The OU-TU School of Community Medicine Physician Assistant Program is proud to offer an outstanding and unique educational experience for future physician assistants who are committed to primary care and the underserved in Oklahoma. The program provides one of the strongest primary care PA programs in the country.
During the first semester of our 30-month program, students will collaborate in an interdisciplinary environment with other students and faculty at the week-long Summer Institute. The Summer Institute focuses on underserved care and available resources throughout the Tulsa community. PA students also attend the Bedlam evening clinic throughout their first year. This student-run free clinic provides much needed care to uninsured patients from northeast Oklahoma. These distinct opportunities further supplement the curriculum covered in Concepts of Community Medicine, Professional Issues in Medicine and Health, and the Underserved module in Clinical Medicine.
During the second year, students attend Student Academy which is comprised of monthly interdisciplinary seminars over chronic disease management with emphasis on evidence-based treatment algorithms and hands-on clinical skill development. Students then integrate this learning into their twice-monthly longitudinal clinic experience at OU Physicians Family Medicine Clinic. This Physician Assistant Longitudinal (PAL) student clinic allows students to manage their own panel of patients, providing a continuous care experience for chronic disease management.
Mission & Goals
The mission of the Physician Assistant Program at the University of Oklahoma, School of Community Medicine, Tulsa, is to train physician assistants to provide quality health care to the citizens of Oklahoma with an emphasis on serving diverse and underserved communities.
Accreditation
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine Physician Assistant Program sponsored by the University of Oklahoma. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be March 2024. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy. The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website.
The University of Oklahoma is accredited by:
The Higher Learning Commission/A Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC/NCA),
30 North LaSalle St., Suite 2400
Chicago, IL 60602; 312/263-0456
Graduate Performance on Certification Exam
Congratulations to our past graduates on their outstanding performance on their certification exam. Past pass rates may be found here.
Cost
It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they are enrolled in the prescribed courses and to pay tuition and fees at the time designated by the Bursar's Office. Details regarding tuition/fee charges and collection are available from the Bursar's Office.
Physician Assistant Admission Requirements
The primary goal of the OU-TU School of Community Medicine’s physician assistant (PA) program is to educate quality primary care physician assistants to actively improve the healthcare of Oklahomans – particularly in underserved urban areas.
The PA program’s curriculum – with emphasis on meeting the needs of the underserved populations and those at risk in the state – is 30 months in length, starting in early June of each year. The didactic phase, lasting 13 months, consists of classroom and laboratory instruction in basic medical and behavioral sciences. The second and third years – or clinical phase – focus on applying the learned material in a clinical setting.
Every year, hundreds of individuals apply to the OU-TU School of Community Medicine PA program. Of these applicants, we interview approximately 100 each year. Our typical class has 24 students, with a wide range of backgrounds and clinical experience. We encourage student diversity, seeking intelligent, mature, and highly motivated applicants from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds who have the potential to become leaders in our profession and community. In the admission process, preference will first be given to Oklahoma residents. Highly qualified non-resident applicants are strongly encouraged to apply and may successfully compete for admission. In an increasingly competitive applicant pool, meeting the minimum requirements may not be competitive for an interview.
Application cycle for the class of 2026 begins June 1st, 2023 and ends on October 1st, 2023.
Application to the OU-TU School of Community Medicine PA program at OU-Tulsa is entirely separate from application to the OU program in Oklahoma City. A Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) application and a supplemental application for the University of Oklahoma are required specific to Tulsa. A separate application is required for consideration to the OKC program.
CASPA Deadline: Applicants must have a complete date on or before the deadline date of October 1st. A complete date is given when an application is e-submitted and all transcripts, payments, and at least two letters of reference have been received by CASPA and attached to the application. Documents should be sent several weeks prior to this date to ensure items arrive on time.
Admission Requirements
Specific requirements for prerequisites listed. Applicants are responsible for determining which prerequisites remain outstanding. Life experience does not count toward fulfillment of any prerequisite courses.
Selection Factors
In reviewing applications, we consider many factors that contribute to the competitiveness of the applicant.
Preference is given to the following:
Oklahoma resident
Academic Excellence: cumulative GPA, science GPA, and GRE scores
Additional factors include:
Commitment to primary care and serving underserved populations
Healthcare experience - Healthcare experience is strongly recommended but not required for the PA program applicant.
PA Shadowing - The Tulsa PA program does not facilitate shadowing experiences.
Community service, particularly with an underserved population
Other life experiences and extracurricular activities
Letters of reference
Curriculum
Students that matriculate beginning in June 2023 and forward will complete the following courses in order to meet the graduation requirements. The OU-Tulsa PA Program does not offer advanced placement or exemption from coursework for any student, regardless of previous coursework or professional experience. The program required educational competencies for entry level practice are consistent with the competencies as defined by the PA profession. Curriculum development and delivery are guided by these competencies which can be found in the PA Program Academic Policies and Procedures Handbook.
Students who satisfactorily complete the 30-month program will be awarded the Master of Health Science (M.H.S.) in Physician Assistant Studies. To qualify for graduation, students must:
Follow an approved course of study leading to the completion of all master's requirements;
Complete satisfactorily all professional courses with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0, no course or rotation below a C, and satisfactorily complete a final Summative Evaluation involving a comprehensive written examination, an observed assessment of history taking, physical examination and diagnostic skills, and an evaluation of professionalism by clinical faculty members;
Complete satisfactorily the required 131 semester credit hours in the curriculum;
Complete satisfactorily the required components of the program within 48 months or less, not to include an approved Leave of Absence.
Repeat, as approved, and earn an acceptable grade for any required course or rotation in the professional program for which a failing grade (D or F) had been issued;
Complete, at a minimum, the last 48 credits in the professional program within the College of Medicine;
Complete successfully Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
Receive a favorable recommendation for degree conferral from the PA Promotion and Graduation Committee;
Be recommended for conferral of the master's degree by the University Faculty Senate;
Settle all financial accounts with the University; and
Submit a properly completed and signed graduation clearance form to the Office of the Registrar.
One of your first steps after graduating from an accredited PA program should be taking the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) administered by the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). The PANCE is a five-hour, 300-question, multiple-choice exam that is a prerequisite for licensure in all U.S. states. For further information regarding the NCCPA certifying examination, contact:
National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, Inc.
12000 Findley Road, Suite 100
Johns Creek, GA, 30097
Phone: (678) 417-8100
State Licensure
Physician Assistants who wish to practice in the state of Oklahoma must obtain licensure from the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision (www.okmedicalboard.org). For questions, please call their main office at (405) 962-1400.
PA graduates who are interested in practicing in other states should directly contact that state’s licensing authority. Additionally, some states may require individual PA programs to apply for approval to their appropriate agencies before program graduates can be employed. The PA Program will seek such approval whenever deemed necessary.
Clinical Curriculum
Students will attend clinical rotations in the last 17 months of the program, primarily in the clinics of the University of Oklahoma, Tulsa School of Community Medicine. Six core rotations will be interdisciplinary clerkships combining PA students and third-year medical students, including Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Mental Health, Surgery, and Obstetrics-Gynecology rotations. OU-Tulsa is affiliated with five major hospitals in the area and operates 32 clinical facilities. Additional clinical training sites are available at specialty clinics, local federally qualified health care centers, health care facilities run by local Native American tribes, and health department clinics. A summary of the clinical curriculum is presented below.
To begin clinical rotations, all students must have satisfactorily completed all preceding didactic coursework. PA students will complete 52 weeks of required clinical rotations, two elective rotations (4 weeks each), a two-week Community Impact rotation, and a four-week PA preceptorship experience in the specialty area of their choosing. Clinical rotations will take place primarily in the clinics and hospitals utilized by the OU-Tulsa School of Community Medicine. Additionally, a wide variety of community clinical training sites are available. Rotations listed as clerkships are interdisciplinary with residents and medical students. Students are not required to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors. The program maintains responsibility for coordinating all program required rotations.
Didactic Curriculum
The instructional curriculum in the PA program consists of a comprehensive education in the biomedical and clinical sciences necessary for successful clinical practice. It is conducted during the first 13 months of the program, beginning with the summer semester. An outline of the student’s didactic program of study is listed below.
A proposed curriculum innovation is the restructuring of the clinical phase for PA students matriculating in June 2024 and beyond. The revised curriculum changes the initial 12 months of clinical rotations from traditional block rotations during which students take clinical clerkships sequentially to a Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC). The LIC model integrates training in all clerkships synchronously across the entire academic year, allowing students several advantages which include transferring knowledge and skills across disciplines, better continuity of patient care across the year, and improved clinical supervision by faculty. Additionally, the transition to an LIC format will include the inclusion of a neurology clerkship. The LIC involves interprofessional training with medical students in disciplines including Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, Psychiatry, Family Medicine, and Neurology. Additional rotations include Selectives, Emergency Medicine, Primary Care, Community Impact, Underserved, and Preceptorship. The LIC will officially launch in July of 2025, when PA students who matriculate in the summer of 2024 begin their clinical phase.
Recommended courses include Introduction to Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Developmental Psychology
Chemistry
12 semester hours
General Chemistry or above with lab as required for science majors. Three hours must be Organic Chemistry with lab or Biochemistry with lab.
Microbiology with lab
4 semester hours
The following courses must be completed within the last 7 years.
Admission Requirement Prerequisites
Course
Credits
Details
Upper Division Science
6 semester hours
Must be a 300 or 400 level biological science course. Courses may include Genetics, Immunology, Virology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Embryology, Histology, Pathogenic Microbiology. Community colleges do not offer upper division credit.*
Human Anatomy with lab
4 semester hours
Combined Anatomy and Physiology courses are acceptable provided the total credits received are a minimum of 8 semester hours. A cadaver course is preferred, although not required. **
Human Physiology with Lab
4 semester hours
Combined Anatomy and Physiology courses are acceptable provided the total credits received are a minimum of 8 semester hours. A cadaver course is preferred, although not required.**
*
Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry do not meet this requirement.
**
Kinesiology and Exercise Science courses will not meet the requirement.
Advanced Placement (AP) credit may be used to satisfy prerequisite coursework provided that the AP credit is accepted by the applicant’s institution and is posted on the applicant’s official academic transcript. Further documentation may be required to verify that AP credit granted in science courses meet the program’s admission standards.
No more than one science and one non-science prerequisite can be in progress after December 31st of the year prior to enrollment in the program.
Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, and 6 credit hours of Upper Division Sciences must be completed within 7 years of the application deadline.
Students invited to interview must provide proof of enrollment in any outstanding prerequisite on the day of their visit.
All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.
No one course can satisfy more than one prerequisite.
Advanced Placement (AP) credit may be used to satisfy prerequisite coursework provided that the AP credit is accepted by the applicant’s institution and is posted on the applicant’s official academic transcript. Further documentation may be required to verify that AP credit granted in science courses meet the program’s admission standards.
Completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university before matriculation will be required.
A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, as computed by CASPA, for both the overall GPA and the science GPA. Due to the competitive nature of the program, meeting minimum GPA requirements does not guarantee an invitation to interview for admission.
Good standing with the college or university last attended or currently enrolled.
Completed online supplemental application for admission at the University of Oklahoma. Link to the supplemental application will be available June 1st of the application year. Please note whether you wish to be considered for the Tulsa program or the Oklahoma City program on your online supplemental application (a separate application will need to be filled out for both).
Three letters of reference submitted directly to CASPA.
Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be submitted directly to CASPA. Once the CASPA application has been submitted, transcripts updating grades and coursework should be submitted to the OUHSC Office of Admissions.
Completion of the general test component of the GRE. All GRE scores must be received by the OUHSC Office of Admissions by October 1 of the application cycle.
Available at http://www.ets.org/gre. Please use GRE code 6902. Only GRE scores within the last 5 years will be accepted.
Foreign course work must be submitted to World Education Services (http://www.wes.org/) for evaluation.
The goals of the program are:
1. To provide a quality education that enables students to become competent, compassionate health care providers. We seek to educate our students in the basic medical sciences as well as the clinical and behavioral sciences in order to prepare them for the practice of medicine both today and in the future. While training physician assistants (PAs) to go into areas of primary care medicine will be our fundamental focus, we are also cognizant that PAs are increasingly serving patients in both the surgical and specialty areas of medicine.
2. To expose students to the practice of primary care medicine in a variety of underserved locations during their didactic and clinical training. The OU-Tulsa PA Program desires that a significant portion of their graduates will choose to work in these communities following graduation.
3. To encourage the students, graduates, and faculty to participate in service and leadership roles within the University, the profession, and the broader community. With the strong support of the college and university administration, the OU-Tulsa PA Program is committed to fostering the growth and development of each individual student and faculty member to their greatest potential.
See: Section 3 of Policies and Procedures Handbook: Program Goals
