The physician assistant profession is becoming a huge part of the health care system. In the last decade, the number of applicants to PA schools has almost doubled, making admission very competitive.
There are hundreds of PA schools in the world including pa schools with high acceptance rates, pa schools with no GRE scores, and even online programs. If you live in New Jersey, we will help you identify the best programs you should apply to.
We compiled a list of the best NJ physician assistant programs and their important admissions data.
Each program, however, has varying admissions requirements, duration, and curriculum. You can select the option that best suits your career aspirations. Before we dive into the list of schools, let’s take a glance at the overall physician assistant profession.
Table of contents
- Who Is A Physician Assistant?
- Why PA School In New Jersey?
- How Much Does It Cost To enroll In Good PA Schools In New Jersey?
- How Long Does It Take To Complete PA Schools In New Jersey?
- How Do I Succeed In A Good PA School In New Jersey?
- PA Schools Accreditation
- How Do I Apply for PA Schools In New Jersey?
- List of Top PA Schools In New Jersey
- What Are The Professional Associations for Physician Assistants?
- How Much Do Graduates From PA Schools In New Jersey Earn?
- What Is The Job Outlook Of Graduates Best PA Schools In New Jersey?
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions On PA Schools In New Jersey
- References
- We Also Recommend
Who Is A Physician Assistant?
Physician Assistant is a medical professional with a license trained in a medical school model curriculum. They work under a physician’s supervision to perform physical examinations on patients.
Physician assistants also diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medication, assist in surgery, and provide patient education and counseling.
Why PA School In New Jersey?
PA schools in New Jersey are among the world’s most prominent and renowned research institutions. They rank in annual publications such as the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings, U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly, and many others.
NJ has top well-recognized PA schools, which are loaded with experienced staff and the latest technologies for students to gain knowledge and experience.
Graduates of these schools work in numerous fields of medicine including primary care, internal medicine, pediatrics, orthopedics, emergency medicine, general surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, hospital medicine, hematology/oncology, urology, cardiology, rheumatology, OB/GYN, interventional radiology and many more.
Others go on to successfully obtain positions in post-graduate residency programs across the US.
In fact, after graduation from a top Pa school in NJ, you can boast of skills to help those in need and make a real difference in people’s lives.
How Much Does It Cost To enroll In Good PA Schools In New Jersey?
The cost of attending physician assistant schools in New Jersey depends on several factors. First is the school and degree option. Most PA schools in Nj charge higher tuition for out-of-state students. However, some schools charge flat tuition regardless of residency.
Another key factor is the number of programs. A school that offers a greater number of programs is bound to charge more than that with fewer programs.
In summary, per-credit costs for NJ physician assistant programs typically range from $425 to $450. Students in a standard or full-time program should expect to pay between $15,000 and $100,000 in total tuition.
Despite the costs, the Physician Assistant degree is generally considered as one of the most promising within the healthcare field.
If you worried about how to fund your program, you can apply for Physician Assistant Scholarships
How Long Does It Take To Complete PA Schools In New Jersey?
PA schools in New Jersey offer a Physician assistant program for undergraduate and master’s students. The Undergraduate coursework typically takes two to five years, while the master’s curriculum takes two to three years.
The training begins with a solid foundation of science and medical field training. For 2 years, you can expect to take lecture and lab sciences classes where you study such subjects as anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, physiology, and other content relevant to the field of osteopathic medicine.
Similarly, the master’s programs require 36 to 44 credits and can be completed within 2 to 3 years. However, some programs allow students who already have a physician assistant bachelor’s degree to finish their required coursework in as little as one year.
How Do I Succeed In A Good PA School In New Jersey?
Knowing what to expect from studying at a great PA school is one of the secrets to success in the physician assistant profession. The tips below will help you gain admission and graduate with an excellent degree.
- Report to school on time.
- Take good notes during lessons. it is called ”Active learning”
- Stay organized to avoid falling behind and forgetting when things are due.
- Take your didactic courses and clinical rotations seriously.
- Ensure that you keep a detailed calendar with all of your upcoming exams and assignments, as also your extracurricular commitments.
- Study in groups to engage in more detailed discussions, exchange different perspectives on topics, and identify areas of individual weakness.
- Get a good Sleep; According to William Dement(MD, Ph.D. Stanford University), “The average sleep requirement for college students is well over 8 hours.
PA Schools Accreditation
A good PA school must have accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission for The Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
The ARC-PA offers Accreditional-Provisional, an accreditation status, to qualified PA schools. This status shows that the school’s PA program meets the ARC-PA standards. It also shows that the school demonstrates continued progress in complying with the standards.
The pa schools in New Jersey that you will see in the later section of this article all have the ARC-PA accreditation. This is part of the reason why they make the list, as well as why you should apply to them.
How Do I Apply for PA Schools In New Jersey?
All PA schools in NJ highlighted in this article requires you to apply for admission using the Central Application Services for Physician Assistants (CASPA) portal.
However, you have to first visit your preferred school site to view their requirements before proceeding to CASPA.
If you meet your school’s requirement, hurry to the CASPA official site and create an account.
After the account creation, you should complete the “college attended section”, as well as the “evaluations section.”
Follow through with all the requirements on the portal, then submit your application. After that, your completed and verified application will be reviewed. Finally, you will get a call for an interview if you qualify for it.
List of Top PA Schools In New Jersey
Below are the top PA schools in NJ arranged in no particular order. The basics of our selection of these schools are their rankings, accreditation, acceptance rate, tuition, graduation rate, and other relevant factors.
We got our data from reliable sources, testimonials, interviews, and also by contacting individual schools. Below is the list of the schools; you will have to read further to get information on the various degree programs offered, tuition info, and program options for these schools.
- Rutgers University
- Monmouth University
- Seton Hall University
- Thomas Jefferson University
- Saint Elizabeth University
#1.Rutgers University
Tuition: $79, 941
If you seek a great Master of Science program for physician assistants in New Jersey, Rutgers University should be the first place you should consider.
Rutgers is fully accredited and offers a variety of pa programs. The school features a joint Master of Science and Master of Public Health program that takes four years to complete.
Also, it provides 3+3 physician assisting collaboration programs with several colleges in the area, such as Kean University, Montclair State University, and other schools.
These are designed for students who wish to earn a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in six years, instead of the normal seven years.
After your pa program at Rutgers, you can get employment as a physician assistant across the United States in a multitude of medical specialties.
#2. Monmouth University
Tuition: $126,501
Another great school that offers a PA program in New Jersey is Monmouth University. This school features a Master of Science program for physician assistants looking to learn a new skill.
The 36-month program basically comprised of classroom and clinical learning. To enroll in this program, you must have completed prerequisite courses, including psychology and chemistry, and also have at least 200 hours of experience in a clinical environment, such as shadowing a physician.
#3. Seton Hall University
Tuition: $129,600
One of the best NJ physician assistant programs is that of Seton Hall University. The university provides an accredited master’s degree option for aspiring PAs.
The program consists of 96-credit didactic coursework and trains students on how to work with doctors in all medical disciplines. In addition to classes, students complete 60 weeks of clinical rotations in surgery, critical care, and other fields.
To gain admission to this program, you must have a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.2 and above. Prerequisite courses like biology and chemistry are required.
Additionally, you must also have at least 100 hours of clinical experience, such as volunteer programs, healthcare work experience, or physician shadowing experience.
#4.Thomas Jefferson University
Tuition: $46,250
Thomas Jefferson University offers a pa program in partnership with Richard Stockton University of New Jersey and Reliance Medical Group.
The program has received full accreditation and features a 25 months curriculum that emphasizes research competence, basic sciences knowledge, and physical examination skills.
In selecting candidates for this program, the school admission committee considers a Bachelor’s degree at a regionally accredited institution, a cumulative, science and prerequisite coursework GPA of 3.25 and above.
#5 Saint Elizabeth University
Tuition: $18,018
The Saint Elizabeth University(SEU) is listed among the top pa schools in NJ. SEU offers a Physician Assistant program at the graduate level only.
The school’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant program is accredited by ARC-PA and designed to prepare PAs who are competent and committed to respectfully serving the patients under their care.
The program comprises a 104-credit curriculum that is delivered over 27 consecutive months. Graduates of this program can boast of knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for competent clinical practice.
Check out; Top PA schools in Michigan
What Are The Professional Associations for Physician Assistants?
Do you know being a part of a professional association can be beneficial for you as a physician assistant? This is very necessary especially if you are a fresh graduate or enrolled in a graduate program.
These associations offer continuing education opportunities and connect you to online publications, invitations to networking events, and information about job openings. Here are the top organizations you can identify yourself with as a physician assistant.
American Academy of Physician Assistants
AAPA was established in 1968 and represent more than 100,000 PAs across the country in various medical and healthcare fields.
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The academy’s continuing medical education offers online course modules, for which as a member, you can receive discounted rates.
Additionally, the AAPA website also features an online career center and resources for students.
American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants
AASPA is a body that represents surgical physician assistants, students, and PA residents. Joining this association will give you easy access to online journals and hosts an annual continuing medical education conference.
National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
This organization started as far back as 1974. This body is the only certification provider for physician assistants in the U.S.
If you check the NCCPA website, you will see features sections for PAs seeking certification for the first time and for those who would like to maintain their current certification.
There are also specialty certificates offered in fields like emergency medicine, hospital medicine, orthopedic surgery, and pediatrics.
How Much Do Graduates From PA Schools In New Jersey Earn?
The median annual salary for physician assistants is $101,480 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Among graduates of New Jersey physician assistant programs, the lowest 10 percent earn less than $65,620, while the highest 10 percent earn more than $142,210.
What Is The Job Outlook Of Graduates Best PA Schools In New Jersey?
When you are considering the best PA school for you, ensure that you consider the job outlook for that position as well.
That being said, technological advancement will play a big role in the employment of physicians and assistants.
Demand for physician assistants is expected to grow 30 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Also due to the growing population, there will be a need for more health care.
Job opportunities for PA are expected to be good, especially in rural and low-income areas. Some of these areas do not have enough doctors.
If you are seeking an online option, check out 13 Best Accredited Online Colleges in New Jersey
Conclusion
Becoming a Physician assistant a very lucrative career choice to make. There is a huge range of career opportunities for graduates of top pa schools. If you stay in New Jersey, you can take advantage of the best Pa school on our list.
Frequently Asked Questions On PA Schools In New Jersey
The median Physician Assistant Salary is $106,860 per year ($60.00 per hour) according to the 2018 AAPA Census data report.
Roughly four years
The Average Cost across all PA Schools in NJ is about $71,369; the average cost of non-resident tuition for a 27-month physician assistant program is $89,975.
References
- Physician Assistant Program: tri-c.edu
- Physician Assistant Schools in New Jersey: thepaplatform.com
- study.com: Physician Assistant Programs in NJ with School Information
- Accredited Physician Assistant Programs: physicianassistantedu.org
- Online Master’s Degree for Physician Assistants: usnews.com
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