About the program
The University of California-Davis 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 Master of Health Services - Physician Assistant Studies Degree Program at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis prepares future PAs to become primary care providers who advance health in California’s underserved communities. The program is built on the principles of interprofessional education, leadership, and health equity. With a strong emphasis on team-based care, our program develops collaborative, socially conscious clinicians ready to improve outcomes in diverse health care environments."
Advanced simulation facilities, rural health clinical experiences, interprofessional focus, leadership development, professional advocacy training, Student Wellness and Success Center, and associated with a world-class teaching hospital
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: 5 Years
Program overview
UC Davis offers a 27-month Master of Health Services in Physician Assistant Studies housed within the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, with a planned start date of June 2027. The program holds ARC-PA continued accreditation, accepts out-of-state and international applicants (with some exceptions for the latter), and admits a class of approximately 65 students each cycle.
The mission is explicit and consequential: this program is designed to produce primary care PAs who will work in underserved communities across California. Applicants who are drawn to health equity work, interprofessional team-based practice, and rural health settings will find the program's priorities align closely with those values. The curriculum blends case-based, systems-based, and collaborative learning models, and distinguishes itself through rural health clinical placements, advanced simulation facilities, interprofessional education across health professions, and leadership and professional advocacy training. The affiliation with UC Davis Health, a major academic medical center, adds clinical breadth to that foundation. A Student Wellness and Success Center is also available to enrolled students.
Academically, the program requires a minimum 3.00 GPA overall and in prerequisites, though matriculants typically arrive with a 3.7 overall and 3.6 science GPA, signaling meaningful competition above the floor. Science prerequisites in human anatomy, human physiology, and microbiology each require at least three credits and must include laboratory components, and all prerequisite coursework must have been completed within the past five years. Applicants must document at least 1,000 hours of direct patient care, and that experience must be paid - volunteer hours alone will not satisfy this requirement. General healthcare experience beyond direct patient care is also required.
The application deadline is August 1, 2026, and all applications are reviewed together after that date closes rather than on a rolling basis. The process requires a minimum of three letters of reference. Interviews include both a traditional format and a group interview component and are not required to be conducted onsite. Total tuition runs $170,430 with no differential rate for in-state versus out-of-state students, and a seat deposit of $1,500 is required upon acceptance. The program offers no part-time enrollment track and no distance learning option.
An applicant should consider this program a strong fit if they have documented paid clinical experience, competitive science preparation, and a genuine commitment to serving underserved populations in primary care settings - particularly in California's rural and diverse communities.