Kentucky Wesleyan College offers a program which prepares students for admission to any university program for physician assistants (P.A.)

Physician assistants are mid-level practitioners educated by physicians to provide serves that have traditionally been provided by physicians. They practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician, and are qualified to take histories, perform physical examinations, order and administer tests, diagnose common illnesses, and deliver treatment within the realm of their supervising physician.

There exists over twenty physician assistant programs in the United States, but Kentucky Wesleyan students normally attend the program at the University of Kentucky, KWC’s pre-professional curriculum is consistent with this program'’ requirements. This pre-professional curriculum includes approximately 64 semester hours at Kentucky Wesleyan, although some physician assistant programs require the completion of a college degree prior to admission. In that case, a Kentucky Wesleyan degree in biology or chemistry would be appropriate.

The University of Kentucky’s professional program is two years in length, with the first year consisting of intense pre-clinical course work in the basic sciences and clinically related subjects. The second year of the program consists of 51 weeks of rotating clinical clerkships in various areas of medicine. A wide assortment of clerkship settings are available; however, the majority are located off campus including those in rural Kentucky. Graduates of the program are awarded a certification of completion and a Bachelor of Health Science degree from the University of Kentucky. Degreed individuals are eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination.

Kentucky Wesleyan graduates who have completed the P.A. program are currently working in physicians’ offices and emergency rooms in hospitals.

Students who are interested in physician assistant professional programs at schools other than the University of Kentucky should contact the particular school for entrance and graduation requirements. If possible, the Kentucky Wesleyan pre-physician assistant curriculum will be tailored to match another school’s expectations.