About the program
The Duke University Medical Center PA program is described in PAEA's published program data; full curriculum details, faculty, and admissions cycle specifics are maintained on the program's own website.
From the program's mission statement: "Equip learners to deliver equitable patient-centered care by providing an innovative primary care-focused curriculum, expanding and strengthening community partnerships, and developing leaders in the PA profession."
Birthplace of the PA profession, Teaching hospital with early clinical exposure, Wet Tissue Lab, Full Dissection Cadver Lab, International rotations, Alumni Services Coordinator, 5:1 student faculty ratio per cohort., IPE opportunities, POCUS Society, surgical unit. Seasoned faculty, many with Doctorates,who are leaders at the national level.
Matriculant data
Actual stats for students who enrolled in the most recently reported cohort, sourced from PAEA's published program data.
Admission policies
Out-of-state applicants are accepted. International applicants: yes, with exceptions. please visit the program's website. DACA status applicants are considered. Distance learning is not offered. Part-time enrollment is not available. On-campus housing is available. Veteran support programs are available; consult the program directly for details.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 10 Years · up to 2 outstanding at application
Program overview
Duke University Medical Center offers a 24-month Master of Health Science degree in physician assistant studies, set to begin in August 2027. As the birthplace of the PA profession, the program carries genuine historical weight, though its practical draw for applicants lies in what it delivers structurally: a systems-based curriculum with asynchronous learning components, early clinical exposure in a major academic teaching hospital, full cadaver dissection, a wet tissue lab, and access to international rotations. The mission centers on primary care, health equity, and developing PAs who take on leadership roles within the profession - a focus that suits applicants who see clinical practice as connected to community and systemic impact rather than purely procedural competence. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) opportunities, interprofessional education, and a surgical unit round out a clinical environment that is broader than a community-based program. A 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio per cohort within a class of 90 means students interact regularly with faculty described as nationally active, many holding doctoral credentials.
Competitively, matriculants carry a 3.71 overall GPA and a 3.65 science GPA, which signals a selective pool. The minimum prerequisite GPA sits at 2.70, but the gap between floor and typical admit makes clear that applicants near the minimum will be working against the field. Required coursework includes eight credits of general chemistry with lab, six credits of general biology, three credits each of human anatomy, human physiology, microbiology, and statistics - all completed within the past ten years, with no more than two prerequisites outstanding at the time of application. The program requires the GRE and will not substitute the MCAT.
Patient care requirements are meaningful: 1,000 hours of direct patient care, and that experience must be paid. Healthcare experience beyond those hours is also required. These conditions together push out applicants relying on volunteer or shadowing hours to meet their clinical threshold, and favor candidates with EMT, medical assistant, scribe-plus-clinical, or similar compensated roles.
Tuition totals $106,912 with a seat deposit of $1,125. There are no separate in-state or out-of-state tuition rates, and the program accepts both out-of-state and international applicants, the latter with conditions noted on the program's website. Admission is rolling on a first-come, first-served basis with a deadline of September 1, 2026, which means early submission is a practical advantage, not just conventional advice. The interview process includes both traditional and group formats and does not require an onsite visit.
An applicant should assess fit here by honestly evaluating whether their GPA, paid patient care hours, and interest in a primary care and leadership-oriented mission align with what Duke is actually selecting for - not just whether the name carries appeal.