Physician Assistant | Programs | Health Professions Mission

Program Profile: Physician Assistant

Program Description

Name of program: Physician Assistant

Program Overview: Numbering over 220, ISU Physician Assistant (PA) graduates are helping Idaho meet its health workforce needs. ISU PAs are staying in Idaho, working in small towns, and providing quality primary health care. The ISU Physician Assistant graduate curriculum is twenty-four (24) months in length, divided into twelve (12) months of didactic (3 semesters) and twelve (12) months of clinical education (3 semesters). The didactic curriculum is comprised of foundation courses in the fall semester, followed in the spring and summer semesters by modules that provide an immersion experience in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases commonly encountered in primary care medicine.

Accreditation

Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc.

Program Highlights

Our graduates have a 90% pass rate on the national certification exam. The majority of our graduates practice primary care. The majority of our graduates stay in Idaho.

About the Profession

Physician Assistants (PAs) are highly skilled health practitioners who work under physician supervision to provide patient care services. PAs take complete medical histories, perform physical examinations, order and interpret diagnostic studies, such as laboratory tests and x-rays, diagnose and treat patients. Physician Assistants improve the accessibility of health care of underserved individuals in both urban and rural settings. The Physician Assistant Program at Idaho State University is the only PA Program in the state of Idaho.

Physician Assistants (PAs) are academically and clinically prepared to provide healthcare services, including the diagnosis and treatment of disease, with the direction and supervision of a doctor of medicine or osteopathy. PAs make clinical decisions and provide a broad range of diagnostic, therapeutic, preventive, and health maintenance services. The physician - PA team relationship is fundamental to the PA profession and enhances the delivery of high quality health care.

The clinical role of PAs includes primary and specialty care in all medical and surgical practice settings. PA practice is centered on patient care and may include educational, research, and administrative activities. The national median starting salary for 2005 PA graduates was $69,517 per year (2006 AAPA Physician Assistant Census Report).

Potential Salary: Mean salary $84,356

Faculty

9 full-time faculty, 3 part-time faculty, 7 support staff and over 100 clinical faculty and over 100 clinical sites.

Seven of our faculty are clinically active physician assistants.

Class Size

Fixed Seats: Yes

Number of students in entering class: 60

Total number of students enrolled in program: 120

Length of Program

Number of academic years needed to complete the program: 2

Locations

Locations offered: Pocatello and Boise

Program offered fully online? No

Program delivered through distance presentation? Yes

Prerequisites

Required Degree: Bachelor's Degree

Other Prerequisites: Courses in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Human Anatomy and Human Physiology (either a single course or as part of a two-semester combined anatomy and physiology course), Statistics, and Abnormal Psychology. Read more at the Physician Assistant Program web page on entrance requirements and suggested courses.

Costs

Tuition: $7,770 per year (for residents) See our website.

Professional fees: $15,600 per year (resident)

Equipment: Approximately $500

Books: Approximately $500

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Scholarship Deadline: Contact the Scholarship Office for more information.

Financial Aid Deadline: Contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information.

How to Apply

Application Deadline: December 1

Program Start Date: August (fall semester)

Other Information: FAQ on the Physicians Assistant website.