Welcome to the Physician Assistant Studies Program

White coats and name tags will be ordered for each student by the department of physician assistant studies. Sizes should be based on blazers or jackets that you wear over other clothing. Students entering the program in spring 2022 should complete the white coat order form no later than November 19, 2021.

The white coat order form for students entering in spring 2023 will be available in fall 2022.

For questions, you may contact Mrs. Miles at Sara.Miles@mcphs.edu.

The equipment package that each student will need for the PA didactic and clinical years will be purchased in bulk through Heine/MK Associates. Each student will receive a portable ophthalmoscope and otoscope, stethoscopes, reflex hammer, EKG caliper, tape measure, and 2 different tuning forks. The cost of this equipment package will be included as a line item in your tuition bill as this has an advantage in that you may receive financial aid for your equipment purchase. The bulk purchase rate allows us to save you hundreds of dollars on the price in comparison to purchasing each item individually. This also ensures that all students will have high quality professional equipment and your equipment will be ready for you to use at the beginning of the program. You will have the option of upgrading your stethoscope for an additional cost.

By having items like an ophthalmoscope and otoscope, it also means that students can practice their physical examination skills at home without coming into the patient assessment lab. All of us on the faculty are currently, or have practiced in the clinical setting, and we know from our own experience that once you begin clinical rotations and clinical jobs as practicing PAs the ophthalmoscope/otoscope kits you purchased for the program will come in handy. We are providing you with quality sets. The ophthalmoscope is a valuable diagnostic tool, and the knowledge and skill set learned from using this equipment is invaluable in becoming a competent PA. We know that our students are pleased with their equipment, and we have taken the guess work out of trying to decide what to purchase in an area in which you may not be very familiar. Further equipment details will be provided at Orientation.

Each student should also be sure to have a wrist watch with a sweep second hand. Cell phones are not an option. It must be a wrist watch.

Students have the option of customizing their equipment kit for an additional out-of-pocket cost. Information about customization will be sent to students matriculating in spring 2022 later this fall.

The Accelerated Physician Assistant Studies Program will be using ExamSoft (electronic testing software) in all first-year courses. All students are required to bring a laptop meeting the minimum specifications in order for you to be able to sit for exams. If you are planning to purchase a new device, it is advised you delay purchase until closer to the start of the program in January due to rapidly changing technology (new devices from Mac or Microsoft must be supported by ExamSoft, which can take time)..

Each student will be required to purchase a privacy screen or privacy filter that fits on their PC or Mac. Minimum technology requirements are listed below. Please note that iPads are not acceptable for taking exams.

PC Requirements

Mac Requirements

A BLS for Healthcare Providers through the American Heart Association must be completed by all students and maintained for the duration of the program. Online BLS training is not accepted; a face-to-face/hands-on training course must be completed prior to matriculation. Please send a copy of your certification to the admission office at admissions.worcester@mcphs.edu no later than December 15.

All students in the PA program will be required to take a medical terminology competency test on the first day of classes. The competency test will be a combination of true/false, matching, and multiple choice questions. In order to prepare for this test, review and study the text Medical Terminology: An Illustrated Guide, 9th Edition through Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, which will be used throughout your time in the program. 

Students must score of 80% or greater to successfully pass the competency test. If a student scores less than 80%, they must meet with their assigned advisor for remediation within the first week of classes and will be required to retake the examination within the first 2 weeks of classes and receive a score of 80% or greater on the retake exam. This competency is required to pass your MPA-530 Clinical Medicine course.

If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Maclary at stephanie.maclary@mcphs.edu.

The spring 2022 schedule will be available in the fall.

Download the spring 2022 booklist.

Students matriculating in spring 2023 will receive their booklist in the fall of 2022.