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Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences

Physician Associate (PA) Studies

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Our new Physician Associate (PA) Studies program is designed to equip future health care leaders with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in patient care.

This comprehensive program focuses on advanced clinical training, evidence-based practices and interprofessional collaboration.

You will gain hands-on experience through clinical rotations, state-of-the-art simulation labs and a curriculum that emphasizes primary care, patient-centered care and medical ethics.

At TCU, you will become a highly skilled and compassionate Physician Associate, ready to make a significant impact in the health care field.

PAs practice in every work setting. According to the AAPA Salary Survey 51.8% work in outpatient or clinic setting, 40.7% work in a hospital setting, 4.9% work in unrgent care center setting and 2.6% work in other settings including but not limited to schools/universities, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes and correctional facilities.
PAs practice in every work setting. 51.8% in outpatient office or clinic; 40.7% in hospital; 4.9% in urgent care; 2.6% in other*. (2024 AAPA Salary Survey. All data based on clinically practicing PAs in the US.) *Other refers to a variety of work settings including but not limited to schools/universities, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes and correctional facilities.
PAs practice medicine in all specialties. According to the 2024 AAPA Salary Sruvey, 27.8% work in surgical, 20.1% in primary care, 13.2% in internal medicine, 7.4% in emergency medicine, 1.7% in pediatric, 3.4% did not designate a specialty and 26.4% work in settings included but not limited to psychiatry, hospice and palliative are, obstetrics and gynecology, addiction medicine, pain management, public health and dermatology.
PAs practice medicine in all specialties. 27.8% surgical subspecialties; 26.4% other*; 20.1% primary care; 13.2% internal medicine subspecialties; 7.4% emergency medicine; 3.4% no specialty; 1.7% pediatric subspecialties. (2024 AAPA Salary Survey. All data based on clinically practicing PAs in the US.) *Other refers to a variety of work settings including but not limited to psychiatry, hospice and palliative care, obstetrics and gynecology, addiction medicine, pain management, public health and dermatology.
Gary Pérez, DMSc, PA-C

Gary Pérez, DMSc, PA-C

Meet the Founding Director of the Physician Associate (PA) Studies program at TCU.

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Certification & Licensing

  • Graduate from an accredited PA program
  • Pass a certification exam
  • 100 hours of continuing medical education (CME after every two years)
  • A recertification exam every 10 years

Information Sessions

Check back soon for details. 

Accreditation

The Physician Associate Studies program at Texas Christian University has applied for Accreditation-Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The Physician Associate Studies program anticipates matriculating its first class in January 2027, pending achieving Accreditation-Provisional status at the September 2026 ARC-PA meeting.

Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appears to demonstrate the program's ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.

Updates will be made to this site as they are confirmed. To learn more about TCU's Physician Associate (PA) Studies program, submit the interest form at the top of this page or email g.c.perez@tcu.edu.