| Admissions | Master of Physician Assistant Studies

MASTER OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES (MPAS)

Thank you for your interest in the Rocky Vista University Physician Assistant Program. The 2021-2022 cycle will open through CASPA on April 20, 2021.

The goal of the RVU PA program is to support the development of clinically competent, collaborative, and compassionate physician assistants. The programs’ competency-based curriculum and its faculty provide the framework to achieve this goal, offering a learner-centered, innovative approach to medical training, promoting patient safety and primary care. Ultimately, it is the learners that make RVU a success.

This program is offered at the Colorado campus.

Accreditation Status

The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation – Provisional status to the Rocky Vista University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Rocky Vista 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-rocky-vista-university/.

Attrition

	Graduated Classes
	Class of 2020	Class of 2021	Class of 2022
Maximum entering class size (as approved by ARC-PA)	36	36	36
Entering class size	33	36	36
Graduates	30	N/A	N/A
* Attrition rate	0.09	N/A	N/A
**Graduation rate	0.91	N/A	N/A

PANCE Pass Rates

Student Employment Policy

Admissions Statistics

The following highlights the demographics of each cohort that has matriculated into our program:

Class Profile	2020	2021	2022
Total students	33	36	36
Female	22	29	26
Male	11	7	10
In-state	23	18	24
Out of state	10	18	12
Average age	27 (range 22-46)	25 (range 21-34)	24 (range 22-35)
Average cumulative undergraduate GPA	3.43	3.46	3.5
Average BCP GPA	3.29	3.32	3.44

Professional Licensure Disclosure Statement (PDF)

Additional Resources

Admissions Process

Application Requirements

Curriculum

Faculty and Staff

FAQs

General Information Sessions

Message from the Program Director

Mission, Vision and Outcomes

RESOURCES

The University reserves the right to change tuition and fees at any time without advanced notice. Learn more about the tuition payment schedule, individual health insurance status, and the tuition refund process.

The Physician Assistant Program processes hundreds of applications for admissions each year. Learn more about requirements for admissions including GRE scores, minimum prerequisite course work, and GPA requirements.

The MPAS curriculum is sequenced and designed to address and integrate the entrustable professional activities in which are contained the competencies the student must achieve to successfully enter the profession upon graduation.

RVU PA STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Natalie Crump, PA

Hometown:
Denver, CO

Undergraduate studies:
BS in Psychology with a Chemistry minor- University of Colorado Denver

Graduate studies, if applicable:
Master of Science in Medical Sciences- University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine

What clubs and activities are you currently involved with?
RVU MC^2 Mentor, CMDA, SNMA Club, and Student Delegate for the AAPA Student Academy House of Delegates

Why did you choose PA?
Being a PA represented the collaboration, competence, and compassion I desired in my own personal pursuit of providing care for others. Understanding the history of the PA profession and seeing first-hand the impact of PAs in extending care to underserved populations drove my decision to become a PA. The competency-based curriculum and PA faculty at RVU is what drew me to this program.

What do you like most about PA?
I love that PAs have an opportunity to work within a healthcare team while maintaining autonomy as an independent clinician. As a PA I will enjoy the flexibility of lateral mobility within the profession and a better work life balance. Even though I'm still in training, I love the versatility afforded to PAs and the time spent providing patient education. Watching PA preceptors engage in shared decision making with the patient and members of the healthcare team has been amazing. I look forward to one day doing the same.

What are your medical interests?
Women's health, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Oncology, and Pediatrics.

What do you appreciate most about Colorado and the local area?
As a native, I enjoy Colorado's 4 seasons and the chance to get outdoors. I also frequent new restaurants and food trucks in the Denver area quite often although Covid restrictions has slowed this down a bit.

What are your plans after PA?
After PA school I plan on sitting for the PANCE and either applying for jobs as a new grad or applying for a one-year Advance Practice Fellowship.

What advice do you have for first-year students?
Breathe! Didactic year will be challenging, but if you're organized, manage your time well, and do little each day you will survive. As much as you can, try to review the lectures that were given the same day. I did this more toward the end of the year and wished I had done so from the beginning. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day and your journey to PA-C is no different. Enjoy the ride!

What is your favorite class currently and why?
I loved Skills and Assessment! This is the course where you learn all of the physical exam and diagnostic skills you will use daily to diagnose illnesses and disease. Of all of the courses during didactic year, this one made my journey toward PA-C feel the most tangible. Practicing with my classmates and seeing standardized patients created some of the best memories.

Click here to read previous student spotlights

CONTACT THE PA PROGRAM

COLORADO CAMPUS
8401 South Chambers Rd.
Parker, CO 80134
303-373-2008

For faster response, please direct inquiries to the PA Program:
tcoe@rvu.edu