Physician assistants (PAs) are crucial professionals in the modern U.S. healthcare system. PAs are not doctors (PAs are only required to have a master’s degree), but they are trained and licensed to carry out many similar essential tasks, including:

As such, online physician assistant programs provide a pathway to becoming a valuable practitioner in the healthcare field without the time, cost and residency requirements associated with earning a medical degree (MD).

As an added benefit, becoming a PA offers an additional layer of career flexibility that is not as readily available to physicians. While the majority of PAs end up working in physicians’ offices, there is also demand for their expertise in hospitals, outpatient facilities, urgent care facilities, virtual care centers (telehealth), educational settings and psychiatric practices, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Wondering if you can get a PA degree online? There are a variety of accredited online PA programs to help you become a physician assistant. However, it’s important to note that becoming a physician assistant cannot happen entirely online. Both licensure and the required Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies require substantial hands-on, real-world practicum experience. 

That being said, there are several reasons why you may want to consider online PA programs. Online accredited PA programs provide an opportune way to complete the required degree coursework on a schedule that works for you. When it comes to required in-person clinical work, many schools will work with their online PA students to secure opportunities in convenient locations to avoid lengthy commutes.

Some common benefits of online PA programs include:

While the curriculum and clinical work may be time-consuming, it is possible to earn a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree as a part-time student. Some schools discourage this practice due to the intensive nature of their programs. If you are only looking to take classes part time, be sure to thoroughly research your options for PA master’s degree programs, and pay close attention to how their course requirements are structured. 

Applying to an online physician assistant program can be competitive at times. Due to the rigor of physician assistant master’s programs, many schools look for students who meet or exceed the following requirements:

Previous healthcare experience is not always a requirement—however, the strongest candidates tend to have some amount of hands-on patient care experience before applying to an online PA program. Schools that do require healthcare experience may look for a minimum of 500 hours’ worth. They may often accept work from a wide variety of occupations, including EMTs, RNs, lab technicians, medical assistants, ER technicians and Peace Corps volunteers.

Be sure to check the specific requirements and suggested experience guidelines before applying to any online accredited PA programs.

In many regards, a physician assistant’s educational experience is similar to that of a physician. However, there are some key differences between PAs and doctors. Unlike medical doctors, PAs are trained in general medicine and are not expected to specialize in a particular area. This broad scope of training also differentiates PAs from nurse practitioners and nurses pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).

As part of your PA program, you may likely be expected to take a diverse array of courses covering topics such as:

In addition to this coursework, PA program requirements often include clinical rotations in various focus areas of the profession. Thankfully, many schools handle coordinating these on-site experiences on their students’ behalf.

The length and types of these clinical rotations vary by program, but they may include some combination of:

While experiences may vary, these clinical experiences usually comprise the majority of the time spent completing physician assistant certification programs.

Finally, many Master of Science (MS) in Physician Assistant Studies degrees require a final project consisting of both literary and clinical research. Some schools may require presentation or publication of the findings as a graduation requirement.

Becoming a Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C) starts with a high school and undergraduate education that includes a variety of general, lab and behavioral science courses. Following the completion of a bachelor’s degree, you’ll want to explore PA program prerequisites and enroll in a physician assistant master’s program. 

As part of the licensure process, prospective PAs must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), which is created and administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). From there, PAs may apply for licensure from their local licensing board. Keep in mind that each state may have slightly different requirements for PA certification.

The United States continues to see increased demand for healthcare professionals. Physician assistants have a particularly positive career outlook due to the wide variety of services they provide, the speed at which they can be trained (especially compared to physicians) and the increased interest in affordable healthcare options.

The BLS projects a 31% growth in the field from 2020 to 2030. This is much higher than the 3% projected growth rate for physicians during the same time period. 

Enrolling in an online PA program is a great option for those looking to work directly with patients, maintain a high degree of professional flexibility and join an in-demand profession in the medical field.

In searching for the best online physician assistant programs, it’s important to take into account the specific type of degree being offered, any minimum GPA requirements that must be met for admission, and the clinical and credit hours the program requires. Comparing online PA programs is one of the best ways to choose a degree program that will work with your schedule and provide the best return on investment.

Researching different MPAS degree programs allows you to get a better idea of whether or not a physician assistant degree is right for you.

Below, we’ve compiled a list of the online PA programs in the United States, along with degree and program requirement information. An important component to any online healthcare degree program is its ability to provide top-tier clinical placements as well as high-quality online coursework. Explore each program thoroughly to find out which will be the best-suited online PA program for you.

Before you choose whether or not you’d like to enroll in an online MPAS degree program, it’s important to know your options. Explore these commonly asked questions to help inform your decision. 

Last updated in May 2022