Medical assistant to physician assistant bridge program

Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants. Excludes “Registered Nurses” (29-1141), “Nurse Anesthetists” (29-1151), “Nurse Midwives” (29-1161), “Nurse Practitioners” (29-1171), “Emergency Medical Technicians” (29-2042), “Paramedics” (29-2043), “Surgical Assistants” (29-9093), and “Medical Assistants” (31-9092). 

Video	Watch Video
Employment Outlook	Growth Rate 1.6% Openings Per Year 260
Wages	Median Hourly $63 per hour Average Annual $132,500 per year
Education Needed	Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Education Available in Washington	Physician Associate/Assistant
Related Occupations	Acupuncturists Audiologists Chiropractors Family Medicine Physicians Genetic Counselors Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other Occupational Therapists Pharmacists Physical Therapists Physicians, All Other

Yale School of Medicine Physician AssistantOnline ProgramYale School of Medicine Physician AssistantOnline ProgramYale School of Medicine Physician AssistantOnline Program

Why Is Yale PA Online Right for You?

Yale School of Medicine (YSM) is advancing the physician assistant (PA) profession by educating the highly proficient PAs the country needs. As the nationwide shortage of primary care physicians grows1, YSM is bringing more health care practitioners to patients with Yale’s hybrid physician assistant program. Yale’s PA Online Program awards a Master of Medical Science (MMSc) degree and prepares graduates to seek licensure as physician assistants.

Our hybrid program prepares patient-focused clinicians who can choose to learn in their own communities. The program blends online classes and coursework with in-person clinical rotations and three immersions on the Yale campus, so students can earn a degree from YSM without relocating.

“Having clinical rotations in my hometown allowed me to network and connect with providers in my area. I had the opportunity to work directly with the community I would like to serve and understand the population, the challenges the community faces, and what techniques to use moving forward in my career to better serve them. It has better prepared me to make an easy transition from student to provider.”

– Fasiha Memon ’21, MMSc, PA-C

Admissions Requirements

YSM’s PA Online Program enrolls ambitious students who are committed to advancing the physician assistant profession.

To be considered for admission to the program, applicants must:

• Hold or be working toward a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university
• Have completed a minimum of 500 hours of paid patient-care experience
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Have a cumulative undergraduate science GPA of at least 3.0 and a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0
• Have completed core undergraduate prerequisite science courses at a U.S. regionally accredited college or university with a grade of B or higher

Review Our Admissions Requirements.

Please refer to our Application Timeline for upcoming deadlines. 

Yale PA Online Curriculum

The Yale PA Online curriculum is designed to educate students to become patient-centered medical professionals. The curriculum develops the student’s ability to diagnose and treat disease and illness through listening and communicating with patients, collaborating with other health care professionals, and understanding the most current research and methodologies. YSM faculty members are scholars and practitioners who foster ethical and collaborative learning.

Classes and Coursework

Students attend live classes and complete foundational coursework developed and led by YSM faculty in the virtual classroom. The coursework sequence takes an organ system approach—each topic is considered through the lens of a biological system. Coursework integrates pediatric, emergency, and geriatric medicine.
Learn about the PA Online curriculum.

Clinical Experience in Early Didactic

During their first year in the program, students apply didactic learning principles in a clinical setting under the guidance of a preceptor and alongside other health care professionals. This hands-on experience broadens students’ patient care abilities before beginning their clinical year.
Learn about the CEED experience.

Clinical Rotations

As a part of the PA Online Program, students complete in-person rotations at clinical sites in or as close to their own communities as possible. The Yale placement team works to identify and secure clinical sites and qualified preceptors across each of the rotations.
Learn about clinical rotations.

Immersions

Students attend three separate one-week immersions on the Yale campus. Immersions offer students the chance to learn and build relationships with peers and faculty. During immersions, students work in the YSM Simulation Lab and with standardized patients.
Learn about immersions.

Explore the Yale PA Online Curriculum

“We were taught to be good thinkers and clinicians, not just good PA students. The format of the Problem-Based Learning classes made the biggest difference in shaping me to think like a clinician.”

– Shiva Kasravi ’20, MMSc, PA-C

Take the next step in earning your Master of Medical Science degree through Yale PA Online by requesting information.

We will then contact you to discuss the program and how you can advance your health care career by becoming a physician assistant.

Online Learning at Yale School of Medicine

Yale’s Physician Assistant Online Program offers its students flexibility in an engaging, interactive environment. Through the Yale PA Online campus, students will:

Attend live, face-to-face classes, in the virtual classroom, which are kept small so students and professors can explore concepts in an intimate environment.

Access coursework, including case studies, recorded lectures, and instructional videos.

Connect with classmates for study sessions and professors for one-on-one office hours.

Track assignments and class schedules through tools developed to support success in the program.

Contact technical support at any time for questions or to resolve difficulties accessing classes or assignments.

Download the mobile app that allows access to the coursework when students are on the go.

Discover the Online Campus

Physician Assistant: A Critical Profession

PAs are licensed health care professionals who perform a range of integral services in various health care settings. PAs practice independently or on medical teams and typically find employment in hospitals, outpatient clinics, medical offices, and other health care settings2.

Depending on the setting, PA duties include:

• Taking patient medical histories and conducting exams
• Diagnosing conditions and establishing treatment plans
• Ordering tests and writing prescriptions
• Assisting surgeons and other medical specialists as a critical part of their health care teams

No matter where they work, PAs are focused on patient wellness and are integral in managing patient care and supporting health and well-being.

Physician Assistant Career Outlook

There is growing opportunity in the medical field and increasing demand for skilled PA practitioners. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physician assistants in the United States is projected to grow 31 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.3

PAs must complete medical training, including coursework and rotations, and pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) to practice. Learn more about board certification.

About Yale School of Medicine

Founded in 1810, YSM is a world-renowned medical center that embraces the proud traditions of the past while innovating for the future of health care, which includes the establishment of Yale PA Online.

Learn more about Yale School of Medicine.

Take the next step in earning your Master of Medical Science degree through Yale PA Online by speaking with an admissions counselor.

Ask questions and discuss the program to learn how you can advance your health care career by becoming a physician assistant.

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