Temple University Physician Assistant Program: A Comprehensive Overview
The Lewis Katz School of Medicine (LKSOM) at Temple University offers a comprehensive Physician Assistant (PA) program, leading to a Master of Medical Science (MMS) degree. This program is designed to address the growing need for skilled physician assistants in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, particularly within underserved urban communities.
Mission and Core Values
The PA Program at Katz is driven by a clear mission: to provide high-quality didactic and clinical education and training to students while fostering a collaborative, supportive, and empowering learning environment. This mission is built upon a foundation of core values:
- Diversity: Embracing and celebrating differences among individuals.
- Inclusion: Creating a welcoming and equitable environment for all.
- Integrity: Upholding ethical and professional standards.
- Humanism: Demonstrating compassion and respect for patients and colleagues.
- Professionalism: Adhering to the highest standards of conduct and practice.
- Scholarship: Promoting lifelong learning and the pursuit of knowledge.
These values are integral to developing compassionate, respectful, and culturally humble physician assistants who are committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centered, evidence-based, accessible healthcare within their communities.
Program Highlights
The Temple University PA program offers several distinctive features:
- Commitment to Underserved Communities: The program emphasizes service to urban, underserved populations, providing students with unique clinical experiences.
- Interprofessional Education: Students engage in collaborative exercises with students from the School of Medicine, Temple University’s College of Public Health, and the Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry, fostering teamwork and communication skills.
- Experienced Faculty and Resources: The program leverages the expertise of existing School of Medicine faculty, clinical training sites, and physical plant resources.
- State-of-the-Art Facilities: Students benefit from hands-on learning in both a state-of-the-art simulation center and cadaver lab.
- Accelerated Curriculum: The program is designed to be completed in approximately 26 months, allowing graduates to enter the workforce quickly.
- Focus on Patient-Centered Care: The curriculum is designed to prepare students to provide patient-centered care in practice settings under the supervision of and in collaboration with physicians and inter-professional teams.
Program Structure and Curriculum
The Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies program at Katz is structured to provide students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to practice in diverse settings. The curriculum is divided into two major phases: a didactic curriculum (14 months) and a clinical curriculum (12 months). The program requires successful completion of 117 credits: 69 preclinical and 48 clinical credits.
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Didactic Curriculum (Year 1)
The first year focuses on building a strong foundation in medical sciences and clinical skills. Courses include:
Summer:
- PA 8101: Physician Assistant Practice I (1 credit)
- PA 8102: Patient Assessment I (1 credit)
- PA 8103: Human Gross Anatomy (5 credits)
- PA 8104: Introduction to Scientific Inquiry (1 credit)
- PA 8105: Foundations of Medical Sciences I (4 credits)
- PA 8106: Introduction to Epidemiology and Biostatistics (2 credits)
Fall:
- PA 8201: Physician Assistant Practice II (1 credit)
- PA 8202: Patient Assessment II (1 credit)
- PA 8203: Foundations of Medical Sciences II (4 credits)
- PA 8204: Fundamentals of Hematology (3 credits)
- PA 8205: Fundamentals of Cardiology (4 credits)
- PA 8206: Fundamentals of Pulmonology (4 credits)
- PA 8305: Fundamentals of Ears/Eyes/Nose/Throat (EENT) (2 credits)
- PA 8308: Fundamentals of Dermatology (2 credits)
Spring:
- PA 8207: Fundamentals of Gastroenterology (3 credits)
- PA 8301: Physician Assistant Practice III (1 credit)
- PA 8302: Patient Assessment III (1 credit)
- PA 8303: Fundamentals of Nephrology (2 credits)
- PA 8304: Fundamentals of Endocrinology (3 credits)
- PA 8306: Fundamentals of Neurology (2 credits)
- PA 8307: Fundamentals of Rheumatology and Orthopedics (3 credits)
- PA 8309: Essentials of Psychiatry (2 credits)
- PA 8403: Bioethics (2 credits)
Clinical Curriculum (Year 2)
The second year is dedicated to clinical rotations, providing students with hands-on experience in various medical specialties. Students spend the last 12 months of the program rotating through clerkships in seven assigned core medical disciplines and two elective rotations at Temple University Hospital System and other affiliated locations. Most clinical rotations are within a 50-mile radius of Temple University Health Science Campus, however, students may be required to do up to two away rotations up to 350 miles away. Students are responsible for their own reliable form of transportation to and from all possible rotation sites. Currently, LKSOM provides housing for assigned rotations that are more than 50 miles from the Temple Health Science Campus.
Summer:
- PA 8401: Physician Assistant Practice IV (1 credit)
- PA 8402: Patient Assessment IV (1 credit)
- PA 8404: Essentials of Reproductive Health (4 credits)
- PA 8405: Essentials Across the Lifespan (4 credits)
- PA 8406: Essentials of Surgery and Emergency Medicine (4 credits)
- PA 9991: Scholarly Clinical Research I (1 credit)
Fall and Spring/Year 3 Summer:
- Behavioral Medicine Clerkship (5 credits)
- Emergency Medicine Clerkship (5 credits)
- Family Medicine Clerkship (5 credits)
- General Surgery Clerkship (5 credits)
- Internal Medicine Clerkship (5 credits)
- Obstetrics/Gynecology Clerkship (5 credits)
- Pediatrics Clerkship (5 credits)
- Elective I Clerkship (5 credits)
- Elective II Clerkship (5 credits)
- Scholarly Clinical Research II (1 credit)
- Comprehensive Review (2 credits)
During clinical rotations, students are under the direct supervision of a physician or physician assistant and interact with numerous other healthcare providers, including residents, interns, medical students, and nurses.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the MMS program must apply via the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). All application materials must be submitted, completed, and verified by CASPA no later than January 15. A $60 non-refundable Temple Graduate application fee is also required to be submitted directly to Temple University. Applications are processed throughout the year as they are received. Thus, it is in the applicant's best interest to apply early to this highly competitive degree program.
Prerequisites
- Biology 1 & 2 (each with lab)
- General Chemistry 1 & 2 (each with lab)
- Organic Chemistry 1 (with lab); OChem 2 is preferred
- All science and math prerequisite coursework must be completed within 10 years prior to June enrollment.
Standardized Tests
- GRE or MCAT: Optional. If submitting scores, the test must have been taken within three years of matriculation. Applicants with GRE scores must contact ETS to request release of GRE scores through CASPA. The relevant code for the Physician Assistant program is 1746.
Healthcare Experience
- To be considered for an interview, 400 hours of clearly documented volunteer or paid direct hands-on patient contact experience or witnessing care first-hand are required. These hours are strongly recommended to include a minimum of 100 hours working with or shadowing an MD, DO, and/or Physician Assistant. Virtual experiences may add benefit to your educational experiences, but they will not count toward the minimum hours required.
Other Requirements
- Community/Volunteer Service: Applicants are recommended to have a minimum 50 hours of community service activities, not including those performed in high school.
- Interview: Candidates must have strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen and be culturally sensitive to another’s point of view.
- Clearances: Upon acceptance, students must complete a Child Abuse History Clearance and a Criminal Background Check.
International Applicants
International applicants are accepted with exceptions.
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References
Types of References Required:
- PA
- Physician
- Other health care provider
- Academic Reference (e.g. Professor)
Graduation Requirements
To meet the graduation requirements for the degree of Master of Medical Science, all students must:
- Successfully complete all courses (117 credits) with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
- Successfully complete all supervised clinical experience.
- Pass a comprehensive written examination.
- Pass the Objective Standardized Clinical Examination (OSCE).
- Demonstrate professional conduct throughout the program.
Tuition and Fees
The tuition fee is 832 USD per credit, which amounts to 44928 USD per year.
Technical Standards
The technical standards for the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University Physician Assistant Program ensure that students can demonstrate academic mastery and competence when performing clinical skills and communicating clinical information. These standards align with the requirements of the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), and the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA).
These standards encompass:
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- Communication: The ability to speak to, hear, and observe patients to elicit information, communicate effectively with patients and healthcare teams, and communicate efficiently in oral and written form.
- Motor: Sufficient motor function to carry out basic laboratory techniques, elicit information from patients through physical examination, perform anatomical dissections, use a microscope, perform basic laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures, perform/read EKGs and read X-rays, and execute motor movements required to provide general care and emergency treatment.
- Behavioral and Social Attributes: Possessing the physical and emotional health required for full utilization of intellectual abilities, exercise of good judgment, prompt completion of responsibilities, development of effective relationships with patients, adaptation to changing environments, flexibility, and the ability to function in the face of uncertainties.
PANCE Examination and Job Prospects
Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). Passing the PANCE is required to practice clinically as a physician assistant.
Graduates of the Temple University PA program can expect excellent job prospects. A critical need for physician assistants has arisen due to a looming shortage of physicians and an increase in the number of Americans covered through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010.
Student Attrition
As of March 24, 2025:
- Class of 2022: Entering class size: 35, Graduates: 35, Attrition rate: 0%, Graduation rate: 100%
- Class of 2023: Entering class size: 35, Graduates: 30, Attrition rate: 14%, Graduation rate: 86%
- Class of 2024: Entering class size: 35, Graduates: 33, Attrition rate: 6%, Graduation rate: 94%
Pre-PA Program
Temple University also offers a Pre-PA program for students seeking to strengthen their academic foundation before applying to PA school. This program provides students with the academic preparation needed to enter PA school. Pre-PA students attend classes that are primarily post-bacc exclusive as a cohort to maximize their learning experiences. These classes are taught by faculty from the College of Science and Technology and the Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine. In addition, Pre-PA will receive standardized test preparation in the spring. Admission is on a rolling basis so applying early is advised.
Pre-PA Curriculum
Fall:
- Principles of Medical Genetics
- Fundamentals of Medical Biochemistry
- Clinical Microbiology & Lab (not postbacc-exclusive)
- Medical Terminology
- Advising Curriculum: Learning Skills Development & Learning The Admissions Landscape
Spring:
- Fundamentals of Physiology & Lab
- Human Anatomy & Lab
- Elements of Statistics (not postbacc-exclusive)
- Advising Curriculum: Application Development
Clinical Opportunities for Pre-PA Students
Pre-PA students have the opportunity to shadow PAs in several specialties, including neurology, orthopedics, and cardiology, in different settings, including surgery, inpatient care, outpatient care, and procedural visits, as part of a semester-long program.
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