Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) accreditation

The PA Program requires that all students provide evidence of recent physical examination, up-to-date immunization/vaccination status (including annual tuberculosis screening and annual flu shot), criminal background check, and drug screen(s). For immunizations/vaccinations, the program adheres to CDC recommendations for health professionals. See admission requirements for more information.

Students may request exemptions from the vaccination requirements based on disability or religious accommodation by contacting the NAU Equity and Access Office at 928-523-3312 or equityandaccess@nau.edu.

If students have a disability, they may request reasonable accommodations by contacting Disability Resources (DR) at 928-523- 8773 or DR@nau.edu. Once eligibility has been determined and accommodations have been approved, students are required to register with DR every semester to continue their accommodations.

To complete the PA Program supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPE) requirement, students participate at clinical sites that may have their own health and safety standards and/or application and review processes for vaccination exemptions and maintain the right to review NAU-approved clinical accommodations. As NAU does not govern or control clinical sites, they are not obligated to accept NAU-approved exemptions or accommodations.

In scenarios when clinical sites will not accept NAU-approved exemptions or clinical accommodations because they would fundamentally alter the nature of the sites’ service, create an undue burden, or result in a legitimate health and safety risk, students may not be able to participate at those sites.

While NAU will make good faith efforts to identify alternative clinical sites that can facilitate NAU-approved exemptions or accommodations, students’ inability to complete SCPE requirements due to vaccination status, may have academic and professional impacts, including the following:

1. Delayed graduation from the PA Program (because the student will have to “sit out” for rotation cycle[s]).
2. Inability to successfully complete the PA Program (because the student will be unable to complete a required course toward graduation).
3. Inability to meet the qualifications for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) (e.g., student did not successfully graduate from an accredited PA Program).
4. Inability to practice as a certified physician assistant.
5. Financial consequences associated with delayed graduation or failure to graduate from the PA Program.

Health Insurance - Health insurance is required while attending NAU. Students may not enroll in courses unless they can demonstrate proof of insurance. If a student does not already have coverage, insurance may be obtained through the NAU Health Plan at Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) | Campus Health Services or on the marketplace HealthCare.gov

The PA Program follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for health professionals. (A3.07a) The program provides access to coursework, lectures, and assignments in a remote capability so students can safely progress in the program.

Hepatitis B - Required

For those that have prior vaccination, positive IgG titer.

If titer results are NEGATIVE or EQUIVOCAL, you must repeat the HepB series (EITHER a 3- dose series, an initial injection followed by a second injection given 1 to 2 months after the first dose and a third injection 4 to 6 months after the first OR the Heplisav-B (Dynavax) 2 dose series). A second titer must be completed 1-2 months after final injection in the series.

If the second titer results are NEGATIVE or EQUIVOCAL, you must complete an NAU PA attestation from your healthcare provider to indicate that you are unresponsive to Hepatitis B vaccination.

Influenza (flu) – Required, completed during flu season

Proof of annual influenza (flu) vaccination administered on or before October 1st of each calendar year. The program will accept a receipt of payment for vaccination with name and date clearly shown.

MMR (Measles/Rubeola, Mumps, & Rubella) - Required

For those that have prior vaccination, positive IgG titers for Measles/Rubeola, Mumps and Rubella.

If any of the titer results are NEGATIVE or EQUIVOCAL and completion of vaccination records are not available, you must repeat the MMR series (2 injections at least 28 days apart) and submit proof.

For those without prior vaccination documentation of completed vaccine series (2 injections at least 28 days apart).

Meningococcal (Meningitis) - Recommended

Vaccination with MenACWY and MenB is recommended for healthcare workers.

Boost with MenB after 1 year, then every 2–3 years thereafter; boost with MenACWY every 5 years.

A dose of the combined MenABCWY vaccine is accepted

SARS-COV2 (COVID-19) - Recommended

The PA Program follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for testing, isolation, and quarantine. The program encourages students, faculty, and staff to follow CDC recommendations to protect close contacts: https://www.cdc.gov/covid/hcp/infection-control/guidance-risk-assesment-hcp.html

The program provides rapid COVID tests, KN95 and surgical masks. The program provides air purifiers for smaller spaces. The program provides access to coursework, lectures, and assignments in a remote capability so students can safely progress in the program.  NAU provides resources on COVID at Campus Health Services.

In the clinical year individual sites may require documentation of COVID-19 vaccination to participate in rotations, at which time COVID-19 vaccination information must be uploaded into Exxat.

Tdap - Required

A one-time adult dose of Tdap (age 19 or older), followed by a Td or Tdap booster every 10 years. Tdap = Tetanus / Diphtheria / Pertussis, Td = Tetanus / Diphtheria

Varicella (Chicken Pox) - Required

Varicella vaccine series (2 injections at least 4 weeks apart) or documentation of positive Varicella IgG titer, History of Varicella disease is not acceptable as proof of immunity.

* If titer results are NEGATIVE or EQUIVOCAL, you must repeat the 2-shot Varicella series and submit proof.

Tuberculosis (TB) Matriculation to the program – Required

Documentation of a negative two-step TB Skin Test. All files must include date placed, time, by whom and results in mm (not negative) date read, time and by whom, also lot number and expiration date. The two-step TB skin test consists of an initial TB skin test and a boosted TB skin test 1-3 weeks later.

If the reaction to the first-step TB skin test is classified as negative, a second-step TB skin test is given one to three weeks after the first test is read. This will necessitate FOUR separate clinic visits. Ex: place June 7, read June 9, place June 21, read June 23

Positive skin test or positive blood test: TB screening questionnaire required (no chest X-ray required for matriculation)

Tuberculosis (TB) Clinical Year - Required

Documentation of negative two-step TB Skin Test started in August so as to be valid for the length of the clinical year. All files must include date placed, time, by whom and results in mm (not negative) date read, time and by whom, also lot number and expiration date. The two-step TB skin test consists of an initial TB skin test and a boosted TB skin test 1-3 weeks later. This will necessitate FOUR separate clinic visits. Ex: July 7, read July 9, place July 21, read July 23

Positive skin test or positive blood test: Documentation of a new annual negative chest X-ray required for clinical year along with new annual  Tuberculosis Screening Questionnaire.

Acceptable alternative to TB skin test for both Matriculation & Clinical Year Documentation of negative result IGRA blood test (QuantiFERON, T-Spot).

To complete the PA Program supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPE) requirement, students participate at clinical sites that may have their own health and safety standards and/or application and review processes for vaccination exemptions and maintain the right to review NAU-approved clinical accommodations. As NAU does not govern or control clinical sites, they are not obligated to accept NAU-approved exemptions or accommodations.

The PA Program is committed to developing new relationships with preceptors and clinical institutions. All requirements are communicated to individual students based on specific clinical placements. See also Health Requirements.

The first year of the Physician Assistant Program consists of 44 weeks (three semesters) of courses to provide you with a solid classroom foundation through lectures, small group activity and hands-on workshops. Didactic courses are primarily held in-person (synchronously) with occasional online or hybrid sessions.

Clinical rotation courses are conducted primarily in person, with possible telemedicine experiences in conjunction with a preceptor. The second year of the program consists of two year-long courses held in conjunction with on campus events following the completion of every clinical rotation. Clinical rotations are six weeks in length in various primary care, elective and specialty fields. The core clinical rotations include:

• family medicine
• internal medicine
• emergency medicine
• surgery
• mental health
• pediatrics
• women’s health

There is one six-week elective clinical rotation allowed. These clinical-year experiences provide you with hands-on learning in a variety of rural and community clinics and hospitals throughout Arizona. Additionally, you will return to campus several times during the year for continuous and summative assessments, research presentations, capstone projects and reflective coursework. Please note: the second year is an ongoing year of clinical rotations that do not fit into the semester schedule and will not have scheduled semester breaks.

See also Catalog.

The PA Program in the Department of PA Studies is responsible for preparing students to practice safely as members of the interprofessional medical team. The program has a responsibility to the student, the public, and the profession. The program maintains academic standards, competencies, and professional ethics that the student is expected to adhere to throughout the program. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.

Academic Continuation, Probation, Dismissal, And Readmission (NAU Graduate Policy #100319)

Good Academic Standing: Graduate students must maintain Good Academic Standing to be eligible to continue in or to return to the University. Good Academic Standing is demonstrated by:

• >3.0 grade point average (GPA) for all courses taken including those required in the program of study,
  • no more than 11 units of “C” course grades, and
  • no course grades of “F.”

Additionally, a student is not able to progress to clinical rotations until or unless their cumulative GPA is greater than or equal to 3.000.

Academic Probation - Students will be automatically placed on academic probation by the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies or the academic unit at the end of each regular academic term for any of the following reasons:

• failure to meet the criteria for “good academic standing” including, but not limited to:

o earning a grade of “F,”1

o earning an excess number of “C” units allowed in their program,

o earning a GPA below 3.00

• earning the maximum number of “C” units (i.e., 11 credits) allowed in their program2
  • failure to meet discipline-specific or departmental academic requirements established in the departmental/program handbook3

1Earning a course grade of “F” is grounds for dismissal

2Earning more than 11 units of “C” is grounds for dismissal

3Academic units placing students on academic probation for failure to meet discipline- specific or departmental academic requirements must notify the student in writing, with a copy to the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies, of specific failures leading to the recommendation of probation.

Students placed on academic probation by the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies or the academic unit are required to meet regularly with their Faculty Advisor.

PA Program Requirements: Graduate students must meet the PA Program’s criteria toward degree completion, including (but not limited to) (NAU Graduate Policy #100319):

• Passing scores on summative examinations,
• Satisfactory progress on examinations, capstone project, and other program milestones,
• The ability to successfully complete the program within the allowed timeframe, and
• Adherence to the professional and ethical standards of the NAU Graduate Handbook, the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) Guidelines for Ethical Conduct of the PA Profession, and the Arizona State Statutes and Rules for PAs (pp. 23).

Dismissal based on Academic Continuation Requirements or Academic Reasons (NAU Policy #100319)

A student may be recommended for dismissal by an academic unit for:

• failure to meet academic requirements outlined in this policy or within the academic unit;
  • failure to meet requirements for continuation within an academic program; or
  • any academic reason not addressed by other university policies or procedures.

Once the program notifies a student of their recommendation for dismissal from a program, they will allow the student to present evidence that may influence or alter the dismissal recommendation. The student must supply this evidence within 5 business days of the dismissal notification, and this evidence must be reviewed by the program before a final recommendation is forwarded to the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies. The program has up to 5 business days to make their final recommendation to the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies.

If the program’s decision is to uphold the dismissal recommendation, the program must supply all review and/or informational materials submitted by the student with the final recommendation for dismissal. The recommendation for dismissal will come to the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies Associate Dean from the Program Director or other applicable academic unit administrator.

The Office of Graduate & Professional Studies Associate Dean will review the materials and issue a decision. If a student is dismissed from the program by the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies, a student may appeal this decision utilizing the process outlined in NAU’s Academic Appeal Policy and UGCHP - Graduate Policy Number 100103. Students will begin with “Step 3” in the process, submitting a written appeal to the Associate Dean and supplying all information requested in policy 100103. The student will also request a meeting with the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies Associate Dean.

A student who is dismissed from the program will not be considered for future admission to the program.

The Student Success Committee (SSC) oversees the academic and professional progression of students in the program. The committee is composed of all full-time faculty members in the program. The Program Director is not a member of the committee. The SSC meets regularly to evaluate student progress, per accreditation requirements. When possible, advisors, faculty and other stakeholders discuss opportunities for academic counseling and remediation if students are not making satisfactory academic progress. Every effort is made to intervene early and often.  Students may be required to attend SSC meetings, when concerns are identified.

Remediation - Remediation plans are developed on an individual basis and tailored to student areas of improvement. The NAU Academic Improvement Plan is used by the Faculty Advisor to develop a strategy for intervention and remediation. Students are required to meet regularly with their faculty advisor to discuss progress, challenges, and successes. Academic Improvement Plan Form

Dismissal - The NAU Office of Graduate & Professional Studies, after due consideration and process, reserves the right to require the dismissal of any student at any time before graduation if circumstances of a legal, moral, behavioral, ethical, and/or academic nature justify such an action.

Recommendations for PA program dismissal with clearly stated reasons may be made by the SSC of the PA program for consideration by the Program Director of the PA program. Following review of the case and supporting documentation, and the provision of due process, the Program Director provides their recommendation to the NAU Office of Graduate & Professional Studies. Students recommended by the PA Program for dismissal will be notified in writing (via email and US Postal Service). The policy and procedure entitled Academic Continuation, Probation, Dismissal, and Readmission – Graduate (#100319) will be strictly followed. Students are afforded due consideration and process at all stages of the evaluation.

Academic appeals – Students are provided the opportunity to appeal decisions of the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies, including academic probation and dismissal. See Academic Appeal Policy and University Graduate Committee Hearing Panel, Graduate (#100103).

Per NAU Office of Graduate & Professional Studies Policies, the student must show reason why an appeal should be heard.  These appeals should only be considered in instances where:

• The faculty, department, school, or other academic unit deviated substantially from accepted and specified standards as established by the University, Office of Graduate & Professional Studies, or academic unit;
  • There was a capricious or arbitrary application of standards towards a student;
  • Proper due process was denied to the student

Maximum Time to Complete the MPAS Degree - The maximum time to completion for any student in the Program is one year beyond the originally scheduled graduation date.

Withdrawal from the Program - Students who elect to withdraw from the program may submit the form, ‘voluntary withdrawal from a program’ found on the NAU Office of Graduate & Professional Studies website. Students who voluntarily withdraw from the program may reapply for admission to the program.

The student may have financial aid implications that should be addressed with the Office Scholarships and Financial Aid and Student & Departmental Account Services.

Deceleration – Deceleration (an alternative mechanism that allows students to complete the curriculum over a longer period of time) is not offered in the PA Program. If a student is required to repeat a didactic course, the student must wait until the course is offered in the next academic year. Tuition, fees, etc. are the responsibility of the student in the event a course and/or courses need to be repeated. (A3.15c) The student may have financial aid implications that should be addressed with the Office Scholarships and Financial Aid and Student & Departmental Account Services.

Continuous Enrollment - The Office of Graduate & Professional Studies requires that students be continuously enrolled and must approve exceptions to this policy.  See the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies policies for details Continuous Enrollment, Graduate Policy 100326.

Student Professional Expectations

Quality graduate education requires professional and ethical conduct of all participants. Graduate school faculty and graduate students have mutual responsibilities in ensuring the highest academic standards of superior graduate programs. Professionalism is an academic component of the PA Program and a criterion for Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students are encouraged to use the professionalism self-assessment rubric (Appendix E) to reflect upon and refine their professional development.

PA students are expected to adhere to policies of the NAU Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.

Students are also expected to adhere to the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) Guidelines for Ethical Conduct of the PA Profession and the Arizona State Statutes and Rules for PAs.

Informal complaints - When a student encounters a problem on campus or feels they have been treated unfairly (e.g., student mistreatment), the student should first try to resolve the issue informally with the faculty/staff member or department directly involved. Within the PA Program, the student may consult with their faculty mentor or the Program Director. If the student is not satisfied with the response after working informally to resolve the complaint, the student may file a student complaint using the online Complaint Form. Complaint Process | Division of Student Affairs

Formal complaints will be managed through official university procedures, found here: Complaint Process | Division of Student Affairs

Please see the section, Safe Learning Environment for information on Title IX and the Equity and Access Office.

A final course grade may be appealed according to the NAU Grade Appeal Policy (#100105).The university timeline for appeals may adversely impact the student’s academic progress. The program may not allow progression to the next semester pending the outcome of the appeal.

Please see also Degree Progression.

Due to the intensity and high standards of the program, students are strongly discouraged from seeking or maintaining employment while enrolled in the program.

NAU’s graduate Physician Assistant program tuition and fees

Tuition rates and program fees are established by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). The following are estimates for academic year 2025-2026 and 2026-2027* and may differ from the actual charges. Annual tuition and program fee increases are typically capped at 3.5% and 5%, respectively. Additional expenses are estimates and designed for you to calculate the total cost of attending the Northern Arizona University Physician Assistant program.

Resident

*estimated

Non-resident

*estimated

Estimate of other costs for two years