Physician Assistant Studies

Northeastern’s PA program is highly integrated. Small group sections are no larger than two to six students and our general lectures hold just 40 students. This means that your instructors can take the time to answer your questions and go into topics in considerable depth, preparing you for the clinical placements where you will put your knowledge to work.

Established in 1971, the physician assistant (PA) program has a long-standing history of, and expertise in, the education and training of physician assistants. The PA program is located in close proximity to Boston’s major academic medical centers and was the first generalist PA training program in the nation to offer a master’s degree in 1985.  

This rigorous, highly integrated curriculum offers our students the opportunity to obtain broad generalist training that prepares them for successful employment in all fields of clinical practice. Our instructional faculty members are practicing clinicians from throughout New England, and most have been teaching with the program for many years. The clinical year is designed to provide students with experience in diverse healthcare settings in our well-established network of clinical rotation sites. Northeastern’s PA program graduates are employed in positions across the United States, and some have worked internationally. In addition to clinical practice, our graduates are employed in research, administration, and education.
 

More Details

The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program at Northeastern trains students as generalist providers in the traditional primary care environment while also preparing students to work in new and emerging aspects of healthcare.

• CASPA Application
• Application fee
• Three letters of recommendation
• Transcripts from all institutions attended
• Personal statement
• TOEFL or IELTS for applicants who do not hold a degree from a U.S. institution and whose native language is not English
• Northeastern data sheet
• Academic prerequisites:
  • Biology lecture (two semesters), biology lab (one semester)
  • Chemistry lecture (two semesters), chemistry lab (one semester)
  • Anatomy & physiology (two semesters)
  • Statistics
• Hands-on patient care experience
• Must meet technical standards
  • Observation
  • Communication
  • Sensory and motor coordination and function
  • Intellectual-conceptual, integrative, and quantitative abilities
  • Behavioral and social attributes

Once your application is submitted, received, and processed, you will be able to access your Application Status Check. If you are required to provide further information regarding your proficiency in English, you will be able to complete the requirement in several ways, depending on your familiarity with English, and the frequency with which you use English each and every day:

• Non-native English-speaking applicants will be required to submit official and valid results from one of the following English Language Tests:
  • C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (Cambridge English)
  • Duolingo English Test (DET)
  • IELTS Academic
  • PTE Academic
  • TOEFL Internt-based Test (CEEB Code: 3667) Northeastern will accept either the in-person version completed in a test center, or the TOEFL iBT Home Edition
• However, based on your academic environment and the primary instructional language in either your high school or university, you may be eligible for a waiver. All waivers must be submitted through your Application Status Check. For additional information and to determine whether or not you are eligible for a waiver, please read the section below on waiving the English proficiency requirement.

Please note: Northeastern’s Admissions Committee reserves the right to request proof of English language proficiency from any applicant, regardless of citizenship or first language, at any time during the evaluation process.

• 1.Create your application

  Submit your application through The Common Application or the Coalition Application (both are accepted). Once you have created your application, please select Northeastern University to directly submit your application to us. Application fee of $75 or need-based fee waiver* *Northeastern accepts need-based fee waivers from the Common Application, the Coalition Application, as well as organizations such as the College Board and ACT, or in a written request from a school official.

• 2.Submit all required materials

  Double check to make sure that you have submitted all required materials. Even if your application has been submitted, we cannot begin reviewing your file until all of your required materials have been received. For applicants applying for the 2022-2023 academic year, Northeastern University is test-optional and does not require standardized testing to complete an application for admission.

• 3.Check your application status

  Within seven days of applying, you should receive a confirmation email containing your Northeastern University ID number and instructions for setting up your Application Status Check account. To ensure all of the necessary documents have been submitted, and for updates or information about your application, visit your application status check.