PA

Master of Science in Medicine

The Department of Physician Assistant offers a professional entry-level program leading to the Master of Science in Medicine. This program is solely intended as a full-time professional education curriculum allowing graduates to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), required by all states for licensure to practice.

Program Accreditation

The program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Review Committee on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA), the review body for all P.A. programs in the country. The program is currently accredited through 2010.

What are the WMU Physician Assistant PANCE Exam Results?

For the past five years Western Michigan University (WMU) has had a 99.4% pass rate for first-time test takers of the PANCE exam. The WMU PA program consistently has a pass rate and average score above the national average. Any questions related to PANCE scores at WMU should be directed to the program director.

	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003
Total Number of First-time Test Takers at WMU	37	33	28	27	34
Pass Rate at WMU	97%	100%	100%	100%	97%
Average Score at WMU	541	563	553	580	560
National Pass Rate First-time Takers	93%	92%	90%	90%	89%
National Average Score	517	504	500	496	487

Non-Discrimination Policy

Western Michigan University prohibits discrimination or harrassment which violates the law, or which constitutes inappropriate or unprofessional limitation of employment opportunity, University facility access, or participation in University activities, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, protected disability, veteran status, height, weight, or marital status.

What is a physician assistant?

Physician assistants are health professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. Within the physician/physician assistant relationship, they exercise autonomy in medical decision making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services.

What does a physician assistant do?

Works with patients to improve their health
Evaluates, monitors, and diagnoses illnesses, performs therapeutic procedures, and makes referrals to healthcare resources
Educates and counsels patients
Promotes health and wellness within a holistic concept of the needs of individuals and communities
Serves the needs of medically underserved and disadvantaged communities
Accesses and contributes to the physician assistant professional literature through research and practice
Works as a member of healthcare teams, promoting a positive public awareness of the physician assistant profession

How do I become a physician assistant?

The Physician Assistant Department is dedicated to educating competent, caring physician assistants to practice primary care medicine emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention with the supervision of a physician and to providing physician assistants to serve all areas of society, particularly underserved and disadvantaged communities.

Students study for 24 consecutive months. The first year focuses primarily on classroom and laboratory instruction and includes a research component to educate students in research issues pertinent to physician assistants. Some courses are taught by practicing physicians. The second, or "clinical," year includes a variety of experiences in community teaching hospitals, clinics, and physician offices.

The clinical experience requires rotations in the areas of pediatrics, surgery, emergency medicine, mental health, family medicine, women’s health, and internal medicine. Most rotations are located in Michigan or contiguous states. The clinical experience also involves a research project and three clinical seminars as part of the graduate curriculum.

WMU graduates earn a Master of Science in Medicine degree. They are eligible to take the certification examination offered by the National Commission on Certification for PAs (PANCE). The computer-based exam, required by all state licensing agencies, measures entry-level competencies.

Successful completion of the PANCE allows the physician assistant to use the title of PA-Certified or PA-C.

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