The Top Physician Assistant Programs in the Allentown, PA Area

As a Higher Education Reform Expert based in the United States, I analyze physician assistant (PA) programs across the country to provide recommendations on the best programs for prospective students. In this blog post, I will share my research on the top PA programs in and around the Allentown, Pennsylvania area for 2024 admissions.

Overview of PA Programs

Physician assistants are vital healthcare providers who work on medical teams alongside doctors and nurses. They conduct patient exams, diagnose illnesses, develop treatment plans, prescribe medications, and more. Becoming a PA requires completing an accredited master‘s degree program and passing the national certifying exam.

PA programs typically take 3 years to complete. They include classroom instruction and over 2,000 hours of supervised clinical rotations. Areas of study cover topics like pathology, pharmacology, physical diagnosis, clinical medicine, surgical care, emergency medicine and more.

The Allentown area is home to several highly regarded PA programs. When researching programs, important factors I consider include:

• Accreditation Status: Accreditation indicates that a program meets strict educational standards. All reputable PA programs should be accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).

• Admissions Selectivity: More selective programs accept a lower percentage of applicants, indicating the quality and competitiveness of admitted students is higher.

• Tuition Costs: The average PA program tuition is around $90,000 for in-state students and $120,000 for out-of-state students.

• Faculty Credentials: Programs with professors who have advanced certifications and specialties indicate deeper expertise.

• Board Certification Rates: High physician assistant national certification exam pass rates indicate effective preparation by the program.

• Hands-on Clinical Opportunities: Quality and quantity of clinical rotations helps students gain experience and strengthen competencies.

With these criteria in mind, here are my top recommended PA programs in the Allentown area for 2024.

1. DeSales University Physician Assistant Program

Location: Center Valley, PA

Accreditation: ARC-PA Accredited

Admissions selectivity: Very competitive – less than 6% acceptance rate

Tuition: $105,000 total for 3 years

Faculty Credentials: 93% have doctorates or other advanced degrees

Certification Rates: Consistently 100% PANCE pass rate since 2015

Clinical Rotations: Over 2,000 hours, including underserved populations

DeSales University offers an outstanding master‘s degree physician assistant program on their beautiful suburban campus. The program is highly selective, yet nurtures students with small class sizes and extremely accessible professors.

Students graduate exceptionally prepared for the PANCE exam and clinical practice. They are required to complete clinical rotations with underserved patient populations, which provides valuable real-world experience.

The faculty have impressive credentials, such as doctorates and licenses as physicians, PAs, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, etc. This level of expertise helps students develop strong medical competencies across all needed areas.

Based on its selectivity, perfect PANCE pass rates, clinical experiences and expert faculty, DeSales University is my top choice for prospective PA students in the Allentown vicinity.

Website: https://www.desales.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions/physician-assistant-ms-program/

2. Kings College Physician Assistant Program

Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA

Accreditation: ARC-PA Accredited

Admissions Selectivity: Moderately competitive – 15% acceptance

Tuition: $105,000 total

Faculty Credentials: 60% have doctorates

Certification Rates: 97% PANCE first-time pass rate

Clinical Rotations: Over 2,000 hours across variety of specialties

For students willing to travel just under 2 hours from Allentown, the PA program at Kings College is an excellent option. As a private Catholic institution, Kings offers small class sizes in a supportive environment.

Graduates have achieved outstanding 97% first-time pass rates on the national certification over the past 3 years. Students complete clinical rotations at partner medical facilities across over 20 specialization areas.

The faculty have impressive credentials, including doctorates and medical licenses. Kings also focuses on interprofessional education by working with other health profession programs on campus.

With its selectivity, high certification rates, robust clinical experiences and expert faculty, Kings PA program provides a top-notch physician assistant education.

Website: https://www.kings.edu/academics/graduate_professional_programs/physicianassistant/curriculum

3. Moravian University Physician Assistant Program

Location: Bethlehem, PA

Accreditation: ARC-PA Accredited

Admissions Selectivity: Moderately competitive – 17% acceptance

Tuition: $105,000 total

Faculty Credentials: 60% have doctorates

Certification Rates: 97.4% PANCE first-time pass rate

Clinical Rotations: Over 2,000 hours across variety of settings

Moravian University, located right in Bethlehem, houses an excellent PA program at its College of Health Sciences. The program admitted its first cohort in 2017 and has seen strong outcomes thus far.

The faculty have impressive credentials, such as MD, PharmD and PhD degrees. Students have achieved stellar 97.4% first-time PANCE pass rates for the past two years since the program‘s inception.

The PA program utilizes Moravian‘s partnerships with over 300 healthcare providers to secure high quality clinical rotation sites. Students are exposed to diverse patient populations across many specialties.

With its selective admissions, expert faculty, high certification pass rates and extensive clinicals, Moravian‘s program is a top local choice for aspiring PAs.

Website: https://www.moravian.edu/pa-program-admission-requirements

4. Alvernia University Physician Assistant Program

Location: Reading, PA

Accreditation: ARC-PA Accredited

Admissions Selectivity: Moderately competitive – 13% acceptance

Tuition: $94,600 total

Faculty Credentials: 73% have doctorates or medical degrees

Certification Rates: 96% PANCE first-time pass rate

Clinical Rotations: Over 2,000 hours across variety of settings

Students searching for a faith-based PA education may wish to consider Alvernia University located just outside of Reading. Alvernia is a Roman Catholic institution providing ethics-focused program with interactive, hands-on learning.

Graduates have achieved strong 96% first-time pass rates on the PANCE exam over the last 3 years. Students complete clinical rotations across a wide range of healthcare settings and specialties to build competencies.

The faculty have excellent credentials including MD, DO and PhD degrees. Small class sizes also allow for individualized instruction and mentoring.

Alvernia‘s PA program offers competitive admissions along with strong outcomes, making it an excellent option in the greater Lehigh Valley region.

Website: https://www.alvernia.edu/academics/graduate/physician-assistant-masters-degree

5. Penn State College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program

Location: Hershey, PA

Accreditation: ARC-PA Accredited

Admissions Selectivity: Extremely competitive – 3% acceptance rate

Tuition: $106,000 total for residents; $133,500 total for non-residents

Faculty Credentials: 100% have doctorates or medical degrees

Certification Rates: 100% PANCE first-time pass rate

Clinical Rotations: Over 2,000 hours across variety of settings

As Pennsylvania‘s only medical school, Penn State College of Medicine offers an Ivy-league quality PA program at its Hershey campus. With ultra selective admissions and exceptional certification pass rates, graduates are highly sought after.

The faculty leading this program all hold MD, DO or PhD degrees and provide an rigorous, comprehensive education. Students complete clinical rotations at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, gaining exposure to cutting-edge practice.

While the commute from Allentown is over an hour, students receive a world-class medical education at Penn State‘s esteemed PA program.

Website: https://med.psu.edu/physician-assistant/programs/masters-degree/admissions

Considerations When Choosing a PA Program

As you explore PA programs in the Allentown area and beyond, keep the following key considerations in mind:

Career Goals and Specializations

What patient populations and medical specialties are you interested in working with? Certain programs offer rotations with specific focal areas that can help strengthen competencies in your desired practice areas.

Location and Commuting

Look at the time and distance to travel to campus. Programs over 90 minutes away will require housing arrangements as well which increases costs.

Class Size

Larger cohorts mean less individual faculty attention. Smaller class sizes tend to provide more supportive environments.

Tuition and Scholarships

Compare tuition rates of various programs, remembering most do not accept federal financial aid. Also inquire about merit-based scholarships to help offset costs.

Prerequisites

Ensure you will meet all admissions requirements like undergraduate coursework minimums, GPAs, patient care hours etc.

Compare programs across these aspects and rank your priorities. An objective analysis based on goals and needs can help identify your optimal PA program.

Continued Growth Projected for PA Professions

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects excellent job growth for PAs over the next decade. Opportunities span all medical and surgical specialties. The mean annual wage is currently over $120,000 per year.

PA graduates from high quality, accredited programs like those offered around the Allentown area will find themselves in high demand. These programs provide the knowledge, competencies and experiences needed to launch rewarding and meaningful careers. They play a critical role in shaping top quality medical providers.

Through selective admissions, rigorous curriculums, accomplished faculty, extensive clinicals and stellar certification exam pass rates, the aforementioned Allentown-proximate PA programs all demonstrate impressive outcomes. By researching program components thoroughly and reflecting thoughtfully on personal goals, prospective students can determine their ideal PA education option.