About the PA Program

Mission

The mission of the Bethel University Physician Assistant program is to create opportunities for members of the learning community to become exceptional and compassionate healthcare professionals, who will practice medicine within an ethical framework of Christian principles.

Educational Philosophy

The Bethel University Physician Assistant Program understands that the field of medicine is constantly evolving. Our educational philosophy strives towards training and educating PA students to become life-long learners adept at critical thinking and able to work within a collaborative environment. It assures that we provide a creative and supportive educational environment for individual learning and growth within a structured curriculum. The role of the instructor is to guide and collaborate with the student, objectively evaluate the student, select and present important material, and model the professional behavior based upon the competencies of the PA Profession. The education of the PA student is a reciprocal interaction among faculty and students. The PA Program seeks continuous quality improvement and welcomes the ideas of all who participate in the program.

Goals

Curriculum & Fees

Frequently Asked Questions

If you're searching for additional information quickly, we've compiled the most helpful frequently asked questions below.

• How many students to you accept in each PA Program class?

  We accept 50 students who start in January each year.

• Can I be employed while enrolled in the PA Program?

  Students are not prohibited, but are strongly discouraged from working during the Didactic Year. Students are prohibited from working during the Clinical Year.

  
  

  Students are not allowed to work for the PA Program. They are also not to receive nor accept compensation for any work performed within the preceptor's clinical site or practice. They may only render services as part of the clinical phase of their education. Students must not substitute for or function as instructional faculty at the PA Program.

  
  

  If a student chooses to work and is unable to fulfill academic requirements due to a work conflict, he or she will be dismissed from BUPAP."

• What is the GRE code for the Physician Assistant Program?

  0510

• Are any students guaranteed an interview with the Physician Assistant Program?

  BUPAP maintains a Guaranteed Interview Agreement/Articulation Agreement with:

  
  

  • Austin Peay State University
  • Baptist Health Sciences University
  • Bethel University (TN)
  • Murray State University
  • University of Tennessee-Martin.

  
  

  
  

  The student must meet the Terms and Conditions set forth in the Articulation Agreement. The interview is not a guarantee of selection for admission, but will enable students to be considered for admission. Please see the "PA Program Application/Acceptance" page for complete details.
  

• Is previous healthcare experience required to apply to the Physician Assistant Program?

  Health Care Experience is not required, but it is preferred to no experience. Patient Care Experience is preferred to Health Care Experience, but also is not required. Please refer to our Information Packet on the "PA Program Application/Acceptance" page for complete details.

• Am I responsible for arranging my clinical rotations?

  Clinical Site management is the responsibility of the Clinical Department in the PA Program. Students in the PA Program are not required to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors. Solicitation is defined as, "the act of asking for or trying to obtain something from someone." If a student becomes knowledgeable about a practitioner that is willing to become a preceptor, the student may pass along the individual's point of contact information to the Clinical Department. For elective rotations, students may pass along points of contact for known or affiliated practitioners who are willing to become a preceptor as well. This information may be passed along via email or phone. The Clinical Director, who is responsible for monitoring the supervised clinical practice experiences of the students, will assign the information to members of the Clinical Department to initiate the Clinical Site/Preceptor Qualification process.

• Are PA Shadowing Hours required?

  Applicants must have shadowed a Physician Assistant ONLY for a minimum of 40 hours. These hours must be uncompensated, and no older than five (5) years.