The PA postprofessional doctorate.

Authors

Robert E McKenna, Roderick S Hooker

Published in

JAAPA : official journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Apr 07, 2025. Epub Apr 07, 2025.

Abstract

The American physician associate (PA) profession is evolving and now includes the potential for postgraduate doctorates that align with other healthcare disciplines. This educational trend is expanding: The number of PA doctoral degree programs doubled between 2022 and 2024. A census assessment of postgraduate doctoral degrees was conducted to document this movement. In 2024, we identified 28 postprofessional PA doctoral degree programs, most conferring a Doctor of Medical Science. Tuition for an online PA doctorate ranges from $15,240 to $47,880, and most programs require at least 12 months to complete. Nearly all are online and designed for working PAs. Within these 28 doctoral programs for PAs, the most common areas of study include PA education, healthcare administration, leadership, management, and several clinical and administrative concentrations. All programs are accredited by one of six federally recognized agencies. The social, professional, economic, and financial factors pertinent to a PA considering a clinical doctorate are of interest to PA graduates, educators, and social scientists.

PMID:
40198004
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 08 Apr 2025.

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