Overview

Physician assistants (PAs) are healthcare professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. Physician assistants graduate from an accredited physician assistant educational program and are certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Within the physician/PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision-making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. The specific tasks performed by individual physician assistants are difficult to delineate because variations exist in state laws and are impacted by other geographic, economic, and social factors. The clinical role of physician assistants includes primary and specialty care in medical and surgical practice settings in rural, urban, and suburban areas. Physician assistant practice is primarily patient care-centered but may also include educational, research, or administrative activities.

The Elon University Physician Assistant Program is a graduate-level professional program designed to produce graduates who are committed to providing exceptional, compassionate, individualized patient care, serving their communities, advancing the profession, and engaging in life-long learning and professional development. Graduates will be well-prepared for the national certification examination and state licensure, enabling them to partner confidently with their physician supervisors to fulfill the requirements of their new professional role.