About This Program

Earn a Bachelor of Science in health science/pre-physician assistant studies and a Master of Science in physician assistant studies in just six years.

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The Springfield College physician assistant (PA) program is renowned for its unique blend of academic rigor and hands-on experience in this field. The program educates primary care physician assistants eligible for employment in a wide variety of medical settings and specialties.

Through our six-year track (pre-professional phase), you’ll enter Springfield College as a first-year student, and in six years, you’ll earn a Bachelor of Science in health science/pre-PA and complete the master’s-level physician assistant program. You’ll enter the professional phase of the program in January of your senior year. The Bachelor of Science in health science/pre-PA is awarded in May of the fourth year. The Master of Science degree is awarded at the conclusion of the physician assistant program.

The majority of our students enter the physician assistant program through the six-year track. Students advance to the six-year track as long as all program requirements are met. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistant (NCCPA) National Certification Examination (PANCE) and apply for state licensure.

We admit to fill a class of 35 seats. During the application process, 35 qualified applicants will be offered admission. We consistently receive applications from many prospective students who meet our criteria for admissions. As a result, we develop a wait-list from which we actively draw to ensure that the class size is exactly 35. Physician assistant program applicants must apply as early decision I or II candidates. 

In six years time, you’ll have earned a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Science, and be in a career where you’ll make a huge impact on the lives of many. 

Studying to be a PA at Springfield

Christopher Caissie is studying to become a physician assistant (PA) at Springfield College. He shares his experience as an undergraduate and, now, as a graduate student in the six-year program.

Christopher also shares helpful tips for students who are interested in applying to the Springfield College Physician Assistant Studies program.

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Your Career Starts Here

Learn what it takes to become a physician assistant and how Springfield College can help you get there.

Two PA students work on the Sim Man in the Sim Lab.

First-hand Experience Providing Treatment

In the physician assistant program, you'll have full access to our medical simulation laboratory, where you'll be able to take what you learn in the classroom and put it into real-life practice on these virtual patients that exhibit human responses. 

Student in sim lab
Coming 2023

The New Health Sciences Center at Springfield College

The new Springfield College Health Sciences Center will empower transformative approaches to education, career enhancement, service, research, and leadership in healthcare. The Center will build on the success of the School of Health Sciences, and ensure its standing as the leading choice for the finest students, faculty, and staff.

An architect's rendering of the health science center at Springfield College
Accreditation

Our physician assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc.

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Springfield College Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Springfield College. 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 September 2026. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-springfield-college/.

A Proclamation from Gov. Charles Baker of Massachusetts declaring PA Week in 2019

Massachusetts Governor Charles Baker declared that Oct. 6-12, 2019 was Physician Assistants Week. This proclamation echoes what we know Physician Assistants do: serving as a key member in many individuals' health journeys, focusing on high quality healthcare and empowering people to take control of their own medical journeys.