Volunteering as a PA Program Ambassador

AAPA PA Program Ambassador I had the pleasure of doing training to be an AAPA PA program ambassador. I’ll be representing AAPA and letting PA students know the benefits of being a member and ways to get involved. AAPA program ambassadors help PA students understand the resources available as they complete PA school and start a career. It can be a challenge to get through the grueling parts of…

5 Things to Look at When Choosing the Best PA School

Ways to Evaluate the Best PA Schools

Choosing a PA school can be a difficult task. There is a lot to consider, and choosing the right school can affect your future. We often look at it the other way around, the school chooses you. In some cases you take what you are given; if only one school offers you a spot, you take it.

With that being said when you’re evaluating PA schools and going through…

It depresses me how low my GPAs are...

Karma does exists, but at least I can still apply to some of these school.

Its still not the time to slack off. Gotta do well. Plus I need to get hella clinical hours to get accepted anywhere anyways. 

If my GPA isnt up to the competitive line, my extracurricular sure will be top notch.

Seriously looking into New York and Chicago for these moderately prestigious schools... I guess in the end what matters is the residency.

Below is a comprehensive list of all accredited institution in the United States that have Physician Assistant programs. I highly recommend any one of these (please do not waste your money attending one that is NOT accredited). Some on the list may be in a "probation" period, whether they are new and still being reviewed, or because someone f'ed up something in an existing program. These institutions are in order alphabetically by the state that they exist in. To get information regarding what year these programs came about, or how long they have been accredited, visit the webpage: http://www.arc-pa.org/acc_programs/index.html

Accredited Program

University Of South Alabama

University Of Alabama At Birmingham

Harding University

University of Arkansas (*provisional)

Arizona School Of Health Sciences (**probation)

Midwestern University (Glendale)

Northern Arizona University (*provisional)

Loma Linda University

Riverside Community College (**probation)

Samuel Merritt College

San Joaquin Valley College (**probation)

Stanford University

Touro University - California

University Of California-Davis

University Of Southern California (LA)

Western University Of Health Sciences

Red Rocks Community College

University Of Colorado

University of Bridgeport

Quinnipiac University

Yale University School Of Medicine

George Washington University

Howard University (**probation)

Barry University (D)

Miami-Dade College

Keiser University

Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale

Nova Southeastern University, Jacksonville

Nova Southeastern University, Southwest Florida

Nova Southeastern University, Orlando

South University, Tampa

University Of Florida

Emory University

 Georgia Regents University

Mercer University

South University

Des Moines University

University Of Iowa

Idaho State University (D)

Midwestern University (Downers Grove)

Northwestern University

Rosalind Franklin Univ Of Medicine (formerly Finch)

Rush University (*provisional)

Southern Illinois University

Butler University

Indiana State University

Indiana University School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (*provisional)

University Of St. Francis (Fort Wayne)

Wichita State University

University Of Kentucky (D)

Our Lady of the Lake #

Louisiana State University - Shreveport

Louisiana State University - New Orleans (*provisional)

Bay Path College (*provisional)

Boston University (*provisional)

MCPHS University (Boston)

Northeastern University

Springfield College

Tufts University (*provisional)

Anne Arundel Community College

Towson University CCBC - Essex (**probation)

University Of Maryland Eastern Shore

University Of New England

Central Michigan University

Eastern Michigan University (*provisional)

Grand Valley State University

University Of Detroit/Mercy

Wayne State University

Western Michigan University

Saint Catherine University (*provisional)

Augsburg College

Bethel University (*provisional)

Mississippi College (*provisional)

Missouri State University (formerly SWMS)

Saint Louis University

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Rocky Mountain College

Duke University Medical Center

Campbell University (*provisional)

East Carolina University

Elon University (*provisional)

Gardner Webb University (*provisional)

Methodist University

Wake Forest University (Bowman Gray) (D)

Wingate University (D)

University Of North Dakota

Union College

University Of Nebraska

Franklin Pierce University

MCPHS University (Manchester/Worcester)

Monmouth University (*provisional)

Rutgers University (Formerly UMDNJ/Rutgers University)

Seton Hall University

University Of New Mexico (**probation)

University Of St. Francis

Touro University Las Vegas

Albany Medical College

CCNY Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education

Clarkson University (*provisional)

Cornell University

CUNY York College

Daemen College

D'youville College

Hofstra University

Le Moyne College

Long Island University

Mercy College

New York Institute Of Technology

Pace University

Rochester Institute Of Technology

St. John's University (formerly SVCMC)

Stony Brook University

SUNY Downstate Medical Center

SUNY Upstate Medical Center

Touro College# - (Bay Shore) (D)

Touro College - (Manhattan)

Wagner College

Baldwin Wallace University (*provisional)

Cuyahoga Community College / Cleveland State University

Kettering College

Lake Erie College (*provisional)

Marietta College

Ohio Dominican University (*provisional)

University of Toledo

University of Mount Union

University Of Findlay

University Of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City

University Of Oklahoma, Tulsa

Oregon Health & Science University

Pacific University

Arcadia University (D)

Chatham University (**probation)

Desales University

Drexel University

Duquesne University

Gannon University

King's College

Lock Haven University (D)

Marywood University

Misericordia University (*provisional)

Penn State University (*provisional)

Pennsylvania College Of Technology

Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine

Philadelphia University

Saint Francis University

Salus University (formerly Pennsylvania College Of Optometry)

Seton Hill University

University of Pittsburgh

University of the Sciences of Philadelphia (*provisional)

Johnson & Wales University (*provisional)

Medical University Of South Carolina (**probation)

University Of South Dakota

Bethel University #

Lincoln Memorial

Christian Brothers University (*provisional)

South College

Trevecca Nazarene University

University of Tennessee Health Science Center (Memphis) (*provisional)

Baylor College Of Medicine

Interservice

Texas Tech University (**probation)

University Of North Texas HS Center Ft Worth

University Of Texas - HS Center at San Antonio (D)

University Of Texas - Medical Branch at Galveston

University Of Texas - Pan American

University Of Texas - SW School of Health Professions

University Of Utah

Eastern Virginia Medical School

James Madison University

Jefferson College Of Health Sciences (formerly CHS)

Shenandoah University

University Of Washington (D)

Carroll University

Concorida University (*provisional)

Marquette University

University Of Wisconsin - La Crosse

University Of Wisconsin - Madison

Alderson-Broaddus University #

Mountain State University

University of Charleston (*provisional)

Degree: Certificate of Clinical Proficiency

Location: Riverside, CA

Length: 24 months

Tuition Cost: $4,700 (in state) 

PANCE Graduate Rate (first time takers, over 5 years): 85%

Class Size: 28-40 students

Requirements:

http://www.rccd.edu/academicprograms/pa/Pages/AcademicPrerequisites.aspx

AMY-2A and AMY-2B (Anatomy and Physiology I, II) One-year series, total 8 semester units

CHE-2A (Introductory Chemistry I) 4 semester units

ENG-1A (English Composition) 4 semester units

MAT-35 (Intermediate Algebra) 5 semester units

MIC-1 (Microbiology) 4 semester units

PHY-10 (Introductory General Physics) 3 semester units

PHY-11 (Physics Lab) 1 semester unit

PSY-1 (General Psychology) 3 semester units

SOC-1 (Introduction to Sociology) 3 semester units OR

ANT-2 (Cultural Anthropology) 3 semester units

It is strongly recommended that applicants complete the following additional courses:

Spanish one-year

Statistics (MAT 12)

Special topics in English: The Research Paper Process (ENG 90B) or an equivalent

Medical Terminology1A and 1B 

* Anatomy and Physiology and Microbiology must include a lab, and have been taken within the last five years with a combined minimum GPA of 2.7. An overall GPA of 2.5 is required in the general education courses

A minimum of 2,000 hours of paid "hands-on" patient care experience in the disciplines of medicine, nursing or allied health is required. Volunteer experience will not fulfill the patient care experience requirement.

Examples: RN, LVN, PT, EMT, MA (back office only), RT, CNA

Clinical Sites: unknown radius

RCRMC/RCCD PA Program does not require that students supply their own clinical sites or preceptors for program-required clinical rotations.

Rental Prices: http://www.trulia.com/for_rent/Riverside,CA/#for_rent/92506_zip/Riverside,CA

Mission Statement:

The Riverside County Regional Medical Center/ Riverside Community College District Primary Care Physician Assistant Program is dedicated to primary care physician assistant education; committed to diversity in the selection of students, faculty and curriculum; emphasizes service to the medically underserved urban and rural areas of the Inland Empire, promotes the physician assistant profession and strives to produce quality primary care providers.

The goals of the program are to:

Prepare students with academic and clinical skills to provide health care services in a variety of settings with the direction and supervision of a doctor of medicine or osteopathy

Prepare students with skills in clinical problem-solving, assessment, and patient management; and to provide a fundamental knowledge base of the professional roles and responsibilities associated with the practice of physician assistant

Prepare students to provide appropriate information to patients, thus enabling patients to take a more active role in prevention and treatment - reflective of current pre-paid, managed-care trends in the industry

Prepare students to play an integral mid-level role in triaging patients at emergency point of entry;

Create opportunities for employment and industry interface through Riverside community partnerships with hospitals and clinics seeking effective solutions to understaffing in primary care and family practice areas.

Class Stats:

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