Physician Assistant

Important Information

Semester Sequence

This is a full-time schedule required of all students who are accepted into the Physician Assistant Program.

Courses Needed for This Program*

Total Credits Required: 99

Note

ACDV 101 is not required, since students must already have a Bachelor’s degree to be admitted into the program.

Program Description

Physician Assistants are highly skilled, state licensed health care providers who practice medicine in a team-based model and in collaboration with a licensed physician. This collaborative program of CCBC and Towson University is designed for students who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher prior to admission and prepares individuals with strong academic science backgrounds and clinical experiences for careers as Physician Assistants. Full-time, continuous enrollment is required throughout the 26-month program. The curriculum is approved by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education of Physician Assistants (ARC-PA). Individuals who successfully complete the program are eligible for certification by the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants.

Entry into the program requires admission to the Physician Assistant Program, CCBC, and the Towson University. Enrollees must successfully complete all requirements of the Physician Assistant (PA) program. The PA Professional Certificate and the M.S. degree in PA Studies will be awarded concurrently upon successful completion of all 99 program credits, which includes 39 CCBC credits and 60 Towson University credits.

Tuition and fees for 200-level courses are paid to CCBC Essex. Tuition and fees for 600, 700 and 800 level courses are paid to Towson University. Applicants will pay appropriate application fees to both institutions.

Didactic classes are taken at both the CCBC Essex and at Towson University campuses, while all laboratory classes are taken at CCBC Essex campus.  Students will register for 200 level courses with CCBC Essex and will register for 600, 700 and 800 level courses with the Towson University.

Please log on to the Towson University Website (www.towson.edu/pa) for complete PA Program and course information.

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Towson University/CCBC Essex Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Towson 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 September 2023. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

School of Health Professions Policies

Students in the School of Health Professions are expected to conduct themselves according to an honor code; exhibit professional behavior; communicate effectively in English; provide proof of health insurance, immunizations, and a tuberculosis (TB) test; and submit to a criminal background check and drug testing. Students are expected to pay the costs associated with these requirements.

Admission

Admission to this program is a separate process from admission to the college. Admission to the School of Health Professions programs is competitive and selective and is based on published criteria. Applications to the Physician Assistant program must be submitted to the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA), https://paeaonline.org/caspa/.

Minimum Admission Requirements:

1. Bachelor’s degree (science/biology discipline preferred)
2. Acceptance to Towson University Graduate School (Submit CASPA Application before applying to Towson University)
3. 3.0 GPA (last 60 undergraduate credits) – minimum 3.2 GPA preferred
4. Eight hundred (800) hours of patient contact or medical/health related experience or equivalent experience – 1600 hours preferred
5. Completion of specific prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of “B”:

• Human Anatomy and Physiology, 8 credits
• Microbiology, 4 credits
• Biochemistry, 3 credits
• Statistics, 3 credits
• Medical Terminology, 2 or 3 credits (non-credit courses or continuing education courses are NOT accepted)

As the program requires full-time attendance (minimum 40 hours per week) throughout the 26-month program, students are strongly encouraged to complete financial preparation so that employment is not necessary during enrollment. No special consideration will be given to students who choose to work during their time in the PA Program.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this combined Master’s Degree and Physician Assistant Certificate program, students will be able to:

1. perform, order, and interpret diagnostic studies, including radiographs, imaging studies, electrocardiograms, and those tests necessary to assess complaints common to the ambulatory, hospitalized, and emergency medicine patient;
2. demonstrate proficiency in basic clinical skills, especially those focusing on the diagnostic process and elements of clinical management, including eliciting patient history, physical assessment, recording patient data and case presentation, diagnosis and basic management plans, and performing basic clinical skills with actual patients in the clinical setting;
3. operate as highly skilled health care providers who practice medicine with the supervision of licensed physicians through experience gained in the successful completion of nine clinical rotations in family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, surgery, emergency medicine, community medicine, and a general elective plus a Final Preceptorship;
4. apply principles of the practice of medicine covered throughout the program in a primary care or rural/underserved location and students will function as a full member of a medical team and be responsible for patient care from presentation through follow-up including diagnostic evaluation and patient management; and
5. incorporate the knowledge, responsibilities, and standards essential in the practice of medicine as a professional physician assistant.

Other

Physician Assistant graduates:

1. Promote the public’s interest and patient needs before any other considerations.
2. Serve as ethical health care professionals.
3. Serve as advocates for patients.
4. Provide patient education and preventive health care services.
5. Demonstrate commitment to lifelong learning.
6. Work with other health care professionals in providing coordinated health care.