Physician Assistants (PAs) are health professionals, prepared to practice medicine with physician supervision. Within the physician/PA relationship, PAs exercise autonomy in decision-making and provide a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. The role of the PA includes provision of primary and specialty care in medical and surgical practices located in rural, urban or suburban areas. Physician assistant practice is patient care centered but may include education, research and administrative duties.

The University of Toledo (UToledo) Physician Assistant (PA) Program is a graduate entry-level professional course of study enabling individuals who hold baccalaureate degrees to become PAs. The program is designed to prepare graduates for primary care practice with emphasis placed on both service to medically under-served populations and the team approach to the delivery of healthcare. The program integrates graduate level critical thinking and analysis, problem solving, scientific inquiry, self-directed learning and the effective use of modern technology for professional practice that includes elements of research, leadership, education and continued professionalization of the physician assistant occupation.

The Physician Assistant Program admit 40 students each Fall Semester (August). The application cycle opens in April of the year prior to enrollment and closes September 1 of the year prior to enrollment. 

Admission Requirements:

• CASPA application submitted by September 1

• UToledo application fee submitted by September 1

• Bachelor’s degree completed by June 15 of the year of potential matriculation

• Completion of prerequisite courses by June 15 of the year of potential matriculation

• Overall GPA of 3.20 (CASPA Calculated)

• Prerequisite GPA of 3.20 (CASPA Calculated)

• Applicants are recommended to take the CASPER (Altus Suite – admissions assessments of non-cognitive skills)

• Applicants are recommended to take the PA-CAT.

Early submission of online CASPA and online UToledo Supplemental Application is encouraged. Interviews will be conducted virtually starting June/July and continue through October. The program may offer seats at any time during the application cycle.

Prerequisites

The following prerequisites must be completed with a grade of "C" or better with the exception of the Anatomy and Physiology courses*. A grade of C- will not be accepted. Applicants must have grades of B- or better in Anatomy and Physiology. 

1. Anatomy (3 semester credit hours)**

2. Physiology (3 semester credit hours)**

3. General/Inorganic Chemistry (3 semester credit hours)

4. General/Inorganic Chemistry Lab (1 semester credit hours)***

5. Organic/Bio Chemistry (3 semester credit hours)

6. Organic/Bio Chemistry lab (1 semester credit hours)***

7. Microbiology (3 semester credit hours)

8. Microbiology lab (1 semester credit hours)***

9. Psychology (3 semester credit hours)

10. Psychology (3 semester credit hours)

11. College-level math or Statistics (3 semester credit hours)

12. Medical Terminology (1 semester credit hour)

*For applicants enrolled at institutions that utilize a point system for course grades, the program will accept a 3.0 for a B and 2.0 for a C. Any grade lower than 2.0 is unacceptable.

**Six credit hours of Anatomy & Physiology (i.e., A&P I and II) will be accepted.

***The laboratory will be recognized as an independent course if it is completed separately from the main course.

For applicants enrolled at institutions that use a quarter system, credit hours are converted such that five (5) quarter hours = three (3) semester hours.

The prerequisite coursework identified above must be completed within eight (8) years of potential matriculation. 

If you have any questions, please email PhysicianAssistant@utoledo.edu.

Some degree of preference will be given to applicants who are:

• Ohio residents

• UToledo graduates

• Military veteran

• Non-traditional (≥25 years old)

• First-generation college graduate

• Economically disadvantaged

• Rural area

Candidates will need to have the following submitted before matriculation:

• Clean BCI and FBI background checks

• Drug Screening (if required by clinical site)

• Health requirements:

  • Physical Exam (yearly)

  • 2-Step PPD

  • Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular (T-DAP) or Tetanus-diphtheria within the last 10 years

  • Immunization records for Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella (chicken pox) or proof of immunity by titer

  • Immunization records for Hepatitis B vaccination and a positive Hepatitis B Surface Antibody
     

  • Influenza vaccinations annually. COVID-19 vaccination is not required, however, it is strongly recommended.

• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) card

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE LICENSURE
Completion of The University of Toledo ARC-PA accredited PA Program meets the educational degree requirements to apply for Physician Assistant licensure in all states with the exception of Wisconsin. More information can be found on The University of Toledo State Authorization website.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
ANAT 5000	Anatomy	6
PHSL 5050	Human Physiology	4
PHYA 5010	Introduction to PA Profession	1
PHYA 5100	Principle Interview/Medical History	2
PHYA 5130	Patient Evaluation	4
PHYA 5140	Health Care Teams and Systems	2
PHYA 5210	Diagnostic and Therapeutic Skills I	2
PHYA 5220	Diagnostic and Therapeutic Skills II	4
PHYA 5230	Diagnostic and Therapeutic Skills III	5
PHYA 5310	Clinical Medicine I	5
PHYA 5400	Pathophysiology I	4
PHYA 5340	Clinical Medicine II	5
PHYA 5330	Clinical Medicine III	6
PHYA 5410	Pathophysiology II	4
PHYA 5430	Pathophysiology III	2
PHYA 5510	Fundamentals of Pharmacology I	4
PHYA 5520	Fundamentals of Pharmacology II	3
PHYA 5530	Fundamentals of Pharmacology III	1
PHYA 6010	Clinical Genetics	1
PHYA 6050	Ethics for PA Profession	1
PHYA 6110	Population and Lifestyle Medicine	3
PHYA 6130	Evidence Based Medicine	3
PHYA 6150	Behavioral Science	2
PHYA 6310	Clinical Rotation - Behavior Health	5
PHYA 6320	Clinical Rotation - Elective	5
PHYA 6330	Clinical Rotation - Emergency Medicine	5
PHYA 6340	Clinical Rotation - Family Medicine	5
PHYA 6350	Clinical Rotation - Internal Medicine	5
PHYA 6360	Clinical Rotation - Pediatrics	5
PHYA 6370	Clinical Rotation - Surgery	5
PHYA 6380	Clinical Rotation - Women's Health	5
PHYA 6500	Introduction to Clinical Practice	4
PHYA 6610	Scholarly Project I	1
PHYA 6620	Scholarly Project II	1
PHYA 6630	Scholarly Project III	1
Total Hours		121

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
First Term		Hours
ANAT 5000	Anatomy	6
PHSL 5050	Human Physiology	4
PHYA 5010	Introduction to PA Profession	1
PHYA 5100	Principle Interview/Medical History	2
PHYA 5140	Health Care Teams and Systems	2
	Hours	15
Second Term
PHYA 5130	Patient Evaluation	4
PHYA 5210	Diagnostic and Therapeutic Skills I	2
PHYA 5310	Clinical Medicine I	5
PHYA 5400	Pathophysiology I	4
PHYA 5510	Fundamentals of Pharmacology I	4
PHYA 6050	Ethics for PA Profession	1
	Hours	20
Third Term
PHYA 5220	Diagnostic and Therapeutic Skills II	4
PHYA 5340	Clinical Medicine II	5
PHYA 5410	Pathophysiology II	4
PHYA 5520	Fundamentals of Pharmacology II	3
PHYA 6110	Population and Lifestyle Medicine	3
	Hours	19
Second Year
Fourth Term
PHYA 5230	Diagnostic and Therapeutic Skills III	5
PHYA 5330	Clinical Medicine III	6
PHYA 5430	Pathophysiology III	2
PHYA 5530	Fundamentals of Pharmacology III	1
PHYA 6010	Clinical Genetics	1
PHYA 6130	Evidence Based Medicine	3
PHYA 6150	Behavioral Science	2
	Hours	20
Fifth Term
PHYA 6310	Clinical Rotation - Behavior Health	5
PHYA 6320	Clinical Rotation - Elective	5
PHYA 6330	Clinical Rotation - Emergency Medicine	5
PHYA 6500	Introduction to Clinical Practice	4
PHYA 6610	Scholarly Project I	1
	Hours	20
Sixth Term
PHYA 6340	Clinical Rotation - Family Medicine	5
PHYA 6350	Clinical Rotation - Internal Medicine	5
PHYA 6620	Scholarly Project II	1
	Hours	11
Third Year
Seventh Term
PHYA 6360	Clinical Rotation - Pediatrics	5
PHYA 6370	Clinical Rotation - Surgery	5
PHYA 6380	Clinical Rotation - Women's Health	5
PHYA 6630	Scholarly Project III	1
	Hours	16
	Total Hours	121

• PLO 1: Develop a medical knowledge fund that includes anatomy, etiology, pharmacology, pathophysiology, genetics, clinical presentation, and treatment of common illnesses, injuries, and disease states.
• PLO 2: Perform a comprehensive and accurate history and physical exam that leads to data acquisition to formulate accurate differential diagnoses.
• PLO 3: Order and critically evaluate laboratory, imaging, and ancillary studies that will supplement the history and physical exam and improve diagnostic accuracy.
• PLO 4: Document and communicate medical information effectively in oral, written, and electronic formats to enhance communication between healthcare providers.
• PLO 5: Integrate clinical decision-making skills to thoroughly evaluate patient information and preferences to design therapeutic interventions tailored to the patient’s needs.
• PLO 6: Develop communication skills and cultivate interpersonal relationships with patients and their families based on honesty, trust, compassion, and patient-centered care.
• PLO 7: Model professionalism and consistently apply ethical and legal standards that uphold respect for the patient and society.
• PLO 8: Formulate patient-centered care strategies across the lifespan that integrate consideration of cultural, gender, and socio-economic diversity to address emergent, acute, and chronic physical and mental health conditions in varied clinical settings.
• PLO 9: Design evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion strategies to sustain the health of individuals and communities.
• PLO 10: Deliver compassionate and culturally sensitive patient education and counseling that enhances understanding and adherence to therapeutic regimens and reduces morbidity.
• PLO 11: Utilize and appraise principles of evidence-based practice by critically assimilating scientific evidence and committing to continuous learning and quality improvement.
• PLO 12: Collaborate effectively within interprofessional healthcare teams and systems by leveraging each member’s unique strengths to optimize patient outcomes.