA National Certification Exam (PANCE).
Where will my clinical sites be located?
The clinical sites will be located throughout New England, but primarily in the Worcester region. You are not expected or required to find your own clinical sites or preceptors. The program will set those up for you.
What kinds of practices will I rotate through?
Our accreditation standards state students will have SCPEs with preceptors practicing in: Behavioral health, Emergency medicine, Family medicine, General surgery, Internal medicine, Pediatrics, and Women’s health. Electives will be offered as well.
I need to take some prerequisite courses. Where can I take them?
You may take them at any accredited US or Canadian college or university. Online courses will most often meet the prerequisites, except for those requiring labs. If there are questions, it is always best to check with the program.
I took some of my prerequisite courses many years ago. Will you still count those?
Prerequisite courses must have been taken within 10 years of the CASPA application date. That requirement may be waived if evidence of current employment in a field directly related to the course subject matter can be verified. The final decision will be made by the Admissions committee.
Do you require the GRE?
We will not be requiring the GRE.
Can I work while attending the program?
It is strongly recommended that you do not work while enrolled in the PA program. You will require minimal time away from your intense studies for rest, relaxation, exercise, and time with friends and loved ones.
What are the keys to success?
Have a strong support network. The time you had for yourself and others will be greatly decreased. Prepare yourself and others for that.
Be prepared from Day 1 to learn. Your faculty will provide you the tools and support you, but you have to do the work. Student-centered learning means just that.
Assess your learning style. Many students have been successful throughout high school and undergraduate studies, then struggle in their PA education due to the volume of material and the pace of which it is delivered.
Time management skills are fundamental for the same reasons. There is very little free time in the day to catch up on studying. How you manage your limited time can have a significant effect on your success.
Thousands of PA students graduate each year, so you know it can be done. But it is not easy and has the potential to be one of the most stressful experiences of your life.
