Master of Physician Assistant Studies

Getting Started

Applicants must submit an application online per the individual program’s instructions below. Please contact Graduate Admissions at 239-745-GRAD or graduate@fgcu.edu for additional information about the application process. Satisfaction of minimum University and program requirements does not guarantee admission to a graduate program. Applicants should check with the program for the most up to date admission requirements prior to commencing the application process.

The CASPA application cycle is closed and will reopen from August 1, 2023, through January 15, 2024

Physician Assistant Studies Program 2023-2024 Application Cycle

• • November 2023 - January 2024 - Admissions Committee reviews applications.
  • January 2024 - March 2024 - Applicant Interviews are conducted.
  • January 15, 2024 - FGCU program deadline for the receipt of VERIFIED CASPA application. All program prerequisites must be completed and submitted.
  • March 2024 - Offers of Admission are made.
  • April 2024 - August 2024 - Offers of Admission are made from the waitlist.

Admission Policies

Admission to the MPAS program is highly competitive. All applicants must complete the FGCU PA program application through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).

Program Admission Requirements

All prerequisites must be completed by the end of the fall semester before matriculation.

1. Completed Application and Fee through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).
2. Applicants only need to apply online using CASPA. MPAS applicants do not need to apply to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Please disregard the instructions to submit an FGCU supplemental application on the FGCU CASPA instruction page. All application materials received through CASPA will be reviewed by FGCU. 
3. Earned Baccalaureate Degree from a US regionally accredited college or university or foreign equivalent. Baccalaureate degrees must be completed by the end of the fall semester before matriculation in the following fall semester.
4. In addition to a baccalaureate degree, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• • Minimum Upper Division Grade Point Average (UG60) of at least 3.0 for the last 60 credits earned from a baccalaureate degree.
  • Earned graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent foreign institution with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average.

5. A minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 is required for all biology, chemistry, and physics (BCP) courses completed. CASPA calculates BCP GPA based on these Course Subject categories:

• • Biology/Zoology
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Physics

6.  Complete the following prerequisite courses with a grade of C (2.0) or better by the end of the fall semester before matriculation.  (“C-“grades are not acceptable). A minimum combined overall grade point average of 3.0 is required for all prerequisite courses completed. Courses must be intended for science majors or health professions preparation. Survey courses are not acceptable. The MPAS program does not allow for exceptions or substitutions of prerequisite courses.

• • Biology, including lab: 4 semester hours
  • General Chemistry I & II, including labs: 8 semester hours
  • Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry: 3 semester hours
  • Medical Terminology: 3 semester hours

The following prerequisite courses must be completed between 2017 and 2024 within 7 years before matriculation: 

• • Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II, including labs: 8 semester hours
  • Microbiology including lab: 4 semester hours
  • Genetics: 3 semester hours

7. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Standardized Test – official scores are required and must be valid within the past five years with a minimum GRE score at or above the 20th percentile in Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning and a 3.0 and above in the Analytical Writing section.

• • The GRE code for FGCU MPAS Program on CASPA through ETS is 2066.

8. A minimum of 250 hours of direct patient care is required.

• • This experience may vary and can be acquired on a full- or part-time basis.
  • All direct patient care hours must be completed before submitting your CASPA application. The program does not accept "anticipated" hours and/or hours completed after the application has been submitted to CASPA.
  • Direct patient care experience requiring certification and providing monetary compensation is the most competitive.
  • Healthcare experience as part of an academic training program (clinical rotations, internship) does not meet the requirement for direct patient care.
  • Examples of accepted patient care experience may be found at the Frequently Asked Questions button.

9. The program strongly encourages applicants to obtain 20 hours of in-person shadowing of a physician assistant.

10. Three professional letters of recommendation

• • One letter must be from a Physician Assistant (PA)
  • One letter must be from a non-PA clinician (MD, DO, or NP)
  • One letter from a Professor or a Supervisor who has worked with the applicant in a medical, professional, or educational setting. The reference should have worked with the applicant for a minimum of six months.
    
    The Program does not accept references written by relatives, personal friends, or friends of the applicant’s family. “Character references” (from pastors, teachers, counselors, family doctors, etc.) are also not acceptable.

11. International applicants are required to submit official English proficiency test scores: TOEFL exam (minimum score of 550 paper-based, 213 computer-based, or 79 internet-based) or the IELTS exam (minimum score of 6.5).
12. Official translations are required for all documents issued in a language other than English.
13. Acceptance into and successful completion of the FGCU MPAS Program does not imply or guarantee that the student will be able to obtain state licensure or third-party certification upon graduation. Outside agencies control the requirements for taking and passing certification/licensing exams and are subject to change without notice to FGCU.
14.  Admissions decisions are competitive. Meeting admission standards does not guarantee acceptance.
15. Selected applicants will be invited for an on-campus interview.

Student Employment while Enrolled in the Program

Students are discouraged from obtaining any type of employment while enrolled in the Program.
The Program acknowledges that living expenses and costs associated with graduate school are considerable. However, the MPAS is a rigorous full-time program.

Clinical Rotations

Students are not required to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors.

Preferential Placement

The MPAS program does not offer preferential consideration to any applicant for program interview or admission.

Advanced Placement

The MPAS program does not offer advanced placement for students with prior graduate or doctoral-level work. All incoming students will take all of the courses outlined in the program curriculum.

Experiential Learning - Prior Work Experience

The MPAS program does not give credit for prior student experience working in the field.

Transfer Credit

The MPAS program does not accept transfer credit from other institutions.

POST ACCEPTANCE

Student Immunizations

All admitted students must initiate or demonstrate completion of the following immunizations and provide documentation before matriculation into the program:

• • MPAS Health Requirements and Immunizations. Vaccines and schedules listed in Student Health Policy
  • Up-to-date State University System immunization requirements, Student Health Services immunizations.
  • All students are required to have personal health insurance at the time of matriculation and maintain their health insurance throughout their training.

For immunizations, the Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program adheres to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Recommended Vaccines for Healthcare Workers.  All students must provide documentation that immunizations and Tb testing have been completed before matriculation and maintain immunizations and complete annual Tb testing throughout their training.

CDC-Recommended Vaccines for Healthcare Workers:
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/hcw.html
https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/testing/healthcareworkers.htm 

Most immunizations are available from the Florida Gulf Coast University Student Health Services. For further information, view the Student Health Services immunizations.

Health Insurance

Students enrolled in the MPAS Program are required to have continuous Health Insurance coverage while enrolled in the MPAS Program. Proof of health insurance coverage must be submitted to the Program. Many of our clinical sites require that students carry health insurance and our contract with many clinical sites notes that students placed in that facility must have Health Insurance Coverage.

The cost of emergency and medical care or health insurance is always the responsibility of the student (or the student’s insurance provider). Failure to provide proof of health insurance coverage will result in students not being allowed to begin their clinical internships. Get updated FGCU student health insurance plan information: Arthur J. Gallagher & Company - United Health Care Insurance.

Curriculum outline

Year 1 Didactic

Fall (16 weeks)

Total credit hours: 16

Spring (16 weeks)

Total credit hours: 16

Summer A & B (12 weeks)

Total credit hours: 9

Fall (16 weeks)

Total credit hours: 12

Total Didactic Year credit hours: 53

Year 2 Clinical Rotations        

Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPE)/ Clinical Rotations 

The following clinical rotations will be scheduled as permitted during the spring, summer C semester, and fall semesters (year 3).

The following course will take place in the 7th semester. 

PAS 6935 Seminar            1 credit 

Total Clinical year credit hours:                    37                   

TOTAL PROGRAM CREDIT HOURS:                90

Official Course Descriptions

Search for official course descriptions by using the Course Description Search utility.

Go to the Course Descriptions Search Web page, then follow these steps:

1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select a course prefix from one of the SUBJECT dropdowns (required)
3. Enter search words in the TEXT field (optional, but will narrow the search results)
4. Press Search

Getting started with the Course Schedule Search

Search for program courses by using the Course Schedule Search utility.

Go to the Course Schedule Search Web page, then follow these steps:

1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select one or more of the search options to narrow your results (for example, CAMPUS, COLLEGE, DEPARTMENT, LEVEL, PREFIX*, COURSE ATTRIBUTE**). For virtual or web courses, select VIRTUAL in the CAMPUS field.
3. Press Search.

*A course prefix is a three-letter designator for a major division of an academic discipline (for example, ACG for Accounting , BSC for Biological Science, ENC for English Composition). See the Degree Requirements page for a list of courses (with prefix and number) that can be used to fulfill degree requirements.

**A course attribute identifies specific characteristics of courses that can be used in a Degree Evaluation to satisfy a degree requirement. (Course attribute examples are Humanities courses - GEHM and Social Science courses - GESO.)

MPAS Student Competencies

The MPAS program has adopted and integrated the graduate competencies for entry-level practice into its curriculum representing the knowledge, interpersonal, clinical and technical skills, professionalism, clinical reasoning, and problem-solving abilities.

Medical Knowledge
Physician assistant students must demonstrate core knowledge about establishing and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care in their area of practice. In addition, physician assistants are expected to demonstrate an investigative and analytic thinking approach to clinical situations. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of basic sciences and clinical medicine and the ability to apply this knowledge in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
2. Differentiate between normal and abnormal signs, symptoms, and diagnostic studies results.
3. Identify the appropriate interventions for treatment and prevention of medical and mental health conditions as seen in emergent, acute and chronic presentations and various clinical practice settings.
4. Demonstrate the ability to make informed, evidence-based, culturally sensitive decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions based on patient information and preferences, up-to-date scientific evidence, and clinical judgment.
5. Identify and promote health prevention of diseases and healthy lifestyles through patient education and counseling.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills
Physician assistant students must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange with patients, patients’ families, physicians, professional associates, and other individuals within the healthcare system. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with patients, their families, and other health care providers.
2. Demonstrate interpersonal skills promoting ethically sound and therapeutic relationships with patients, families, and members of the healthcare team.

Patient Care
Patient care includes patient-specific and setting-specific assessment, evaluation, and management. Physician assistant students must demonstrate care that is effective, safe, high quality, and equitable. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

1. Obtain and document a complete and detailed accurate patient history.
2. Perform a thorough physical examination, basic diagnostic procedures, and therapeutic clinical procedures on patients across the lifespan.
3. Demonstrate the need and ability to effectively order and interpret appropriate diagnostic studies resulting in the management of common medical and behavioral conditions.
4. Identify and propose initial therapy for acute life-threatening situations and management plans for chronic disease.
5. Demonstrate safe and effective medical and surgical procedures common to primary care and appropriate to a PA entering the profession.

Professionalism
Physician assistant students must demonstrate a high level of responsibility, ethical practice, sensitivity to a diverse patient population and adherence to legal and regulatory requirements. Physician assistants must be reflective practitioners who place their patients’ needs above their own. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

1. Interact effectively as part of interprofessional teams to address the health care needs of patients.
2. Describe the role of the PA including professional, ethical, legal, and regulatory standards regarding the PA profession.
3. Demonstrate sensitivity to a diverse patient population by identifying the cultural, familial, gender, psychological, economic, environmental, and spiritual factors impacting health care and health care delivery; and responding to these factors by planning and advocating the appropriate course of action at both the individual and the community level.

Practice-Based Learning and Improvement
Physician assistant students must engage in critical analysis of their own practice experience, the medical literature, and other information resources for the purpose of self-improvement and enhancement of the practice.  Physician assistants must be able to assess, evaluate, and improve their patient care practices. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate the medical literature in order to use current practice guidelines and apply the principles of evidence-based medicine to patient care.
2. Demonstrate self-reflection to recognize and appropriately address personal biases, gaps in medical knowledge and limitations in themselves and others and its potential impact on patient care

Systems-Based Practice
Physician assistant students must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger system of health care and to provide patient care that balances the quality and cost, while maintaining the concern of the individual patient. Physician assistants should work to improve the healthcare system of which their practices are a part.  Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

1. Provide advocacy and support to assist patients in obtaining quality care and in dealing with the complexities of health care delivery systems.
2. Identify and abide by the systems-level processes that support continuous quality improvement and patient safety, and use standard precautions in the health care setting.
3. Provide appropriate patient-centered counseling techniques to improve the utilization of health care resources, prevention, and patient satisfaction.

Marieb College of Health & Human Services Learning Outcomes 

Consistent with its mission and guiding principles, Florida Gulf Coast University is committed to academic excellence and continuous quality improvement, as supported by a sound teaching-learning process. Within this process, students and instructors share responsibility for learning that is a movement from the simple to the complex, the concrete to the abstract, and the dependent to the independent. Upon successful completion of the Physician Assistant Studies program, graduates will be able to:

Content/Discipline Knowledge and Skills

    1.  Use clinical reasoning skills to determine appropriate assessments for a given patient, order and interpret diagnostic testing, and establish a differential diagnosis consistent with best medical practices.
    2.  Integrate content knowledge and clinical reasoning to determine appropriate treatment plan consistent with best medical practices.
    3.  Collaborate and interact with healthcare providers in a professional and ethical manner.
    4.  Using principles of research and inquiry, investigate common medical conditions, offer plausible solutions, and discuss findings.

Communication Skills

1. Collaborate and interact with healthcare providers in a professional and ethical manner.
2. Accurately document and record patient information for medical, legal, quality, and financial purposes.
3. Using principles of research and inquiry, investigate common medical conditions, offer plausible solutions, and discuss findings.

 Critical Thinking Skills

1. Integrate content knowledge and clinical reasoning to determine appropriate treatment plan consistent with best medical practices.
2. Using principles of research and inquiry, investigate common medical conditions, offer plausible solutions, and discuss findings.

Tuition and Fees

Information on Tuition, Fees, and estimated total Cost of Attendance is available on the Office of the Bursar.

Financial Aid Opportunities

Visit FGCU's Financial Aid for information about grants, additional scholarships, loans, and student employment.

Program Specific Information

Tuition, Fees, and Medical Equipment Requirements

Cost of Attendance
Estimated costs for attending the PA Program are the total of the tuition and fees, books and supplies, housing, commuting expenses, and personal expenses such as food, clothing, and insurance. “Cost of Attendance” only covers the months that a student is enrolled in classes. 

Estimated Cost of Attending Program

Direct costs - Tuition and Fees

Graduate tuition and fees*

Refunds

Students shall be entitled to refunds in the following circumstances:

1. 100% of tuition and course-related fees will be refunded if notice of complete withdrawal or course withdrawal from the University occurs prior to the end of drop/add period.
2. 25% of tuition and course-related fees will be refunded if notice of withdrawal from ALL courses from the University occurs prior to the deadlines as designated by the University or in the Academic Calendar for each term.
3. Students who receive financial aid and subsequently change their enrollment status and this action results in a refund may have all or a portion of their refund returned to the University's Financial Aid Office in accordance with the terms of their financial aid agreement.
4. 100% of tuition and course-related fees if a student withdraws or drops a course due to circumstances that are exceptional and beyond the control of the student.

The University policy on Tuition and Fees:

https://www.fgcu.edu/generalcounsel/regulations/approved/regulation7.001.pdf

Technical Standards for Program Admission, Academic Progression, and Graduation

Applicants for and students enrolled in Physician Assistant programs must have abilities and skills in the areas of observation, communication, motor, intellectual/critical thinking, interpersonal, and behavioral/social attributes. The MPAS Program has determined technical standards that are essential for successful progression and completion of all aspects of the curriculum, as well as entry into the profession. These technical standards are required for admission and must be maintained throughout the student’s enrollment in the program. In the event a student is unable to fulfill these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, the student will be subject to dismissal.

Candidates for and students of the program must have somatic sensation and the functional use of the senses of vision and hearing. Candidates’ and students’ diagnostic skills will also be lessened without the functional use of the senses of equilibrium, smell, and taste. Additionally, they must have sufficient external sense (touch, pain, and temperature), sufficient proprioceptive sense (position, pressure, movement, stereognosis, and vibratory) and sufficient motor function to permit them to carry out the activities described in the section above. They must be able to consistently, quickly, and accurately integrate all information received by whatever sense(s) employed, and they must have the intellectual ability to learn, integrate, analyze, and synthesize data.

Reasonable accommodation for persons with documented disabilities will be considered on an individual basis. Students wishing to request accommodations for disabilities should contact the Office of Adaptive Services, at 239-590-7956 (voice), 239-590-7975 (fax), 239-243-9453 (videophone) or by email at adaptive@fgcu.edu.

• Observation
  • Candidates and students must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand.
  • Observation necessitates the functional use of the sense of vision, hearing, smell, and somatic sensation.
• Communication
  • Candidates and students must be able to speak, hear, and observe patients in order to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity, and posture, and perceive nonverbal communications.
  • Candidates and students must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients.
  • Candidates and students must be able to communicate (verbal, nonverbal, and written) effectively and efficiently in oral and written form with all members of the healthcare team.
  • Candidates and students must possess reading skills at a level to be able to independently accomplish curricular requirements and provide clinical care for patients.
• Motor Coordination and Function
  • Candidates and students should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion, and other diagnostic maneuvers.
  • Candidates and students should be able to do basic laboratory tests, carry out diagnostic procedures, and read EKGs and X-rays.
  • Candidates and students should be able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatment to patients.
    • Examples of emergency treatment reasonably required of Physician Assistants are cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the administration of intravenous medication, application of pressure to stop bleeding, the opening of obstructed airways, the suturing of simple wounds, and the performance of simple obstetrical maneuvers.
    • Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.
• Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities
  • Candidates and students must exhibit the following intellectual abilities:
    • Measurement
    • Calculation
    • Reasoning
    • Analysis
    • Synthesis
    • Comprehend three-dimensional and spatial relationships
    • The above-listed abilities are necessary skills in order to perform problem-solving tasks quickly and efficiently.
• Behavioral and Social Attributes
  • Candidates and students must possess the behavioral emotional health required for full use of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients.
  • Candidates and students must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively when under stress.
  • Candidates and students must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility, and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients.
  • Candidates and students must demonstrate empathy, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, motivation, and the ability to interact with people at all levels in a culturally diverse society.

MPAS Student Clinical Guidebook 2020-2021

MPAS Preceptor Handbook 2020-2021