Starting your path to becoming a physician assistant

The Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies program at Charleston Southern University consists of didactic and clinical academic work. Our faculty will help you through your journey by fostering your dedication to studies and academic success. Students will be provided with an engaging learning environment and the tools necessary for fostering relationships with peers, faculty, staff and preceptors. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for physician assistants through the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and will be able to apply for licensure through the Board of Medical Examiners in the state in which they wish to practice medicine.

*View comprehensive program costs, or generate your total tuition cost with the tuition calculator.

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Accreditation:

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Charleston Southern University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Charleston Southern University.

Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards. Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the standards.

The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be March 2032. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy. The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website.

Charleston Southern University’s accreditation can be found here.

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Professional Licensure Disclosure Statement:

The Charleston Southern University Physician Assistant Program is an Accreditation Review Commission on Education (ARC-PA) Accredited program.

All 50 states require graduation from an ARC-PA accredited program and National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) certification following successful completion of the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE) as conditions for initial PA licensure.  Successful completion of the CSU PA Program affords our PA graduates the opportunity to sit for the PANCE.

Successfully passing the NCCPA PANCE exam meets all 50 state licensure requirements.  Additional licensure information for each state may be found on the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) website: https://www.aapa.org/download/19739/.

Students are responsible for investigating the specific requirements of the state in which they are planning to practice following graduation. 

For additional information on accreditation affiliations and disclosures at CSU, please visit:  https://www.charlestonsouthern.edu/about/accreditation-disclosures/.