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Physician Assistant Studies

Prepare for a rewarding career in patient care

Master's

Become a healthcare professional who makes a meaningful difference in patients' lives every day.

Physician assistants (PAs) diagnose and treat illnesses, provide preventive care, and help patients navigate their healthcare journeys while working in collaboration with physicians and other healthcare professionals. It's also one of the nation's fastest-growing careers, ranking No. 2 on U.S. News & World Report's 2026 Best Health Care Jobs list.

Through UW-La Crosse's accredited two year Physician Assistant Studies program, you'll build a strong foundation through rigorous coursework during the pre-clinical year, then apply your knowledge through 44 weeks of supervised clinical experiences at three regional healthcare centers. 

The program is a collaboration with healthcare partners: Emplify Health by Gundersen (formerly Gundersen Health System) and the Gundersen Medical Foundation, Mayo Clinic Rochester and the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences, and Sanford Health Marshfield Clinic (formerly Marshfield Clinic).

A program within Health Professions

Program at a glance

  • Degree: Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (PA)
  • Format: Full-time, In-person
  • Commitment: Two years
  • Program start: Summer
  • Credits: 108

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What is a physician assistant?

Physician assistants/physician associates (PAs) are licensed, certified healthcare professionals who practice medicine in partnership with physicians. PAs work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and research centers.

As a PA, you may:

  • Take medical histories
  • Conduct physical examinations
  • Diagnose and treat illnesses
  • Order and interpret diagnostic tests
  • Develop treatment plans
  • Provide preventive care
  • Assist in surgery
  • Prescribe medications
  • Make patient rounds
  • Conduct clinical research

Career outlook

What jobs are there?

The demand for physician assistants continues to grow as healthcare systems expand access to care and serve an aging population.

Employment of physician assistants is projected to grow 20% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

 What salary can I expect to make?

The median annual salary is $133,260 (2024), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Why UWL's Physician Assistant Studies program?

Accredited program (ARC A3.11a)

UWL's Physician Assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant/Associate (ARC-PA) since 1997.

  • The University of Wisconsin–La Crosse Physician Assistant Program has been granted Accreditation-Continued status by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Our next accreditation review is in 2027.
  • View the accreditation history on this page.
Exceptional exam pass rate (ARC A3.11c)

See our 2026 NCCPA PANCE Exam performance summary report for the last five years.

Impressive job placement

Our graduates are primarily employed in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. These include the regions served by our clinical partners.

Extensive clinical experience

Students complete a 12-month pre-clinical year followed by a 12-month clinical year that includes 44 weeks of supervised clinical rotations across a variety of specialties and healthcare settings.

Small class sizes

Benefit from personalized instruction, close faculty mentorship, and a supportive learning environment in a program that enrolls one cohort each year.

Learn from experts

Learn from experienced academic and clinical educators through clinical affiliations with Emplify by Gundersen, Mayo Clinic, and Sanford Health Marshfield Clinic Health, gaining valuable insight from professionals actively practicing in the field.

 

Portrait of Sam Weigel, PA Studies program student

Hear from an alum

Sam Weigel, PA Studies program student

“This program is excellent. The professors are wonderful and supportive. They challenge us in different ways and push us hard, but only because they know we can do it.”

Portrait of Marina Hart

HIRED!

Marina Hart

Allina Health | Family Medicine Physician Assistant

My time as Diversity Chair for the UWL Physician Assistant Student Society helped me learn to lead with confidence and build skills in interprofessional collaboration. My favorite moment in this role was organizing a campus-wide Narcan training that the OT students helped me bring to life, which brought over 80 students and faculty together!