Like many professions, becoming a Physician Assistant today requires more education than it used to. Today, students will usually need to complete a Master’s degree and pass the National Certification Exam, while in the past, PAs could have certificates, Associate’s degrees, or Bachelor’s degrees as training. Colleges for physician assistant training are expanding options, allowing students to take some, or even all, their courses online.

If you are already a practicing PA, you may want to update your skills and degree to equal those who are just entering the profession. Your years of experience in the field are very valuable, but you want to keep your edge by having the higher degree status of new graduates. How can you do this? Well, one way is to choose one of the online PA programs that will lead to a Master’s degree. For students with a bachelor’s degree in another subject, it can be possible to attend a hybrid online PA program to enter the field.

Some programs to get a Master of Science will require some on-campus learning, but there are some 100% online options for working PAs to upgrade their degrees. Many of these rigorous programs accommodate working students, while others discourage working during the intensive training. Some programs can take students through all the general education that will include finishing a Bachelor’s degree on the way to the Master’s degree, while others require a BS before you enter. The time-commitment varies from a minimum of 12 months to three years, and many programs will allow you to take up to five years to finish if you wish.

The degrees conferred can vary, with the Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) being common. Other degrees can be Master of Medical Science (MMSc), Master of Science-PA (MSPA), and others. Along with passing the PANCE exam and gaining licensure in your state, a Master’s degrees is considered terminal for a Physician Assistant. Each program has a focus, with many programs focusing on primary care or rural and underserved populations. Programs usually allow you to choose a subject of specialty, and these can include many areas of medicine. All of the programs are part didactic and part clinical practice in varied settings.

Hybrid programs have some on-campus classes required, but also offer some of the classes in an online format. Some programs are mostly online with short campus visits, while others are more in-person with just a bit of online learning to add to the flexibility of the program. Most of the hybrid programs will lead to a master’s degree, but there is one bachelor’s option (Miami Dade College).

Some hybrid programs can work for students who live far away and just travel to campus for short, intensive sessions, but others require you to live in commuting distance from the campus. Most programs are post-professional and require students to have either a bachelor’s degree or be a practicing PA, or both. Generally, an undergraduate, residential degree of some type is needed before entering these programs, and all programs have some prerequisite science courses before going towards a PA degree online. Most programs will want you to have hands-on patient experience, and many of them have preferential admission for military service members.

1. Miami Dade College

All Accreditations: ABA, ACEN, ARC-PA, CAAHEP, CAHIIM, CoARC, CODA, FAA, JRCERT, NAACLS, NAEYC, SACSCOCApplicable degree(s): Bachelor of Applied Science / Physician Assistant StudiesTuition: $118 to $536 per credit hourThe Miami Dade College PA program is in transition. Starting in 2018, the Associate’s Program in Health Sciences will take the place of the Associate’s degree in PA, but the AP in Health Sciences will be the prerequisite to their Bachelor of Applied Science with an Option in Physician Assistant Studies. The B.A.S. will only be open to students with an A.S. degree, preferably in PA Studies. Some courses for the A.S. are online, but most courses will be on the Medical Campus in Miami. The B.A.S. requires 130 hours of coursework, some of it in general education, and takes four or more years to complete.

2. University of Washington

All Accreditations: AACSB, ABA, ABET, ACCE, ACEJMC, ACEND, ACOTE, ADA, APA, ARC-PA, CAAHEP, CAHME, CCNE, CEPH, CSWE, LCME, NASM, NASPAA, NCATE, NWCCUApplicable degree(s): Extended Master of Clinical Health ServicesTuition: $279 per credit hourThe Extended Master of Clinical Health Services degree is offered to PAs with at least two years of practice mostly online, with a two week on-campus residency at the beginning of the program(June). The four areas of concentration offered are: healthcare for rural and underserved populations, public health and preventative medicine, academic medicine and specialty practice, and global health. Application are due by March 15th, and require a 3.0 GPA on the most recent academic work, a bachelor’s degree, licensure and certification, and a letter from current employer (if currently employed). The program is 4 quarters long, allowing for completion within one year.

3. University of North Dakota

All Accreditations: ABA, ABET, ACEND, ACOTE, APA, ARC-PA, ATMAE, CAAHEP, CAPTE, CCNE, CEPH, CSWE, HLC, LCME, NAACLS, NASAD, NASM, NASPAA, NAST, NCATEApplicable degree(s): Master of Physician Assistant StudiesTuition: $423 per credit hourThe MPAS program at University of North Dakota is geared towards working PAs and students with an educational background in science or healthcare. The 24-month program has online and clinical portions that can be completed in the student’s home area, plus 5 on-campus portions totaling 17 weeks of instruction. The program focuses on primary care in rural or underserved areas, with an overall goal of improving health care access. PAs (and other licensed professionals) from around the country with at least three years of practice experience are welcome to apply for admission, with preference is given to residents of North Dakota and neighboring states and/or rural/underserved communities. For those who have not yet worked as a PA, admission is limited to ND, MN, MT, and SD residents who have 500-1000 hours of hands-on experience in healthcare. Prerequisite coursework from the previous seven years is preferred, and applicants need a 3.0 GPA. No transfer credit from other programs is accepted. Class size is around 35, and the program admits about ¼ of applicants, and those with degrees from outside the US are not accepted. The program was founded in 1970, and has a long history of graduates, with first try pass rates on the national exam for the last five years between 80-96%, higher on second try.