Physician Assistant Studies

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#4 best job in America 

A physician assistant (PA) is a nationally certified and state-licensed medical professional who practices medicine as a member of a health care team. PAs practice and prescribe medication in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and in the uniformed services. 

Why become a Physician Assistant?

Now is an exciting time to join the physician assistant profession. According to US News & World Report, the physician assistant profession ranks #2 on the 2023 list of Best Health Care Jobs in America and fourth on the 2023 list of Best Jobs in America. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the median annual salary of PAs at $121,530 and projects that the field will grow at a rate of 31% (much faster than average) between now and 2030. For more information on what PAs do, visit the AAPA’s What is a PA? website.

Read on to learn more about Union's program, or apply now.

A rewarding career in health care.

28%

estimated growth in the next decade.

As a PA student at Union College, you’ll have many opportunities to practice your skills and make a difference in the lives of people who need it most.

Why study at Union College?

  • Your first two years of our master’s level program will be classroom training with plenty of hands-on learning, followed by 11 months of clinical rotations in many specialties.
  • With only 30 people in your class, your professors will have time to give you the help you need to succeed. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to build connections with your classmates that can last a lifetime.
  • Every month Union PA and nursing students hold a foot clinic at Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach, an organization that serves Lincoln’s homeless.
  • Our program offers more than 200 clinical sites locally and nationally.
  • The majority of our graduates have found a job within three months of passing the national certification board examination.

I was drawn to the Union College PA program because of their dedication to giving students more than just an academic education. The professors’ mission is to prepare us for so much more than to be adequate clinicians. They strive to teach us Christian principles that I feel are sometimes underrepresented in health care, such as compassion, servanthood, humility, and self-sacrifice. They also place an emphasis on serving others and equip us with a mindset to view our patients holistically and treat them with a Christ-like attitude.

Nicole Samila
2018 graduate—now works in family practice at Adventist Health in Kerman, California
photo Nicole Samila

Majors and minors

Union College offers a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree. See the curriculum.

Union also offers several excellent pre-PA tracks. Plus, Union undergraduate students get preferred status when apply to the Union College PA program. Learn more

I’ve made friends wherever I’ve been. As an athletic trainer for a professional baseball team, I met a lot of interesting people and made friends all over the country. When I was accepted into Union’s PA program, I began to build lifelong friendships with my classmates. We all watched each other grow, became more confident and eventually became clinicians. Even though we sometimes felt nearly overwhelmed, going through the intense classroom and clinical regimen created a special bond between us.

Joel Jasa
2010 graduate—now works at an orthopedic and sports medicine practice in Grand Island, Neb.
photo Joel Jasa

Why choose PA vs. nurse practitioner or physician?

Physician assistant

Be trained in a medical model and have the ability to practice medicine in any speciality. Finish graduate school and start working on medical team with physicians and other care providers in just three years.

Job outlook
31% (much faster than average)

Median pay
$121,530

Physician

Manage patient care in a specific chosen specialty and oversee a care team including nurses and PAs. Typically requires an additional six to eight years of training after a bachelor's degree.

Job outlook
3% growth (slower than average)

Median pay
$208,000