Physician Assistant Program (MS)

Program Director: Ann Schultz
Medical Director: James Lally
Associate Director: J. Dante Awkward
Regular Faculty: Mario Esquivel, Aaron Kan

Program Not Offered in 2024-25

Accreditation Statement

ARC-PA has accepted the voluntary withdrawal of the University of La Verne PA Program from the ARC-PA accreditation process. Effective January 1, 2025, ARC-PA shall withdraw accreditation from the University of La Verne PA Program. Subject to fulfillment of various obligations, the University of La Verne PA Program will remain accredited on probation through December 31, 2024. The University of La Verne PA Program will not accept any new students for enrollment.

Specific questions regarding the Program and its plans should be directed to paquestions@laverne.edu, or visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-university-of-la-verne/

Program Details

A physician assistant or physician associate (PA) is a type of advanced health care provider. PAs can diagnose illnesses, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and may serve as a principal healthcare provider.  PAs are required in nearly all States to have a direct agreement with a physician for supervision and collaboration.  

The ULV Physician Assistant Program requires 27 consecutive months of full time academic and clinical coursework. The program trains and educates students to become health care providers who perform physical examinations, diagnose and treat illness, order and interpret laboratory and radiological tests, perform clinical procedures, assist in surgical cases, provide patient education and counseling and “round” in hospital and nursing home settings. All states and the District of Columbia allow PAs to practice, prescribe, transmit and administer prescription medications.

Graduates from the program will be eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) and apply for state licensure to practice medicine upon passing the board examination as physician assistant. Students must apply to the program and be admitted prior to registering for all courses. No audits and observation of program courses in any portion of the curriculum will be permitted without written consent of the program director or designee.