School of Health Professions
Physician Assistant (PA) Program
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About Our Program
With an anticipated program launch in January 2027, the USM Physician Assistant (PA) Program is a graduate program within t¶¶Òõapp School of Health Professions and is designed for students who hold a bachelor’s degree in any field. The program is located on USM’s beautiful scenic ¶¶Òõapp campus in Long Beach, MS.
The USM PA program’s fast-paced and rigorous curriculum provides student learning opportunities using a variety of learning strategies including active learning, hands-on labs, and immersive clinical education. Our unique curriculum features a virtual anatomy dissection platform, clinical ultrasound integration, simulations, and interprofessional experiences. Students enjoy strong mentorship in small, faculty-led groups throughout the program.
Students develop competencies and knowledge necessary to enter clinical practice and are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE) after graduation. Graduates are awarded a Master of Science in Medicine degree.
- More Information about the PA Program
- Admissions
- Tuition, Fees, and Estimates of Costs Related to Attendance
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Curriculum Overview
- Technical Standards
- Program Competencies
- Program Policies
- Program Faculty & Staff
Be sure to view our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.
Click the button below if you have any questions or to request further information about the USM PA program.
ARC-PA Accreditation Status
T¶¶Òõapp (USM) Physician Assistant (PA) program is not yet accredited. The USM PA program has applied for Accreditation - Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The USM PA program anticipates matriculating its first class in January 2027, pending achieving Accreditation - Provisional status at the July 2026 ARC-PA meeting.
Accreditation - Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding accreditation-provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.
If the USM PA program does not achieve Accreditation - Provisional status, the program will not commence, and students will not matriculate. Accepted students will be refunded for any deposits or tuition paid.