About the program
The Rowan-Virtua 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 Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Physician Assistant Program’s mission is to develop clinically competent and community-focused physician assistants who are prepared to excel in the evolving interprofessional team-based healthcare landscape by practicing evidence-based medicine."
The Rowan-Virtua SOM PA Program features a rigorous 24-month curriculum built alongside and delivered by experts within the School of Osteopathic Medicine. The program emphasizes advanced simulation training and interprofessional education, preparing students with the skills needed for diverse clinical settings. Strong clinical partnerships and a focus on community health address the growing demand for PAs in South Jersey and beyond.
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: no. DACA status applicants are not considered. Distance learning is not offered. Part-time enrollment is not available. On-campus housing is available.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 10 Years · up to 2 outstanding at application
Program overview
Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Physician Assistant Program is a 24-month, full-time program in New Jersey that awards the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. It currently holds Provisional ARC-PA accreditation and is scheduled to begin its inaugural cohort in August 2027. The program sits within a School of Osteopathic Medicine, and its curriculum is built and delivered alongside faculty from that institution, giving students exposure to an osteopathic academic environment without the program itself granting an osteopathic credential.
The mission centers on producing clinically competent, community-focused PAs who can function effectively within interprofessional, team-based settings using evidence-based medicine. That orientation is reflected directly in the curriculum, which combines case-based, systems-based, and collaborative learning models alongside advanced simulation training and interprofessional education experiences. The program has developed clinical partnerships with a stated emphasis on serving South Jersey communities, which is worth noting for applicants who intend to practice in that region.
The incoming class is expected to hold 55 seats. Matriculants have averaged a 3.64 overall GPA and a 3.53 science GPA, though the stated minimums are 3.00 for both overall and prerequisite coursework. Science and biology prerequisites must have been completed within the last ten years, and applicants may enter with no more than two prerequisites still outstanding. Required coursework includes nine credits of general chemistry with lab, eleven credits of general biology with lab, four credits each of human anatomy and human physiology both with lab, and three credits of statistics.
The patient-care bar is relatively accessible at 350 hours, but those hours must be paid direct patient care - volunteer or shadowing hours will not satisfy this requirement. Healthcare experience beyond that is also required. This paid-care stipulation is a meaningful filter and distinguishes the program from those that accept a broader range of clinical exposure.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis with a deadline of January 15, 2027, so early submission is strategically important. The seat deposit is $1,000. Three letters of reference are required. Interviews are traditional in format and are not required to be completed on-site. The program accepts out-of-state applicants but does not accept international students, offers no part-time track, and has no distance-learning component. Separate tuition rates exist, though specific figures are not published here.
An applicant should assess fit primarily by confirming their paid patient-care experience meets the requirement, verifying their prerequisites fall within the ten-year window, and honestly considering whether they want to train in a systems-based, simulation-heavy, osteopathic academic environment oriented toward community and interprofessional practice in the South Jersey region.