Physician Assistant Studies

Become a PA with UW-La Crosse!

PA Class of 2024 Graduation

Physician Assistant Class of 2024 White Coat Ceremony

Students and faulty practicing exam techniques

PA Class of 2024 Winter Clothing Drive

PA Class of 2025

Students practicing exam techniques

Class of 2025 at the Mayo Clinic

Program partnerships

The UWL PA program represents a unique collaboration with our clinical partners:

Students benefit from the expertise of dedicated academic and clinical instructors each of the four institutions. In the first year, didactic instruction is completed at the UWL Health Science Center. Second year clinical instruction occurs within the healthcare systems represented by our three clinical partners.

Accolades for graduate preparation

Program accreditation
- Accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) since 1997.
Exceptional pass rate
- 99% five-year first-time taker average pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE)
- 2024 NCCPA PANCE Exam Performance Summary Report Last 5 years
Impressive job placement
- Many graduates are now employed across the regions in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa that are served by our clinical partners.

What is a physician assistant?

Physician assistants/physician associates (PAs) are licensed, certified healthcare professionals who practice medicine in partnership with physicians. PAs work in a variety of practice settings, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and research centers. Duties include:

Take medical history
Conduct physical exams
Diagnose & treat illness
Order & interpret tests
Develop treatment plans
Provide preventive care
Assist in surgery
Write prescriptions
Make rounds
Perform clinical research

A day in the life of a grad student

Our students were challenged to describe their graduate experience with one image and six words. Below are the 2021 "Say it in 6" entries from the Physician Assistant Studies program.