Master of Physician Assistant Studies: Direct Entry
Master of Physician Assistant
Direct Entry Program
Degree Awarded
Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
Program Delivery
Your undergraduate studies will begin on our main campus in Rindge, NH. Then you can choose from our New Hampshire-based, on-ground 27-month program or our hybrid programs based in Arizona and Texas, which can be completed in as few as 24-months.
Locations Available
Undergrad Studies:
Rindge, NH
Graduate Studies:
Lebanon, NH (Onsite)
Goodyear, AZ (Hybrid)
Round Rock, TX (Hybrid)
The Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program is designed to train outstanding PAs who are compassionate, patient-centered providers. Our MPAS programs are unique in their emphasis on collaborative medicine and support of life-long learning. As a student, you will develop hands-on, practical skills at one of our academic centers in Lebanon, N.H. (on-site), Goodyear, A.Z.(hybrid), or Round Rock, TX (hybrid) earning your degree in as few as 24 months. PAs are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as a patient’s principal healthcare provider. With thousands of hours of medical training, PAs are versatile and collaborative. PAs practice in every state and in every medical setting and specialty, improving healthcare access and quality. Employment of PAs is projected to grow 28 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Apply to This Program Now
Students talk about their passion for learning about the human body, and their experience with our Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program in New Hampshire.
Admissions Requirements
- Minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in academic courses only of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (89/100)
- Equivalent of four years of math with a final grade of B+ (87/100) or higher in each class.
- Equivalent of four years of science with a final grade of B+ (87/100) or higher.
- Demonstrated leadership through community and school activities; related healthcare experience is highly desirable.
Once admitted to Franklin Pierce University, to successfully progress from undergraduate studies to the MPAS program by Direct Entry, students must meet the Progression Qualifications for Undergraduate Students. If an admitted student fails to meet progression standards their seat in the Direct Entry program will be forfeited. They will be encouraged to apply for entry during their senior year. Admitted students will be assigned a MPAS faculty advisor in addition to their undergraduate advisor. Your MPAS faculty advisor will be available for questions pertaining to the Master of Physician Studies Direct Entry Program and provide direction for completing the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) application.
- Successfully complete the following courses with a grade of “B+” or better:
- Anatomy & Physiology I (4 credits with lab)
- Anatomy & Physiology 11 (4 credits with lab)
- Biology (8 credits with lab for A.Z., 4 credits with lab for N.H.)
- Chemistry I (4 credits with lab)
- Chemistry II (4 credits with lab)
- Microbiology (4 credits with lab)
- Statistics (3 credits)
- Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry (4 credits with lab)
- Psychology (A.Z. only)
- Achieve a minimum CGPA of 3.5 and a science CGPA of 3.5
- Complete at least twenty (20) hours of shadowing a Physician Assistant in a clinical setting
- Complete a minimum of 500 hours of direct patient care, including evidence of healthcare experience with populations from rural or underserved areas (can be paid or volunteer)
- Leadership Skills for Healthcare Professions course taken during the last 2 undergraduate years
- PA pre-matriculation course (between graduation in May and November start)
- Complete the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) application
If you have already been admitted to Franklin Pierce, download and complete the one-page Application Addendum.
Please mail the completed form and any supporting documentation to:
Franklin Pierce University | Office of Admissions
40 University Drive | Rindge, NH 03461
MPAS Direct Entry Application Deadlines:
All materials must be received by Franklin Pierce by May 1. Prior to entering the MPAS. program, students will also be required to submit individual applications for each program via CASPA. Please refer to each program’s website for CASPA submission deadlines.
Accreditation
New Hampshire: The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Franklin Pierce University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Franklin Pierce University Accreditation- Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
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 approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be September 2027. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy. The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website.
Arizona: The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Franklin Pierce University Master of Physician Assistant Studies Hybrid Program sponsored by Franklin Pierce University. Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students. Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class. The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website.
Texas: The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Franklin Pierce University Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) Hybrid Program -- Round Rock, TX Campus sponsored by Franklin Pierce University. Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students. Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.
Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class. However, Accreditation-Provisional is an active accreditation status. PA program graduates will be deemed to have graduated from an accredited program if their PA degree program was accredited at the time of their matriculation. In the event that the program is not granted Accreditation-Provisional status by the ARC-PA, students accepted into the Texas MPAS hybrid program will receive a full refund of their deposit and the program will not matriculate in March 2024.
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website
Our Centers
New Hampshire (on-site)
The New Hampshire-based, on-site, 27-month program operates at our academic center in West Lebanon, N.H. Along with classroom and lab work, the program includes at least seven supervised clinical practice experiences at various sites, with an emphasis on rural placement, to prepare for licensure and clinical practice.
For more information, please visit the New Hampshire-based MPAS program.
Arizona (hybrid)
For more information, please visit the The Arizona-based MPAS program.
Texas (hybrid)
For more information, please visit the The Texas-based MPAS program.
CONTACT our admissions team
UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS
(800) 437-0048
admissions@franklinpierce.edu
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
graduate/online Admissions
MEPN Direct Entry Program Sheet
(800) 325-1090
FPUonline@franklinpierce.edu
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Related Programs
CONTACT Admissions Team
Physician Assistant Admissions
New Hampshire In-Person MPAS Program
Lebanon, NH Center
(603) 298-6617
paprogram@franklinpierce.edu
Arizona MPAS Hybrid Program
Goodyear, AZ
(623) 925-4907
azpaadmissions@franklinpierce.edu
Texas MPAS Hybrid Program
301 Seton Pkwy
Round Rock, Texas, 78665
InfoTXPAProgram@Franklinpierce.edu
