Physician Assistants, more commonly knowns as PAs are medical practitioners who provide healthcare under the direction of a licensed doctor or surgeon. Graduates of the physician assistant master’s program are eligible to sit for their licensure after which they are eligible to diagnose, treat and examine patients.
According to US News & World Report, Physician assistant jobs rank number 2 in best healthcare jobs, number 3 in best 100 jobs, and number 3 in best STEM jobs.
In 2020 alone, Physician Assistants made a median salary of $115,390. If you are already considering the PA Schools in Indiana, you are at the right place. Relax and enjoy, as I take you through the careers for physical assistants and the best Pa schools in Indiana.
Who is A Physician Assistant?
Physician assistants are persons who have undergone medical training and received certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and are eligible to use their medical experience or knowledge to diagnose, treat and examine patients.
They work with other health professionals in every health care setting such as emergency rooms, hospitals, etc. Check out the Physical Therapy Assistant Schools in Florida.
What Does A Physician Assistant Do?
The following are some of the duties of a Physician Assistant.
- They handle medical prescriptions for patients.
- They request and interpret diagnostic tests.
- They carry out preliminary diagnoses for illnesses and injury
- Physical examination of patients
- Review medical history of patients
- Keep a record of patients’ progress
- Provide treatments in areas like giving immunizations.
- Counseling of patients
- Complete insurance paperwork
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How Do I Become A Physician Assistant?
The final degree required to become a physician assistant is a Master’s degree. Below is a complete path guideline to becoming a Physician’s Assistant
- Earn a Bachelor’s degree with a strong foundation in science and medical courses (finish with a CGPA greater than 3.0)
- Have a minimum of documented 3000 hours of direct patent care.
- Apply to one of the best pa schools in Indiana listed below. The program takes an average of 27 months and includes over 2000 hours of clinical experience.
- After graduation, sit for the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE) by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
- To keep your licensure, you require 100 credit hours of continuing education every 2 years and also need to retake your PANCE exam every 10 years.
Educational Requirements For Physical Assistants in Indiana
The following are the educational requirements to become a physician assistant in the united states.
- A Bachelor’s degree in an area of science from a regionally accredited university.
- Health-related work experience
- A Master’s degree in Physician Assistant studies.
Salary Expectations
According to ZipRecruiter, in 2022 the average weekly salary of Physician assistants in the united states is $2,111 a week.
While the reports show weekly incomes as high as $3,058 and as low as $942, the majority of Physician Assistant salaries in the United States now vary from $1,808 (25th percentile) to $2,327 (75th percentile).
The typical pay range for a Physician Assistant varies substantially (by up to $519), implying that there may be numerous prospects for growth and greater pay dependent on skill level, location, and years of experience.
The List of Best Pa Schools in Indiana
Out of the 60 colleges and universities in Indiana, these 8 offer a master’s physician Assistant program.
Butler University Physician Assistant Program
This school holds the record for having the oldest Physician Assistant program in the entire state of Indiana.
This 24 months program ensures students are ready for their National Certification Examination, are able to apply for their licensure, and thereafter provide medical care in various industries in a competent and empathetic manner.
Between 2017 to 2021, they have a Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE) pass rate of 93% and above. Also, this school had a graduation rate of nothing less than 94.6%.
Jobs placement rate for graduates 6 months post-graduation has never fallen below 80%.
To find out more information concerning this program, ensure you click here.
Admission Requirements:
- Minimum overall CGPA of 3.2 for all post-secondary school work
- Completion of all prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C, ‘C-‘ is not allowed.
- The program looks to accept students with a wide background in healthcare experience.
- Submission of GRE scores via CASPA online. (Butler University’s CASPA GRE Code: 0477).
- The deadline for application is the 1st of August
Ensure to click here for more info.
Tuition: $94,100 is the total tuition for the entire program.
Franklin College Physician Assistant Program
This school offers a pa program that earns you a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) degree.
This 25-month program covers a 12-month didactic phase, a 12 months clinical phase comprising of 2 electives and 7 rotations, and finally a 1-month capstone.
The aim of this college is to train a newer generation of dedicated and passionate Physician Assistants that are focused on providing safe and quality care to people in urban and rural areas.
This program is very special as it allows for a personalized learning experience because it admits only 24 in a class, they prioritize community engagements in underserved areas, and they teach students to be patient-centered.
You can find out more info about this program here.
Admission Requirements: the following are necessary requirements by this institution prior to submission of the application.
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university in the united states
- A minimum BCP CGPA of 3.0
- Completion of all prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C.
- A minimum of 200 documented hours of patient care.
- Shadowing hours are highly recommended and should not be included in patient care hours.
- 3 letters of recommendation (1 from a professor, another from a healthcare provider, and the last should come from any place of your choosing so long as it is not a personal reference.).
- The deadline for application is the 1st of September and the application is submitted via CASPA.
Tuition: $87,500 for 2022 admitted students. This may be changed annually so always check their official website.
Indiana State University PA Program
This school is searching for passionate, compassionate, who want to serve people in rural and urban areas as part of a PA team.
The curriculum for this university’s program is heavily soaked in evidence-based medicine and culturally sensitive provision of care.
This 27-month master’s degree program begins every January and it comprises 7 semesters, 93 credit hours, and only 30 students are accepted into this program annually.
The first 12 months are for the didactic phase and the last 15 months are filled with rigorous clinical rotations.
They use several clinical sites throughout Indiana and also upon approval, make use of more distant clinical sites.
For more information, visit their official website.
Admission Requirements: the following are required for application:
- Application is submitted via CASPA
- Minimum CGPA of 3.0 in undergraduate studies.
- Three letters of recommendation
- GRE scores ( Quantitative and Verbal: 155 and 4.0 in written)
- Statement
- Completion of all prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C.
- A minimum of 500 hours of direct patient care or healthcare experience.
- The deadline for application is the 1st of March
Tuition: $39,618 for resident students and $77,841 for non-residents. This is subject to change annually.
Indiana University School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (IUPUI) PA Program
If you have a passion for healthcare, then this is the school for you. This school prepares you to become a prominent member of the healthcare system and to play important and diverse roles in primary care and specialized areas.
Upon graduation, you will be competent at diagnosing illnesses, constructing a treatment plan, prescription medication for patients, etc.
As a student in this institution, you will gain access to renovated buildings with a standard classroom for lecture recordings, Anatomy Cadaver laboratory, patient evaluation rooms that are fully equipped, 5 hospitals built right on campus, Fairbanks hall simulation center, and a medical library.
Like most pa programs in other schools, you will go through 12 months of clinical training where you are able to apply learned skills to real patients in a real clinic.
In these 12 months of clinical training, there are 9 mandatory clinical specialties in which you are trained, some of them include: Behavioral medicine, Emergency surgery, Internal, Emergency and Family Medicine, Pediatrics, etc.
Find out more info about this program here.
Admission Requirements: the following are required before admission is considered.
- Completion of CASPA application and IUPUI graduate application.
- Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university.
- Minimum overall CGPA of 3.0
- Minimum science CGPA of 3.2
- Minimum of 500 hours of direct patient care involvement.
- The application deadline is on the 1st of August.
Tuition: $62,160 for resident students and $89,688 for non resident students.
Trine University Physician Assistant Program
This 7 semesters program aims at preparing pa graduates who will lead and serve their communities and this profession. They hope to assist you in your journey for knowledge, personal growth, and professional development.
This institution also places a high priority on ethical and moral standards as pa professionals.
Some of the reasons you should seriously consider this school is due to their state-of-the-art clinical skill laboratory, dedicated faculty, standard classroom technology, and partnership with healthcare systems for Graduate healthcare education.
For more information, please visit the school’s website.
Admission Requirements: the following are the criteria you need to meet up with to be considered for admission.
- Applicants must be citizens or residents of the USA
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university.
- Completion of all prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C.
- Overall GPA of 3.0
- Completion of GRE within the last 5 years.
- 2 academic or professional letters of recommendation.
- The application Deadline is the 1st of April and is done via CASPA.
Tuition: $106,400 for entire program- class of 2023. $109,550 for 2024 session.
University of Evansville Physician Assistant Program
The physician assistant program at this university began in 2016 and since then this school has established itself as one of the best Pa schools in Indiana.
Medical professionals and educators make up the faculty members who provide a vast amount of knowledge to PA students.
This 7-semester program is a mix of classroom activities and hands-on learning. Students complete 12 months of supervised clinical experience during their last 3 semesters, covering a wide range of medical specialties.
Graduates are eligible to gain their license after sitting for their Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE).
This school boasts of a 100% PANCE pass rate for their 2019 and 2020 classes. They also have a graduation rate of 94.5%.
You can find more about this university program here.
Admission Requirements: Admission into the University of Evansville Physician Assistant program requires the following:
- A Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university in the united states.
- Completion of all prerequisite science courses with a minimum grade of C.
- Submission of CASPA application with deadline on 1st of August.
- A minimum of 3 letters or recommendation (5 are permitted)
- A minimum of 3.0 CGPA is both overall and prerequisite.
- Healthcare experience is not a compulsory requirement
Tuition: $102,060 covers the entire tuition for entering students of 2023.
University of Saint Francis Physician Assistant Program
This institution is renowned for its healthcare education, including the master’s program for physician assistant studies.
Graduates from this school are continuously sought after by employers in different health parastatals.
If you seek a school where you can improve your clinical reasoning skills and boost your competence in evidence-based medicine, then this is the school for you.
Aside from medical education impact, the school grooms students to be respectful and treat patients with kindness. Some of the important facilities you will gain access to include; the USF simulation laboratory, cadaver laboratory for human anatomy, high-fidelity, and mid-fidelity patient simulators, etc.
This program offers a robust clinical experience to make you become a top professional. This school boasts of over 1000 clinical education partners and students are to complete clinical rotations in the following field:
- Family medicine
- Emergency medicine
- Pediatrics
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Behavioral and mental health
- Internal medicine
- Surgery
You can find out more information on their official website.
Admission Requirements: For you to be eligible for admission in this school, you must fulfill the following requirements.
- Submit your CASPA application
- Submission of post-secondary official transcripts.
- A Bachelor’s degree
- Completion of all prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C
- Letters of recommendation
- Minimum CGPA of 3.0 in undergraduate studies.
- Turn in your application before the 1st of October.
Tuition: N/A
Valparaiso University Physician Assistant Program
This program ensures enormous growth in critical thinking, leadership skills, and patient care knowledge.
This school remains committed to training physician assistants within a variety of healthcare settings.
This program makes use of a College of Nursing and Health Profession’s inter-disciplinary curriculum.
They also offer a 5 years BS/MS program to prepare you to become a competent and passionate healthcare provider.
Upon completion, you will be able to sit for your Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE). For more information, click here.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for this program, you need to have fulfilled the following requirements.
5-YEAR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM ADMISSION
This program is a combination of 3 years of undergraduate studies and 2 years of graduate studies. The freshman level requirements include:
- Completion of 4 years of lab science in high school
- Completion of pre-calculus
- Minimum GPA of 3.3
Those who complete the first phase of undergraduate studies are given direct admission into graduate studies.
Tuition: $105,280 for the 5 year program.
What Pa schools are in Indiana?
The following are Pa schools in Indiana
- Butler University Pa Program
- Franklin College Pa Program
- Indiana State University Pa Program
- Indiana University School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences PA Program
- Trine University PA Program
- University of Evansville PA Program
- University of Saint Francis (Fort Wayne) PA Program
- Valparaiso University PA Program
Does Indiana University have a Pa school?
Yes, Indiana University has a 27 months Pa program. It is a Master’s level program of 93 credit hours completed over 7 consecutive semesters.
Is Pa school harder than Med school?
According to public opinion, yes! Pa school is harder than Med school.
The classes are program and the course duration for the pa program is shorter than that of med school.
Is PA better than NP?
Both of these medical practitioners can administer medical care.
The difference is that a PA is in a traditional medical model, whereas an NP is trained in preventive health and education.
What school is best for physician studies?
The following are the best schools for physician studies:
- University of Iowa
- Baylor College of Medicine
- University of Utah
- Emory University
- George Washington University
- University of Colorado
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center—Dallas.
- Wake Forest University.
View more schools here.
What is the easiest Pa school to get into?
These are the easiest pa schools to get into:
- Barry University Pa school
- Marquette University Pa school
- Missouri State University PA School
- The George Washington University Physician Assistant School
- Rosalind Franklin University PA School
- University of New England Physician Assistant School
- University of Utah
How do I become a pa in Indiana?
The following steps will lead you to become a pa in Indiana.
- Get a bachelor’s degree in any health service course
- Select an accredited pa degree program from the schools in this list.
- Apply to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
- Maintain licensure
How hard is PA school?
PA School can be overwhelming. It takes a lot of commitment to complete. Some say it is just as hard or harder than Med school.
Is it worth going to PA school?
The employment rate of physician assistants is expected to increase by 31% and this is due to the increasing and aging world population. Your skills as a PA will forever be in demand.
What are my odds of getting into PA school?
In the united states alone, the overall acceptance rate into PA school is 31.6%, and for medical schools, it is 40%.
There are over 290 PA programs in America and they each have their own admission requirements and a maximum number of annually admitted students.
Is a 3.5 GPA good for PA school?
According to the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) report in 2020, accepted students had an average science CGPA of 3.53, an average non-science CGPA of 3.67, and a 3.5 BCP GPA. So if you fall within this range, chances are you may get admitted.
How many Pa schools are in Indiana?
There are about 8 pa schools in Indiana alone. They are:
- Barry University Pa school
- Marquette University Pa school
- Missouri State University PA School
- The George Washington University Physician Assistant School
- Rosalind Franklin University PA School
- University of New England Physician Assistant School
- University of Utah