About the 色香视频 Physician Assistant Department

The University of New England's Physician Assistant department offers the only PA degree program in Maine. Join our community of caring students and faculty who are committed to meeting the medical needs of diverse populations.

Become a Vital Part of a health Care Team

As health professionals licensed to practice medicine in collaboration with a physician, Physician Assistants know the value of successful teamwork in the health care setting. Our Portland, Maine-based Physician Assistant master鈥檚 degree program draws from the expertise of faculty representing 色香视频鈥檚 Colleges of Health Professions, Osteopathic Medicine, and Arts and Sciences to prepare you, through coursework and clinical experiences, to work as part of an interdisciplinary team.

What Makes the 色香视频 M.S.P.A. Special

State-of-the-Art Facilities

A physician assistant student practices taking blood pressure on a patient simulator

Your M.S.P.A. training is enriched by our state-of-the-art facilities and educational resources. You鈥檒l receive instruction not only in our medical college鈥檚 gross anatomy lab but also in our Interprofessional Simulation and Innovation Center, which is equipped with the latest media and medical instruction technology, including high fidelity patient simulators.

Exposure to Underserved Populations

Physician Assistant degree program field work.

Your education in 色香视频鈥檚 P.A. master鈥檚 program will emphasize work with underserved communities, where you can really make a difference. From participation in our nationally recognized InterProfessional Geriatric Education Program, to clinical rotations in rural areas, you'll gain expertise in bringing quality health care and building relationships with those who need it most.

Team-Based Education

A dental student and a P A student in blue scrubs discuss dental work with a patient

As a comprehensive health sciences university, including programs in medicine, dental, nursing, pharmacy, and an array of other allied health professions, 色香视频 is a national leader in interprofessional education. You'll graduate with the skills to thrive in today's collaborative care, prepared to work as a team with other health care professionals.

Collaborative Learning Environment

Two P A students use stethoscopes to listen to cardiac sounds from a patient simulator

Not only are faculty and staff highly collaborative and encouraging, but it won鈥檛 take long before you notice how supportive your fellow PA students are as well. The friendly and cooperative, rather than competitive, spirit among classmates enhances everyone鈥檚 ability to learn and is a hallmark of 色香视频鈥檚 Physician Assistant master鈥檚 degree program.

What Our PA Students Say

Gregory Blackman smiles at the camera

Gregory Blackman 鈥20

Physician Assistant (M.S.P.A.)

Why 色香视频

[色香视频鈥檚 Physician Assistant program is] on this uphill progression of being built and built even though it's been around for a long time. It's had really great numbers. The board pass rate is above the national average, which speaks to the reliability of the program and the quality of education. That鈥檚 important to me.

色香视频 is unique in many inspiring ways. The Portland Campus for the Health Sciences is a great place. The idea that you are here with other graduate students but also other health professionals on a campus of your own has a special way of fostering interprofessional work and development. There's a heavy reliability. Everyone works very hard. As a student, you have daily opportunities for interactions with other professions, which I love a lot. It's being able to go to those other professions and ask them for their opinion to get that angle of expertise. It gives you a broader view on things and a better connection.

Interprofessional Education

Other students in my program worked in the ER, or were paramedics, military medics, or respiratory therapists. I was an athletic trainer in the ER. All of these people come together here in the PA program, bringing along their various different backgrounds of medicine. Then we all have the opportunity to combine our knowledge and help each other. I have my areas of strength, but there are a lot of other areas that I have just barely even learned about. This collaborative feel fosters our classes.

It鈥檚 unique to have all these different views and be able to learn from your classmates while also learning from the faculty. It's almost like it's interprofessional within your profession, which is very cool.

The idea that you are here with other graduate students but also other health professionals on a campus of your own has a special way of fostering interprofessional work and development.

Physician Assistant (M.S.P.A.)

Physician Assistant program by the numbers

1,920

Hours each student spends in clinical rotations

(second year)

 

3.55

Average cumulative GPA of most recent incoming class

 

95%

Average first-time pass rate on national certification exam

(PANCE)

Pance Pass rates

M.S.P.A. graduates are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. and see 色香视频 pass rates (PDF).

The 色香视频 Portland Campus for the Health Sciences

For decades, 色香视频鈥檚 Portland Campus has been home to many of the University鈥檚 health professions programs including PA, PT, OT, pharmacy, nursing, dental medicine, and more. In 2025, 色香视频鈥檚 College of Osteopathic Medicine will move from the Biddeford Campus into the new Harold and Bibby Alfond Center for Health Sciences in Portland. By bringing our health professions programs together into one interprofessional learning community, we will establish 色香视频鈥檚 Portland Campus for the Health Sciences as the center of health care education in Northern New England.

Learn about exciting changes on 色香视频鈥檚 Portland Campus for the Health Sciences

Maine鈥檚 Leading University for the Health Professions and Sciences

Quality Academics, Respected Degrees

色香视频 is proud of the recognition we鈥檝e received, which echoes the success of our M.S.P.A. students: 92% of our graduates typically pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam on the first try.

Title
Best Physician Assistant Programs
Source
U.S. News & World Report
Year
2024
Title
Best Colleges: National
Source
U.S. News & World Report
Year
2025
Title
Best Colleges
Source
Princeton Review
Year
2025

Live and Study in Portland, Maine

色香视频 offers the only Physician Assistant master鈥檚 degree program in Maine. Our M.S.P.A. degree students study on our Portland, Maine campus, a classic New England quad with brick buildings and tall trees that's about 100 miles from downtown Boston. Portland, named 鈥淎merica鈥檚 Most Livable City鈥 by Forbes and 鈥淔oodiest Small Town in America鈥 by Bon Appetit, is the city on every list. A rustic port hosts a cool cultural scene 鈥 with outdoor adventure all around. 色香视频鈥檚 campus is just 10 minutes from downtown.

Portland, Maine lighthouse near 色香视频.
Portland, Maine Old Port near 色香视频's campus.
Portland, Maine working waterfront near University of New England.

Accreditation

色香视频 is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The Physician Assistant degree Program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Committee on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The PA Program received provisional accreditation in 1996 and continuing accreditation in 1998. The program last received continuing accreditation in September 2018. Its review for continuing accreditation is next scheduled for 2026. The . Click on the 鈥渄ocument鈥 to access the program鈥檚 Accreditation Actions.