PA Studies Program Overview
The ÐÓ°ÉרÇø Physician Associate (PA) Program is dedicated to training physician associates/assistants to serve the rural communities of Montana and other underserved populations. This rigorous, full-time curriculum spans 26 months and culminates in the awarding of a Master of Physician Associate Studies (MPAS) degree.
The program begins with an intensive in-person didactic phase on our picturesque campus in Missoula, Montana, where students benefit from the diverse expertise of faculty members with extensive scientific and clinical backgrounds. Following this phase, students engage in a hands-on, supervised clinical practice experience at various clinical rotation sites.
The clinical rotations encompass seven core disciplines: emergency medicine, surgery, internal medicine, psychiatry, family medicine, women's health, and pediatrics, as well as an elective rotation. The program wraps up with a comprehensive summative evaluation and post-clinical courses, effectively preparing students to transition into professional practice as physician associates/assistants successfully.
As a developing program, the ÐÓ°ÉרÇø Physician Associate (PA) Program eagerly anticipates welcoming its inaugural cohort of PA students in the Fall semester of 2026, pending accreditation.
PA Studies Events
CASPA Application Portal NOW Open for the 2026–2027 Admissions Cycle (updated 5/28/2026)
The ÐÓ°ÉרÇø Physician Associate Program is pleased to announce that the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants/Associates (CASPA) application portal is now open for the 2026–2027 admissions cycle.
Applicants interested in joining the cohort matriculating in Fall 2027 may now begin submitting their applications through CASPA.
Prospective students are encouraged to review all admission requirements, prerequisite coursework, application materials, and important deadlines prior to submission. Early preparation and timely completion of application materials are strongly recommended.
The ÐÓ°ÉרÇø PA Program is committed to preparing compassionate, highly skilled physician associates dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of Montana and beyond.
For detailed admissions information and access to the CASPA application portal, please visit:
For application questions or clarification, please contact the ÐÓ°ÉרÇø PA Program Admissions Office at:
PAAdmissions@umontana.edu
We look forward to reviewing your application.
MPAS Program FAQs
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Students who successfully complete the program will earn a Master of Physician Associate (PA) Studies degree.
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ÐÓ°ÉרÇø's Master of Physician Associate (PA) Studies program will take 26 months to complete.
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Students in the MPAS program will attend full-time, on-campus in a face-to-face format.
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The anticipated number of matriculants per cohort is 24 students.
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Each cohort will begin in the month of August. The ÐÓ°ÉרÇø anticipates matriculating its first class in August 2026.
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All elements of the application are included within and should be submitted to CASPA.
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You may have up to two outstanding prerequisite courses to complete at the time of application. Be sure to identify that the required courses are “planned” or “in-progress” in the CASPA application.