About the program
The ECPI University PA Program 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: "The Physician Assistant Program will provide a challenging and innovative academic setting for students from diverse backgrounds to become physician assistants. Graduates will provide exceptional healthcare, promote health equity, commit to personal and professional growth, and lead in the communities they serve."
Our program is designed to prepare you for today’s healthcare environment with an integrative curriculum that blends hands-on clinical training with modern topics like AI in healthcare and value-based care. You’ll learn in our on-campus simulation lab, where realistic scenarios help you build confidence, sharpen clinical judgment, and practice clinical skills in a safe, supportive setting with guidance from experienced faculty.
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. Veteran support programs are available; consult the program directly for details.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 10 Years · up to 3 outstanding at application
Program overview
ECPI University's PA Program in Virginia awards a Master of Physician Assistant (MPA) degree and runs 24 months, with the inaugural cohort scheduled to begin August 2027. The program currently holds Provisional ARC-PA accreditation status, which applicants should weigh carefully when evaluating this option. It accepts out-of-state students and international applicants with some exceptions, though no distance learning or part-time enrollment is available. The estimated incoming class size is 30 students.
The mission centers on building clinicians from diverse backgrounds who can deliver equitable, community-focused care while committing to ongoing professional growth. Curricular highlights include simulation-based training in an on-campus lab, integration of contemporary topics such as AI in healthcare and value-based care, and an emphasis on clinical judgment developed through realistic patient scenarios with faculty guidance. There is no declared specialty curricular focus, so this is a generalist preparation program.
The admissions bar is straightforward: a minimum 3.00 GPA across overall, science, and prerequisite coursework, with prerequisites completed within the past ten years and no more than three courses outstanding at the time of application. Prerequisite science courses span general chemistry (8 credits with lab), general biology (4 credits with lab), human anatomy (4 credits with lab), human physiology (4 credits with lab), and microbiology (4 credits with lab), plus a 3-credit statistics course. The program requires 500 hours of direct patient care, and those hours must be paid - volunteer or unpaid experience does not satisfy this requirement. Three letters of reference are required.
Tuition totals $115,000 for the program with a $1,000 seat deposit; there are no separate in-state or out-of-state tuition rates. Applications are reviewed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis with a deadline of April 1, 2027. Interviews include a combination of traditional, group, and multiple mini interview (MMI) formats, all conducted on-site.
An applicant who meets the 3.00 GPA floor, holds 500 or more paid patient care hours, and is genuinely comfortable enrolling in a provisionally accredited program launching its first class should assess whether ECPI's simulation-forward, technology-integrated curriculum aligns with how they learn best before applying.