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Department of Physician Assistant Studies College of Health Professions

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      • Degree Plan (MPAS)
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    Congratulations to Christina and Evelyn!
  • Physician assistant student
    UTRGV’s new PACT program will provide high school students with a career path to becoming a future physician assistants.
  • PA 25th Anniversary White Coat Ceremony
    The Department of Physician Assistants celebrated its 25th White Coat Ceremony, welcoming 100 students into its program.

Department of Physician Assistant Studies

Welcome to the Department of Physician Assistant Studies

Graduate Programs Physician Assistant Studies The Master in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) The Master in Physician Assistant Studies Bridge Program (MPAS)
Admissions Process Physician Assistant Studies Admission Criteria and information for students applying to our PA graduate programs.
PACT PACT Physician Assistant Career Track

Contact Us

Physician Assistant Department
E-mail: pad@utrgv.edu

Admissions Coordinator
Keith Joseph
E-mail: keith.joseph@utrgv.edu 

Amanda Vargas
Administrative Assistant I
Phone: 956-665-5047
E-mail: amanda.vargas@utrgv.edu

Bridge Program Coordinator
Lisa Kuhn
Email: bridge@utrgv.edu

Physician Assistant Career Track Early Assurance Program (PACT)
Email: pact@utrgv.edu

Physician Assistant Studies
Haley Zamarripa
Administrative Assistant II
EHABE 2.144
Email: haley.zamarripa01@utrgv.edu
Phone: 956-665-2298
Phone Alt: 956-665-7049
Fax: 956-665-2438

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Quick Links

Department Homepage Graduate Programs (MPAS) Admissions FAQS UTRGV PA Program Cost of Attending
APPLY NOW REQUEST INFO GRADUATE COLLEGE

More About Us

Important information regarding our PA Department and COVID-19:

Our department will continue to be working off-campus, with limited on-campus hours. We will still be available via email; all admissions and prerequisite questions can be directed to pad@utrgv.edu, questions about our PA Bridge Program can be directed to bridge@utrgv.edu, and questions about the PACT program can be directed to pact@utrgv.edu


Updates:

  • The UTRGV PA Program plans to utilize the CASPer Test as part of the required material for a complete application for the 2022-2023 application cycle. Please frequently visit our website for additional updates.
  • The GRE Test is required.  

Upcoming Event: 

Virtual Information Session
Date: Saturday, June 18th, 2022
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Online via Zoom

The Information Session will be a great opportunity to learn about the rigorous program and the competitive admissions process. Do not miss your chance to address the faculty with any questions or concerns you may have. We hope you will find the session to be insightful and informative. 

Register Here


The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted  Accreditation-Continued status to the  Physician Assistant Program sponsored by  The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA  Standards. 

Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the  Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be  September 2023. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation  Standards and ARC-PA policy. 

For more information regarding the accreditation history, visit http://www.arc-pa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Accreditation-History-TX-Rio-Grande-Valley-145.pdf.

PANCE Exam Scores
NCCPA - Certification, Excellence
Click the icon to see a five-year performance report

UTRGV Department of Physician Assistant Studies

ARC-PA Student Attrition 2019-2021


2022 UTRGV Physician Assistant Program ranked #2 "BEST WORKSHOPS"

best pa programs


2021 UTRGV Physician Assistant Program ranked #1

utrgv ranking

The Department of Physician Assistant Studies 
is located in Edinburg, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. We are located approximately 4 hours south of San Antonio. The campus is located just 20 minutes from the Texas-Mexican border. The local population is primarily Hispanic. The Department of Physician Assistant Studies serves primarily the four counties of the Rio Grande Valley: Starr, Hidalgo, Willacy, and Cameron. Both Hidalgo and Cameron counties are urban/metropolitan counties with large rural areas while Starr and Willacy counties are almost exclusively rural. All Rio Grande Valley counties are classified as medically underserved areas (MUAs). The Rio Grande Valley experiences a unique population dynamic in that it shares its culture and livelihood with the much larger metropolitan border cities of Mexico, specifically Reynosa and Matamoros, both in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.


UTRGV Announces Physician Assistant Career Track Program (PACT)

PACT will provide South Texas high school students with a career path to becoming a future physician assistant while studying close to home.

physician assistant students at PACT press conference         

View Photos from the PACT Press Conference

View Press Release

To learn more about PACT and eligibility requirements, click here.

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