10 Best Physician Assistant Schools in Texas – 2024

Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org

As a physician assistant in Texas, you can practice in a number of specialties, including family medicine, cardiology, and emergency healthcare. While you’ll have many of the same responsibilities as a physician, your training will be much shorter; PA schools in Texas generally take 23 to 28 months to complete. You’ll earn an average salary of $132,980 annually, and demand for your services will be high since employment opportunities for PAs in the Lone Star State are expected to increase by more than 41.37 percent in the next 10 years. Want to find out more? Information about the 10 best physician assistant schools in Texas for 2024 is presented below.

RECOMMENDED ONLINE HEALTHCARE SCHOOLS

WHAT ARE THE BEST PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT SCHOOLS IN TEXAS (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2024?

(Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 10 Best PA programs in Texas.

1) Baylor College of Medicine – Houston

About the PA School: As someone with a keen desire of helping others, are you wondering how to become a physician assistant in Texas? If so, you must consider enrolling in one of the best physician assistant programs in Texas, like the one offered by Baylor College of Medicine that not only offers excellent didactic training but also takes you through diverse clinical experiences. This PA program that ranks # 1 in Texas according to the U.S. News & World Report, provides a broad spectrum of hands-on learning experiences at the Texas Medical Center. Furthermore, the college’s faculty, many of whom are expert clinicians from various medical specialties, including emergency & internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, and family medicine bring in their rich experiences to the classroom. Besides, as a Baylor student, you will enjoy exceptional interdisciplinary learning experiences by collaborating with the students and faculty from the School of Medicine and the other Healthcare disciplines. Being committed to the health improvement of underserved populations, the college integrates service-learning into the curriculum from early into the program.

Program Details: The program starts with didactic courses that span 13 months. During this phase, you will master key theoretical concepts such as human anatomy & function, behavioral dynamics, clinical biochemistry, clinical genetics, clinical medicine, physical diagnosis, pharmacology, medical ethics, immunology for health professions, health behavioral counseling, and cultural competency. After you complete the didactic portion and before starting your clinical training, the college offers an elective course in Physician Assistant Spanish. Through this course, you will develop your Spanish vocabulary by working with Spanish speaking senior citizens in the Houston community. During the two weeks of this elective course, you will learn to interact with Spanish-speaking patients, which not only will provide an edge over others while seeking jobs but also help you effectively evaluate and assess patients who speak very little or no English.

Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission you must hold a bachelor’s degree in any field with a minimum GPA of 3.2. Also, you must complete the pre-requisite science and non-science courses with a minimum grade of C. As the college follows a holistic process, to strengthen your application it is highly recommended that you complete a healthcare experience and shadowing hours.

2) The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center – Dallas

About the PA School: If you are shortlisting physician assistant schools in Texas that offer affordable high-quality physician assistant education, then your search might end with The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Here, not only does the college offer competitive tuition costs, but under the expert mentorship of its stellar faculty, you will leave the college with exceptional skills in interdisciplinary primary health, leadership, and evidence-based medicine. With a sprawling campus that spans 35,000 square feet, the college offers a conducive interdisciplinary learning environment where you engage in innovative research and learning. Moreover, the college’s location in the hub of Dallas that bustles with premier healthcare, business, and education institutions can open-up a plethora of fruitful opportunities in terms of internships and placements.

Program Details: This program offers a fine blend of didactic and practical training. No matter where you start, you will graduate with the professional tools to promote primary health care and improve patient safety across diverse patient populations. The program starts with four semesters of foundational core courses which take you through theoretical concepts along with a bedside understanding of medical and behavioral sciences. Thereafter, you progress to the clinical phase which takes another four semesters. To provide you with an array of experiences, the clinical rotations take place in varied clinical settings and specialties. The curriculum centers on medical knowledge, interpersonal & communication skills, patient care, professionalism, practice-based learning & improvement, and systems-based practice. During the two years of your coursework, you are required to complete 112 credits, maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.75 in all the didactic courses.

Admission Requirements: As with other physician assistant programs in Texas, to be considered for admission, a baccalaureate degree in any discipline with a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. Other factors such as work experience, letters of reference, community service, although not required, are highly recommended as the college evaluates applications holistically.

3) University of North Texas HS Center Ft Worth - Fort Worth

About the PA School: Do you know that a physician assistant’s career is one of the fastest-growing health careers in the state of Texas? Well, if you do, then the only way forward is to obtain a master’s degree from one of the best physician assistant programs in Texas. University of North Texas HS Center Ft Worth’s PA program can be an option you may want to consider as, since its inception in 1997, the program has had a track record of producing highly skilled PA graduates who have not only excelled on the certification exam but also made a difference to healthcare in Texas. Ranked among the nation’s top PA programs by the U.S. News & World Report, this program provides a fine blend of learning inside as well as outside the classroom by complementing didactic courses with varied clinical learning experiences in interprofessional healthcare settings.

Program Details: This PA program that takes 2.5 years to complete culminates into a Master of Physician Assistant Studies. The didactic portion of the program educates you on the principles of evidence-based medicine, medical interviewing, clinical anatomy, fundamentals of behavioral sciences, pharmacology, introduction to disease, emergency medicine, and all the medical specialties and sub-specialties. From the spring semester of the second year, you start with the core clinical rotations, followed by four elective rotations in an area of your interest. The clinical portion ends in the spring semester of the third year and in addition to the rotations you are required to complete a master’s project and a capstone course. The core clinical rotations provide you with valuable hands-on learning in various specialties, ranging from pediatrics, psychiatry, women’s health, family medicine, and emergency & internal medicine. Also, the rotations include a clinical site in an underserved setting. Upon completion of the total 124 credits of the program, you can take the certification exam and become a physician assistant in Texas.

Admission Requirements: The college offers admissions on a rolling basis, so you can apply through the year. To qualify for admission, in addition to having a bachelor’s degree in any major with a minimum GPA of 3.0, you are also required to submit three letters of recommendation and all official transcripts through CASPA. Also, in case if you have not completed the pre-requisite courses, you must do so before the start of the program in August. Furthermore, factors such as work experience, shadowing, or community service, if any will increase your odds of admission into this program.

4) University of Texas HS Center at San Antonio - San Antonio

About the PA School: If you are mulling over a career as a physician assistant, then you must certainly jump into it without giving it a second thought. As the most versatile primary care-providers, physician assistants are much in demand in Texas as well as across the nation and anywhere in the world. Enrolling in one of the best accredited physician assistant programs in Texas that is housed in an internationally acclaimed biomedical research university, the PA program offered by the University of Texas HS Center at San Antonio can be your best bet to kickstart a career as a PA. Here, through a well-designed curriculum, extensive practice in its state-of-art simulation lab, and clinical rotations, you are prepared to work in various types of healthcare environments. While most students prefer the San Antonio campus, the college’s Laredo Extension campus also offers the PA program through the distance format to meet the needs of the Laredo and Webb counties. One of the few online physician assistant programs in Texas, this extension program has greatly contributed towards enhancing the health of people living in its close vicinity.

Program Details: As a trained physician assistant in Texas, you will be prepared to work in primary care as well as other specialties and sub-specialties. This professional preparedness comes from the rigorous didactic and clinical training that spans over 30 months of this PA program. The curriculum comprises 126 credits that are divided into 14 months of didactic courses, followed by 16 months in clinical practice. If you are wondering how does participation in the Laredo campus differ from the San Antonio campus, then well, there is no difference in the coursework or quality of education. But because Laredo uses the online medium of instructions, all didactic courses are delivered synchronously, utilizing video and audio content through a web-based platform and clinical sites for the rotations are mostly arranged in the Laredo community. However, students must be prepared to travel to clinical sites away from their location, if need be. Regardless of the campus you enroll in, to fulfill the clinical requirement of the program, apart from completing nine core rotations in all disciplines, you will select five elective rotations based on your interest and career goals.

Admission Requirements: This program admits high performing candidates with a promising student profile. Admission is open to students having a bachelor’s degree in any field with a minimum GPA of 3.0. To enhance your chances of admission, you must complete a healthcare work experience, shadowing experience, and community service activities. Also, knowing medical Spanish and earning a high score in science courses will certainly add brownie points to your application.

5) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center – Lubbock

About the PA School: To become a physician assistant in Texas will probably be one of the most prudent career decisions you will ever make as the state has recently witnessed a surge in primary care demand, especially in rural and underserved areas. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center offers one of the best physician assistant programs in Texas that trains graduates for high-quality patient care. Focusing on primary care and family medicine, here you will not only go through rigorous didactic coursework and clinical training in all specialties but also gain valuable practice experience in the rural areas of West Texas. The college’s diverse student population further adds to the learning experience by enhancing cultural sensitivity and enriching your perspective. Regardless of what your goal is, as a student of this program, your academic and career aspirations are well supported by its expert faculty, many of whom engage in innovative research and hold pivotal leadership positions.

Program Details: This program leads to a Master of Physician Assistant Studies and comprises 15 months of didactic training followed by 12 months of clinical rotations. The program trains you to work in various specialties, including family medicine, internal medicine, prenatal, gynecology, pediatrics, emergency medicine, and psychiatry. The didactic training combines classroom lectures with simulation learning and case-studies. Upon completing the total 125 credits you will gain enhanced skills in critical thinking and clinical decision making and the knowledge of physiology, pharmacology, pediatric, and cardiology.

Admission Requirements: To fulfill the minimum admission requirement, you must have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Also, all pre-requisite courses must be completed before you enroll. To strengthen your application, it is preferred that you submit three letters of recommendation and have hands-on healthcare experience. If you are a veteran shortlisting physician assistant programs in Texas, then here, your application may be given preferential treatment, along with applications from students that come from underserved areas or economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

6) The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley – Edinburg

Programs Offered: MPAS (Online and On-Campus)

About the PA School: No matter, whether you are currently practicing as a physician assistant or someone from any other field, at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley you can earn a Masters in Physician Assistant Studies, choosing a path that matches your specific academic needs. Counted, among the respected online physician assistant programs in Texas, here you can pursue your education while staying in your community. While the online program is typically designed for physician assistants with a bachelor’s degree, the college also offers the program through in-person classes for non-physician assistant students. Regardless of the path you enter, the college trains you to transform health across the lifespan, especially focusing on the underserved populations. Having almost 65% of its physician assistant students coming from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, the college plays a pivotal role in enhancing the lives of the regional population by not only improving healthcare delivery but also offering them a promising educational opportunity.

Program Details: Among all the physician assistant programs in Texas, this program stands out for offering a 100% online bridge Masters in PA program to students with a Bachelor’s degree in Physician Assistant studies. On the other hand, the on-campus program is rigorous coursework that educates students from other disciplines on basic medical, behavioral, social sciences, health policy, and professional practice issues.

While the bridge program entails completing 16 credits in three clinical tracks and a research experience course, the on-campus Master’s Degree comprises a total of 100 credits. The 100 credits include 48 credits of didactic coursework, 36 credits in clinical rotations, and 16 credits in the capstone, which is the final culminating experience.

Admission Requirements: To enter the bridge MPAS program, you must have a bachelor’s degree in PA studies with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Also, you must have a current PA license, NCCPA certification, and employment as a physician assistant. Whereas, admission into the on-campus master’s program requires you to have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Additionally, you must submit all your previous transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a personal goals statement. The college also requires you to complete pre-requisite courses and hands-on healthcare experience to qualify for this physician assistant program in Texas.

7) University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston – Galveston

About the PA School: The best physician assistant schools in Texas ensure that you graduate with proficiency in the key competencies of medical knowledge, communication skills, patient care, professionalism, systems-based practice, and practice-based improvement. University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston’s PA education not only trains you in these professional competencies but also focuses on patient safety, cultural competence, and life-long learning. The college has been significantly contributing to the PA workforce in Texas by preparing graduates coming from diverse backgrounds in providing healthcare to the state’s underserved and rural areas.

Program Details: This Master of Physician Assistant Studies provides you with a solid foundation in PA skills and knowledge, upon which you will be able to build a thriving healthcare career. The curriculum spans 26 months and requires you to complete 52 credits in didactic courses and 54 in clinical experiences. As such, the core didactic courses require 50 credits, however, because you take an elective of two credits in Global Health, the didactic credits add up to 52. During the didactic year, you will be educated on health promotion & preventive medicine, behavioral medicine, pharmacology, pathophysiologic processes, clinical medicine, and diagnostic medicine. You also learn about human anatomy, cross-cultural health, community medicine, and applied research. During the second year of clinicals, you will practice hands-on skills in various specialties, including medicine, primary care, women’s & children’s health, surgery, and emergency medicine. Upon completing the program, you will be eligible to take the certification exam and practice as a physician assistant in Texas.

Admission Requirements: To be eligible for admission into this program you must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in any discipline. Also, all the pre-requisite courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C. Furthermore, the college requires you to submit three letters of recommendation from academic and professional references.

8) Hardin-Simmons University – Abilene

About the PA School: If you have decided to jump onto the bandwagon of primary care, then enrolling into Hardin Simmons University can be given a thought. Listed among the best physician assistant programs in Texas, the college’s PA training has had a track record of producing competent physician assistants, some of whom hold key leadership positions in Texas. Here, you can enroll even if you don’t have a bachelor’s degree as yet, provided you graduate and complete all the pre-requisite courses before the start of the program. Regardless of where you are in your academic journey, to ensure you leave with exceptional clinical skills, the college provides ample practical training in designated PA labs, that includes a cadaver anatomy lab which is exclusively used only by PA students. To ensure you excel as a certified & licensed physician assistant in Texas, the college’s faculty stays committed to your success and supports your aspirations from the very start of this program.

Program Details: This program is structured to include 12 months of didactic courses, followed by 13 months in clinical rotations, finally coming back to the remaining two months of didactic training. The curriculum comprises 112 credits that take 27 months to complete. You master topics such as human anatomy, medical interview & physical exam, preventive medicine & patient education, physiology & pathophysiology, medical ethics, diagnostic methods, behavioral medicine, cross-cultural health, and patient assessment. Through the clinical rotations, you will gain expertise in various specialties, including family medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, mental health, internal medicine, surgery, and emergency medicine. Additionally, besides these core rotations, you also complete two elective rotations in an area of your interest.

Admission Requirements: To start with, you must have a bachelor’s degree in any major and complete the required pre-requisite courses. Other requirements for admission include a GRE score, and although healthcare experience, PA shadowing, and volunteering are not necessary, these factors are recommended to increase your chances of being considered for admission.

9) U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence - Fort Sam Houston

About the PA School: Are you someone with a strong desire to serve the U.S. military as a physician assistant? Do you seek to enroll in one of the physician assistant schools in Texas that provides you with direct placement into the defense forces? If so, you are in the right place as the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence’s PA program is not only one of the largest, but also has an excellent 24-year affiliation with the University of Nebraska Medical Center that produces care-givers for the military. Over the years the program has undergone many changes and today stands tall as one of the prominent sources of providing the nation’s warfighters with caring and skilled physician assistants. This PA program is counted among the highly ranked physician assistant programs in Texas and evidently, so, its graduates have reported an impressive performance on the certification exam, consistently over the past few years.

Program Details: This program leads to a Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies. The first of 16 months during which you complete didactic courses at the Fort Dam Houston campus is followed by 13 months of clinical training at one of the 23 Army, Navy, or Airforce sites across the nation. The total 154 credits that you are required to complete educates you on anatomy & physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, research evaluation, pathology, medical law & ethics, pharmacology, radiology, psychiatry, EKG, and gastroenterology. The comprehensive coursework also trains you in military public health, patient evaluation, and all the specialties and sub-specialties. Phase two of clinical training takes you through rotations in a broad spectrum of areas, ranging from dermatology to ophthalmology and family practice to emergency medicine, ensuring you are adept at providing care in any type of setting, be it during war or peace.

Admission Requirements: The program is open to students serving in the military. Additionally, you must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all science courses. Also, you must have at least 80 hours of shadowing experience with a physician assistant. If admitted into this program, you will be able to complete your PA education without any tuition cost!

10) University of Mary Hardin-Baylor – Baylor

About the PA School: To meet the rising demand of healthcare workers in the state of Texas, highly skilled graduates of any of the best physician assistant programs in Texas are always sought-after to improve health in rural and urban areas. If you are keen on entering this field, then what better than the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor’s PA program that prepares you to work in a variety of healthcare settings. Here, in a Christian environment where integrity, sensitivity, and commitment to excellence are valued, you will be trained to become a compassionate caregiver who is strongly driven by service. Furthermore, regardless of the academic or professional background, you come from, the college’s excellent facilities, including state-of-art labs and simulation center, provide rigorous hands-on training so that you leave the college with utmost professional preparedness as a PA.

Program Details: Counted among the well-known physician assistant programs in Texas, this PA program requires you to complete a total of 120 credits. The duration spans 28 months and includes 12 months of didactic courses, followed by 16 months in clinical rotations. Through the didactic courses, you will be taught about the physician assistant profession, fundamentals of medical science, human anatomy, physiology, patient assessment, pharmacotherapeutics, clinical diseases & prevention, and mental health. Whereas, the clinical phase takes you through rotations in internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics & gynecology, pediatrics, behavioral & mental health, emergency medicine, and family medicine. During the last one month before you graduate, you will be trained to successfully take the national certification exam. Finally, to graduate you must complete a capstone project, demonstrating the newly acquired Physician Assistant knowledge.

Admission Requirements: Unlike other physician assistant programs in Texas that require only a bachelor’s degree in any field and completion of pre-requisite courses for admission, here, to be eligible you must also have a paid or unpaid healthcare experience along with documentation of playing a leadership role. Furthermore, the college requires the submission of all original transcripts, completed essays, and three professional letters of recommendation.


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