Physician Assistant

Program Overview

Physician Assistants are healthcare professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. Services commonly provided by physician assistants include:

• Taking Medical Histories
• Performing Physical Examinations
• Ordering and Interpreting Lab Tests
• Assisting in Surgery
• Counseling Patients

Commonwealth University - Lock Haven’s 24-month program leads to a Masters of Health Science Degree and a certificate as a Physician Assistant. The LHU PA Program is offered at three locations:

• Lock Haven Campus
• Clearfield Campus
• Harrisburg Campus

Our program offers a high-quality and affordable educational experience. In addition to the core PA education received at all campus locations, you will concentrate your studies on the care of underserved populations. The program incorporates the use of a module-based teaching format. Extensive use of small-group learning, service learning strategies, and a variety of clinical experiences result in greater than 94% first time pass rate on the NCCPA board examination. This program is expected to result in a Pennsylvania certification. Please see our State Authorization webpage for further instructions if you are planning to hold licensure in another state.

Students and graduates highly rate the quality of their educational experience and their preparedness for entry-level clinical practice. While emphasizing primary care, program graduates work in a variety of clinical settings including:

• Surgery and Surgical Subspecialties
• Pediatrics
• OB/GYN
• Internal Medicine

The Commonwealth University - Lock Haven PA Program is offered at three campus locations found in Lock Haven, Clearfield, and Harrisburg. Each campus includes a dedicated classroom with state-of-the-art academic technology to link the three campus locations as well as anatomy labs, physical exam labs, and study space.

Core PA Program faculty are available onsite at all campus locations and consist of physicians, physician assistants, pharmacologists, and professors of basic human and social sciences from Lock Haven University. The core physician and PA faculty have over 130 years of cumulative healthcare experience and represent leaders within the PA profession and PA education.

Application Process and Deadlines

The Admissions Committee of Lock Haven University's Physician Assistant Program welcomes applications beginning in late April with each application cycle for the class to be seated the following May. Potential students should apply to the program through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). 

Applications must be completed AND verified by CASPA by NOVEMBER 1^st.  It is recommended that applicants submit their applications via CASPA by mid-October to allow adequate time for the application to be verified by CASPA.

Candidates are eligible to apply if they will complete all prerequisite courses prior to the start of the program in May.

APPLY NOW THROUGH CASPA

ADMISSION CRITERIA

• A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
• A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Satisfactory completion of all prerequisite courses (B or better) listed below:
  • 2 Courses of General Chemistry
  • 1 Course of Organic Chemistry (at least 3 credits)
  • 2 Courses of Biology or Zoology
  • Human Anatomy
  • Human Physiology
  • Human Genetics
  • Microbiology
  • Statistics

Please Note:  We will not accept a Pass/Fail (P/F) grade for any of the prerequisite courses listed above.  All applicants must receive a letter grade for all prerequisite courses in order to be considered for an interview.

Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology courses must be completed within 5 years of matriculation.  No time limitations on other prerequisite coursework.

A combined two semester Anatomy & Physiology 1 and Anatomy & Physiology 2 course sequence is acceptable.

Science courses with labs are preferred.

Frequently Asked Questions

While not required, the following courses are recommended as they better prepare students for the rigor of the program:

• Additional Organic Chemistry coursework
• Biochemistry
• Immunology
• Developmental Psychology
• Physics
• Additional coursework in the behavioral sciences: Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology

All students must show evidence of computer literacy, either through formal coursework or experience. Computer literacy includes basic understanding of the operation of computer systems, and applications such as word processing, file management, spreadsheets, and the use of the internet.

Because of the unique nature of the master’s program, transfer credits are not accepted as substituting for any component of the Graduate Physician Assistant Program.

A minimum of five students, enrolled in the Commonwealth University - Lock Haven Department of Health Sciences Pre-Physician Assistant Degree Program, meeting the entry requirements of the current 3 + 2 Majors, following a successful interview, are admitted each year.  Please discuss with the Chair of the Health Sciences Department.