Most physician assistant programs are roughly three years long and require most of the same prerequisite courses as medical schools, according to the American Academy of Physician Assistants — but some of those three-year schools for PAs stand out amongst their peers.
According to U.S. News & World Report, the following 10 graduate schools were given the highest rankings in the country for their physician assistant programs in 2014.
1. Duke University Physician Assistant Program (Durham, N.C.)
2. University of Utah School of Medicine (Salt Lake City)
2. University of Iowa College of Medicine (Iowa City)
4. George Washington University Physician Assistant Program (Washington D.C.)
4. Emory University Physician Assistant Program (Atlanta)
6. Oregon Health and Sciences University Division of Physician Assistant Education (Portland)
6. Baylor College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program (Houston)
8. University of Washington (Seattle)
8. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Physician Assistant Program (Dallas)
8. Rutgers Biomedical and Health Science School of Health Related Professions (Piscataway, N.J.)
U.S. News & World Report surveyed 130 graduate schools' physician assistant programs, and the rankings were determined based on the results of peer assessment surveys sent to deans, other administrators and faculty at accredited degree programs or schools for the PA discipline.