Program Overview
Introduction to Physician Assistant Studies
The Physician Assistant Studies program at Hofstra University is designed to provide students with the necessary education and training to become nationally certified and state-licensed health professionals. Physician assistants (PAs) are able to practice medicine in collaboration with physicians, providing a team-based approach to quality, patient-centered care.
About the Department
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Hofstra University Department of Physician Assistant Studies Program. This accreditation status is granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards. The program's accreditation history can be viewed on the Accreditation website.
Program Mission, Vision, and Values
The program's mission and goals are the driving force behind the education students receive within the program and are integral to the success of graduate PA students. The program measures goals and effectiveness to ensure that students are well-prepared for their future careers.
Program Competencies and Handbooks
The program has established competencies that students must meet in order to graduate. These competencies include:
- Observe a patient accurately, at a distance and close at hand, with or without standard medical instrumentation
- Acquire information from written documents and to visualize information as presented in images from paper, film, slides, or video
- Comprehend X-ray, EKG, and other graphic images with or without assistive devices
- Speak, hear, and observe patients by sight to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity, and posture, and perceive nonverbal communication
- Communicate effectively with patients and their families in both written and oral modalities
- Possess motor skills necessary to perform palpation, percussion, auscultation, and other diagnostic and therapeutic maneuvers, basic laboratory tests and emergency therapeutic procedures
Administration and Faculty
The program is led by a team of experienced faculty and administrators who are dedicated to providing students with a high-quality education.
Tuition and Fees
The program's tuition and fees are competitive with other PA programs in the region.
Programs: Admissions and Curriculum
Hofstra offers two paths to becoming a PA:
- BS/MS Dual Degree Program
- Graduate Degree Program Admission preferences for the PA graduate program include:
- Higher overall GPA
- Higher science GPA
- Fewer withdrawals, incompletes, and grades of C or lower
- Upper level science courses with a B or better
- Three or more science courses taken in one semester
- Favorable letters of recommendation
- Quality of professional preparation
- Superior personal statement
Technical Standards for Enrollment
A physician assistant student must possess several abilities and skills, including:
- Observation
- Communication
- Motor skills
- Problem-solving
- Adaptability
Clinical Rotations
The program includes clinical rotations that provide students with hands-on experience in a variety of medical settings.
Career Potential
Physician assistants have a wide range of career opportunities, including:
- Primary care
- Specialty care
- Surgery
- Emergency medicine
- Pediatrics
- Psychiatry
- Family medicine
Attrition and Graduation Rates
The program's attrition and graduation rates are as follows:
- Class of 2022: 9% attrition rate, 91% graduation rate
- Class of 2023: 7% attrition rate, 93% graduation rate
- Class of 2024: 4% attrition rate, 96% graduation rate
Accreditation
The program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be September 2026.