Program Overview
PAs are medical practitioners who practice collaboratively with a supervising physician. The PA scope of practice is authorized by state law and determined by the supervising physician.
PAs take medical histories, perform physical examinations, order diagnostic tests/studies, diagnose, develop and implement a treatment plan in consultation with the supervising physician, prescribe medication in all states, advise and educate patients on health promotion and disease management, provide inpatient hospital care for patients, and assist in surgery. They provide care both in teaching institutions and in hospitals where there are no physician residents and are employed in health centers, multi-specialty medical group practices, emergency rooms, physician’s offices, and nursing homes.
Northeastern University’s Bouvé College of Health Sciences has been training physician assistants since 1971, making us one of the most experienced programs in the nation. Since its founding, Northeastern’s PA Program has been accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) and its predecessors. The program last received full re-accreditation in 2015; the approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be March 2025. The current 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remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards.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 program continually conducts self-review to ensure compliance with all ARC-PA guidelines and standards. The 2019 US News and World Report Graduate Rankings list Northeastern University’s Physician Assistant Program as #26 in the nation.
The Northeastern University Physician Assistant Program offers a Master of Science degree, but in addition to the traditional program, there are 2 dual master’s degree pathways available: MSPA/MPH (Public Health) and MSPA/MSHI (Health Informatics). Further dual degree and certificate programs are in the process of being developed as Northeastern University’s PA Program continues to remain at the forefront of medical education and innovation.
Graduates of the PA Program are qualified to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) administered by the National Commission for the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) after graduation. NCCPA certification is required for initial licensure/registration in all states. The pass rates for first-time takers from Northeastern University’s PA Program compare very favorably with national rates. Northeastern’s PANCE scores for the previous 5 years can be found at the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
For more information on how Northeastern University’s PA Program prepares students for national certification, please contact the program at: paprogram.northeastern.edu.
As global citizens, we are dedicated to access, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to developing future physician assistants who can advance diversity by providing culturally informed care to people across race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, class, age, ability, and nationality. We support the acquisition of competencies that prepare our students to recognize, confront, and end discrimination in its many forms.