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Pre-Physician Assistant

Interested in becoming a physician assistant (PA)? Our pre-physician assistant program will prepare you for the next step in your career.

Specialized support is available to pre-physician assistant students through the Health Careers Center.

Available as
Pre-Professional Program
Description

Become an Important Member of the Professional Healthcare Team 

At the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, our pre-physician assistant curriculum provides a pathway to graduate school for students interested in a career as a physician assistant (PA).

PAs are licensed to practice under the supervision of a physician (MD or DO) and state law determines the scope of their practice. In general, they take medical histories, examine and treat patients, order and interpret laboratory tests and X-rays, make diagnoses, prescribe medications, administer treatments, assist in surgery, and counsel and educate patients.

Pre-physician assistant studies is not a major at UW-Eau Claire, but rather a declaration of your intention to continue your education and become a PA. No specific undergraduate major is required to become a PA, but certain courses, skills and experiences are favored — especially when applying for graduate school. For example, health professional schools often require a high GPA, strong letters of recommendation, and a completed application through CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistant).

All PA graduate programs also require experience in healthcare, with some programs requiring 500-3,000+ hours of experience. As a pre-PA student, you may choose to pursue hours working as a certified nursing assistant (CNA), emergency medical technician (EMT), lab assistant/phlebotomist, Peace Corps volunteer, medical assistant, surgical tech, and more. Or learn directly from experts in the field via internships, research projects, or job shadowing. These opportunities are readily available to you, through our strong relationships with area healthcare organizations, including Mayo Clinic Health System.

Pre-Physician Assistant students are supported by exceptional advisors and faculty members, including the Health Careers Center who stays current on pre-PA requirements and trends in the Physician Assistant school application process and will help you understand what it takes to develop a competitive application.

Degree Types

Program Details

Degree Types
Pre-Professional Program, No Degree
Degree Level undergraduate
Available asPre-Professional Program
Campus
Eau Claire
Offered
On Campus
Requires a minor No
Authored on
Hallmarks
Health Careers Center entry
Individualized Attention and Support

Are you planning a future in a health career? UW-Eau Claire is one of only a few schools of its size with a specialized Health Careers Center dedicated to helping you achieve your health career goals. We offer access to targeted programming, high-quality clinical and volunteering opportunities, and personalized academic and pre-professional advising delivered by our caring expert staff.

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Research Opportunties

As the top master's-level university for undergraduate research, opportunities to explore and discover are endless. Many of our students work directly with faculty and local professionals on groundbreaking research projects, driving innovation and making real improvements to the world around us. Pre-PA students may also choose to take their research experience a step further by presenting their findings at both regional and national conferences. 

Pre-professional health club Bob Fest 2023
Relevant Student Organizations

On-campus student organizations — like the Pre-Professional Health Club — connect students like you who are also interested in becoming a physician assistant. These extracurriculars are an excellent way to learn from guest speakers, engage in volunteer work and tour graduate programs in the region.

Gillian Rossman on Red Line drill at Mayo
Excellent Preparation

The university’s success rate at preparing students who gain admission to professional schools is outstanding. Previous students have gone on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Marquette University, Carroll University, Augsburg College, St. Catherine University and Des Moines University.

Facts List

Just
the
facts

Mayo Clinic Health System A Top UWEC Employer
The renowned health organization was the #1 employer of all Blugold grads in 2022-2023.
Next Generation of Medical Pioneers
Each year, 10 students are selected for the Blugold Biomedical Innovator program, which connects students directly with Mayo Clinic Health System professionals.
Outcomes Image
Skills lab Mayo
What can I do

Where can the pre-physician assistant program lead me after graduation?

After earning your undergraduate degree from UWEC, your next step towards becoming a physician assistant is enrolling in an accredited PA program and earning your master's degree. Most PA programs are approximately 27 months long and include classroom instruction and more than 2,000 hours of clinical rotations. Your rotations could be in the areas of family medicine, pediatrics, general surgery, psychiatry, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, and more. Most UWEC students attend PA school at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, University of Wisconsin Madison Concordia University (WI), or Saint Catherine University.

After graduating from an accredited PA program, you are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE). Passing the PANCE is required of all practicing physician assistants.

Courses information
SampleCourses

Suggested pre-PA courses at UWEC are courses that are required by most Physician Assistant schools. Courses you can expect as a pre-PA student include general chemistry, anatomy and physiology, introductory and advanced biology, statistics, and psychology. Requirements vary by program and students should connect with the Health Careers Center and access pre health advising information early and often. Visit the Health Careers Center for a more detailed guide on pre-physical therapy advising.

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