If you have always wanted accurate information on the best PA schools in Georgia, then you are on the right page. Physician Assistants (PAs) are professionals who have received medical training and are certified to issue prescriptions and deliver high-quality healthcare.
PAs are one of the three primary care practitioners that are both nationally qualified and state-licensed (PAs, Nurse Practitioners, and Physicians).
The unique opportunity to practice in a variety of specialty areas (surgery, pediatrics, dermatology, orthopedics, etc.) gives PAs the opportunity to gain deep and fulfilling professional experiences as well as the adaptability to meet the changing needs of their patients, employers, and communities.
PAs go through rigorous medical training to become certified as medical generalists with a foundation in primary care.
What Is The Future Of The PA Field?
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual compensation for physician assistants in May 2020 was $115,390.
The BLS predicts that between 2020 and 2030, there will be a 31 percent increase in the number of PA jobs, which is substantially faster than the average for all occupations.
PA is ranked as the #3 best job overall and the #2 best health care job by US News & World Report in 2022.
The List of Best PA Schools In Georgia
Georgia has 128 colleges and universities that make up its higher education system.
There are 39 for-profit private institutions, 36 nonprofit private schools, and 53 public institutions total.
However, these are the best and only PA schools in Georgia.
Augusta University PA Program
During the didactic phase, this program is offered on the Augusta campus.
For the second year of training, clinical rotations are available throughout Georgia and the Southeast, and more opportunities are being added daily.
Since 1972, there has been a PA program at Augusta University. In Georgia, they are the only program for physician assistants that is publicly financed.
In order to satisfy the healthcare requirements of Georgians, they embrace their statewide purpose.
The PA Department at Augusta University is one of the oldest in the South and was one of the first to earn accreditation in that year.
The Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University is the eleventh-oldest medical school in the country.
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Admission Requirements: for your application to be considered, ensure you have the following.
- Minimum CGPA of 3.0 in undergraduate studies.
- Minimum GRE score of 290 in verbal and quantitative.
- Completed CASPer test.
- 100 hours of health care experience.
- 100 hours of shadowing
- 3 letters of reference
Tuition: Click here to see the breakdown.
Brenau University PA Program
The 28-month Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program combines classroom instruction with clinical rotations and early patient contact to foster the development of new skills in history-taking and physical examination.
The program’s design incorporates technology, interdisciplinary collaboration, group-based learning, a heavy emphasis on behavioral and mental health, and enhancing healthcare in remote and underprivileged regions.
Each year in January, the Brenau University Department of Physician Assistant Studies will matriculate one class.
The Committee on Admissions chooses prospective students after taking each applicant’s general attributes into account. Areas to think about include:
- Personal motivation
- Interactional abilities
- Knowledge of and familiarity with the pa profession
- The caliber and duration of past medical experience
- Academic success and level of performance
- Recommendations/evaluations
- Experiences in life
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Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission, please ensure you possess the following.
- Minimum overall and science CGPA of 2.75.
- GRE scores
- Minimum of C in all prerequisite courses.
- Minimum 500 hours of direct patient care.
- 3 letters of recommendation.
Tuition: click here to see the breakdown of cost.
Emory University PA Program
One of the best PA programs in the country, it has a supportive learning environment that encourages the development of patient-centered clinical knowledge and abilities as well as an appreciation of human needs and ethical considerations.
Students get access to a variety of clinical experiences and lectures from nationally renowned specialists in their fields thanks to their placement on the campus of Emory University in the center of Atlanta.
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Admission Requirements: To be considered for this program, you have to possess the following:
- A Bachelor’s degree
- Minimum of C in all prerequisite courses.
- Minimum of 2000 hours of direct patient care experience.
- Complete CASPA application.
Tuition: $126,456 for entire program
Mercer University PA Program
The Master of Medical Science (MMSc) degree is offered through the professional program in physician assistant studies at Mercer University.
The Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus in Atlanta, Georgia, is where the course is offered.
The Mercer Physician Assistant program is a full-time curriculum that lasts seven semesters (28 months).
Mercer PA students learn in a stimulating atmosphere with integrated didactic courses and a range of clinical rotations under the direction of a prominent staff of physicians, physician assistants, and other healthcare professionals.
The Department of Physician Assistant Studies at Mercer University promotes quality in education, research, and clinical practice with the goal of enhancing healthcare.
The Department of Physician Assistant Studies’ goal is to train highly skilled, patient-centered medical professionals who are also leaders and lifelong learners.
Compassion, collegiality, service, diversity, ethical conduct, integrity, and respect are the guiding principles of the physician assistant program at Mercer University.
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Admission Requirements: You must possess the following before you are considered for admission.
- Bachelor’s degree
- Minimum overall CGPA of 3.0 and science GPA of 2.9
- Completion of prerequisite courses with a minimum of C
- GRE score of 300 in verbal and quantitative, 3.5 in Analytical writing.
- 1000 hours of direct patient care
Tuition: Click here to see the breakdown.
Morehouse School of Medicine PA Program
One of the newest professional graduate programs at Morehouse School of Medicine is the Physician Assistant (PA) program, which was created in response to the expanding demand for healthcare in Georgia and around the world.
The MSM PA Curriculum is a 28-month, seven-semester academic professional degree program that covers clinical and fundamental science courses, clinical skill development, and actual clinical practice.
Following the conclusion of the program’s 15-month didactic phase and 13-month clinical phase, a Master of Science degree is awarded. The entire course of study must be finished in 48 months.
New graduates will be equipped to recognize and address local, regional, and global health issues after successfully completing this program.
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Admission Requirements: You must possess the following to be considered for admission.
- Bachelor’s degree
- Minimum overall CGPA of 3.0 and science GPA of 3.0
- Completion of prerequisite courses with a minimum of C
- Complete CASPA application
- GRE or PA-CAT score
- 500 hours of direct patient care experience.
- The deadline for application is September 1st.
Tuition: click here to see the breakdown.
PCOM Georgia PA Program
The Master of Science (MS) in Health Sciences – Physician Assistant Studies program at PCOM Georgia was established in 2016 with a focus on educating students to treat the full person, not just the symptoms.
This all-inclusive strategy offers a crucial framework that will enable you to better assist patients.
You will receive in-depth classroom education throughout the course of the 26-month program in order to be prepared for your clinical work.
You will engage in practical exercises designed to help you hone the communication and problem-solving skills required to excel in the profession while working with patient actors and cutting-edge technology.
Students gain experience in behavioral medicine, family medicine, gynecology, general surgery, internal medicine, emergency medicine, and pediatrics through clinical rotations.
Additionally, students have the option of doing elective rotations in cardiology, trauma, dermatology, and orthopedics.
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Admission Requirements: Ensure you possess the following for your application to be considered.
- Bachelor’s degree
- Minimum of C in all prerequisite courses.
- Complete CASPA application
- Official transcript
- Letters of recommendation
- 200 hours of direct patient care experience.
Tuition: $183,018 for entire program.
South College PA Program, Atlanta
In order to prepare you for advanced physician assistant positions within the medical sector, South College’s demanding 27-month Master of Physician Assistant Studies program builds on your prior study.
By increasing a doctor’s practice, which is crucial in medically underserved areas, physician assistants help enhance access to medical treatment.
Family practice, pediatrics, and general medicine are among the primary care specialties where Pas are frequently engaged.
South College is committed to providing you with the training and knowledge you need to become a highly certified physician assistant who can provide excellent, competent patient care.
To give the curriculum a practical focus, they add local doctors and physician assistants as adjunct faculty to their core staff.
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Admission Requirements: To be part of the program, ensure you have the following:
- Baccalaureate degree
- Minimum 2.75 CGPA
- GRE score
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Complete CASPA application
- Complete supplemental application
- Hours of direct patient care experience
Tuition: $118,239 for entire program.
South University PA Program, Savannah
The Master of Science (MS) in Physician Assistant program at South University Savannah teaches basic medical theories and ideas and equips students with the information, abilities, and attitudes required to work under the direction of a physician as respected members of the healthcare team.
At South University in Savannah, the MS in Physician Assistant program is created to give students the best learning experiences so they can graduate prepared to carry out their anticipated competencies in an ethical, legal, safe, and efficient manner.
Click here for more information.
Admission Requirements: To submit your application, you must possess the following:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Complete CASPA application
- Minimum CGPA of 3.0
- GRE scores
- Minimum of C in all prerequisite courses
- 3 letters of reference
- Hours of direct patient care experience
Tuition: $99,570.00 for entire program
FAQs
What PA schools are in Georgia?
There are a few programs that Georgia residents who want to become physician assistants can complete without leaving the state.
The universities Augusta University, Mercer University, Emory University, Morehouse, and South University, Savannah, all have accredited on-campus programs.
How long is PA school in Georgia?
Students will learn technical expertise, as well as communication and problem-solving skills, in lectures, laboratory sessions, and clinical rotations during the 26-month program as they get ready for employment as physician assistants.
How do I become a PA in Georgia?
Become eligible for programs that are accredited for physician assistant licensure in Georgia.
Take the PANCE and submit an application for licensure to the Georgia Composite Medical Board.
Keep your PA license current.
Is PA school or med school harder?
Medical school is significantly easier than PA school. Compared to medical school, PA classes are longer and more in-depth, yet they must be completed in half the time.
When compared to PA schools, medical schools offer classes for 2-3 hours every day. While PA lectures are typically obligatory attendance, medical school classes are totally voluntary.
Is PA school harder to get into than med school?
Compared to PA schools, medical schools have greater acceptance rates.
Only 33% of applicants received acceptance letters from PA schools in 2016–17, compared to 41% for MD schools in 2018–19 and 35% for DO medical schools in the same year.
Is it worth going to PA school?
You will always be in demand if you become a physician assistant. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that medical assistants have excellent job prospects.
By 2029, 31% more people are predicted to work in this field. This profession is growing its workforce more quickly than the norm.
Is PA School Hard?
Although PA school might be extremely demanding, it is merely the beginning of a far more arduous career.
Exam preparation is actually the simple part.
How much does PAs make?
Examining national averages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is one strategy (BLS).
Physician assistants in the United States made an average of $112,260 a year, or $53.97 per hour, in 2019, according to the most recent BLS statistics.
How long is the Emory PA program?
The Emory Physician Assistant Program is a 28-month program that combines academic and clinical instruction to award a Master of Medical Science degree (MMSc-PA).
How much does a PA in Ga make?
In Georgia, a physician assistant makes an average yearly pay of $113,500.
In Georgia, physician assistant salaries can range from $36,000 to $194,500 and are based on a number of variables, including experience, company, bonuses, tips, and more.
How long is PA residency?
A PA residency in EM is an 18-month curriculum that includes on-the-job training.
Rotations in the ED, SICU, MICU, Hospital Medicine, Toxicology, EMS, Anesthesia, Orthopedics, and a Pediatric ED are all part of the curriculum.
Currently, there are 30 EM PA programs available nationwide, with terms ranging from 12 to 18 months. Do you have any suggestions on the PA schools in Georgia? Please comment below.