Physician Assistant Studies (Central Coast), MS

Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

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ATSU-CHC School Policies and Information      Length of Program Tuition and Fees Admissions

Technical Standards for Admissions, Matriculation, and Graduation Program Policies Graduation Requirements Courses

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Central Coast PA Program (CCPA)

Physician assistants are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. Common services provided by physician assistants include taking medical histories and performing physical examinations, ordering and interpreting lab tests, prescribing medications, assisting in surgery and counseling patients. Physician assistants are trained through an intense education program. 

Because of their close working relationship with physicians, physician assistants are educated in the medical model designed to complement physician training. Upon graduation, physician assistants take a national certification examination developed by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). 

Length of Program

ATSU’s Central Coast PA (CCPA) program is a 24-month residential master’s degree program based in Santa Maria, California. Students will spend one year on campus in Santa Maria for the pre-clinical phase of the program. Then, students will enter the clinical phase, including 35 weeks of supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) in various medical disciplines. Students will spend the entire clinical phase primarily at one of the partnered Community Health Centers (CHC) located in California and across the U.S. The curriculum includes 105 credit hours.

Tuition and Fees

Annual tuition rates are split and billed according to the scheduled semesters and are due on the first week of class. Most fees follow a similar billing schedule with a few exceptions. Rates are subject to change each academic year for all enrolled students. Delinquent balances incur penalties at a rate of 1.5% per month, totaling 18% annually.

For ATSU programs approved to certify for Title IV funding, a Cost of Attendance (COA) is available which provides estimated amounts for direct and indirect expenses for a period of enrollment. 

Class of 2027, Year 1
Tuition: $45,076
Student Technology Fee: $1,440
Medical Equipment & Lab Fee: $2,000
Student Tuition Recovery Fee: $0

Class of 2026, Year 2
Tuition: $60,096
Student Technology Fee: $1,440
Medical Equipment & Lab Fee: $2,000
Student Tuition Recovery Fee: $0

Class of 2025, Year 3
Tuition: $15,028
Student Technology Fee: $0
​Medical Equipment & Lab Fee: $0
Student Tuition Recovery Fee: $0

Estimated non-institutional expenses include:

• Background Check $51.50
• Student Health Insurance:
  • Class of 2027 - $3,452/per year (based on 25-26 premium amount)
  • Class of 2026 - $4,700/per year (based on 25-26 premium amount)
  • Class of 2025 - $1,585/per year (based on 25-26 premium amount)

For the 2025-26 academic year

• Total program cost for the Class of 2027 is estimated to be $51,968.
• Total program cost for the Class of 2026 is estimated to be $68,236.
• Total program cost for the Class of 2025 is estimated to be $16,613.

Estimated cost for the entire program is $136,817.

Admissions

Application Process

The CCPA program participates in a centralized application processing service called the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Applications may be obtained through CASPA at www.caspaonline.org. 

Please refer to the CASPA application instructions for specific details about completing the application, required documents, and processing time. Questions regarding the CASPA account may be directed to CASPA at 617.612.2080 or by email at caspainfo@caspaonline.org. 

All other questions may be sent to Admissions at admissions@atsu.edu or 866.626.2878 ext. 2237.

The CCPA program seeks to recruit students whose personal goals and background are consistent with the program’s mission. Students who are professional, culturally humble, and have a desire to serve diverse medically underserved populations are an optimal fit.

Step 1 - Apply Through CASPA

The following items must be submitted through the CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistants) Portal at CASPA before the CCPA program application deadline.

1. CASPA electronic application (sent through the CASPA portal)
2. Three letters of recommendation (sent through the CASPA portal)
3. Official transcripts (sent through the CASPA portal or directly to ATSU)

Only applications verified by CASPA are reviewed. A CASPA-verified application includes a complete application, including submission of transcripts, and two reference letters. The application, official transcripts, and letter of recommendation must be submitted to move to the next step of the CCPA program applicant review process.

Step 2 - Complete and Submit (1) Secondary Application and (2) Endorsement Documents, if applicable

Upon receipt of a verified CASPA application, the University admissions department will send a secondary application via email to all applicants who have met the program’s minimum admission requirements. The secondary application must be completed and submitted to the program to move to the next part of the CCPA program applicant review process.

If an applicant has received a Hometown Scholar endorsement or an ATSU MOU Partnership endorsement, the endorsement letter must be submitted with the secondary application on or before January 15th. If the letter of endorsement is received at a later time, the applicant will not be eligible for Hometown Scholar or ATSU MOU Affiliate referral for this application cycle.

Step 3 - The CCPA Program Reviews Applicant Materials and Selects Interview Candidates

The CCPA program reviews all applicants who submitted documents prior to January 15th. Applicants are placed in one of three categories:

1. Invite for Interview: Those who have demonstrated that they will be most successful in fulfilling the program’s mission are invited by the CCPA to participate in an in-person interview early in the cycle.
2. Hold for further review: Those who demonstrate moderate capability in fulfilling the program’s mission are held for continued review.  These applicants may be invited for an interview later in the cycle or may not be invited for an interview. This determination will be made prior to the end of April as additional applicants are reviewed and ranked.
3. Not receive an interview:  Those who do not demonstrate that their personal goals and background are a good fit with the program’s mission are not invited to an interview. 

Step 4: Attend an Interview on Zoom

The CCPA interview day is designed as a three-part MMI series. The interview day will consist of a program information and question session with members of program leadership, two short one-on-one interviews with two different faculty members or program affiliates, and a structured group activity. During the structured group activity, multiple applicants will be placed in the same Zoom room and given a task to complete as a team. Applicants will need a computer with a webcam and microphone for this part of the interview but do not need a Zoom account to attend.

Step 5: Receive an Admissions Decision

The Admissions Committee meets after applicant interviews to combine scores and make one of four decisions: (1) offer admission, (2) hold the applicant for further review, or (3) decline the offer of admission. Applicants are notified of the Admission Committee’s decision in writing as soon as possible (usually within 4 weeks) following their interview. At the end of the program’s applicant review cycle, those who were placed on the hold list will either be offered admission, placed on a waitlist, or be declined admission.

It is advantageous for applicants to complete the admissions process in a timely manner, as applications are reviewed as a part of a rolling admissions process.

The CCPA Program Preferred Admissions Criteria Explained

The Central Coast PA program strives to select candidates who desire to practice culturally humble, primary care in medically underserved communities. Qualities that demonstrate that applicants are likely to be successful in fulfilling the program’s mission are considered and scored as part of our holistic admissions process.  While none of these factors alone guarantees acceptance, applicants with the following backgrounds are given preference points in the application review:

First-generation college student

• Being a first-generation college student is not required for admission to the CCPA program, however, applicants who are first-generation college students will be given specific points in the program’s holistic applicant review process.

Patient Care Experience

• Medical experience is not required for admission to the CCPA program, however, medical experience is preferred and points will be awarded in the holistic applicant review process. Following the program’s mission, candidates with experiences in medically underserved areas will be given special consideration by specific points in the program’s holistic applicant review process.
• This category applies to experiences in which you are directly responsible for a patient’s care. For example: distributing medication, assisting with treatment or procedures, actively working with patients as a nurse, paramedic, EMT, CNA, phlebotomist, physical therapist, dental hygienist, etc. (Medical assistant roles can fall under this category if you had responsibility for patient care and/or engaged in decision-making.)

Volunteer and/or Community Service

• Providing social services to underserved or disadvantaged communities and/or persons is not required for admission to the CCPA program, however, applicants who demonstrate outstanding and altruistic commitment to service and volunteerism will be given points in the program’s holistic applicant review process.

Evidence that an applicant is from an economically disadvantaged background.

• Having an economically disadvantaged background is not required for admission to the CCPA program, however, applicants who are from economically disadvantaged backgrounds will be given points in the program’s holistic applicant review process.

ATSU Hometown Scholar

• Being a community center endorsed Hometown Scholar is not required for admission to the CCPA program, however, applicants who have met all of the program’s admissions requirements and have received an endorsement from the local community health center where they live. These applicants will demonstrate a commitment to returning to their hometown Community Health Center to practice one day.  Applicants who receive this endorsement will be given points in the program’s holistic applicant review process and will be automatically offered a remote (via Zoom) interview.
• The endorsement letter MUST be submitted with the secondary application on or before January 15th. If the letter of endorsement is received at a later time, the applicant will NOT be eligible for Hometown Scholar for this application cycle.

Affiliate Referral

• Being referred to our program by an institution for whom the ATSU College for Healthy Communities has a memorandum of understanding (MOU) is not required for admission to the Central Coast PA program, however, applicants who have met all of the program’s admissions requirements and have received an endorsement from an ATSU MOU Affiliate will be offered an in-person interview. ATSU MOUs offer a limited number of interviews for qualified applicants who are students or workers of our affiliate partners.
• The endorsement letter must be submitted by the MOU affiliate to CCPA admissions on or before January 15th.  If the endorsement letter is received at a later time, the applicant(s) will not be eligible for ATSU MOU affiliate referral for this application cycle.
• Current MOU affiliates include: Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, Lompoc Valley Medical Center, and Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics.

Residents of the Central Coast Region            

• Being a resident of the Central Coast region of CA is not required for admission to the CCPA program, however, those who have verified addresses in the Central Coast region (Monterrey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties) will be given points in the program’s holistic applicant review process.

While none of these above factors alone guarantee automatic acceptance, they are all considered as part of the holistic application review process.

Admission Requirements

Requirements for Cohort Beginning in 2026

• Demonstrate a minimum 3.0 cumulative overall grade point average *
• Demonstrate a minimum 3.0 cumulative science grade point average *
• The program will not accept any prerequisite coursework that is in progress or pending completion. It is recommended that all prerequisite courses that were completed more than five years ago be repeated before matriculating into the program to give students the greatest opportunity for success. Successfully complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or higher. **
  • Human Anatomy with lab: 4 semester (6 quarter) credits
  • Human Physiology with lab: 4 semester (6 quarter) credits
    • Or a combined Anatomy & Physiology course, with lab, over two or more semesters totaling 8 semester credits (12 quarter) credits
  • Microbiology: 4 semester (6 quarter) credits
  • Chemistry with lab (General Chemistry I & II): Applicants must complete a full sequence of General Chemistry I & II, including associated laboratory courses, totaling at least 8 semester (12 quarter) credits
  • Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry (with or without lab): 3 semester (4 quarter) credits
  • Statistics (biostatistics & psychology statistics accepted): 3 semester (4 quarter) credits
  • Medical Terminology:1 semester (1 quarter) credit
• Demonstrate graduate level proficiency in English, the program’s language of instruction, through the successful completion of a baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by a U.S. Department of Education institutional accreditor. ***
• Provide three letters of recommendation
  • Letters should be from individuals who know your work ethic well and can attest to your potential for success and your desire to serve medically underserved populations. These letters can come from any of the following sources: employers, supervisors, medical providers, or academic instructors/professors. Recommendation letters cannot be submitted from family members or friends.
• Complete a baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by a U.S. Department of Education institutional accreditor** no later than 2 weeks before matriculation.*

*Grade point average calculated and reported on a 4.00 scale

**All prerequisite coursework and degree must be completed from a college or university accredited by a U.S. Department of Education institutional accreditor. Prerequisite courses completed at foreign or other institutions that are not regionally accredited in the United States are not accepted. Course and transcript evaluations of equivalency are not accepted. CCPA supports all educational experiences from either a college or university accredited by a U.S. Department of Education institutional accreditor, by residential, hybrid, online instruction, or credit by examination.

***CCPA does not provide English language services, including instruction such as ESL.

Requirements for Cohort Beginning in 2025

• Demonstrate a minimum 2.5 cumulative overall grade point average *
• Demonstrate a minimum 2.5 cumulative science grade point average *
• The program will not accept any prerequisite coursework that is in progress or pending completion. It is recommended that all prerequisite courses that were completed more than five years ago be repeated before matriculating into the program to give students the greatest opportunity for success. Successfully complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or higher. **
  • Human Anatomy: 3 semester (4 quarter) credits
  • Human Physiology: 3 semester (4 quarter) credits
    • Or a combined Anatomy & Physiology course, over two or more semesters (each with or without a lab) totaling 6 semester credits (8 quarter) credits
  • Microbiology: 3 semester (4 quarter) credits
  • Chemistry: 6 semester (8 quarter) credits
  • Statistics (biostatistics & psychology statistics accepted): 3 semester (4 quarter) credits
  • Medical Terminology:1 semester (1 quarter) credit
• Demonstrate graduate level proficiency in English, the program’s language of instruction, through the successful completion of a baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by a U.S. Department of Education institutional accreditor. ***
• Provide three letters of recommendation
  • Letters should be from individuals who know your work ethic well and can attest to your potential for success and your desire to serve medically underserved populations. These letters can come from any of the following sources: employers, supervisors, medical providers, or academic instructors/professors. Recommendation letters cannot be submitted from family members or friends.
• Complete a baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by a U.S. Department of Education institutional accreditor** with a minimum 2.5 cumulative overall grade point average by no later than 2 weeks before matriculation. *

*Grade point average calculated and reported on a 4.00 scale

**All prerequisite coursework and degree must be completed from a college or university accredited by a U.S. Department of Education institutional accreditor. Prerequisite courses completed at foreign or other institutions that are not regionally accredited in the United States are not accepted. Course and transcript evaluations of equivalency are not accepted. CCPA supports all educational experiences from either a college or university accredited by a U.S. Department of Education institutional accreditor, by residential, hybrid, online instruction, or credit by examination.

***CCPA does not provide English language services, including instruction such as ESL.

Transfer Credit

CCPA does not offer advanced placement, prior experiential learning credits, or transfer credits. CCPA has not entered into any articulation or transfer agreements with any other college or university.

DACA Student Admission

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (“DACA”) is a policy that allows certain undocumented immigrants who entered the United States before their sixteenth (16th) birthday and who meet other restrictive criteria to receive renewable two-year work permits and exemption from deportation. ATSU-CCPA welcomes applicants with DACA status to apply to its physician assistant program. However, ATSU cannot guarantee licensure of DACA students by state licensing boards. Therefore, ATSU-CCPA encourages all applicants with DACA status to communicate with the licensing board for the state where they plan to practice, to determine if they will be eligible to receive a license issued by that agency.

Please note: DACA students are not eligible for Title IV federal financial aid but may be eligible for other types of financial assistance including private loans which may require a credit check to determine eligibility. To review types of aid available at ATSU click here. 

International Student Admission

Students who are non-citizens or not permanent residents of the United States are not eligible to apply for the CCPA program at this time. ATSU is not authorized to offer F-1 Visas for this program.

Technical Standards for Admissions, Matriculation, and Graduation

ARC Standard A3.13e

In addition to the technical standards established by the University that applies to all students, the program has established the following technical standards.

Sensory Perception:

1. Students must be able to observe and participate in all demonstrations, visual presentations in lectures and laboratories, and computer-assisted instruction. They must also be able to observe laboratory evidence and microbiologic cultures, as well as microscopic studies of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathologic states.
2. Students must be able to observe patients accurately and completely, both at a distance and closely. This ability requires functional vision, hearing, and somatic sensation.
3. Students must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and the spatial relationships of structures.
4. Students must use their senses of vision, hearing, and smell to elicit information, perceive nonverbal communications, and describe mood, activity, and posture changes. They must also have the psychomotor abilities to perform all skills/tests in the physical exam, including inspection, palpation, auscultation, and percussion.

Interpersonal Communication:

1. Students must be able to relate to patients and family members and establish empathetic, professional, and effective relationships with them, including through speech, reading, and writing.
2. Students are expected to communicate the examination results to the patient and to their colleagues accurately, clearly, and efficiently in oral, written, and electronic formats.
3. Students are expected to be able to work collaboratively with all healthcare team members.
4. Students must possess sufficient interpersonal skills to interact positively with people from all levels of society, all ethnic backgrounds, and all belief systems.

Motor Function and Strength:

1. Students must be emotionally healthy to fully utilize their intellectual ability, exercise good judgment, and complete all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients.
2. Students must tolerate physical, mental, and emotional stress throughout their training while continuing to function effectively.
3. Students must possess qualities of adaptability and flexibility and be able to function in the face of uncertainty. They must also have a high level of compassion for others, motivation to serve, integrity, and a consciousness of social values.
4. Students must be able to accept criticism and respond by appropriate behavior modification.

Intellectual:

1. Students are expected to be able to display appropriate judgment in assessing and treating patients. In addition, they must learn and demonstrate the ability to recognize limitations in their knowledge, skills, and abilities and seek appropriate assistance with their identified limitations.
2. Students are expected to possess perseverance, diligence, and consistency to complete the physician assistant curriculum and enter into the practice of medicine as certified and licensed PA.
3. Students must be able to problem-solve, collect, organize, prioritize, analyze, and assimilate large amounts of technically detailed and complex information within a limited time frame. This information will be presented in various educational settings, including lectures, small group discussions, and individual clinical settings. Students must be able to analyze, integrate, and apply this information appropriately for problem-solving and decision-making.

CCPA Program Policies

All program policies apply to all physician assistant students, principal faculty, and the Program Director and Chair, regardless of location, except where clinical site policies conflict with program policies, in which event, students, principal faculty, and the Program Director and Chair will be expected to comply with the clinical site policies; however, despite any given clinical site mandate on dress code or identification, students must always wear their student identification badge.

Academic Standing, Progression, & Probation

ARC-PA Standard A3.15a-d

Grading

The CCPA program uses a letter grading scale and adheres to the University grading scale. Students must achieve a minimum final grade of 70% to pass each course in accordance with the grading criteria detailed in the course syllabus.

Academic Standing

ARC-PA Standard A3.15a, b

To maintain good academic standing, each student is required to:

• Receive a final grade of 70.0% [C or RC (remediated C)] or higher in all courses
• Maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) in the program of 2.5 or higher

Academic Warning

An academic warning is issued whenever academic problems are identified to provide at-risk students with additional academic support and guidance to promote their future success. Students who are exhibiting performance that puts them at risk of receiving a final course grade of “C” or below will be issued an academic warning. An academic warning serves as a notice to the student that their current performance is putting them at risk for failure to meet the standards of academic performance.  

An academic warning may be issued for reasons such as failure of an examination or other course assessment, or based on faculty reports indicating student challenges in meeting course or program academic standards.

 A student who receives an academic warning may be provided recommendations or referrals to additional resources or support services to help promote academic success. The specific guidance and resources offered will depend on the individual student’s circumstances and needs.

Students who receive only an academic warning remain in “good standing,” and the warning is NOT recorded on the official transcript. The purpose of the warning is to provide information and strategies to help the student maintain satisfactory progress in the program and avoid academic Probation. Failure to improve academic performance, however, may lead to academic probation.

Standards of Academic Performance

To maintain good academic standing, each student is required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 in the program. Students who fall below the minimum will be placed on academic probation and referred to the CCPA Academic Progress Board (APB), regardless of whether one or more course failures has occurred. 

In addition to the GPA requirement, each course must be passed with a “C” grade or better. Students who fail any CCPA program course will be placed on academic probation, or will remain on academic probation if they are already on academic probation. They will be given the opportunity to remediate the failed course on a schedule determined by the program, provided they have not exceeded the maximum number of course failures or the maximum of five course remediations allowed, as outlined in the Standards of Academic Progression below.  If the course remediation is successful, the highest grade that will be awarded for the course is 70% and the student will receive a grade of “remediated C” (RC) on their transcript. If the course remediation is unsuccessful, the failing grade (F) will stand, and the student will be referred to the CCPA APB to determine appropriate action (see Academic Progress Board below). 

The APB may make recommendations to help the student achieve the required standards of academic performance and to support academic progression. Student compliance with these recommendations will be taken into consideration at any subsequent APB meetings.

Academic Performance Summary

• Course Failure: Academic Probation and referral to APB.
• Cumulative GPA below 2.5: Academic Probation and referral to APB.

Students are removed from academic probation upon achieving a passing grade in all courses and earning a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above.

Standards of Academic Progression

ARC-PA Standard A3.15b

Progression in the CCPA program is contingent upon maintaining all Standards of Academic Performance. Lack of academic progression is grounds for academic dismissal from the CCPA program and may be determined as the result of, but not limited to, the following conditions:

• Failure of three or more courses;
• Failure to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above for three consecutive terms; 
• Failure to meet the Standards of Academic Performance resulting in the need for a second deceleration. Students may only be granted one deceleration based upon academic performance; the need for a second deceleration is grounds for dismissal due to a lack of academic progress;
• More than five remediated courses (a student can only have a maximum of 5 RC grades on their transcript. Additional remediations will not be granted and the need for more than five remediations will be considered lack of academic progress);
• Failure to complete all program requirements within the specified maximum degree completion timeline of five years from matriculation.

In situations where a student violates the Standards of Academic Progression for not meeting the established program degree completion timeline, the student may be dismissed from the program.

Remediation Policies and Procedures

ARC-PA Standard A3.15c

Any student earning a failing grade in a course will receive a letter grade of “F” on their transcript. If the student has not reached the maximum of five course remediations permitted by the Standards of Academic Progression, they will be required to complete a remediation plan. This plan includes required activities to address the deficient learning outcomes and associated content, followed by one or more assessments to demonstrate proficiency. If the student successfully passes the remediation assessment(s) with a 70% or greater, the student will receive a new final course grade of 70%, and the recorded grade on the transcript will be changed from an “F” to a remediated “C” (RC). If the student is unsuccessful at achieving 70% or higher on the remediation assessment(s), the originally assigned letter grade of “F” will remain. Any student who is required to complete a course remediation, regardless of the outcome of their remediation, will be referred to the APB.

Academic Progress Board (APB)

The Academic Progress Board (APB) monitors student compliance with the Standards of Academic Performance and Standards of Academic Progression, as well as reviewing matters regarding student professional behaviors. 

APB Membership

The APB is comprised of three to five voting principal faculty members (appointed at the discretion of the Program Director), including the APB chair, and two non-voting members consisting of an ATSU Student Affairs representative and a staff member designated to serve as the APB Secretary. A quorum is established when a simple majority of the voting members, or their designees, are present at the meeting. Outside persons, including the student’s parents or legal counsel, will not be permitted to attend, and recording of meetings is prohibited.

APB Meetings

The APB will automatically convene at the end of each term to review student compliance with the Standards of Academic Performance and Progression. Any student referred to the APB is required to attend the meeting in person or remotely via videoconference. The purpose is to confirm the student’s understanding of their current academic standing, provide an opportunity to share relevant information with the student, allow the student to articulate their perspective, discuss options to help the student improve their current academic standing, and ensure that each student is granted appropriate academic due process. 

APB Deliberation and Decision

During the review of a student’s academic standing, the APB will consider:

• The student’s academic history
• Policy regarding academic performance and progression 
• The student’s explanation of their current academic standing
• Any other pertinent information. 

The APB will vote by simple majority to determine if the student has failed to meet the program’s published Standards of Academic Progression. The recommendations of the APB are reviewed by the Program Director who is responsible for making the final decision regarding the student’s academic or professional standing.

Student Notification

Students whose academic performance or progression is under review by the APB will be notified, in writing, at least three calendar days before the scheduled APB meeting. This notification will state 1) the specific reasons the student has failed to meet the Standards of Academic Performance and/or the Standards of Academic Progression and 2) the day, time, and place of the scheduled meeting.

Once the APB has met and forward their recommendation(s), the student will be notified, in writing, by the Program Director no later than seven calendar days following their final decision regarding the student’s academic standing.

Deceleration

ARC-PA Standard A3.15c

Deceleration occurs when a student leaves their original cohort and reenters the program at a later time. Deceleration may result from:

• Failure of one didactic course
• Failure of two clinical rotation courses
• Voluntary Leave of Absence (see Absence Policies in the ATSU Policies section of this catalog) 

Decelerated students are required to repeat the portions of the curriculum determined by the APB with a subsequent cohort, and will not graduate with their original cohort. Students are not permitted more than one academic deceleration, meaning a student who fails to meet the Standards of Academic Performance after reentering the program from a prior academic deceleration is subject to dismissal. Students who have decelerated in accordance with an approved Leave of Absence may be granted an additional deceleration.

Withdrawal

ARC-PA Standard A3.15d

Students who wish to withdraw from the program must submit a formal request in accordance with the ATSU Withdrawal Policy. The process, including required documentation and the approval procedures, is outlined in the Withdrawal from School  section of the ATSU Policies section of this catalog.

Dismissal

ARC-PA Standard A3.15d

Failure to meet the program’s Standards for Academic Progression may result in dismissal from the program. The process for dismissal is described in the ATSU-CHC Policies section of this catalog. Students who are dismissed from the program are not eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) or obtain licensure as a Physician Assistant (PA). 

Dismissal Appeal Process

ARC-PA Standard A3.15g

Any student recommended for dismissal from the program may submit a formal appeal to the CHC Dean in accordance with the dismissal appeal process detailed in the ATSU-CHC Policies section of this catalog.

Degree Completion

Students are expected to complete their degree within the program’s standard plan of study. In circumstances where additional time is needed, and with approval of the appropriate chair, students will have a maximum degree completion timeline of five (5) years from the time of initial enrollment. Failure to complete the program within this timeframe will lead to dismissal from the program.

Graduation Requirements

ARC-PA Standard A3.15b

To earn a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies degree, all students must:

• Complete all prescribed courses within five years of commencing the program. 
• Achieve a grade of ‘C’ or higher on all program courses.
• Achieve a 2.5 or higher cumulative program GPA.

Courses