PA Program Distance Education Option - 3 Year

Attention Distance Education Applicants:

Due to U.S. Department of Education regulations, the UW-Madison PA program CANNOT accept your application to the Distance Education Option if you are a resident of any of the following states:

Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky

This only applies to the DISTANCE EDUCATION Option. You may still apply for the CAMPUS option.

Please review the following U.S. Department of Education regulations:

IMPORTANT NOTICE: On October 29, 2010, the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) released new program integrity regulations. One of the regulations focused on the need for institutions offering distance or correspondence education to acquire authorization from any state in which it operates. This authorization is required to maintain eligibility for students of that state to receive federal financial aid. Institutions have until July 1, 2014, to have obtained the appropriate approvals. Meanwhile, institutions are required to demonstrate a 'good faith' effort to comply in each state in which it serves students. Please click on the following link for more information: http://wcet.wiche.edu/advance/state-approval

The University of Wisconsin-Madison currently has appropriate approval to operate in all states with the exception of Alabama, Alaska, Kansas and Kentucky. Therefore, effective immediately, the UW-Madison PA Program cannot accept applications to the Distance Education Option from applicants who are residents of AL, AK, KS, or KY for the Distance Education Class entering 2013 and beyond. Applicants who are residents of AL, AK, KS or KY may still apply to the campus option.

Program Snapshot

The UW-Madison Physician Assistant (PA) Program's distance learning option allows students to stay in their home communities while completing PA education. This unique opportunity makes PA education more accessible, especially for students from rural, urban, and underserved communities. It also gives students deep clinical experience in their communities, so they may better serve them after graduation. Please review our Distance Education "Frequently Asked Questions" for more information about our Distance Education Option.

Three-Year Flexible Curriculum Structure

• Your first summer semester requires you to attend classes on campus with fellow didactic students for a period of 12 weeks.
• The remainder of your two year didactic study will be in your home community via asynchronous lecture capture. During this period you will be required to return to campus for mandatory multiple day training periods twice a semester.
• The third year will be community-based clinical instruction, which includes 5 eight week rotations in various medical specialties.
• Sample Distance Education Degree Plan.

Eligibility

We accept up to ten students each year for the community-based learning program. Qualifications include:

• A desire and stated request to be part of this innovative opportunity;
• Competitive in all areas of traditional admissions criteria;
• Demonstrated interest in serving home community; and
• Evidence of potential for success in this method of delivering instruction.

Consideration is given to students representing or interested in serving a medically underserved population.

Proven Strengths and Successes

• Our well-organized program is supported by state-of-the-art technology, committed faculty and staff, and engaged students.
• Our dynamic primary care-oriented curriculum emphasizes population/public health, evidence based medicine, genetics, family medicine, cultural
  competency, global and rural health, and clinical research methods and design.
• Community mentors help students stay connected, serve as professional role models, and act as supplementary educational resources.
• Ninety eight percent of community-based learning graduates have passed the NCCPA national board exam on the first attempt.
• Ninety percent of the community-based learning graduates are working in or near their home communities.

We invite you to apply or contact us to schedule a student advising session.