Physician Assistant Studies Hybrid (MS)

At Pitt, the Physician Assistant Hybrid (PAS-Hybrid) program prepares the next generation of providers willing to push the envelope and adapt to industry changes.

The PAS-Hybrid curriculum is consistent with the following competencies and program learning outcomes, which were adapted from the Core Competencies for New Physician Assistant Graduates established by the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA).

Graduate Performance on the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam® (PANCE)

Once available, the results of the most current annual NCCPA PANCE Exam Performance Summary Report (Last 5 Years) for all takers and first-time takers provided by the NCCPA.

Expected by April 1 each year.

Student Attrition and Graduation Rates

*Attrition rate calculation: Number of students who attritted from cohort divided by the entering class size.
**Graduation rate: Number of cohort graduates divided by the entering class size.

NOTE: Entering class size is the number of students newly enrolled for the admission cycle PLUS number of students who are reentering from a different cohort. Attrition includes students who voluntarily withdraw from the program; are dismissed for academic or professionalism reasons; take a personal or medical leave of absence; or who require additional time to complete the program of study.
Regarding the students who attritted from the Class of 2024 cohort, seven of the eight have rejoined a future cohort and are on track to complete the program within the University of Pittsburgh’s statute of limitations for professional programs awarding the Master of Science degree.

Program Competencies and Program Learning Outcomes

As outcomes of the program, PAS-Hybrid graduates will have demonstrated their ability to:

• Patient-Centered Practice Knowledge
  • Gather clinical information, formulate differential diagnoses, order and interpret laboratory and imaging, perform necessary core duty procedures, and diagnose, prevent, treat and manage illness among acute, chronic and emerging disease states.
  • Integrate into practice appropriate literature to make evidence-based decisions on patient care.
• Society and Population Health
  • Integrate into practice the cultural norms, needs, influences, and socioeconomic, environmental, physiological and other population-level determinants affecting the health of the individual and community being served.
  • Integrate into practice the interventions that diminish health disparities involving race or ethnicity, sex, sexual identity, age, disability, socioeconomic status and geographic location involving the individual patient and the community being served.
  • Integrate into practice basic principles of public health including epidemiology, disease prevention, surveillance, reporting and intervention. Provide appropriate referrals involving the public health system to ensure patient advocacy and in the maintenance of population health.
• Health Literacy and Communication
  • Communicate effectively and respectfully with patients, families and other health care professionals.
• Interprofessional Collaborative Practice and Leadership
  • Coordinate care to optimize the health of patients and populations.
• Professional and Legal Aspects of Health Care
  • Provide standard-of-care practice while demonstrating respect for the dignity and privacy of patients.
  • Incorporate a personal wellness plan to prevent impairment and burnout.
  • Demonstrate professional accountability.
• Health Care Finance and Systems
  • Differentiate the types of health care systems and health insurance coverage, including Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
  • Practice health care informed by an understanding of the financial implications to patients, organizations and society.
  • Recognize personal limitations and incorporate a quality improvement process designed to maximize patient safety, prevention of medical errors and incorporation of risk management.

A Career Path That Moves Health Care Forward

Certified physician assistants are in demand, and the need for qualified care team members is expected to grow.

Job openings for physician assistants are projected to grow over 30% by 2029, much faster than the average industry (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021). Graduates of our program who become Certified Physician Assistants can work in any of the following settings and have the flexibility to move between areas:

Hybrid Program and State Licensure Preparation Information

Updated July 1, 2024

The University of Pittsburgh has determined that the curriculum of the Physician Assistant Studies Hybrid Program meets the requirements for licensure or certification in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and all the U.S. territories listed below (in accordance with 34 CFR 668.43(a)(5)(v) and 34 CFR 668.43(c)).

​Students should review all requirements for licensure specific to the state where they will practice. Non-curricular licensure requirements vary by state and are updated by each state’s licensing board.