2025 Application Information
The next Admissions cycle (Academic year 2025-26) opens Wednesday, April 24, 2024. The application deadline for the 2025-2026 academic year is March 1, 2025.
At its June 2023 meeting, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) placed the Thiel College Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Thiel College on Accreditation-Probation status until its next review in June 2025.
Probation accreditation is a temporary accreditation status initially of not less than two years. However, that period may be extended by the ARC-PA for up to an additional two years if the ARC-PA finds that the program is making substantial progress toward meeting all applicable standards but requires additional time to come into full compliance. Probation accreditation status is granted, at the sole discretion of the ARC-PA, when a program holding an accreditation status of Accreditation - Provisional or Accreditation - Continued does not, in the judgment of the ARC-PA, meet the Standards or when the capability of the program to provide an acceptable educational experience for its students is threatened.
Once placed on probation, a program that fails to comply with accreditation requirements in a timely manner, as specified by the ARC-PA, may be scheduled for a focused site visit and is subject to having its accreditation withdrawn.
Specific questions regarding the Program and its plans should be directed to the Program Director and/or the appropriate institutional official(s). The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-thiel-college/.
The mission of the Thiel College Master of Science in Physician Assistant program is to graduate physician assistants who have the disciplinary knowledge and skills, clinical preparation and dispositions to provide excellent patient care and serve the needs of their community.
The philosophy of Thiel College’s Physician Assistant Program is to empower individuals to reach their full potential by creating a collaborative and inclusive learning environment that ensures educational excellence, emphasizes service to society, and promotes ethical leadership. The faculty and staff are passionate about helping our students succeed and create a supportive atmosphere to prepare students for careers and lives of meaning and purpose.
Thiel's innovative program features two distinct paths to earn a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.
Path 1: Highly motivated high school seniors can enroll in our accelerated five-year program. Students will earn a traditional four-year bachelor's degree and continue at Thiel for a fifth year to complete the master's degree program.
Path 2: Students who have already completed a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree and wish to attain a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Thiel College should explore our 27-month post-baccalaureate program.
Whether you choose Path 1 or Path 2, you will:
Thiel College seeks to identify and eliminate barriers to an equitable and diverse environment. We strive to create a climate that promotes civility, respect, and sensitivity. Our goal is to foster awareness and understanding of different cultures, lifestyles, and backgrounds, and to celebrate individual differences.
The program features two separate curriculums, the undergraduate portion of Path 1 and the graduate (accredited) program.
The Thiel College PA program has specific program policies which apply to all students, principal and full-time faculty, and the program director regardless of location.
Thiel College is approved to offer programs that may lead to licensure/certification in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Thiel College cannot confirm that the PA program meets the requirements for licensure/certification in any other state or commonwealth. If you are enrolling in the PA education program and anticipate being certified/licensed in a state other than Pennsylvania, please check the specific requirements for licensure in your state. If you are considering working as a PA in another state that may require certification/licensure, you should first seek guidance on that state’s requirements. For more information, please consult the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) on the specific state information on their website.
Download the Thiel College PA program's student learning outcomes (SLO) below: