Program Accreditation

The University of Florida Physician Assistant Program is fully accredited by The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc.

Credential Awarded

Upon successful completion of the Program, students are awarded a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine. The graduate is then eligible to sit for the National Certifying Examination for Physician Assistants which is prepared by the National Board of Medical Examiners.

Curriculum: Class of 2005 - 2006

The eight semesters of the Program's curriculum is divided into didactic and clinical phases:

ACADEMIC YEAR - (40 credits) The first half of the curriculum consists of an intensive academic phase taught in the classrooms, laboratories, and clinical facilities of the Health Science Center. Program faculty, along with faculty from the Colleges of Medicine and Dentistry teach courses that include the basic and clinical sciences.

Semester I: Summer B

• PAS 5003 Medical Communications (2 cr.)
• PAS 5022 Gross and Radiologic Anatomy (4 cr.)

Semester II: Fall

• PAS 5000 Physical Diagnosis (2 cr.)
• PAS 5005 Behavioral and Community Medicine I (1 cr.)
• PAS 5010 Introduction to Medicine I (6 cr.) ¹
• PAS 5025 Human Physiology (4 cr.)

Semester III: Spring

• PAS 5001 Patient Evaluation and Hospital Practicum (2 cr.)
• PAS 5004 Clinical Problem Solving & Differential Diagnosis (1 cr.)
• PAS 5007 Clinical Procedures (1 cr.)
• PAS 5009 Behavioral and Community Medicine II (1 cr.)
• PAS 5020 Introduction to Medicine II (6 cr.) ²
• PAS 5026 Pharmacotherapeutics (4 cr.)
• PAS 5027 EKG Interpretation and Life Support Techniques (1 cr.)

Semester IV: Summer A

• PAS 5008C Advanced Clinical Practicum (2 cr.)
• PAS 5013 Evidence-Based Medicine for PA's (3cr.)

¹ Dermatology, Rheumatology, Hematology/Oncology, Cardiology, Pulmonology, Nephro-Urology, ENT/Dental/Ophthalmology, Obstetrics-Gynecology, Gastroenterology, Nutrition.

² Orthopedics, Infectious Diseases, Geriatrics, Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Neurology, Psychiatry, Surgery, Emergency Medicine.

CLINICAL YEAR - (40 credits) The second half of the Program is built around twelve one-month clinical rotations in a variety of outpatient and inpatient health care facilities throughout the State. Clinical training sites include private practice settings, urban and rural sites, university-based teaching facilities, and government hospitals and clinics. Clinical year students are required to vary their rotations to insure a wide range of clinical experience. This means that students can expect to travel away from their home base during the clinical year.

Semester V: Summer B

• Two Rotations (6 cr.) ³
• PAS 5930 Special Topics (1 cr.)

Semester VI: Fall

• Four Rotations (12 cr.) ³
• PAS 5930 Special Topics (1 cr.)

Semester VII: Spring

• Four Rotations (12 cr.) ³
• PAS 5930 Special Topics (1 cr.)

Semester VIII: Summer A

• Two Rotations (6 cr.) ³
• PAS 5930 Special Topics (1 cr.)

³ Each clinical rotation = 3 credits.

Required clinical rotations include:
Emergency Medicine (1 month)
General Surgery (1 month)
Intensive Care Medicine (1 month)
Internal Medicine (2 months)
Obstetrics-Gynecology (1 month)
Pediatrics (2 months)
Primary Care (2 months)
Psychiatry (1 month)
Elective Rotation (1 month)

As part of the Program's support for the primary care needs of rural populations, at least one clinical rotation (primary care, internal medicine, or pediatrics) must be done in a rural setting.