Welcome to the Master Physician Assistant Program

The physician assistant program at Samuel Merritt University prepares graduates for the practice of medicine in an ever changing clinical environment. Graduates possess the educational foundation for continued intellectual growth, in a shrinking world of diverse cultures. Graduates demonstrate the institutional values embodied in the nine Samuel Merritt Core Learning Competencies, including critical thinking, effective communication, clinical competence, and skill in scientific inquiry.

Why Choose the Physician Assistant Program at Samuel Merritt University…

• 95% first time pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE) for all graduates. Average national first time pass rate over same period = 94%;
• Accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant; next review September 2018;
• Small class sizes. The SMU PA Department admits an annual class of 36 students;
• Campus Location: Oakland, CA with clinical placement sites in the greater Bay Area;
• Opportunity to participate in community health with under-served patients and international rotation experiences;
• Extensive use of high fidelity medical simulation technology throughout the curriculum;
• The MPA program is committed to the education of highly skilled, knowledgeable physician assistants who contribute to the provision of high quality health care to all individuals in a wide variety of clinical settings.

Admission Requirements

Completion of all course prerequisites with a grade of “C-” or higher.

The MPA program defines health care experience as direct, "hands on" patient contact that is paid and/or volunteer. This experience can  be gained through a variety of paid or volunteer work including, but not  necessarily limited to: EMT, paramedic, certified nursing assistant, phlebotomist, scribe, registered nurse,  medic, etc.

Acknowledging  that applicants have diverse health care experiences, it remains the applicant’s responsibility to exhibit aspects of their  particular experience through the job duties and/or personal statement.

Minimum requirement:  1000 hours achieved by the  application deadline and  documented on the  CASPA application.

Application Deadline:

The MPA program at Samuel Merritt University participates in the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Applicants apply online at www.caspaonline.org

Applications for Fall are available on the CASPA website beginning May 1st. First consideration will be given to applicants who have submitted all required documents to CASPA by Oct. 1st. Applications submitted to CASPA after Oct. 1st will be considered on a space-available basis and admission will be closed after a suitable cohort has been identified.