Physician Assistant Studies (M.P.A.S.)
Website: https://www.fgcu.edu/mariebcollege/healthsciences/physicianassistantstudies-mpas.aspx
(239) 745-4477The Master of Physician Assistant Studies (M.P.A.S.) program provides students with the entry-level education to become Physician Assistants (PAs) and practice medicine on healthcare teams with physicians and other providers. PA practice includes comprehensive patient care incorporating patient interviewing and history-taking, examination and evaluation, diagnosis, treatment plan development and implementation, patient follow-up, and patient education and counseling. Upon graduation, students will be eligible for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
Program Accreditation
Information on FGCU institutional accreditation is available at www.fgcu.edu/accreditation
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Florida Gulf Coast University MPAS Program sponsored by Florida Gulf Coast University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be 2032 March. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
For more information, http://www.arc-pa.org
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-fl-gulf-coast-university/
Program Admission Requirements
Admission Policies
Admission to the MPAS program is highly competitive. All applicants must complete the FGCU PA program application through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).
All prerequisites must be completed by the end of the fall semester prior to matriculation.
- Completed Application and Fee through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).
- Applicants only need to apply online using CASPA. MPAS applicants do not need to apply to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Please disregard the instructions to submit an FGCU supplemental application on the FGCU CASPA instruction page. All application materials received through CASPA will be reviewed by FGCU.
- Earned baccalaureate degree from an institution that maintains accreditation by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting body (https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/college-accreditation) or equivalent foreign institution. Baccalaureate degrees must be completed by the end of the fall semester prior to matriculation in the following fall semester.
- In addition to a baccalaureate degree, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Minimum Upper Division Grade Point Average (UG60) of at least 3.0 for the last 60 credits earned from a baccalaureate degree.
- Earned graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent foreign institution with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average.
- A minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 is required for all biology, chemistry, and physics (BCP) courses completed. CASPA calculates BCP GPA based on these Course Subject categories:
- Biology/Zoology
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Physics
- Complete the following prerequisite courses with a grade of C (2.0) or better by the end of the fall semester prior to matriculation. (“C-“grades are not acceptable). A minimum combined overall grade point average of 3.0 is required for all prerequisite courses completed. Courses must be intended for science majors or health professions preparation. Survey courses are not acceptable. The MPAS program does not allow for exceptions or substitution of prerequisite courses.
- Biology, including lab: 4 semester hours
- General Chemistry I & II, including labs: 8 semester hours
- Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry: 3 semester hours
- Medical Terminology: 3 semester hours
- The following prerequisite courses must be completed within 7 years prior to matriculation:
- Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II, including labs: 8 semester hours
- Microbiology including lab: 4-5 semester hours
- Genetics: 3 semester hours
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Standardized Test – official scores are required and must be valid within the past five years. GRE code for FGCU MPAS Program on CASPA through ETS is 2066.
- A minimum of 250 hours of direct patient care is required.
- This experience may vary and can be acquired on a full- or part-time basis.
- All direct patient care hours must be completed prior to submitting your CASPA application. The program does not accept "anticipated" hours and/or hours completed after the application has been submitted to CASPA.
- Direct patient care experience requiring certification and providing monetary compensation is the most competitive.
- Healthcare experience as part of an academic training program (clinical rotations, internship) does not meet the requirement for direct patient care.
- Examples of accepted patient care experience may be found at the Frequently Asked Questions button.
- The program strongly encourages applicants to obtain 20 hours of shadowing a physician assistant.
- Three professional letters of recommendation
- One letter must be from a Physician Assistant (PA)
- One letter must be from a non-PA clinician (MD, DO, or NP)
- One letter from a Professor or any individual who has worked with the applicant in a professional or educational environment. The reference should have worked with the applicant for a minimum of six months.
The Program does not accept references written by relatives, personal friends, or friends of the applicant’s family. “Character references” (from pastors, teachers, counselors, family doctors, etc.) are also not acceptable.
- International students must demonstrate English language proficiency in accordance with University regulation.
- Official translations are required for all documents issued in a language other than English.
- Acceptance into and successful completion of the FGCU MPAS Program does not imply or guarantee that the student will be able to obtain state licensure or third-party certification upon graduation. Outside agencies control the requirements for taking and passing certification/licensing exams and are subject to change without notice to FGCU.
- Admissions decisions are competitive. Meeting admission standards does not guarantee acceptance.
- Selected applicants will be invited for an on-campus interview.
Program Progression and Additional Graduation Requirements
- Students must complete the Program of Study approved by the Program Director and the student's faculty advisor.
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a “B” (80%) for all courses in the program.
- Complete the Physician Assistant Clinical Knowledge Rating and Assessment Test (PACKRAT).
- Successfully complete M.P.A.S. summative examination.
- Successfully complete M.P.A.S. Capstone project.
- Comply with M.P.A.S. standards of conduct and guidelines for professional and ethical conduct.
- Submit an application for graduation by the semester deadline listed in the FGCU Academic Calendar.
- Meet all FGCU graduate student requirements for graduation.
- Completion of the M.P.A.S. degree is required for eligibility to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).
- Students must register for a minimum of one credit during the semester in which they apply for graduation.
- Earn more than 50% of the credits toward the degree through FGCU.
- Earn a minimum of 90 credits.