South University — Tampa Physician Assistant Program

Yes. South University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of South University.

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation Continued to the South University Physician Assistant Program-Tampa, Florida sponsored by South University-Tampa, Florida. Continued accreditation is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA standards.

Continued 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remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the standards.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 comprehensive review of the program by the ARC-PA will be March 2017. Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc., 12000Findley Road, Suite 240, Johns Creek, GA, 30097; Telephone: 770.476.1224

Master of Science Physician Assistant Studies Degree Program Technical Standards

In order to ensure that patients receive the best medical care possible, the faculty of the South University Physician Assistant program has identified certain skills and professional behaviors that are essential for successful progression of physician assistant students in the program. A student must possess skills and behaviors at a level of capability to perform a variety of duties required of a physician assistant as a health care professional.

Students with disabilities who can perform these skills and successfully execute professional behavior either unassisted, with dependable use of assistive devices, or by employing other reasonable accommodations are eligible to apply for enrollment in the program. Minimum performance standards include critical thinking, communication skills, observation skills, motor skills, and interpersonal abilities. Interested parties may contact the Physician Assistant Studies Program office for additional information about South University performance standards. These skills and behaviors include, but are not limited to; those outlined in the document

Essentials and Guidelines for an Accredited Education Program for the Physician Assistant (2001) as established by the Accreditation Review Commission of Physician Assistant Programs (ARCPA).

• Critical Thinking: All students must possess the intellectual, ethical, physical and emotional capabilities required to undertake the full curriculum and to achieve the levels of competence required by the faculty. The ability to solve problems, a skill that is critical to the practice of medicine, requires the intellectual abilities of measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis and synthesis. Candidates for the program must be able to perform demonstrations and experiments in the basic sciences.
• Communication Skills: A candidate should also be able to speak, to hear, and to observe patients in order to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity and posture, and to perceive nonverbal communications. The candidate must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written forms.
• Observation Skills: Candidates must be able to observe a patient accurately, both at a distance and close at hand. This ability requires the functional use of vision and somatic sensation.
• Motor Skills: Candidates should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion and other diagnostic techniques. A candidate should be able to execute movements reasonably required to move from area to area, maneuver in small places, calibrate and use large and small equipment, position and move patients, and provide patients with general care and emergency treatment.
• Interpersonal Abilities: A candidate for the Physician Assistant Program must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his or her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities required for the diagnosis and care of patients and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients, families and colleagues.

An applicant to the South University Physician Assistant Studies Program who may require special accommodation(s) on the basis of a disability will be requested to provide pertinent information for review by the Physician Assistant Studies Admissions Committee and the Dean of Student Affairs. A candidate for admissions must request such information when applying for the program. The admission decision with respect to accommodation will be made by the committee on an individual candidate basis after thorough consideration is given to all relevant factors.

The South University Physician Assistant Studies Program awards graduates the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) degree. Once provisional accreditation is granted, graduates will be eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) offered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Graduates of our Physician Assistant Program, who are certified by the NCCPA, are eligible to practice in all 50 states.

The Program accepts approximately 24 students in each class.

Yes. To apply to the South University PA Program go to: https://portal.caspaonline.org/

September 1st is the deadline for applicants to submit their applications to our program for the first year.

The Program begins each year in early January. A one-week orientation precedes the formal start of classes.

No. The Program only matriculates one class per year in January.

View current tuition and fees estimates for the Physician Assistant Studies program at South University - Tampa here.

No.

While most incoming students have earned their bachelor’s degrees in a science or healthcare field, it is not required. Strong preparation in natural sciences is highly valued. The number of courses, the level of those courses, and performance are important considerations. Applicants should demonstrate ability to handle social science and humanities as well. If an applicant does not possess a science or healthcare related degree, it is strongly encouraged that they attempt to get as much clinical experience as possible.

Please view the prerequisites here.

Yes. However, students submitting an application with greater than two outstanding prerequisite courses will not be considered for admission.

No. No prerequisites for admission are waived on the basis of prior healthcare/life experience.

In general, prerequisites cannot be substituted. Exceptions to the prerequisite requirements will be considered only in very rare instances and must be approved by the Admissions Committee.

The South University Physician Assistant Studies Program accepts credit for Advanced Placement (AP) courses. AP courses taken and successfully completed will be counted as one course credit toward completion of the respective prerequisite subject. Grades earned in AP courses are not used in calculation of the applicants overall or prerequisite GPA. The South University Physician Assistant Studies Program does not accept College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit for any prerequisite requirements.

No. The South University – Tampa PA program is a CASPA-participating program. Official transcripts should be sent to CASPA at the time of application. However, if there are outstanding prerequisite courses at the time of application, official transcripts of that coursework should be sent to the program upon completion.

South University strongly encourages applicants to participate in patient-centered clinical experience prior to application and matriculation. The experience of working with patients is valuable to anyone considering a career as a Physician Assistant. While it is advantageous that entering students have some direct patient contact, it is the policy of the South University Physician Assistant Studies Program not to prescribe a minimum number of patient contact hours or fields in which the experience must be gained. Experience is considered in the application review process of each individual applicant. Significant healthcare experience is valued in considering the admission qualifications of any given applicant.

Many applicants begin working in the healthcare field in the summer between high school and college. By working in healthcare each summer during their undergraduate education, they accrue the necessary hours. Potential entry-level positions (paid and unpaid) include Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), paramedic, medical assistant, phlebotomist, nursing aide, home healthcare aide, and volunteers for community mental health or family planning agencies.

Yes. Applicants are required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test.

Yes. Applications will be reviewed if GRE scores are not yet received by CASPA and/or the South University Physician Assistant Studies Program. However, admissions decisions cannot be made until all application materials are received including GRE scores.

The GRE scores are assessed in conjunction with the applicant’s complete profile. The South University Physician Assistant Studies program does not set a minimum acceptable score for the GRE but looks at scores at or above the 50th percentile as more competitive. Additional explanation on the meaning of the GRE scores can be found here.

Yes. The PA Program office must receive an official GRE score report for each student prior to admissions decisions or matriculation.

The South University GRE code is 1990. There is no specific program code for the GRE.

Yes. After review of applications, those applicants deemed competitive are invited for an on-campus interview. The Physician Assistant Studies Program conducts “behavioral” interviews on each candidate. (For information on this style of interview you can do a web search for “Behavioral Interviews.”) Each applicant will have two general interviews and one interview with the Program Director. The general interviews generally include one applicant and one to two Program representatives.

Admission preference is not given to residents of Florida. Tuition for all students is the same.

Yes. Upon acceptance, each student is required to purchase a criminal background check. The background checks are at the expense of the student and are performed by a third party agency. Finding of any prior criminal activity may terminate the student’s acceptance into the South University Physician Assistant Studies Program.

Our program does not offer a part-time option or online courses.

No. Every student accepted to our program must apply for admission as specified.

Students for whom English is a second language must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum paper-based score of 600, TOEFL no longer administers the computer based test or TOEFL Internet (iBT) based score of 80.

Students for whom English is a second language must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum paper-based score of 600, computer-based score of 250 or internet based score of 80.

• Overall (Cumulative):
  2.8/4.0 Required
• Prerequisite Courses:
  3.0/4.0 Strongly Recommended

Students may rotate in busy clinics, private physicians’ offices, teaching hospitals, large institutions, and military hospitals and clinics. Rotations may exist in small Florida towns and huge metropolitan cities. Opportunities exist for students to rotate in underserved areas in rural, suburban, and urban settings. Our students are offered a wide variety of experiences and locations for their clinical rotations, thus rounding out the application of knowledge and skills to actual patient care.

Students are offered a choice in selecting their clinical rotations. Academic and professional performance while in the Program and prior clinical experience are taken into consideration in all placements.

Rental apartments and housing are available in the surrounding area through realtors and relocation services. In addition, students may avail themselves to housing services through The Art Institute of Tampa (a branch of Miami International University of Art & Design) Housing and Residential Life program at 813.393.5271.

Our Financial Aid officers, who are vey knowledgeable in this area make every attempt to assist students seeking financial aid, can be reached at 813.393.3800. You can also find information about student loans here.

The school code for South University – Tampa is 013039-08.

Working while attending the Program is not recommended. Due to the intensive nature of the Physician Assistant Studies Program curriculum and study hours involved in the didactic phase (the first 15 months), most students do not work. During clinical rotations, students find that their patient management responsibilities and time required preparing for rounds and attending conferences do not allow them to work. In no case are students allowed to work more than 15 hours per week.