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Information Session

Physician Assistants/Associates

  • Definition and background

    Definition

    A Physician Assistant (PA) is a medical provider who is nationally certified, and state licensed to practice medicine in every specialty and setting.

    Background

    PAs are in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in U.S. territories.

    PAs have been part of the American healthcare system for almost 60 years.

    Today there are more than 100,000 certified PAs in the United States.

  • Roles of the PA

    Roles

    Take medical histories

    Perform physical examinations

    Order and interpret diagnostic studies

    Prescribe medication

    Develop and implement treatment plans

    Confer with physicians and other clinicians

    Provide patient education

    Assist in intra-operative surgical procedures

Mission Statement

The Mission of the Physician Assistant Studies Program is to:

  • Excel in the art and science of PA education.
  • Promote inter-professional primary health care delivery to a diverse and dynamic population to improve health outcomes.
  • Foster a dedication to evidence-based medicine, quality improvement, and patient safety.
  • Cultivate a commitment to faculty, staff, and student wellness.
  • Encourage leadership, service, and excellence among our faculty, staff, students, and graduates.

National & State Demographics

    • United States

      • Approximately 178,708 Certified PAs across the US

      • 71.2% Female

      • In 2023, there were 53 certified PAs per 100,000 population in the U.S. compared to 42 in ​2019.

      • ARC-PA estimates that the number of PA educational programs will grow from 306 in January of 2024 to 348 by 2027, thus increasing the number of individuals who may join the certified workforce.

    • State of Texas

      • ≈12,000+ PAs In Texas

      • ≈11,687 Certified PAs in Texas

      • ≈9,610 Licensed PAs in Texas

      • 38.3 PAs/100K Population in TX (Ranks 42)

      • 6.6% of Total PAs in the U.S

Employment Outlook

2024 U.S. News Rankings:

  • #2 in Best Health Care Jobs
  • #3 in the 100 Best Jobs
  • #3 in Best Stem Jobs
  • Forbes rated the Master of Physician Assistant Studies the Top 10 Best Master’s Degree in the U.S.
  • Highest Paying Jobs National Median Base Salary - $130,000

Program Requirements

  • Application Deadline: September 1st
  • Admitting Semester: Summer (May)
  • Program Length: 30 continuous months
  • Required Minimum Overall GPA: 3.0
  • Required Minimum Science GPA: 3.0

Admission Requirements

  • Required Courses must be completed by the date the application is submitted
    • A U.S. or Canadian-acquired bachelor's degree must be obtained by May in the year of enrollment.
  • Professional or volunteer hands-on patient care experience is strongly recommended
  • Grade of “C” or higher in all required courses
  • Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
    • The GRE is not required of applicants with both a U.S.-acquired bachelor’s and master’s degree or higher.
  • All prerequisite courses must have been completed in the past 10 years.
  • Prospective applicants who have interviewed for our program for two cycles and have not been offered acceptance, will not be reviewed for a third application cycle.

Required Courses

CourseCredit Hours
*Human Anatomy/Lab 4 Semester Credit Hours
*Human Physiology/Lab 4 Semester Credit Hours
*General Chemistry/Lab 8 Semester Credit Hours
*Organic Chemistry/Lab 4 Semester Credit Hours
*Microbiology/Lab 4 Semester Credit Hours
Genetics 3 Semester Credit Hours
Psychology 3 Semester Credit Hours
Statistics 3 Semester Credit Hours

*Indicates courses that need to be for science majors and must have a lab component.

Course Deadlines

  • Required courses and those in progress must be completed by the time of application submission.
  • All transcripts must be received by September 1.
  • All other requirements (Application, Official GRE Scores, Letters of reference) remain September 1.

Considerations

  • Quality and quantity of academic preparations
  • Health care experience
  • Awards, honors, service, and leadership
  • Letters of Reference
  • Personal Statement/Essay
  • Interview for most competitive candidates

Competitive Applicants

  • Bachelor's degree with greater than 50 semester hours in science courses
  • Greater than 3.25 overall and science GPA
  • Hands-on patient care experience >200 hours
  • Evidence of leadership
  • Superior references
  • Mature, insightful essay
  • Evidence of community services
  • Superior people skills

Admissions Process

  • Early admissions confirmation is offered to the most competitive candidates following interview dates.
  • Early application is strongly encouraged; DO NOT WAIT until the deadline if application is otherwise complete

Applicant Profile

Applicant profile provides details about the number of applications reviewed, interviews conducted, enrollments, and the gender and resident status of accepted students for the given year.

Student Profile

Student profiles include information on the age range, average science GPA, overall GPA, and GRE scores of all students for the given year.

2025-2026 Academic Year

  • Tuition Texas Residents

    $366.00 per semester hour x for 112 hours = $40,992.00

  • Tuition Non-Texas Residents

    $786.00 per semester hour x 112 hours = $88,032.00

  • Fees

    Estimated fees over the 30-month program = $6,143

    Fees include the following:

    Student Services Fee
    Medical Service Fee
    Computer Usage Fee
    Malpractice Fee
    BCLS/ACLS Course Fee
    SIM Center Fee
    Anatomy Lab Fee
    Graduation Fee

2024-2025 Academic Year

  • Incidentals
    Computer= $2500
    Lab Coats= $80
    Books= $800
    Medical Equipment = $700

     

Tuition Plus Fees

  • Texas Resident
    $47,135.00 over 30 months or $1,571.17/Month ($18,854.00 Year)
    Final cost is subject to change per UT Southwestern Medical Center Office of Student Financial Aid
  • Non-Texas Resident
    $94,175.00 Over 30 Months or $3,139.17/Month ($37,670.00/Year)
    Final cost is subject to change per UT Southwestern Medical Center Office of Student Financial Aid.

Earnings

  • Physician Assistant Income National Average in 2023:
    • $130,000 per year
  • Texas Average in 2024:
    • $125,000 per year

Didactic Phase

The didactic curriculum is 15-months (May - July), and in-person attendance is mandatory.

Didactic Highlights:

  • Evidence Based Medicine
  • Full Cadaver Dissection
  • Integrated Block of Instructions
  • Packrat Exam
  • Professional Practice Issues
  • Simulated Patient Lab
  • Small Group Tutorials
  • School Organized Tutoring
  • First Year
    • Summer | 13 Credit Hours

      Human Anatomy Lecture

      Human Anatomy Lab

      Human Physiology

      Introduction to Human Neuroscience

      Professional Practice Issues I (P/F)

    • Fall | 14 Credit Hours

      *Clinical Medicine I

      *Pharmacology I

      *Integration Skills I

      *Patient Evaluation I

      Introduction to Pathology

      Professional Development (P/F)

      *Indicates integrated blocks of instruction

    • Spring | 14 Credit Hours

      *Clinical Medicine II

      *Pharmacology II

      *Integration Skills II

      *Patient Evaluation II

      Clinical Prevention and Population Health

      Evidence Based Medicine

      Professional Development (P/F)

      *Indicates integrated blocks of instruction

  • Second Year

Clinical Phase

The clinical phase is 15-months (August - November).

*UTSW’s affiliate institutions do require students to train at their locations to comply with all applicable site policies, including vaccinations. Those policies vary by location, and some site policies do not contain exemptions.

Clinical Highlights:

    • Vetted Preceptors & Stellar Sites Across the State of Texas
    • Balanced Mix of Private, Public, Inpatient, and Outpatient Settings
    • Internationally Renowned Preceptors
    • Labor and Delivery Exposure
    • Research Opportunities (Directed Studies Month)
    • In-House PANCE Review Course
    • Resume Workshop
    • Private Graduate and Alumni Job Fair Hosted by UT Southwestern Department of PA Studies
    • Multiple On-campus Post-graduate Fellowship and Residency Opportunities

Clinical Rotations

    • Family Medicine: 8 Weeks

      Outpatient Based

      Multiple Private Practice Sites

    • Internal Medicine/Hospitalist: 8 Weeks

      Inpatient Based

      Parkland Health & Hospital System

      Clements University Hospital

      Baylor Scott & White Medical Center (Student housing provided)

      Hospitalist Inpatient 

      Students Housing Provided at Scott & White

    • Primary Care Preceptorship: 8 Weeks

      Outpatient Based

      Primary Care Specialty Setting of Either:

      Family Medicine

      Geriatrics

      Internal Medicine

      Pediatrics

      Women’s Health

    • Emergency Medicine: 4 Weeks

      Outpatient Based

      Clements University Hospital

      Parkland Health & Hospital System

      Presbyterian Hospital

      Methodist Medical Center

      VA Medical Center – Multiple Locations

      Ten to Twelve-Hour shifts

    • Infectious Diseases: 4 Weeks

      Inpatient and Outpatient Based

      Parkland Health & Hospital System

      Dallas Veterans Medical Center

      Clements University Hospital

    • Pediatrics: 4 Weeks

      Outpatient Based

      Multiple Private Practice Settings

    • Psychiatry: 8 Weeks

      Inpatient and Outpatient Based

      Hospital & Correctional Facility

      Dallas Correctional Health

      Clements University Hospital

      Parkland Health Hospital

    • Surgery: 4 Weeks

      Intraoperative/Outpatient/Inpatient Based

      Parkland Health & Hospital

      Clements University Hospital

      Presbyterian Hospital

      Includes 24 Hour On-call Shifts, ​Weekends and Early Mornings​

    • Women's Health: 4 Weeks

      Intraoperative/Outpatient/Inpatient Based

      Clements University Hospital: 2 weeks Inpatient Obstetrics

      Multiple Community Practice Settings: 2 weeks Outpatient Gynecology

    • Elective: 4 Weeks

      Intraoperative/Outpatient/Inpatient

      Approximately 35 to Choose From

      Popular Choices Include: Dermatology, Pediatric Specialties, Surgical Sub-specialties, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Cardiology, Interventional Radiology, Palliative Care, Behavioral Health​

      International Rotation Possibilities

Ranking

As of 2025, ARC-PA ranked UT Southwestern Master of Physician Studies Program #8 out of 310 programs.

PANCE

UT Southwestern Master of Physician Studies Program first-time pass rates for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE):

YearFirst-Time Pass Rate
2024 98% First-Time Pass Rate
2023 96% First-Time Pass Rate
2022 96% First-Time Pass Rate
2021 93% First-Time Pass Rate
2020 100% First-Time Pass Rate
2019 98% First-Time Pass Rate
2018 100% First-Time Pass Rate
2017 100% First-Time Pass Rate
2016 100% First-Time Pass Rate
2015 100% First-Time Pass Rate
2014 100% First-Time Pass Rate
2013 100%First-Time Pass Rate

Program Accreditation

  • Accreditation Required for PA Licensure and Certification
  • UT Southwestern has Maintained Continuing Accreditation Since 1973, ​with NO Adverse Accreditation Actions
  • UT Southwestern is currently fully accredited until 2033

Application Service

  • Web-Based Application System sponsored by the Association of PA Programs
  • Allows applicants to apply to multiple of participating PA schools
  • Beat the deadline; early application recommended
  • Apply to several programs if PA is your ultimate goal
    • Applying to one program is not advised
  • CASPA
    • Application Outcomes:
      • 25% chance of acceptance if only applying to one school
      • 49% chance of acceptance if applying to 12 programs
        • No additional advantage was noted for applying to more than 12 programs
  • CASPA Facebook
  • CASPA Video Instructions for entering coursework

Application Cost

  • Number of designated CASPA Programs:
    1. $184
    2. $245
    3. $306
    4. $367
    5. $428

Disclosure

PA education is intense, fast paced, and difficult for the duration of enrollment.

  • The expectation of having a life balance as a PA student is often unrealistic.
  • True life balance comes with the end point; graduation and employment.
  • It is very important to have all support systems in place and all personal health conditions well-managed prior to starting the curriculum​
  • Reminder: The UT Southwestern PA Program curriculum is lock-in-step
  • Preparation, dedication, commitment, and flexibility are keys to a successful PA education journey

Department Faculty

The Department of Physician Assistant Studies is led by an expert faculty recognized for excellence in academics, research, and clinical care. For a complete list of faculty for the Department of Physician Assistant Studies, please visit our faculty page.

Temple Howell-Stampley, M.D.

Department Chair & Program Director

  • Cissy and W. Plack Carr, Jr. Professorship in Medical Education
  • P. Eugene Jones, Ph.D., PA-C Professorship in Physician Assistant Studies.

Temple Howell-Stampley, M.D., M.B.A., is a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and a member of its Division of General Internal Medicine.

Bethany Grubb, Ph.D., M.P.A.S., M.P.H., PA-C.

Associate Program Director

  • Assistant Professor

Bethany Grubb, Ph.D., M.P.A.S., M.P.H., PA-C, has worked clinically in a private dermatology practice and in the Pigmented Lesion Clinic at UT Southwestern.

Veronica Coleman, M.P.A.S., PA-C

Director of Admissions

  • Assistant Professor

Veronica Coleman, M.P.A.S., PA-C, works clinically with the UTSW Clements University Department of Surgery, Divison of Surgical Oncology with the Pancreatic Cancer Prevention Multidisciplinary Program.

Laura Mattingly, MHS, PA-C

Academic Coordinator

  • Assistant Professor

Laura Mattingly,  MHS, PA-C, has worked clinically as a Physician Assistant in family medicine, long-term care, pediatrics, pulmonology, and sleep medicine.