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Physician Assistant

A path to gain entry to a physician assistant school.

Interested in becoming a PA? 

Click each box to learn more about what PAs do and what it will take to become one. 

What PAs do

Responsibilities - Physician Assistants assist licensed physicians with the examination, diagnosis and treatment of patients in all kinds of healthcare settings, from small private clinics to larger full-fledged hospitals. PAs are licensed to perform a broad spectrum of medical services that have been traditionally performed only by doctors. For extremely intricate and complex procedures, PAs have the potential to assist physicians. Trusted, rigorously educated and trained healthcare professionals, PAs are dedicated to expanding access to are and transforming health and wellness through patient-centered, team-based medical practice. 

PAs' specific duties depend on the setting in which they work, their level of experience, their specialty, and state laws.

Generally, PAs can:

  • Take medical histories
  • Conduct physical exams
  • Diagnose and treat illness
  • Order and interpret tests
  • Develop treatment plans
  • Prescribe medication
  • Counsel on preventive care
  • Perform procedures
  • Assist in surgery
  • Make rounds in hospitals and nursing homes
  • Do clinical research

 

Salary- The 2025 AAPA Digital Salary Report shows that PA median compensation increased to $134,000 last year. 

Education: Most programs are approximately 27 months (3 academic years) and award master’s degrees. PA programs include both classroom instruction and clinical rotations.

Once you’ve graduated from an accredited PA program, you’re eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

Preparation and PA School Admissions

Bachelor's Degree: PA school requires successful completion of an undergraduate degree in any major. 

GPA: PA programs will take several factors into consideration- your cumulative/overall GPA, your Math/Science GPA, Prerequisite GPA, and the trend of your GPA from each semester to the next. Ultimately, having a strong average in each area is ideal as well as showing an upward trend or a consistently accomplished pattern in academic rigor throughout undergraduate coursework. Each school will vary on their minimum GPA requirements, but a 3.5+ is considered competitive. 

Prerequisites: Required classes for each PA school will vary per program and can change at any time, so it is wise to periodically check your selected programs' websites, attend info sessions, and stay in contact with their admissions team. Some programs may have fewer prerequisite requirements from the next, but showcasing the ability to manage the rigor of additional, medically related upper-level science coursework (for science majors!) is recommended in order to be a competitive applicant. While not limited to or exclusive of, the courses below are examples of commonly required prerequisites for PA programs:

  • Biology I and sometimes Biology II
    • Biology I with lab | BIO 1134
    • Biology II with lab | BIO 1144
  • Chemistry I and II
    • Chemistry I with lab | CH 1213 & 1221
    • Chemistry II with lab |  CH 1223 & Ch 1221
  • Organic Chemistry I with lab | CH 4513 & CH 4511
  • Microbiology with lab | BIO 3304
  • Behavioral Sciences 
    • General Psychology | PSY 1013
    • Human Growth and Development or Developmental Psychology | EPY 2513 or PSY 3803 
      • Double check your target school's requirements for this and compare to course syllabi as well as your degree requirements before registering 
    • Abnormal Psychology | PSY 3213 
  • Statistics
    • Intro to Statistics | ST 2113
      • Some programs may require a specific type of stats course like Inferential Stats, or they may not accept other types of stats like Behavioral or Business. 
  • Anatomy & Physiology 
    • Human Anatomy with lab | BIO 3004
    • Human Physiology with lab | BIO 3014
      • If taking combined A&P courses at other institutions, those cannot be combined with MSU's Anatomy or Physiology courses to fulfill this requirement. 
      • Courses from other professional programs or disciplines (nursing, military medical training, comparative, and non-human focused A&P) courses will likely not satisfy this requirement 
      • BIO 1004 at MSU will not satisfy any portion of this requirement. It is an introductory course.
  • Genetics
    • Human Genetics | BIO 4133
    • Genetics I w/ lab | BIO 3103
      • Double check with programs, academic advisors, and pre-health advisor before registering- particularly in regards to lab components
  • Biochemistry  
    • Principles of Biochemistry- BCH 4013
    • General Biochemistry I | BCH 4603
      • Double check PA programs that require this in regards to lab and before taking the principles course

 

A few examples of medically related upper-level (3000-4000) sciences at MSU: 

  • Parasitology w/ lab- BIO 3303 
  • Principles of Virology- BIO 4433 (spring only) 
  • Immunology- BIO 4413 (spring only)
  • Biology of Cancer - BIO 3443 

 

Testing Requirements: Some schools require the Graduate Record Examination/GRE while others recommend taking the PA-CAT. Some schools will have minimum score requirements while others will not. It is important to compare all of your target schools and requirements side by side before making any plans and preparations for any entrance exams. 

GRE: Is a computer-based exam comprised of three portions: 

  • Verbal Reasoning 
  • Quantitative Reasoning
  • Analytical Writing 

While some PA schools will not require a minimum score, a competitive overall score is around 300+. Students typically start to study for this exam over a break leading up to their application year. The GRE can be taken more than once, but there is a 30 day waiting period before being able to take it again. At MSU, the exam can be conveniently scheduled at our Computer-Based Testing Services on campus. 

Observations/Shadowing: Varies by program on the amount of hours, but the more that you see the more you will know! And that's particularly important when it comes to learning about your dream job. Shadowing can be sometimes be comprised of a culmination of PAs, MDs, and DOs in a variety of settings and specialties. While observing, be as professional as possible and prepare questions that go beyond surface level. Ask them about what they consider to be the good and the not so great aspects about their field, their work-life balance, what they wish they would've known or done differently at your phase of life, etc. You will also want to stay in touch with these professionals as they could potentially become one of your evaluators or mentors someday. 

Patient Care Experiences (PCE): Before being immersed into a fast-paced, rigorous curriculum in PA school, the admissions committees want to know that you already have a strong foundation in your academic abilities as well as your clinical skillset. PCE hours can be any healthcare position where your hands come into direct contact with a patient in a clinical setting. Some schools have minimum hour requirements while others do not, but it is unlikely that you will be accepted without any at all. PA Programs will also differ on how these hours should be accrued as it pertains to being paid or non-paid/volunteer experiences. Most MS schools will accept both, but there are programs that prefer them to be paid experiences. Medically related positions that are not working directly with patients like clerical roles, admissions, billing, or anything else in a clinic or hospital can be considered as healthcare experience, but it will not satisfy this requirement.

Examples of positions that former students have worked to accrue these hours: 

Certified: CNA; Phlebotomy; Paramedic; Medical Assistant; Physical Therapy Aid, Registered Nurse

Non-Certified: Patient Care Technician, Vitals Technician, ER Technician, Physical Therapy Tech (depends on the clinic and state laws as to whether this role is direct) 

Involvement/Extracurriculars: Admissions committees can derive a skillset from anything that you do. For students who are working while in their undergrad, they may not be involved in as many clubs, teams, and organizations. And that is okay in the holistic review process! Our goal is to be a well-rounded pre-professional student and that will look differently for each individual. 

However, I do have one suggestion for membership at MSU: Pre-Physician Assistant Club at MSU

Service: At MSU, we pride ourselves in going wherever we are called to serve and volunteering our time to those in need. Volunteering for your local, campus, and/or abroad communities is not only rewarding, but it can also allow you to grow in ways that nothing else can teach you. Empathy and compassion are admirable qualities of a healthcare provider, and volunteering is a fantastic way to learn and showcase those qualities about yourself. Remember, we don't just say we are these things, we do the things to prove it. 

Letters of Recommendation: PA programs will vary on this requirement. Some will ask for specific people as recommenders, while others may only request an amount without specifying who they should be. Many programs require at least one letter coming from a PA, so build a good rapport with those that you work with and/or observe. Other strong recommenders might be your supervisors, professors, advisors, or anyone that can attest to your abilities, ethics, and character.  

 

CASPA Application Process 

The CASPA: The Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) is a division of the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) that exists to make the application process fair and efficient for applicants and PA schools. CASPA becomes available around April each cycle. Deadlines for submission will vary depending on individual programs. 

The Application Cycle 

  • Before application year, it is encouraged to meet with your pre-health advisor to create a timeline and strategic plan for essays, prep, etc, over the course of time together. 

  • GRE (and in some cases PA-CAT and/or Casper) should be taken earlier in the year to give yourself time to retake if needed. 

  • Confirm deadline dates for individual PA programs (we have a spreadsheet for school comparison in our office)  

  • Begin to fill out and submit applications for PA programs. If applicable, contact CASPA, or individual schools directly for specific questions.

  • Reach out to evaluators ahead of time. Once they agree to write a letter of recommendation for you, input their information through CASPA. Everything will be submitted through the liason portal digitally and each of you will receive links and confirmation of submission. 

  • Verification of applications takes time! Try to submit at least 3-4 weeks before any deadlines to ensure that your application is verified by that time. 

  • Keep pursuing patient care experiences, volunteering, and interview preparation practices. 

Mississippi PA Schools 

Mississippi State University Meridian Campus 

Mississippi College 

University of Southern Mississippi 

 

 

For assistance in planning a pre-PA path at MSU, contact Claire Palmer