Master of Science in Physician Assistant Degree Program

UNE’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant program — the only PA degree program in Maine — prepares master’s level physician assistants to be highly skilled members of health care teams. Our students graduate as knowledgeable, collaborative clinicians trained in providing compassionate, competent, patient-centered health care to people of all backgrounds and cultures throughout their lifespans.

Earn Your Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Maine’s Leading Health University

UNE’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant degree program — the only PA program in Maine — prepares master’s level physician assistants to be highly skilled members of health care teams.

Our students graduate as knowledgeable, collaborative clinicians trained in providing compassionate, competent, patient-centered health care to people of all backgrounds and cultures throughout their lifespans.

You will begin our program on our Portland Campus for the Health Sciences, then start clinical rotations in your second year. The program can be completed in two years.

A P A student practices checking blood pressure on a patient simulator while two other students discuss the patient's health history
98%

percent of our students who pass the PANCE exam on the first try 

Class of 2023

Why UNE for Your Physician Assistant Studies

Not only are we the only PA program in Maine, we are also accredited by the Accreditation Review Committee on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).

More reasons to choose our PA degree include:

  • First-time exam candidates from our PA degree program consistently outperform the national average pass rate, with 98% of our 2023 graduates passing the PANCE exam on their first try (PDF).
  • We are a comprehensive health sciences university that is nationally recognized for excellence in preparing students for collaborative, interprofessional, team-based care. Draw on the expertise of faculty members from our colleges of medicine, health professions, dental medicine, and our College of Arts and Sciences, and benefit from training alongside future providers in other health professions.
  • Guided by skilled faculty, you receive instruction in the College of Osteopathic Medicine’s gross anatomy lab, and you build your PA skills in our state-of-the-art health care education facilities. Rather than just hearing and reading about difficult or unusual cases, you experience them by treating our high fidelity patient simulators and patient actors in scenarios that mimic real life.
  • You gain experience caring for people from different walks of life. Our emphasis on medically underserved populations, including rural communities and the geriatric population, will enhance your skills as a clinician and your sensitivity as a caregiver.
  • Enjoy the supportive community of UNE’s Physician Assistant degree program. With encouraging faculty and professional staff and fellow students who embrace a collaborative — rather than competitive — spirit, you are better able to focus on learning the material that will make you the successful PA you strive to be.
  • Portland has been named “America’s Most Livable City” by Forbes and “Foodiest Small Town in America” by Bon Appetit. We also have a thriving student life.

Request info about the UNE Physician Assistant master’s degree

Sarah Porter

Sarah Porter ’22

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

Why UNE

[When I first moved back to Maine from New York] I worked on some public health grants for [UNE]. I saw firsthand how amazing the interdisciplinary approach to care is here. I had my heart set on UNE for the Physician Assistant program because of the interdisciplinary focus and also the focus on rural health, which is so prominent here. I’m really passionate about service in underserved locations. I want to give back to communities right here in Maine. I knew that no matter what, at UNE I would have lots of opportunities to get exposure to that.

Diversity, Inclusion, Connection

The diversity of the PA program here at UNE is incredible, everyone has a unique, diverse background and contributes something different. The fact that we have students from 21 to those in their forties means that we all vary in our experience. 

Some of my peers have phlebotomy experience, some have worked in surgery, others were CNAs before they came to the program, and some came straight out of undergrad. There are people who were EMTs or paramedics, and they are quick to think on their feet, which is a skill I hope to develop. They stay calm in stressful situations. 

UNE’s program is so strong because we come from a wide variety of backgrounds and balance each other out. I love that we all have different strengths and can learn so much from one another.

Welcoming Community

There are really no barriers in our class. Everyone is very open. One thing that I really love is the lack of competitiveness. We are all clearly competitive people to get to where we are in this program, and yet now that we are here together as a cohort, UNE fosters such an environment of inclusivity and collaboration that it does not feel competitive with one another. Grades are not advertised, and there is no ranking of students. We share study guides. We share resources. No one hoards information and tries to keep it from each other. It’s cool because that’s much more realistic of the future. No one is going to know 100% of everything, but we work together, and we are stronger for it.

We all have a major common interest in that we are all passionate about helping others and about practicing medicine. Our cohort is genuinely kind, I love it. I think it’s a really healthy environment, and I attribute that both to the UNE application process and to the type of student that UNE draws. We are encouraged to learn and work together.
 

UNE’s program is so strong because we come from a wide variety of backgrounds and balance each other out. I love that we all have different strengths and can learn so much from one another.

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

What Will You Study? Accredited PA Program Curriculum Overview

Our accredited PA program — the only PA program in Maine — operates on a 24-month, full-time calendar, beginning each June with a new entering class.

You begin patient care in your first year through our nationally recognized Interprofessional Geriatric Education Practicum, which pairs you with an elderly individual from the community whom you visit and evaluate regularly. Through this experience, you enhance your medical knowledge, gain clinical skills, and develop a professional presence to carry into your clinical year.

Our M.S.P.A. degree curriculum is built upon a foundation of science and pathophysiology to foster understanding of disease processes and clinical medicine. You receive two full years of instruction in pharmacology, learn evidence-based medicine theory, and work in small groups to develop the critical thinking skills required to address complex medical and surgical challenges.

By emphasizing all aspects of health care, including geriatrics, health promotion, disease prevention, pharmacology, and public health practice, we empower future physician assistants to work effectively within the physician/PA relationship, exercising autonomy in medical decision making and providing a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services.

A physician assistant student wears a stethoscope and takes notes on a tablet while in a sim lab class
U N E Physician Assistant student in a white coat talks to a patient in a hospital room
A row of P A students in their white coats recite an oath
A P A student presses on a patient simulator's stomach during a lab
Physician Assistant students watch as their professor demonstrates stopping bleeding

Potential Career Paths for PA Degree Grads

As America’s health care delivery system evolves to meet the needs of medically underserved populations, the demand for affordable primary care providers continues to grow. Physician assistants will play a critical role, and the opportunities available to you as a member of this challenging, rewarding, and lucrative profession should continue to expand.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, physician assistants earn on average $126,010 per year, and the career is expected to grow 27% over the next decade — much faster than average. Also, unlike doctors and nurse practitioners, PAs can easily switch specialties during their careers without additional schooling.

We will help you launch your career with our personal career advising.

Physician Assistant Degree Program Facilities

Your Physician Assistant training is enhanced by our state-of-the-art educational resources. You receive instruction in an interactive classroom equipped with the latest media and medical instruction technology. You work and learn in the UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine's gross anatomy laboratory, and utilize high-fidelity patient simulators and patient actors in scenarios that mimic real life.

Harold Alfond Center for the Health Sciences

The Harold Alfond Center for Health Sciences is a state-of-the-art laboratory and educational facility. This three-story building houses labs and lecture halls for our College of Osteopathic Medicine and other health professions. It places UNE at the national forefront of health and life sciences education. As a PA student, you study anatomy in the center's Gross Anatomy Lab.

Interprofessional Simulation and Innovation Center

As PA student, you utilize our Interprofessional Simulation and Innovation Center to apply the knowledge you gain in the classroom to realistic clinical situations.

Guided by skilled instructors, you participate in simulations to enhance your clinical aptitudes. Rather than just hearing and reading about difficult or unusual cases, you experience them by treating high-fidelity patient simulators and patient actors in scenarios that mimic real life.

Portland Laboratory for Biotechnology and Health Sciences

The Portland Laboratory for Biotechnology and Health Sciences encompasses a 5,000-square-foot research space on the third floor and basement level of the UNE Pharmacy building on the Portland campus. The laboratory is equipped with instrumentation to support and enable research conducted by UNE faculty and students from across the University as well as external partner institutions.

This modern research space provides infrastructure for ongoing research in therapeutic discovery, biosensor development for biomanufacturing, translational pharmacology, biomarker development and drug metabolism/pharmacokinetic research. In addition to providing infrastructure for state-of-the-art research, a major focus of this laboratory is to provide workforce development opportunities for students with interest in careers in biotechnology and health sciences.

Experience the Simulation Lab

Physician Assistant Studies: Team Based Learning

When students from a variety of health professions disciplines work together to better understand different professional roles and expertise, great things can happen. 

In our Physician Assistant degree program, you will study alongside students from other programs, including the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Doctor of Dental Medicine program, gaining the skills needed to collaborate and lead in today’s team-based care. UNE is proud to be the only institution in New England that is part of the National Center for Interprofessional Education and Practice’s prestigious Innovation Network.

You may also apply this collaborative participation toward your Interprofessional Honors Distinction.

Some of these challenges...you can't teach in a syllabus or a book, but you will learn it from each other.”

Malual Mabur, M.S.P.A. ’17

Hands-on Learning in Your Physician Assistant Studies

Simulation Experience

During your first year in our accredited PA program, you will spend the majority of your time in our state-of-the-art Interprofessional Simulation and Innovation Center (ISIC) to complement your classroom experience. Using our cutting-edge standardized patient mannequins, you will learn essential skills needed for physician assistants to practice across all specialties in medicine. Some of the techniques you will practice alongside peers and faculty in the ISIC include:

  • Monitoring vitals
  • Venipuncture
  • Suturing skills
  • Arrhythmia care
  • Pulmonary examinations

Clinical Experience

After successful completion of the didactic portion of our PA degree, you will move on to twelve months of clinical rotations. 

Our strong partnerships with area doctors’ offices, hospitals, and clinics give you the chance to put into practice what you have learned in the classroom and simulation clinic. Your experience will include rotation assignments at rural and underserved areas.

A Health Care Education Campus in Portland, Maine

UNE M.S.P.A. students study on the Portland Campus for the Health Sciences, a quintessential New England quad that has been welcoming students for more than a century. Lined with lush trees and brick buildings, the campus sits in a quiet neighborhood just a short drive from the downtown waterfront. Portland, named “America’s Most Livable City” by Forbes and “Foodiest Small Town in America” by Bon Appetit, is about 100 miles from downtown Boston.

Who Can Apply to the Physician Assistant Degree Program?

To apply to our PA degree program, you must hold a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution or international equivalent.

All applicants must apply through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).

Current Application Deadline

  • For Program Starting: Summer 2025
  • Application Deadline: November 1, 2024

Financial Aid at UNE

Finance your education through loans, grants, and scholarships. We are committed to making our physician assistant degree program as affordable as possible.

M.S.P.A. tuition and financial aid

Accreditation

UNE's Physician Assistant Program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Committee on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).

It 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. 

Frequently Asked Questions: Physician Assistant Degree