Physician Assistant Post-Professional Graduate Certificate in Leadership
The Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program offers a post-professional certificate for physician assistants (PAs) in Leadership. The certificate is comprised of three courses (9 semester credit hours) offered through a distance-learning format. All course work will be taken with current Doctor of Medical (DMSc) students. All courses require active participation using current technology.
The purpose of the certificate is to provide physician assistants with post-professional education in the field of leadership. The certificate is also beneficial for graduates of the Doctor of Medical Science degree who did not select either leadership track for their initial DMSc degree. These courses can be used as part of the DMSc degree program required course work if you wish to proceed with obtaining the Doctor of Medical Science degree later. An Application to Transfer Academic Credit will need to be completed.
Length of Program
The Certificate program consists of three (3) courses that could be completed over one or more semesters.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees are billed by the semester at the per-credit-hour rate and are due the first week of class. Rates are subject to change each academic year for all enrolled students. Delinquent tuition penalties accrue at 1.5 percent per month, which is 18 percent per year.
| Tuition |
Student Technology Fee |
| $672 per credit hour |
$40 per credit hour |
Admissions
Application Process
Students interested in the Physician Assistant Post-Professional Certificate in Leadership in the Doctor of Medical Sciences program, may use the online application available at apply.atsu.edu
Admission to the certificate program is as a non-degree student which is not eligible for federal financial assistance.
Written requests for applications should be sent to: Arizona School of Health Sciences, Attention: Certificate - Doctor of Medical Sciences, 5850 E. Still Circle, Mesa, AZ 85206.
Application Deadline
Please contact Admissions at 877.469.2878 or by email at onlineinquiry@atsu.edu for more information regarding the application deadlines for the Certificate program.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for admission to the Physician Assistant Post-Professional Certificate program must meet the following requirements prior to matriculation.
- Currently certified/licensed physician assistant or, if retired, previously certified/licensed to practice as a PA.
- Master’s degree from a college or university accredited by a U.S. Department of Education institutional accreditor or meet the following equivalency.
- Master’s Equivalency Option: Applicants MUST have a bachelor’s degree in physician assistant studies AND meet and document in a portfolio at least one (1) of the criteria below:
- An approved military or civilian post-professional PA residency or fellowship
- An approved medical specialty certificate program (i.e. public health certificate)
- A Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) offered by the NCCPA
- At least 15 credit hours of post-secondary education toward a master’s degree
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
- Licensed PAs from Canada and the UK are eligible to apply.
- Applicants must be fluent in English (the language of instruction of this program). When the applicant speaks and/or writes in English as a second language, the applicant must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores for review.
- Applicants must be able to meet the University technology requirements.
DMSc Transfer Credit
Graduate Certificate-to-Doctorate
Upon successful completion of one of the certificate programs, students who meet the program requirements are encouraged to apply for admission to the DMSc doctoral degree program. All courses successfully completed in the certificate program will transfer to the DMSc degree (Education and Leadership tracks only; not eligible for the Clinical track). The DMSc application fee will be waived for certificate holders.
Certificate Requirements
To earn a PA Post-Professional Graduate Certificate, all students must:
- Complete with a passing grade (“P”) three (3) of the leadership courses.
Curriculum
Upon completion of the PA Post-Professional Leadership Graduate Certificate, students will:
- Have foundational leadership knowledge that focuses on healthcare administration, economics, and healthcare policies.
- Students will learn:
- skills to lead organizational improvement in healthcare settings,
- explore topics influencing the markets on the healthcare system, and
- discuss medical and ethical challenges faced in healthcare, human-subjects research, and privacy rights.
- Students will also explore the evolving role and challenges of the PA in the healthcare system.
Courses