The UAB Physician Assistant Studies program was founded in 1967. It is the second oldest PA program in the nation and was established only two years after the birth of the PA profession. The UAB PA program is a surgically focused program that is ranked No. 8 position in the 2023 U.S. News & World Report "Best Physician Assistant Programs" rankings.
The program provides intense didactic and clinical experiences in primary care, medicine, and surgery. It is one of few programs that offers both a cadaveric dissection experience to supplement anatomy, and a live pig lab to provide a practical, hands-on experience to strengthen the surgical component of the curriculum.
The PA program and UAB are dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, and community service. Students have an opportunity to study within the UAB Hospital system, noted to be one of the top medical centers in the U.S. Our students have opportunities to complete clinical rotations in emergency medicine, primary care, trauma, critical care, and surgery, at clinical sites located within and surrounding the Birmingham area. Graduates of our 27-month program earn a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) degree.
View information about the coordinated Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and Master in Public Health (MSPAS/MPH) dual degree program.
View our NCCPA PANCE Performance Summary Report and Student Attrition Table for the program.
For more information about the Physician Assistant Studies program, call us at 205-975-4237 or email us at
Program Accreditation
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Physician Assistant Studies Program sponsored by University of Alabama at Birmingham. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be March 2034. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-university-of-alabama-at-birmingham/.
Professional Licensure and Certifications
The UAB Physician Assistant Studies Program is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and behaviors that will prepare them for professional certification through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). While there is a national certification exam that is offered by NCCPA, board certification does not confer state licensure. Specific licensure requirements vary by state. Please visit the Professional Licensure and Certification General Disclosures webpage for more information on state licensure requirements.
