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PA Program in Chicago, Illinois

Master of Physician Assistant Studies

PA Program Requirement FAQs

What prerequisites are required?

The following courses are required to have been completed within the last 10 years with a grade of C or better for our PA program in Illinois:

Area of Study

Courses

Semester Credit Hours

Biology (choose one)

General Biology – with lab
Genetics – with lab
Cell Biology – with lab
Molecular Biology – with lab
Immunology – with lab

3

Anatomy & Physiology

(choose one)

Human Anatomy and Physiology
Human Anatomy - with lab and
Human Physiology – lab optional

8

Microbiology

Microbiology – with lab

3

Chemistry (choose one)

Biochemistry – lab preferred
Organic Chemistry I – with lab

3

Statistics (choose one)

Statistics
Biostatistics

3

Psychology

(choose one)

General Psychology
Developmental Psychology

3

Are there any groups that will be given preference in admission?

With limited seats available, applicants who meet the following criteria may have an advantage for our PA school in Chicago:

  • 300+ hours of clinical healthcare experience
  • 16+ hours shadowing a physician assistant
  • Military or veterans
  • Chamberlain students and alumni
  • Resident of a designated medically underserved area

We encourage you to apply early to secure a spot. Request information to get started.

Can I transfer credits into the Chicago PA program?

A maximum of 24 qualifying credits may be transferred, and a grade of ‘B’ or higher is required. Courses must have been taken at the graduate level and designated as a Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine or a Physician Assistant course. An admissions representative can get you started with a transcript evaluation so you know what is eligible to transfer before you enroll. Request information to learn more.

Meet the Faculty

Learn from experienced healthcare educators

PA School Frequently Asked Questions

What do I major in to become a PA?

To enroll in Chamberlain’s PA school in Chicago, you can have a bachelor’s degree with any major. However, you will need to make sure you have taken the prerequisite courses for admission.

What is the difference between a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant?

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants both work at an advanced practice level of care. Physician assistant education uses a medical model,
while nurse practitioner education uses a nursing model.

How long does it take to finish a PA program?

PA programs typically take between 2-3 years to complete. You can earn a degree in as few as 2 years at Chamberlain’s MPAS program in Illinois.

How do I become a physician assistant?

To become a physician assistant, you will need to earn a bachelor’s degree, complete prerequisite science courses, earn a graduate level degree
from an ARC-PA accredited PA program and successfully pass the PANCE, the national certification exam.

Request more information about Chamberlain’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies program.

When do PA programs start?

Many PA programs will enroll for the fall, with some having starts in winter and spring too. Chamberlain’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies program is enrolling for a start date of September 5, 2023.

Accreditation

Learn more about accreditation and approvals for Illinois PA school

Chamberlain University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

See accreditation and state authorization information or view a full list of program approvals by state.

The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Chamberlain University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Chamberlain University.

Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.

Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-chamberlain-university/