Navigating Physician Assistant Programs in Illinois: A Comprehensive Guide

The path to becoming a Physician Assistant (PA) in Illinois is a rewarding but demanding journey. This article provides a comprehensive overview of PA programs in Illinois, covering essential prerequisites, application processes, curriculum structure, and career prospects. It aims to equip prospective students with the knowledge necessary to navigate this competitive field successfully.

The Role of a Physician Assistant

Physician Assistants (PAs) are licensed clinicians who practice medicine in every specialty and setting. The physician assistant is often the first health care provider to see a patient and perform a variety of tasks, including collecting historical and physical examination data from the patient and ordering appropriate laboratory and diagnostic tests. The physician assistant synthesizes patient information and participates in formulating and executing a treatment plan to meet the patient’s needs. A physician assistant can evaluate psychological aspects of a patient’s health, counsel when appropriate, and teach patients about primary health problems. The physician assistant makes referrals when indicated and can perform procedures, such as EKGs, venipuncture, casting, suturing, and injections. The physician assistant prescribes medications. PAs practice in every state and every medical setting and specialty to improve health care access and quality. They receive thousands of hours of medical training and are versatile, collaborative members of the health care team.

Academic Prerequisites and Preparation

Gaining admission to a PA program requires meticulous academic preparation. Here's a breakdown of key areas:

Coursework

Biology: It's advantageous to exceed the minimum biology course requirements, as physician assistant programs value this.
Math: Several schools require Statistics. Basic statistics knowledge will also be helpful for the GRE.
Psychology: It's advantageous to exceed the minimum psychology course requirements, as physician assistant programs value this.
Advanced Placement (AP) Credit: Check your Advanced Placement (AP) credit. Some schools don’t accept AP credit for any prerequisite course. Others limit the number of courses earned via AP credit.

GPA

Work hard. Physician assistant programs are competitive. Keep your GPA at 3.5 and even higher for science and math grades.

Standardized Testing

Before you apply, you’ll need to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

Read also: Becoming a Physician Assistant

Application Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

Most students apply to physician assistant programs the fall of senior year. Here are some key points regarding the application process, using Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU) as an example:

Application Fee: This program requires a nonrefundable $65 application fee (subject to change without notice by the SIU Board of Trustees) that must be submitted with the application for admissions to graduate study in the Physician Assistant program.
Enrollment Deposit: Accepted applicants will be required to submit a nonrefundable enrollment deposit to reserve a position in the class. The deposit is due within 10 days of the program’s invitation to the applicant. The deposit will be applied to the student’s Bursar account two weeks after matriculation.
GPA Requirements: Applicants will be evaluated on the overall submitted application package, including overall, science, and prerequisite GPAs that must each be a 3.2 on a 4.0 scale
Evaluation Criteria: Applicants will be evaluated on the overall submitted application package, including overall, science, and prerequisite GPAs that must each be a 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, academic potential, motivation, familiarity with the PA role, oral and written communication skills, interpersonal skills, and potential for success in the SIU Carbondale M.S.P.A. program and the PA profession.
Interview Process: Students will be selected by the Admissions Committee for an interview with a maximum of 40 being admitted to the professional sequence. The M.S.P.A. Students selected for the professional sequence will begin study in the summer session. Those accepted into the M.S.P.A. program will be notified of acceptance by the spring semester prior to the summer of entry.
Prerequisite Deadline: All prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of the fall semester (12/31) in an application cycle. Enrollment in the M.S.P.A. program is limited and based on a competitive process.

Curriculum Structure and Program Components

PA programs typically involve a combination of classroom instruction, laboratory work, and clinical rotations. Using the Master of Science in Physician Assistant (M.S.P.A.) program at SIU Carbondale as an example:

Program Length: The curriculum is a 26-month sequence
Phase I: the first 12 months consisting of problem-based learning activities, basic science and clinical medicine courses, and clinical experiences.
Phase II: the next 14 months consist of clinical rotations with seminars
Phase III: a summer preceptorship.
Master’s Project: All students complete a Master’s Project before graduation.
Clinical Rotations: During the clinical rotation phase, students may be required to relocate to other locations or Hubsites throughout Illinois and one in Southeast Missouri.
Course Restrictions: All courses are restricted to students in the M.S.P.A. Used to complete the M.S.P.A.
Tuition: M.S.P.A. students will not receive the border state decrease adjustment to their tuition and fees. Therefore, all out-of-state students will pay a higher tuition rate. No advanced placement is awarded towards completion of M.S.P.A.

Spotlight on PA Programs in Illinois

Rosalind Franklin University

Since its inception in 1991, more than 1,500 students have graduated from the Physician Assistant (PA) Program at Rosalind Franklin University. The faculty takes pride in educating students through innovative and interactive classroom activities, team-based learning, quality clinical rotation experiences, and state of the art simulation. The interprofessional focus of the PA Program, and throughout Rosalind Franklin University, prepares our students to practice as members of effective healthcare teams in a wide range of medical specialties and settings. Achievement of the PA Program’s goals is determined through continuous self-assessment. This includes establishing benchmarks for each goal, and summarizing outcomes to demonstrate progress towards achieving each goal. These goals are reviewed annually, and are guided by our mission and vision.

Graduate Satisfaction: On the program Exit Survey graduates gave an average rating of 4.44/5 (255/259 respondents or 98.5% response rate) over the past 4 years.
Program Length and Location: Attendance in the program is on a full-time basis only and takes 30 months to complete. This is a full-time, Chicago-based, on-campus program. During the first year, 30-50% of classes are blended online and in-person. All clinical rotation activities are in-person and in the Chicago area.
Tuition: Tuition for the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program is $13,739 per term - for the first year, fall term. There are no additional institution fees associated with attendance.

Chamberlain University

Program Performance, Goals and Outcomes: View Chamberlain’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies program goals and outcomes.
Exam Performance (PANCE): Review Chamberlain’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies PANCE exam performance rates.
Attrition: See Chamberlain’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies attrition rates.
Policies: There are three documents that include the policies, procedures, rules, and regulations that apply to physician assistant students regarding academic, professional, and behavioral performance. These include the Chamberlain University Academic Catalog, the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Student Handbook and the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Clinical Handbook. Taken as a whole, these documents should provide the student with the guidance necessary to thrive in Chamberlain’s physician assistant program. The program policies apply to all students, principal faculty, instructional faculty, Program Director, and Medical Director regardless of location.

Touro College Illinois

For more than 50 years, Touro has been preparing Physician Assistants to thrive in medicine. Since 1972, over 5,000 graduates have built rewarding careers on the foundation of our training. At Touro Illinois, you’ll learn from dedicated, knowledgeable faculty who are passionate about teaching, mentoring, and helping you succeed. We are proud that our very first graduates are now serving communities across Illinois and beyond. Estimated program costs for students entering 2025 is $156,730.

Career Opportunities and Job Outlook

Career opportunities for graduates of the Masters in PA Studies program Physician assistants (PAs) often serve as patients’ principal health care providers. Job prospects for the PA profession are very strong. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects PA jobs to increase by 28% from 2023 to 2033. Job growth is much faster than the average for all occupations. Physician assistants are an important part of the medical community and integral to primary care.

Read also: PA School GPA Guide

Read also: Learn About PA Programs

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