Physician Assistant

Master of Science

PAs are in high demand throughout the healthcare industry. As essential members of the diagnostic and care team for millions of patients, hospitals and medical clinics are increasingly turning to PAs for diagnosis and treatment of common ailments, patient education, and more.

CSP Global is extending the university’s catalog of healthcare-related degree programs that offer affordable, quality, focused academic programming that leads to practice-ready professionals in rewarding career fields.

Physician Assistants (PAs) have emerged as an essential part of the patient care team within hospitals, clinics, and medical specialty programs. They are licensed medical professionals who practice medicine in every medical specialty and medical setting. As trusted, rigorously educated and trained healthcare professionals PAs are dedicated to expanding access to care and transforming health and wellness through patient-centered and team-based medical practice. PAs are able to diagnose and treat medical diseases and conditions, order and interpret medical tests, prescribe medications, and offer a wide range of treatment regimens for their patients.

PAs practice in every work setting, from hospitals and urgent care centers to outpatient offices and clinics, often serving as a patient’s primary care provider. They practice medicine in all medical and surgical specialties,including family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, pediatrics, gerontology, and more.

PAs are not medical doctors, but they serve in much of the same capacity within the training and licensure that covers their areas of expertise. They often work alongside MDs to ensure a continuum of care, depending on the scope of a patient’s individual needs. PAs require a specific graduate degree that is highly structured and standardized, so the scope of their patient care is consistent across healthcare organizations.

For more information on the PA profession please visit the American Academy of Physician Associates.

CSP Global is in the process of securing ARC-PA Provisional Accreditation and is not currently an accredited PA program.

The university has successfully obtained accreditation approvals for the PA program from both the Minnesota Office of Higher Education and the Higher Learning Commission. The PA program is scheduled to submit its Provisional Accreditation Application to the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) in March 2025, with a site visit planned for June 2025. The ARC-PA will make its accreditation decision during its September 2025 meeting, with official notification expected in October 2025.

During the ARC-PA accreditation process, the PA program is allowed to proceed with its application cycle, offering “conditional program acceptance” and “conditional program waitlist status” to applicants before the official accreditation decision is made. In the event that the PA program is not granted ARC-PA accreditation, any applicants who received a “conditional program acceptance” will be promptly notified. Additionally, any deposits submitted to secure a position in the inaugural cohort will be refunded.

CSP Global’s PA program is being led by leading healthcare industry professionals who know PA requirements inside and out. The requirements are highly standardized, so the university has a detailed plan to ensure compliance with all accreditation requirements. CSP Global has multiple programs in healthcare and medicine that are fully accredited, proven, and highly effective in developing practice-ready medical professionals. The PA program structure and staffing will directly reflect industry best practices and standards to prepare students for rewarding careers as Physician Assistants.

All prospective students who align meet the minimum requirements for admission and the technical standards are encouraged to apply. The PA program utilizes the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). CASPA is an online application service that facilitates the application process for our prospective PA students. For more information on the CASPA please visit https://caspa.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login. The CSP PA program does not require prospective students to take or report an admissions exam (e.g. GRE, MCAT, PA-CAT, or CASPer). No advanced placement credits are accepted in the PA program. All students are required to complete the full curriculum to ensure a comprehensive educational experience aligned with program competencies.

Admissions Requirements:

• Have a bachelor degree (students may apply the year prior to their B.A. or B.S degree is awarded. However, the degree must be awarded before starting the PA program).*
• Have a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Record a minimum of 500 hours of direct patient contact experience, at the time of applying.**
• Complete the following prerequisite coursework:***
  • Human or Animal Anatomy – One semester, associated lab encouraged
  • Human or Animal Physiology – One semester, associated lab encouraged (cannot use a single semester of a combined Anatomy & Physiology course to fulfill both prerequisites)
  • Microbiology – One semester, associated lab course optional
  • Biochemistry – One semester, associated lab course optional
  • Statistics – One semester
  • Provide two professional letters of recommendation at the time of completing the application.
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    * Students may apply and receive conditional acceptance before the baccalaureate degree is conferred. However, the degree must be awarded before the date of matriculation into the PA program, demonstrated by submission of an official transcript, prior to matriculation.
    ** Examples of roles or jobs that demonstrate acceptable direct patient contact experience hours includes: nursing roles, EMT-P, EMT-B, sonography, radiology tech, emergency department tech, personal care assistant, phlebotomist, laboratory tech, dietitian, physical therapy roles , chiropractor, dental roles (dentist, dental hygienist, dental assistant) and medical scribes. Additional sources of direct patient contact experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Direct patient care experience hours can be obtained through volunteer and/or compensated opportunities and must be verifiable.
    *** All prerequisites must be of the upper-divisional offering (200 level or greater) at the institution where they are completed. Students may apply with no more than two remaining prerequisite courses to be completed. Students may receive program acceptance prior to the completion of all prerequisite coursework. All prerequisite coursework must be completed before the date of matriculation into the program, demonstrated by submission of an official transcript prior to matriculation.

Prospective Student Required Technical Standards for Admission:

Admission to the CSP PA program is contingent upon a candidate’s ability to meet the program’s technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodations. Admitted candidates must provide both a personal attestation and a signed statement from their medical provider affirming their ability to meet these standards, with or without accommodations.

Candidates with disabilities who require accommodations are encouraged to contact Concordia University’s Student Accessibility Services (SAS) as soon as they accept their admission offer. It is the candidate’s responsibility to submit current documentation detailing the general nature and extent of their disability, as well as the functional limitations for which accommodations are requested. Evaluating and facilitating accommodations is a collaborative process between the candidate and SAS. Concordia University reserves the right to request additional or updated documentation as needed.

If a candidate develops or has a condition that could impact patient safety, their own safety, or others’ safety, or that affects their accommodation needs, an evaluation with SAS may be required. As with the initial assessment, a thorough review of all necessary skills, attitudes, and attributes will be conducted. This includes assessing the candidate’s commitment and ability to complete the CSP PA program curriculum and fulfill all requirements for PA certification and licensure, with recognition that students with diverse disabilities can succeed as medical professionals.

• Observation
  • Candidates need keen observational skills for both scientific work and patient care. This includes participating in demonstrations and experiences like cadaver dissections and examining specimens in anatomy and pathology labs. They must also be able to observe patients closely, gather medical histories, conduct thorough physical exams, and use this information to create accurate diagnoses and treatment plans.
• Communication
  • Candidates must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with patients, their families, and members of the health care team. They must be able to promptly obtain a medical history, interpret non-verbal communication, and establish therapeutic relationships with patients. Additionally, candidates must be able to record information accurately and clearly, and communicate proficiently with other health care professionals in various patient settings.
• Motor Function
  • Candidates must possess the ability to perform physical examinations and diagnostic maneuvers. They must respond to emergency situations promptly and provide both general and emergency care. Additionally, candidates must adhere to universal precaution measures and meet safety standards in inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as in other clinical activities.
• Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities
  • Candidates must have sufficient cognitive (mental) abilities and effective learning techniques to assimilate the detailed and complex information presented in the curriculum. They must be able to learn through a variety of modalities, including, but not limited to, classroom instruction; small group, team and collaborative activities; individual study; preparation and presentation of reports; and use of computer technology. Candidates must be able to memorize, measure, calculate, reason, analyze, synthesize, and transmit information across modalities. They must recognize and draw conclusions about three-dimensional spatial relationships and logical sequential relationships among events. They must be able to formulate and test hypotheses that enable effective and timely problem solving in the diagnosis and treatment of patients in a variety of clinical modalities.
• Behavioral and Social Attributes
  • Candidates must demonstrate the maturity and emotional stability required for full use of their intellectual abilities. They must accept responsibility for learning, exercising good judgment, and promptly completing all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients. They must understand the legal and ethical aspects of the practice of medicine and function within both the law and ethical standards of the medical profession. Candidates must be able to work effectively, respectfully and professionally as part of the healthcare team, and to interact with patients, their families, and health care personnel in a courteous, professional, and respectful manner. They must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and long work hours, to function effectively under stress, and to display flexibility and adaptability to changing environments. They must be capable of regular, reliable and punctual attendance at classes and in regard to their clinical responsibilities. Candidates must be able to contribute to collaborative, constructive learning environments; accept constructive feedback from others; and take personal responsibility for making appropriate positive changes. It is expected that minimum accommodation will be requested with regards to this set of standards.
• Ethical and Legal Standards
  • Candidates must demonstrate integrity, accountability, and adherence to legal requirements, including confidentiality and patient safety protocols. These standards are designed to ensure that students can meet the rigors of both the academic and clinical components of the program while upholding the highest levels of patient care and professional conduct. Compliance with these standards is critical to fostering trust, competency, and responsibility within healthcare environments.

Prospective students from medically-underserved communities (as defined by HRSA), first-generation college students, Concordia University undergraduates and alumni, and active military or veterans in good standing are encouraged to apply.* Prospective students from these groups, who submit a complete application to the program and meet the program admission requirements and technical standards, will automatically receive an interview.

National data shows that matriculated PA students have an average undergraduate GPA of 3.6 and approximately 3,200 hours of patient care experience.* Competitive applicants are able to clearly express their motivation to become a PA, highlighting a strong sense of purpose or calling to be a patient-centered, empathetic medical provider committed to serving their community and improving the health and wellness of their patients.

*PA Education Association, By the Numbers: Program Report 36: Data from the 2021 Program Survey, Washington, DC: PAEA; 2023 DOI: 10.17538/PR36.2021.

The PA program from CSP Global will include 7 consecutive semesters over a 28-month timeframe. Students will engage in four semesters of classroom-based medical and science instruction, followed by three semesters of clinical rotations. The clinical rotations will cover nine specific areas of medical care focus, including two electives to help students gain clinical practice experience and apply their medical knowledge in supervised clinical practice settings.

Much like nursing, PA roles are in extremely high demand across hospital and clinical settings. They are also in high demand regardless of region, including rural and metropolitan areas. PAs are increasingly relied on as a primary provider to patients for general medical issues, diagnosis, and treatment.

According to The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for PAs is expected to grow by 27-28 percent over the next decade, which is much faster than the rate of growth for occupations overall.