Program Learning Objectives, Competencies and Goals
The UAB PA program faculty have established performance indicators, learning outcomes, and goals for the program. The faculty regularly monitors and evaluates progress towards meeting its stated outcomes and goals, and continually assesses student's acquisition of knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors. Student, faculty, and graduate surveys are conducted to determine satisfaction in the following areas: admissions and orientation; student services and resources; policies and procedures; and the didactic and clinical curriculum.
Didactic-Year Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the didactic year curriculum, students will be able to perform the following tasks:
- Demonstrate an understanding of human anatomy, physiology, and pathology of disease and their application in clinical practice.
- Demonstrate the ability to evaluate and manage common diseases encountered in general medicine, emergency medicine, surgery, pediatrics, women’s health, and behavioral medicine.
- Demonstrate proficiency in performing a complete and problem-focused history and physical examination.
- Demonstrate competency in the technical skills needed to perform as a surgical and primary care PA.
- Demonstrate an ability to order and interpret laboratory tests, imaging, electrocardiograms, and other diagnostic studies utilized in primary care and surgery.
- Demonstrate proficiency in CPR and ACLS management of acutely ill patients.
- Demonstrate knowledge of medical literature databases, literature review, clinical research designs, basic medical statistics, and interpretation of medical literature.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the history of the PA profession, medical malpractice, medical practice guidelines, and medical ethics.
- Consider cultural and human rights issues, including religion, ethnicity/race, disability, special healthcare needs, socioeconomic level, social determinants of health, gender identity, and human sexuality, as students provide medical care to patients in clinical practice.
- Demonstrate knowledge of legal and regulatory requirements in the PA profession.
- Develop clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
Clinical-Year Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the clinical year curriculum, students will be able to perform the following tasks at the level of an entry-level physician assistant in clinical practice:
- Demonstrate proficiency in obtaining and documenting patient encounters in various clinical settings, across the lifespan.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the technical and surgical skills required of an entry-level PA in clinical practice.
- Demonstrate an appropriate level of professional behaviors, including a respectful and caring attitude toward patients and a willingness to function as a cooperative member of the healthcare team.
- Demonstrate the ability to utilize subjective and objective findings to formulate an appropriate differential diagnosis.
- Demonstrate the ability to select and interpret appropriate diagnostic studies to formulate a working diagnosis.
- Demonstrate the ability to develop a patient-centered treatment plan for common medical and surgical disorders, based on current guidelines and standard of care.
- Develop clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
- Demonstrate an ability to interpret scientific literature and apply findings to the practice of evidence-based medicine.
Program Competencies
- Medical Knowledge
- Appropriately diagnose common medical and surgical disease states.
- Appropriately manage common medical and surgical disease states.
- Order and interpret diagnostic studies utilized in medicine and surgery.
- Demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
- Interpersonal and Communication Skills
- Effectively communicate information to patients and members of the healthcare team.
- Patient-Centered Care
- Provide age-appropriate, patient-centered care, in a safe and effective manner.
- Demonstrate mastery of the knowledge and technical skills needed for an entry-level PA.
- Appropriately apply medical literature to evidence-based decisions for patient care.
- Professionalism
- Demonstrate a high-level of professionalism, accountability, and integrity.
Program Goals
Goal 1: Admit high-quality applicants who successfully complete the program within 27 months.
Goal 2: Recruit, admit, and train a diverse cohort of students.
Goal 3: Foster a culture of service and leadership.
Goal 4: Utilizing applied learning principles incorporated through Team-based Learning (TBL) and Case-based Learning (CBL) activities, the curriculum will immerse students in practical clinical cases throughout the didactic and clinical-year, to develop clinical reasoning skills and create self-directed learners.
Goal 5: The curriculum will incorporate both academic and non-academic resources and experiential learning opportunities to cultivate interpersonal skills and behaviors that align with our program philosophy. Incorporating the additional resources listed below will help to ensure students are not only intellectually sound, technically proficient, and PANCE prepared, but also demonstrate superior character with a high-level of professionalism, communication, responsibility, accountability, ethical practices, and sensitivity to diverse populations, which are needed to provide compassionate healthcare to all.
- Professionalism rubrics.
- Professionalism section of student performance evaluations.
- PA 617 Applied Behavioral Medicine.
- PA 635 Special Populations in Medicine.
- Poverty simulation.
- Community service hours.
- Develop clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
- Experiential learning opportunities (Sight Savers of America, Firehouse Shelter Interdisciplinary Screening Clinic).
Goal 6: Graduates will demonstrate mastery of the knowledge and technical skills needed for an entry-level PA.
Goal 7: Graduates will indicate satisfaction with the quality of education offered by the UAB MSPAS Program.
Goal 8: Upon completion of the program, students will feel prepared to transition into clinical practice.
Goal 9: Alumni agree that the UAB MSPAS Program prepared them to transition into clinical practice.
Program goals and outcome data can be found in the 2023 UAB MSPAS Outcomes and Goals Report.
The physician assistant (PA) profession was established in 1965 to help physicians provide healthcare services to underserved and rural populations. While the profession remains committed to its historical mission, PAs are now employed in almost all healthcare settings and are valuable members of a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
PAs are healthcare professionals licensed to practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician. Individual state laws define the scope of practice and prescribing authority of Physician Assistants. In general, most states authorize PAs to prescribe non-controlled and controlled substances and perform any task delegated to them by their supervising physician.
To be eligible for licensure, PAs must graduate from a program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) and pass the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE). Although Physician Assistants will always remain under the guidance and counsel of a licensed physician, PAs are expected to perform appropriately delegated tasks autonomously.
The PA field is growing, and employment is projected to increase by 28% from 2021-2031. (United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Learn more about the UAB PA Program from our Frequently Asked Questions. We provide information sessions, open to anyone interested, to discuss our application process, mission, curriculum, costs, and outcomes throughout the year. A seat may be reserved by calling 205-934-3209 or emailing us at
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What is a PA?
Physician Assistants are healthcare providers who practice medicine. Watch the short video from AAPA.
- What are the typical PA student characteristics?
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How do I get health related experience?
Previous and current PA students obtained experience as nurses, surgical technicians, athletic trainers, x-ray technologists, patient care technicians, and medical technologists. Applicants may also volunteer their time in a wide range of opportunities. It should be noted that hands-on patient experience is highly preferred by the program. Shadowing a PA is also strongly recommended.
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What if I cannot complete all of the prerequisites by the application deadline?
All applicants with nine or fewer semester hours of prerequisite courses to complete on Jan 1 of the year of admission will be considered for admission so long as a clearly articulated plan of completion is specified on the supplemental application.
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When do I apply to the UAB Graduate School?
Applicants who are accepted to the UAB PA Program will need to complete the UAB Graduate School application immediately. Applicants who are waitlisted will also need to complete the Graduate School application in order to remain on the wait list.
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Do you offer advance placement or credit for prior experience?
The UAB Physician Assistant Studies Program does not offer advance placement or credit for prior experience.
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Can I make an appointment to talk to an advisor or someone in person?
Individual counselling sessions may be arranged but please note that the PA Program provides information sessions, open to anyone interested, to discuss our application process, mission, curriculum, costs, and outcomes throughout the year. A seat may be reserved by calling 205-934-3209 or emailing us at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . -
How much does it cost to attend UAB's PA program?
For more information, see: Tuition and Scholarships
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What is the PA program's tuition refund policy?
UAB has an Institutional Refund Policy.
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What are the program goals and outcomes for UAB's PA program?
Program goals and outcome data can be found in the 2023 UAB MSPAS Outcomes and Goals Report.
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Does the PA Program allow students to work while attending the program?
Students have the right to engage in part-time employment during the program’s didactic phase. However, given the rigorous academic requirements of the didactic curriculum, program faculty strongly advises against outside employment. Student employment during the clinical phase of the program is strictly forbidden. It should be noted that no academic concessions will be made for working students. It should also be noted that students are not allowed to substitute for faculty or staff during the didactic phase of the program, nor as clinical staff during the clinical phase of the program.
- Still have a question?
The following deadlines refer to the year prior to matriculation:
- April: CASPA opens
- August 1: Last day to take the GRE
- August 1 (11:59 PM EST): Last day to e-submit the CASPA Application
- August 7 (11:59 PM CST): Deadline to submit the UAB PA Supplemental Application
- October 1 (11:59 PM EST): Deadline for application to be reviewed and verified by CASPA
Application Instructions
The UAB PA program participates in the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Please consult CASPA for more information regarding specific CASPA application requirements, procedures, and fees. The CASPA application needs to be completed by August 1 of the year prior to matriculation. Applicants should send all application materials directly to CASPA. Applicants should use GRE Code 0570 when sending GRE scores to CASPA. CASPA will verify the application information and send completed applications to the program.
After completing the CASPA application, the applicant should complete the UAB PA Supplemental Application.
Taking a break from, and returning to, your PA Supplemental Application submission:
- To take a break while completing your submission; you will need to revisit the application on the same computer/browser as you did initially. The program automatically stores a cookie in your browser, and you should be able to pick up where you left off.
- If you revisit the applications over two weeks after your last activity, on a different computer or browser, or after clearing your cache, you will be sent to the beginning of the application.
Following the program’s receipt of the CASPA application, official GRE scores, and UAB PA Supplemental Application, the UAB PA Program will review the packet.
Completed applications are reviewed by members of the admissions committee. Interviews are held in October and November. Admissions decisions are finalized in December. Students who are accepted to the Physician Assistant program will need to complete the UAB Graduate School Application.
Application Fees
- There is a CASPA application fee of $177 for first designation and a fee of $51 for each additional designation.
- The UAB PA Supplemental Application fee is $75. This may be paid electronically. Payment must be made in order to process the Supplemental Application. This is a non-refundable fee.
- There is a UAB Graduate School Application fee of $50 for domestic students and $60 for international students. This fee only applies to students accepted into the program.
- There is a UAB PA deposit of $300 that is applied towards tuition in the first semester of the program. The deposit only applies to students accepted into the program. The deposit is non-refundable and will be forfeited by the applicant in the event that he/she does not enroll and attend the UAB PA program.
- Other expenses to anticipate:
- GRE preparation and examination
- The cost of sending transcripts to CASPA
Requirements
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Prerequisite Requirements
The following prerequisites: All prerequisite courses must be completed at a regionally accredited institution in the United States:
- 8 semester hours of biology for science majors
- 3-4 semester hours of microbiology (lab preferred)
- 3-4 semester hours of human anatomy
- 3-4 semester hours human physiology
- 8-9 semester hours of general chemistry (labs preferred)
- 3-4 semester hours of statistics
- 6 semester hours of psychology (general AND developmental or abnormal psychology)
- 2-3 semester hours of medical terminology
To confirm your prerequisite equivalencies, you can use the UAB Transfer Credit Equivalency Database.
Prerequisites UAB Equivalency Biology for majors BY123 and BY124 Statistics Any statistics will satisfy this prerequisite Psychology - You must have a General Psychology
- You have either a Developmental or Abnormal Psychology
General: PY101
Developmental: PY212
Abnormal: PY218
General Chemistry CH105/106, CH107/108, CH115/116, CH117/118 Human Anatomy and Physiology or A&P I and II Sequence BY115 and BY116 Microbiology BY261, BY271 Medical Terminology Any medical terminology will satisfy this prerequisite -
Admission Requirements
- Baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited college/university.
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores from the verbal, quantitative and analytic sections. Applicants with advanced degrees whose GRE scores are older than 5 years (i.e. the time limit that ETS will send scores) can request the PA program to consider dated scores if the applicant can provide documentation of their GRE scores directly from the institution they attended. The documentation should be sent directly from the student's graduate degree institution to the
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. prior to the August 1st deadline for application evaluation. Please note that recent GRE scores often make applicants with an advanced degree more competitive than applicants with an advanced degree that do not have recent GRE scores. Furthermore, as with all applicants, the UAB admissions review committee could still determine that the applicant should retake the GRE and reapply the next application cycle. - A minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0).
- A minimum overall science grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0).
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the program prerequisite courses, with a minimum grade of C in each.
- All applicants with 9 or fewer semester hours of prerequisite courses to complete on Jan 1st of the year of admission will be considered for admission. All prerequisite courses must be completed before the program begins in the fall semester.
- Technical ability to complete the program (see PAEA Required Competencies and Minimum Technical (Performance) Standards).
- Interview with faculty.
- Medical clearance: UAB physician assistant students must be medically cleared for enrollment if accepted to program. Detailed information is available via UAB Student Health Services.
- Undergo a criminal background check and consent to drug testing if accepted into the program.
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International Requirements
International Students must submit a transcript evaluation from World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc.
The Graduate School now monitors English proficiency to make sure applicants meet our minimum scores which are listed below.
- IELTS – 6.5
- TOEFL – 80
- PTEA – 53
Other requirements include a financial affidavit of support and immigration documentation (if currently residing in the United States).
Credit for Prior Learning or Experience
Credit is not offered for prior experiential learning or prior course work (the Program does not offer advanced placement). Furthermore, credit is not offered for courses provided by another physician assistant program. No student may omit or waive any of the required clinical year rotations.
Evaluation Criteria
Applicants are evaluated on the following criteria:
- Academics
- Cumulative GPA, overall science GPA, prerequisite grades lower than a grade of “C,” and GRE percentage scores.
- Clinical Experience
- Although not required for admissions, experience in the healthcare setting (providing direct or indirect patient care) is preferred.
- Extent and scope of experience are considered in the application score.
- Personal Statement
- Applicants are evaluated on the content and quality of their personal statement.
- This will also be utilized to review applicants that will require a second review prior to finalizing invitations for interviews.
- Reference Letters
- Three letters of reference will be evaluated.
- Supplemental Application
- Students will be evaluated on the content and quality of answers provided to the supplemental questions.
- This will also be utilized to review applicants that will require a second review prior to finalizing invitations for interviews.
- Students will be reviewed for attributes and characteristics that meet our program’s mission.
- Favored Individuals/Groups
- The MSPAS Program is committed to recruiting and matriculating a diverse group of students who exemplify attributes that align with our program mission. This includes minority / underrepresented in medicine students, those from diverse or disadvantaged backgrounds, veterans, first-generation scholars, multilingual students, those who have shown a commitment to service and practicing in an underserved or rural area, and those with graduate degrees.
Admissions Process Timeline
- May – October: Application review.
- October – November: Interviews.
- December – Admissions decisions finalized.
- January – March: Admitted students complete the UAB Graduate School Application.
- April – August: Complete orientation requirements.
Admission Data Summary
Veteran Applicant Data Summary
Summary of Patient Care and Shadowing Hours
Self-Identified Race and Ethnicity Data Summary
Additional Information
In order to ensure patients receive the best medical care possible, faculty of the program have identified certain skills and professional behaviors that are required for successful completion of the program. These skills and behaviors are required to perform a variety of activities within the curriculum and also to function clinically as a physician assistant. Therefore, all students in the PA program must be able to demonstrate these skills and professional behaviors, including students with disabilities when reasonable accommodations are made by the program.