Physician Assistant (BS)

What is a Physician Assistant?

Physician assistants are healthcare professionals licensed to practice medicine under physician supervision. Physician assistants evaluate patients, perform physical examinations, order and interpret tests, diagnose and treat illnesses, assist in surgery and write prescriptions. As a graduate of Seton Hill’s Physician Assistant Program, you’ll be prepared to serve as an effective team member in a wide variety of healthcare settings.

Why Choose Seton Hill's Physician Assistant Program?

• Collectively, Seton Hill's Physician Assistant Program faculty members have more than 120 years of clinical practice experience.
• Seton Hill's Physician Assistant Class of 2024 has a 100% Pass Rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE).
• 94% of Seton Hill's Physician Assistant Program graduates who have taken the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) in the past five years have passed it on their first attempt.
• 99% of Seton Hill Physician Assistant Graduates have passed the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE).
• Students entering the program as freshmen can earn their B.S. and their M.S. in only five years.
• Top-notch classroom, lab and clinical learning facilities and resources in the Boyle Health Sciences Center.
• Small classes allow students to work directly with faculty members in a supportive environment.
• Seton Hill’s Physician Assistant Student Society provides both undergraduate and graduate students in the Physician Assistant Program with opportunities for community service and attendance at statewide conferences.

Seton Hill's Combined Bachelor of Science/Master of Science in Physician Assistant

As an incoming Seton Hill freshman, this combined program gives you the opportunity to earn both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in only five years. You would complete math, science and behavioral science course prerequisites, along with the core liberal arts degree requirements, in your first two and a half years of study. You would then enter the graduate phase of the program, consisting of 15 months of intensive coursework followed by 12 months of full-time supervised clinical experiences (rotations). The degree of Bachelor in Medical Studies will be conferred after completion of the Spring II semester of the graduate portion of the program. The Master of Science in Physician Assistant will be conferred after successful completion of the graduate portion of the program.

Your Career as a Physician Assistant

The job outlook for physician assistants is strong, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects it to grow much faster than the average. In 2020, physician assistants earned an average of $115,390 per year. The job growth outlook for the Physician Assistant profession is projected to be 31% higher than other careers for the period of 2022-2032.