If you want to get full details about the best PA schools in New Jersey, then you are on the right page. Physician assistants assist doctors with patient diagnosis and care.
As a Physician assistant, you may work in general practice or in a hospital, but you will have direct contact with patients wherever you work.
You will be a graduate with postgraduate training working under the supervision of a doctor. You will be trained to conduct a variety of day-to-day duties such as:
- Obtaining patient medical histories, performing physical examinations, and diagnosing illnesses.
- Examining people with long-term chronic diseases.
- Carrying out diagnostic and therapeutic treatments, analyzing test data, and establishing management strategies.
- Provide patients with health promotion and illness prevention guidance.
Currently, the majority of physician associates work in general practice, acute (internal) medicine, and emergency medicine.
Factors To Consider Before Selecting A PA Program
To successfully apply to and be admitted to PA programs, I propose that you compare the schools in the following areas:
1. Location
The location is important. Apply to all of your state’s public programs.
As an in-state applicant, you pay a lower application cost, and your chances of acceptance are frequently higher at colleges in the state where you live.
2. Deadlines
Check deadlines twice and three times to ensure that you apply as soon as feasible. Rolling admissions are used by PA schools.
The earlier you apply, the better your prospects will be.
3. Beginning Dates
Check that the program’s commencement date does not interfere with any of your current obligations.
If you are finishing a different degree, certificate program, research project, or any other time-sensitive activity, consider applying for the next cycle.
4. Additional Applications
Some programs necessitate the use of additional applications.
You must visit the individual school websites to verify whether or not the school has this requirement.
If at all possible, begin working on these as soon as possible.
5. GRE or MCAT Prerequisites
While the GRE is required for most PA schools, some accept the MCAT instead.
Check the exam requirements for each school. Even if you are awaiting test results, you can submit your CASPA application.
6. Minimum GPA or GRE/MCAT Scores
Some schools publish their application and new entries’ averages. Examine this information if it is available.
Use it to assess your prospects. There are programs that require a minimum GPA or GRE/MCAT score.
Make sure your scores and grades are higher than the minimums and preferably closer to or higher than the average.
7. Course Specific Requirements
Because the courses required by PA programs differ, ensure that you have finished all of the required coursework for each unique program.
Some colleges will not accept pending coursework, while others may have a two-course limit. To be safe, double-check their course prerequisites.
8. Coursework or Score Expiration Dates
PA programs all have coursework and score expiration dates, however, these timeframes differ from program to program.
Again, be sure that your courses and grades all match the time constraints of the specific institution.
What Makes Physician Assistant A Good Career Choice?
A physician assistant is one of the best jobs, according to U.S. News and World Report.
A physician assistant (PA) is a healthcare professional with national certification and a state license who works under a doctor’s supervision.
PAs provide physical exams, request and interpret diagnostic tests, identify and treat ailments, counsel patients, assist in operations, and write prescriptions. We have listed the 4 best PA schools in Colorado also.
The List of Best PA Schools In New Jersey
The U.S. Department of Education’s database listed 166 colleges and institutions in New Jersey as of July 2020.
This covers degree-granting colleges and universities as well as technical and vocational schools that solely provide certifications or job training.
Out of the best colleges in New Jersey, these 5 happen to be the best PA Schools in New Jersey.
Saint Elizabeth University PA Program
The Master of Science in Physician Assistant program at Saint Elizabeth University is intended to train physician assistants who are knowledgeable and dedicated to providing patients with courteous care.
This program’s advantages include:
- The school’s M.S. in Physician Assistant graduates work with some of the most reputable healthcare facilities in the nation, and it is just one hour from New York City and 90 minutes from Philadelphia.
- Atlantic Healthcare System, Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center, and Envision Healthcare Emergency Medicine, are some of the healthcare centers where the students participate in clinical rotation programs.
- Students have access to the University’s cutting-edge Medical Simulation Center while working one-on-one with SEU’s esteemed faculty in a welcoming and diverse environment.
- The facility provides cutting-edge programs that make use of Standardized Patients, task trainers, and high-fidelity human patient simulators.
- Students leave the campus inspired to make a real impact in the field of healthcare thanks to a focus on social justice, one of SEU’s core values.
- A lot of recent grads are passionate about working with underprivileged communities and supplying healthcare for those with little access.
Henderson Hall houses the offices and the MS PA Program. Modern classrooms, a 12-bed clinical assessment lab, three simulation rooms with a variety of mannequins and task trainers, six standardized patient evaluation rooms, and a video-capture system to promote formative and summative feedback are all included in the recently refurbished building.
The Nursing Department and Simulation Center collaborate to create possibilities for cross-disciplinary learning and activities.
Click here to find out more information.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission, one must have the following requirements.
- A Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
- Overall CGPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- A prerequisite CGPA of 3.2 or better.
- Completed all prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of ‘B-‘.
- 2 personal statements, with one stating how you fit with the vision of the PA program and the other stating a social justice issue you can address as a PA.
- PA-CAT scores
- Complete CASPA application. The deadline is the 1st of April.
Tuition: $109,499 for both resident and non-resident students.
Monmouth University PA Program
The three-year, full-time, 95-credit M.S. in Physician Assistant program starts each fall. Each year, one class is admitted.
It is a cohort-based education, which means that students progress through the program with the same set of classmates and have predetermined course schedules each semester.
Students are able to help one another as a result, and they can work and study together in a setting that resembles a community.
The Monmouth University Graduate Center in the Monmouth Park Corporate Center is where classes are held.
Click here for more info.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission, please ensure you complete the following requirements.
- Fill out the online application for admission and send it, along with a $50 application fee that is not refundable, to the Office of Admission Processing.
- Send all previously attended universities’ official undergraduate transcripts to the Office of Admission Processing.
- Send the Office of Admission Processing your official graduate transcripts from any other colleges you have previously attended.
- For any extra procedures particular to the program, check out the descriptions of the various graduate programs.
Tuition: N/A
Thomas Jefferson University New Jersey Campus PA Program
This is a 25-month full-time program. According to post-graduate surveys, this school’s PANCE pass rate over the past five years has averaged 96%, and job placement has been excellent for a number of years.
National recognition for founding members of the PA faculty includes honors like the AAPA’s Paragon Award for Outstanding Physician Assistants and the PAEA’s Education of the Year.
For Advanced Anatomy, each school has a full-dissection cadaver lab available to students.
Three medical simulators are available in the program for students to use as learning tools.
On the East Falls Campus and the New Jersey Campus, the faculty-to-student ratio is roughly 15:1, allowing for individualized attention for each student.
Click here for more information.
Admission Requirements: to be considered for admission, please ensure you meet the following requirements.
Thomas Jefferson University offers four Program and Campus options:
- Physician Assistant Studies (Center City Campus, Philadelphia)
- Physician Assistant Studies (East Falls Campus, Philadelphia)
- Physician Assistant Studies (Voorhees Campus, New Jersey)
- Physician Assistant Studies, MS/DHSc Dual Degree program (Center City Campus, Philadelphia)
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Official transcript submission
- Personal statement
- 3 letters of recommendation.
- Hours of direct patient care experience and shadowing experience.
- Complete supplemental application
- Cumulative, science and prerequisite GPA of 3.25 (3.4 is more competitive)
- Completion of prerequisite courses
- The deadline for CASPA application is the 1st of October
Tuition: $49,534 for one academic year.
Rutgers University PA Program
This university offers three M.S. in physician assistant degree options:
- For individuals with a bachelor’s degree already – the Master Of Science Program.
- For qualified students enrolled at one of our partner universities, they offer the Articulated BA/MS or BS/MS Degree (3+3) Program.
- For students who have previously been admitted to the PA program, there is a 4-year dual degree program called the Master of Science/Master of Public Health.
In their most recent survey, conducted in 2015, US News & World Report ranked the PA program as one of the top graduate programs, placing it 16th out of 154 schools nationwide.
In 2010, the Journal of Physician Assistant Education ranked the PA program seventh out of 73 programs.
With class performance above the mean in every category, this school’s first-time pass rate on the PA National Certifying Examination (PANCE) was 98% from 2013 to 2017.
Their cutting-edge program offers small-group instruction, simulation, a medical Spanish option, and a chance for a foreign rotation.
As part of a service learning project, students interact with the underserved through the HOPE (Health Outreach Patient Experience) Clinic, delivering necessary primary care alongside instructors and other students.
Click here to see more information.
Admission Requirements: Three letters of recommendation, all supporting documents, including all transcripts from post-secondary education, and a $25 extra fee make up a full application.
Before the application is given to the PA Program for review once CASPA has deemed it complete, CASPA must verify it. September 1st is the deadline.
- Completion of prerequisite courses
- Submission of personal essay
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Hours of patient contact experience
- Shadowing experience
Tuition: click here to see the breakdown.
Seton Hall University PA Program
A significant amount of clinical experience is emphasized in Seton Hall’s Master of Science Physician Assistant program.
Additionally, it promotes knowledge of fundamental sciences, research capabilities, and physical examination abilities.
Traditional lectures are combined with online assignments and problem-based learning in many classes to make sure that everything you learn has immediate application.
You will get instruction from practicing doctors, physician assistants, and professors with PhD degrees in a range of medical specialties.
From their first semester on, students interact with patients, eventually finishing at least 52 weeks of core and elective rotations.
Click here to see more information.
Admission Requirements: complete the following requirements to be considered for admission.
- Complete the online application
- Minimum cumulative and prerequisite GPA of 3.2 on a scale of 4.0.
- 100 hours of direct patient care experience.
- Completion of prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C.
- GRE scores
- 3 letters of recommendation
The deadline for application is the 15th of December.
Tuition: $140,736 estimated for entire program. Have you seen the 13 best PA schools in Ohio and their tuition?
FAQs
How many PA schools are in NJ?
In New Jersey, Monmouth University, Rutgers University, Saint Elizabeth University, and Seton Hall University all provide on-campus PA programs.
The on-campus experience will be familiar to those who obtained their bachelor’s degree there.
How do I become a physician assistant in NJ?
- For licensing, research the accredited physician assistant programs in New Jersey.
- Pass the PANCE and submit an application for a license as a physician assistant in New Jersey.
- Keep your PA license current.
- Is Rutgers PA school hard to get into?
These courses have intense competition. The average undergraduate GPA of candidates to PA programs who WERE ACCEPTED into PA programs was 3.49, with undergraduate science and non-science GPAs of 3.36 and 3.56 respectively.
How much does PA school cost in NJ?
The average tuition for a 27-month physician assistant program for non-residents is $89,975, whereas the average cost for all PA schools in NJ is roughly $71,369 per student.
How long is the PA program at Rutgers?
The 33-month PA curriculum offers students the chance to hone their analytical abilities, which is crucial in the current healthcare environment as Pas are given progressively more responsibility.
Is becoming a PA hard?
Yes, being a medical assistant is challenging.
After being accepted into a PA program, you must complete three more years of coursework and clinical training.
After that, you must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam to get certified.
Can I get into Rutgers with a 3.3 GPA?
Rutgers’ ceiling GPA appeared to be approximately 3.7. Almost all applicants with a 3.7 GPA or better were admitted to the institution.
For applicants from New Jersey, Rutgers had a minimum GPA of 2.7, while the minimum was 3.0 for all other applicants.
Can you work while in PA school?
If your program does enable you to work, proceed with caution.
PA school is a shortened version of medical school that is still more intensive than prospective students anticipate. Check out the 3 best PA schools in Kentucky.
What are the disadvantages of being a physician assistant?
- Long working hours, Pas may be called in to visit patients late at night, on weekends, and on holidays.
- There are few prospects for promotion. Without extra schooling, there is little possibility of a higher-paying career.
- Physically demanding.
What is the first year of PA school like?
Often, the first semester of didactic consists of reviewing the fundamentals: anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and so on, as well as less recognizable topics like physical diagnosis and clinical medicine. Was this article on PA schools in New Jersey helpful?