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.
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percent of our students who pass the PANCE exam on the first try
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
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.
To learn more view the Academic Catalog or download the M.S.P.A. Student Handbook (PDF).
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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.
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).
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.
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.