Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
The College of Idaho’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program, which operates as a unique partnership with Idaho State University (ISU), is the only MPAS program in the state of Idaho. It is a 24-month program, with 72 students located across three campuses—The College of Idaho and ISU's Meridian and Pocatello campuses—and offers a high-tech and high-touch learning environment.
Physician assistants (PAs) are highly skilled health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and in most states can write prescriptions. Physician assistants improve the accessibility of health care of underserved individuals in both urban and rural settings.
The first year of our MPAS program delivers didactic instruction simultaneously across all three campuses using distance learning technology. With faculty and staff at all three sites, the classrooms provide both the in-person and small class size experience. The second year of the program consists of eight clinical rotations at sites throughout the U.S. Our program also offers opportunities to learn and practice the Spanish language through international rotations and Spanish-speaking clinical rotations.
Pursuant to the partnership agreement, ISU manages all admission, curriculum, certification and issuance of the master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies. Please visit the ISU PA program’s website to review the admission requirements, application instructions, program and graduation requirements, and cost of attendance.
The Idaho State University Physician Assistant Studies program maintains continued accreditation by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA).
Graduates of the ISU PA program are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE), which is administered by the National Commission for Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). For the ISU PA program's NCCPA pass rates, see the ISU PA program's exam performance and pass rate reports.