Physician Assistant Studies

Physician Assistant (PA) Studies Program

The Physician Assistant (PA) Studies Program at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine is a fantastic opportunity for individuals interested in health care. This is also an opportune time to advance healthcare knowledge in Nevada due to increasing demands for clinicians and the flexibility to change specialties. By participating in the PA Studies Program, students will gain the knowledge to perform physical exams, order and review medical testing, diagnose and treat illnesses, assist in surgeries, counsel patients and families on preventive health care, and much more, as part of a health care team.

Learn more about the PA Studies application process.

The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine offers a high-quality educational experience with exceptional faculty that will boost students' prospects for career opportunities upon graduation. Since most PA students will have extensive health care hours prior to admission and are not required to complete a residency program, graduates are workforce ready as soon as they pass the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE).

Nevada has numerous career opportunities due to its dire need for primary care providers in many rural and underserved urban communities. This career path is continually listed as one of the top job choices in America and has an expected 27 percent job growth rate through 2032. The average salary for PAs exceeds $120,000, and with a 25-month educational program (which means less education cost than an M.D. program), a PA has more economic and lifestyle flexibility. Opportunities for student loan forgiveness supported by The Nevada Health Service Corps (NHSC) are available for qualifying students and graduates. The NHSC, established in 1989, was created to designate areas of underservice within the State and match practitioners to those areas of need. Go to Nevada Health Service Corps/Nevada State Office of Rural Health for additional information.

The PA Studies Program at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine undoubtedly benefits individuals interested in health care and local communities unable to keep up with health care demands.

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine Physician Assistant Studies Program sponsored by University of Nevada, Reno. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.

Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be June 2033. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website.