Physician assistants play an important role in medical teams, working alongside physicians, nurses, and surgeons to diagnose and treat patients. These highly trained medical professionals earn competitive wages: the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports physicians assistants earn an annual median salary of $115,390. The BLS also projects physician assistant careers to grow a staggering 31% from 2019-2029, a rate many times higher than the national average.
Physician assistants typically need at least a master’s degree, and all states also require them to hold professional licensure. A physician assistant degree builds a comprehensive set of clinical skills. Candidates develop their knowledge of primary care, evidence-based practice, and healthcare ethics. Programs typically include a significant clinical component, enabling candidates to build hands-on experience in a professional healthcare setting.
Given the critical nature of their work, physician assistants need expert training. All reputable physician assistant programs should hold accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assista (ARC-PA). The ARC-PA defines and enforces standards for physician assistant education in the United States. Any program that lacks ARC-PA accreditation may not provide adequate professional preparation, and graduates of unaccredited programs may not be able to obtain licensure.
Methodology
To come up with the best ARC-PA accredited online physician assistant degree programs, OnlineSchoolsCenter.com evaluated the colleges and universities for the variety of topics covered through the PA curriculum, accessibility of the online programs, and the general reputation of the schools. In developing this list, OnlineSchoolsCenter.com chose not to list the schools in a ranked order, instead choosing to highlight each school’s unique offerings and strengths. Every school on this list has most, if not all, of these features:
- 100% online or hybrid physician assistant programs, highlighting flexibility and convenience for students
- ARC-PA accreditation for PA completion, bridge, and graduate programs to demonstrate compliance with academic and industry standards
- Recognition by academic organizations and affiliates
- Rigorous training and coursework, emphasizing the most modern practices, equipment, and technologies in the profession and related disciplines
- Transferable college credits, as applicable
Learn more about our selection process by visiting our Methodology page.
The Best Online ARC-PA Accredited Physician Assistant Programs
Pace University
Pace’s physician assistant master’s degree completion program prepares practicing physicians assistants for roles in administration and research. The program exclusively serves applicants who already hold an undergraduate physician assistant degree. Courses use a synchronous delivery format, enabling students to complete assignments at any time of day.
Degree candidates complete a minimum of 30 credits, including 12 core credits and 18 clinical experience credits. Core courses cover topics such as epidemiology, health promotion, and healthcare leadership. The program requires candidates to complete a total of 3,600 post-baccalaureate clinical hours in an approved healthcare environment. Every 200 clinical hours equate to one academic credit.
Program(s) at a Glance
- Location: New York, New York
- Tuition: $10,760/year
- Program Length: 12 months
- Delivery Format: 100% online
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
One of Texas’ major public colleges, UTRGV also offers one of the state’s top physician assistant degrees. The school’s master in physician assistant studies bridge program enables currently practicing physician assistants to earn a degree while remaining in their own community. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in physician assistant studies and current physician assistant licensure.
Degree candidates complete three clinical tracks lasting four weeks each. These tracks develop existing physician assistant skills, building knowledge and competencies based on students’ chosen professional concentration areas. Candidates also complete a research experience that highlights evidence-based medicine and research design practices.
Program(s) at a Glance
- Location: Brownsville, Texas.
- Tuition: $5,100.56 total, in-state, $11,644.56 total, out-of-state
- Program Length: Contact school for more information
- Delivery Format: 100% online
Stony Brook University
Part of the State University of New York system, Stony Brook offers one of the state’s top physician assistant degrees. The school’s post-professional master’s program prepares students for advanced positions in management, administration, research, and education. Degree candidates can simultaneously earn advanced certificates in either healthcare management or nutrition.
Students complete a minimum of 30 credits, divided between 18 core credits and 12 elective credits. The program core covers key topics including healthcare delivery, clinical pharmacology, and ethics in healthcare. Electives enable students to explore topics related to their professional practice, such as advanced nutrition, health and the aging process, and community health.
Program(s) at a Glance
- Location: Stony Brook, New York
- Tuition: $13,383.75 total, in-state, $16,538.75 total, out-of-state
- Program Length: Up to five years
- Delivery Format: 100% online
Recommended Schools
Yale University
A prestigious Ivy League college, Yale offers one of the country’s top physician assistant degrees. The school’s online physician assistant master’s program focuses on community health and primary care. The program uses a blended format, combining online courses with in-person campus sessions and clinical experiences. Applicants must possess at least 500 paid hours of patient care experience.
Yale’s physician assistant program features weekly live class sessions and recorded lectures. Students also attend three on-campus immersion experiences. Lasting one week each, these campus sessions include workshops and clinical training in the Yale School of Medicine’s simulation lab.
Program(s) at a Glance
- Location: New Haven, Connecticut
- Tuition: $108,612 total
- Program Length: 28 months
- Delivery Format: Hybrid
Touro University Worldwide
TUW offers the country’s only fully online doctorate of physician assistant program with no residency requirements. The physician assistant degree emphasizes a scholar-practitioner model. Students gain advanced knowledge in patient care and research methods. TUW enables candidates to tailor their studies to their own professional interests, building high-level knowledge for clinical care, education, and healthcare administration. Applicants must hold at least two years of clinical practice or experience.
Doctoral candidates complete a minimum of 42 credits, including 30 core credits and 12 dissertation credits. The curriculum covers topics such as advanced pharmacology and therapeutics, healthcare law, and research methods for healthcare professionals.
Program(s) at a Glance
- Location: Los Alamitos, California
- Tuition: $700/credit
- Program Length: 1.5 years average
- Delivery Format: 100% online
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Wisconsin’s flagship public college, UW offers a physician assistant master’s degree that focuses on medically underserved populations. The program covers topics including applied human anatomy, diagnostic methods, and fundamentals of surgery. UW admits students from around the country but gives preference to Wisconsin residents who live in medically underserved areas.
The physician assistant degree operates primarily online, but the program requires several campus visits. Candidates must spend the program’s first 10-week summer semester on the UW campus. Each subsequent semester includes two campus lab sessions lasting 2-4 days each. Candidates also complete a 12-month clinical preceptorship in their own community.
Program(s) at a Glance
- Location: Madison, Wisconsin
- Tuition: $53,156.02 total, in-state, $107,729.86 total, out-of-state
- Program Length: 36 months
- Delivery Format: Hybrid
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to have an ARC-PA accreditation for my online physician assistant program?
Before granting an accreditation status, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) conducts a comprehensive evaluation of the school’s physician assistant programs. One of the requirements for qualifying for the PANCE is to complete a degree from an ARC-PA-accredited program. You should verify first with your school if the program you’re enrolling in is ARC-PA accredited. Otherwise, you won’t be eligible to take the certification exam.
Check with your current state before enrolling in an online physician assistant program because licensure laws differ per state. Ensure that your state recognizes the online program you’re pursuing.
How will I comply with the clinical rotation requirement for my online physician assistant program?
Regardless of the degree level you’re pursuing, all physician assistant programs have a minimum requirement to complete a specific number of hours of clinical experience. In short, clinical rotations are always part of the curriculum. The primary objective of clinical rotations is to provide students with relevant experience in treating, diagnosing, and assessing patients. Although coursework completion is 100% online, students should work with a faculty advisor to create negotiations or arrangements regarding their clinical rotations at approved healthcare facilities. Despite on-site clinical rotations, students have the opportunity to choose a clinical site that is convenient and accessible for them. Students’ clinical rotations involve licensed professionals to supervise their work at a selected healthcare facility.