About the UNE Physician Assistant Program

Earn your M.S.P.A. degree at UNE – the only PA program in Maine – and learn how to meet the medical needs of diverse populations. By emphasizing all aspects of health care, including geriatrics, health promotion, disease prevention, pharmacology, and public health, we empower future physician assistants to exercise sound medical decision making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services.

Become a Vital Part of a health Care Team

As health professionals licensed to practice medicine in collaboration with a physician, Physician Assistants know the value of successful teamwork in the health care setting. Our Portland, Maine-based PA degree program draws from the expertise of faculty representing UNE’s Colleges of Health Professions, Osteopathic Medicine, and Arts and Sciences to prepare you, through coursework and clinical experiences, to work as part of an interdisciplinary team.

Fill out the form below for an info sheet on UNE's M.S.P.A.

 

What Makes the UNE M.S.P.A. Special

State-of-the-Art Facilities

A physician assistant student practices taking blood pressure on a patient simulator

Your M.S.P.A. training is enriched by our state-of-the-art facilities and educational resources. You’ll receive instruction not only in our medical college’s gross anatomy lab but also in our Interprofessional Simulation and Innovation Center, which is equipped with the latest media and medical instruction technology, including high fidelity patient simulators.

Exposure to Underserved Populations

Physician Assistant degree program field work.

Your education in UNE’s P.A. master’s program will emphasize work with underserved communities, where you can really make a difference. From participation in our nationally recognized InterProfessional Geriatric Education Program, to clinical rotations in rural areas, you'll gain expertise in bringing quality health care and building relationships with those who need it most.

Team-Based Education

A dental student and a P A student in blue scrubs discuss dental work with a patient

As a comprehensive health sciences university, including programs in medicine, dental, nursing, pharmacy, and an array of other allied health professions, UNE is a national leader in interprofessional education. You'll graduate with the skills to thrive in today's collaborative care, prepared to work as a team with other health care professionals.

Collaborative Learning Environment

Two P A students use stethoscopes to listen to cardiac sounds from a patient simulator

Not only are faculty and staff highly collaborative and encouraging, but it won’t take long before you notice how supportive your fellow PA students are as well. The friendly and cooperative, rather than competitive, spirit among classmates enhances everyone’s ability to learn and is a hallmark of UNE’s Physician Assistant master’s degree program.

What Our PA Students Say

Sarah Porter
UNE’s program is so strong because we come from a wide variety of backgrounds and balance each other out. I love that we all have different strengths and can learn so much from one another.
Physician Assistant (M.S.P.A.)

Physician Assistant program by the numbers

1,920

Hours each student spends in clinical rotations

(second year)

 

3.55

Average cumulative GPA of most recent incoming class

 

95%

Average first-time pass rate on national certification exam

(PANCE)

Pance Pass rates

M.S.P.A. graduates are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Learn more about the PANCE exam and see UNE pass rates (PDF).

The UNE Portland Campus for the Health Sciences

For decades, UNE’s Portland Campus has been home to many of the University’s health professions programs including PA, PT, OT, pharmacy, nursing, dental medicine, and more. In 2025, UNE’s College of Osteopathic Medicine will move from the Biddeford Campus into the new Harold and Bibby Alfond Center for Health Sciences in Portland. By bringing our health professions programs together into one interprofessional learning community, we will establish UNE’s Portland Campus for the Health Sciences as the center of health care education in Northern New England.

Learn about exciting changes on UNE’s Portland Campus for the Health Sciences

Maine’s Leading University for the Health Professions and Sciences

Quality Academics, Respected Degrees

UNE is proud of the recognition we’ve received, which echoes the success of our M.S.P.A. students: 92% of our graduates typically pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam on the first try.

Title
Best Physician Assistant Programs
Source
U.S. News & World Report
Year
2023
Title
Best Graduate Schools
Source
U.S. News & World Report
Year
2023
Title
Best Colleges
Source
Princeton Review
Year
2024
Title
Best Colleges
Source
Money
Year
2023

Live and Study in Portland, Maine

UNE offers the only Physician Assistant master’s degree program in Maine. Our M.S.P.A. degree students study on our Portland, Maine campus, a classic New England quad with brick buildings and tall trees that's about 100 miles from downtown Boston. Portland, named “America’s Most Livable City” by Forbes and “Foodiest Small Town in America” by Bon Appetit, is the city on every list. A rustic port hosts a cool cultural scene — with outdoor adventure all around. UNE’s campus is just 10 minutes from downtown. Take a Virtual Tour of our Portland Campus

Portland, Maine lighthouse near UNE.
Portland, Maine Old Port near UNE's campus.
Portland, Maine working waterfront near University of New England.

Accreditation

UNE is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The Physician Assistant degree Program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Committee on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The PA Program received provisional accreditation in 1996 and continuing accreditation in 1998. The program last received continuing accreditation in September 2018. Its review for continuing accreditation is next scheduled for 2026. The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website. Click on the “document” to access the program’s Accreditation Actions.