In this article, we have listed the best PA schools in Oklahoma, their tuition, and their requirements. But before that, who is a Physician Assistant?
A Physician Assistant is a qualified member of the medical team who works under the direction of a doctor thanks to extensive basic scientific and clinical training.
A physician assistant is an effective approach for doctors to provide medical care for you and your family; nevertheless, he/she does not take the place of a doctor. Read on to see the PA schools in Oklahoma.
Check out the 8 best PA schools in Georgia.
What Can PAs Do?
Tasks are determined by the practice location and expertise of the supervising physician, Oklahoma law, and the particular circumstance. Work may involve:
- Accurately obtaining a patient’s medical history.
- Doing a complete physical examination.
- Carrying out basic diagnostic procedures like pap smears and EKGS – identifying and addressing typical medical issues.
- Creating prescriptions in hospitals.
- Ordering drugs in compliance with Oklahoma legislation.
- Starting emergency medical care.
- Helping with surgery – debriding, suturing, and treating minor wounds.
- Going around the hospital.
- Educating you and your family about the disease process and the recommended treatment.
Where Does A PA Work?
Physician assistants are prepared to work in a range of environments, including:
- Private offices
- Clinics
- Hospitals
- Emergency Departments
- Health Maintenance Organizations
- Industry
- Branches of the Armed Services
- Federal and State facilities
The List of Best PA Schools In Oklahoma
There are 15 universities in the state of Oklahoma at the moment, however, only 4 schools have a PA program in the state. Without further ado, these are the 4 best PA schools in Oklahoma.
Northeastern State University
Northeastern State University (NSU) is a regional university dedicated to producing graduates who are diverse, knowledgeable, and well-educated. It was founded on the rich Cherokee Nation heritage.
The Physician Assistant Studies Program is a component of a comprehensive university strategy for creating and putting into action programming that directly meets the needs of northeastern Oklahoma.
The 27-month physician assistant studies curriculum consists of 35 credit hours of clinical training at local medical facilities like Saint Francis Health System, Northeastern Health System, the Cherokee Nation, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and Northeastern Oklahoma Community Health Centers, and 75 credit hours of didactic training at NSU’s Muskogee Campus.
Click here for more information.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission, ensure you have the following.
- Bachelor’s degree with a minimum CGPA of 3.0 on 4.0 scale.
- Complete CASPA application.
- Official transcripts from previously attended institutions.
- Minimum of C in all prerequisite courses.
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Hours of direct patient care experience.
- Deadline for application is 1st of October.
Tuition: $127,348 and $161,133 for resident and non-resident students respectively.
Oklahoma City University PA Program
A Physician Assistant (PA) Program was created by Oklahoma City University (OCU) in order to influence the state of Oklahoma’s healthcare system. Pas have consistently shown their importance as capable, adaptable, and financially responsible medical professionals in today’s society.
A more substantial PA staff is essential for the inhabitants of Oklahoma, which ranks among the lowest of all the states in terms of access to primary care and health status indices.
The OCU curriculum offers 15 months of in-person instruction delivered in a systems-based, integrated approach. The Program has a particular interest in helping students understand a range of social and ethical issues encountered in the medical humanities by reading and discussing short stories and novellas. This is in addition to the basic and medical sciences.
13 months of supervised clinical practice experiences in different medical settings and specialties come right after the classroom phase.
The OCU curriculum is distinctive in that it offers concurrent courses in medical business topics. With the addition of this curriculum, OCU PA students will have a better understanding of medical practice management, which is essential for a profitable business.
Students must demonstrate their mastery of the art and science of medicine as well as their readiness to start working as Pas during the last month of the PA program.
Click here for more information.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission, ensure you have the following.
- Bachelor’s degree with a minimum CGPA of 3.0 on 4.0 scale.
- Complete CASPA application.
- Official transcripts from previously attended institutions.
- Minimum of C in all prerequisite courses.
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Hours of direct patient care experience.
- Deadline for application is 1st of August.
Tuition: $25, 335 for year 1, $68, 172 for year 2, and $68, 172 for year 3.
University of Oklahoma PA Program, Oklahoma City
One of the oldest PA programs still in existence, OU has undergone a variety of changes, such as switching from awarding a Bachelor of Science degree to a Master of Health Sciences degree in 1998 to varying class sizes from a low of ten students (Class of 1986) to the current high of fifty students per year.
The program has evolved, and this is reflected in new classroom facilities, plenty of various clinical rotation sites, and strong integration within the OU College of Medicine.
A fresh cohort of about 50 students is accepted into the OU OKC Physician Associate Program each June. Candidates are chosen by the admissions committee based on their potential to excel as physician associates and carry out the goals of the OU OKC PA Program.
Click here for more information.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission, ensure you have the following.
- Bachelor’s degree with a minimum CGPA of 3.0 on 4.0 scale.
- Complete CASPA application.
- Official transcripts from previously attended institutions.
- Minimum of C in all prerequisite courses.
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Hours of direct patient care experience.
- Deadline for application is 1st of October.
Tuition: $97,596 and $153,168 for resident and non-residents respectively.
University of Oklahoma PA Program, Tulsa
Future physician assistants who are dedicated to primary care and the underserved in Oklahoma can enroll in the outstanding and distinctive physician assistant program at the OU-TU School of Community Medicine.
The program is the result of a collaboration between the Universities of Oklahoma and Tulsa to offer one of the best primary care PA programs in the nation.
Students will work in interdisciplinary teams with other students and instructors during the first semester of the 30-month program at the week-long Summer Institute.
The Summer Institute focuses on disadvantaged healthcare and the resources that are available in the Tulsa neighborhood. In their first year, PA students also visit the Bedlam evening clinic. Northeast Oklahomans without insurance can receive much-needed care at this student-run free clinic.
These unique experiences add to the curriculum in Public Health, Professional Issues in Medicine and Health, and the Clinical Medicine module on Underserved Patients.
Students who are in their second year attend Student Academy, which consists of monthly interdisciplinary seminars on managing chronic diseases with a focus on developing practical clinical skills and evidence-based treatment algorithms.
Then, at the OU Physicians Family Medicine Clinic, students apply what they have learned during their twice-monthly longitudinal clinic experience. Students can manage their own panel of patients in this Physician Assistant Longitudinal (PAL) student clinic, which offers continuous care experience for managing chronic diseases.
Click here for more information.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission, ensure you have the following.
- Bachelor’s degree with minimum CGPA of 3.0 on 4.0 scale.
- Complete CASPA application.
- Official transcripts from previously attended institutions.
- Minimum of C in all prerequisite courses.
- 3 letters of recommendation
- GRE score
- Hours of direct patient care experience.
- The deadline for application is the 1st of October.
Tuition: Click here to see the breakdown.
FAQs
How do I become a PA in Oklahoma?
- Obtain a license by meeting the admission requirements for Oklahoma physician assistant programs.
- The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants offers certification (NCCPA)
- To become a licensed physician assistant in Oklahoma, apply.
- Preserve your state certification.
How long is the PA program at OU?
The PA program runs for 30 months, beginning in early June of each year, with a focus on serving the needs of underserved communities and those who are at risk throughout the state.
The 15-month didactic phase includes classroom and laboratory education in fundamental medical and behavioral sciences.
What schools offer PA programs in Oklahoma?
- Northeastern State University. Physician Associate Program.
- Oklahoma City University PA Program.
- University of Oklahoma PA Program, Oklahoma City. Physician Associate Program.
- University of Oklahoma PA Program, Tulsa.
Does UCO have a PA program?
Yes. Before enrolling in the PA program at OUHSC-OKC, candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an authorized college or university.
The prerequisite courses must be passed with a “C” or better while earning a baccalaureate degree at UCO in order to be eligible for admission to the PA program.
How long does it take to become a PA in Oklahoma?
The program lasts for 28 months and is divided into 13 months of classroom instruction and 15 months of clinical rotations.
Is PA school hard to get into?
Physician assistant programs, like many other medical institutions, are notoriously difficult for most students to get into.
The average acceptance rate into a PA school is roughly 20%, according to the PAEA.
What is the difference between a physician assistant and a physician associate?
The professions of physician assistant and physician associate are identical, which is the straightforward justification.
The only distinction is a conceptual one. According to Yale University, this particular program of study prepares students for a career as a physician associate.
What is a physician’s associate degree?
Working in the healthcare industry may be both fulfilling and exciting. As a Physician Associate (PA), you will assist medical professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
This might happen in a hospital or a doctor’s office.
Does OU Tulsa PA program require CASPer?
The CASPer test must be finished, and the results are only good for one admissions cycle.
The program must receive the CASPer results by the deadline of October 1.
Is OU a good medical school?
In the categories of Best Medical Schools: Research and Best Medical Schools: Primary Care, the University of Oklahoma is placed 74 (tied) and 47, respectively.
Schools are rated based on how well they perform against a set of generally recognized measures of quality.