About the program
The University of Wisconsin – Madison 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 mission of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Physician Assistant (PA) program is to educate health care professionals committed to the delivery of comprehensive, preventative and therapeutic health care in a patient-centered manner, with an emphasis on primary health care for all populations in need."
4 unique program options, Full-dissection cadaver lab (6 students per), International rotations/experience in Belize, Optional Path of Distinction (PoD) in Rural Health, Community Health, Global Health, Tribal Medicine, and Addiction Medicine, Early clinical experiences in community free clinics, state of the art facilities with lives stream, lecture capture, and video conference capabilities, dedicated and caring 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: no. 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: No Requirement · up to 2 outstanding at application
Program overview
The University of Wisconsin–Madison offers a 24-month MPAS program with ARC-PA Continued accreditation, admitting a class of 72 students beginning in May 2027. The program's mission centers on training clinicians to deliver comprehensive, preventative, and therapeutic care in a patient-centered way, with explicit emphasis on primary care for underserved and diverse populations. This focus threads through both the curriculum design and the optional enrichment tracks available to students.
The academic model blends asynchronous, case-based, and team-based learning within an organ and systems-based framework, incorporating early clinical exposure through community free clinics before traditional rotations begin. The anatomy sequence uses a full-dissection cadaver lab with six students per cadaver, and facilities include live-stream, lecture capture, and video conferencing infrastructure. Students have access to international rotation opportunities in Belize, adding global health experience for those who pursue it. One of the program's more distinctive features is its Path of Distinction, an optional concentration available in Rural Health, Community Health, Global Health, Tribal Medicine, or Addiction Medicine - a meaningful differentiator for applicants with targeted career interests in any of these areas.
The program accepts out-of-state applicants but does not accept international students and offers no part-time or distance learning option. Separate tuition rates apply, so out-of-state applicants should confirm current costs directly with the program. The application deadline is August 1, 2026, for a May 2027 start, and the program reviews all applications after that deadline passes rather than on a rolling basis.
Competitive metrics for matriculants run high: a 3.79 overall GPA and 3.75 science GPA, though the stated minimums are 3.20 in both categories. Applicants near the floor should understand they will be evaluated against a pool averaging considerably higher. The program requires a minimum of 1,000 paid direct patient care hours - healthcare experience beyond direct patient care is not separately required, but paid PCE is mandatory. Three letters of reference are required, and interviews are traditional in format with no onsite requirement. On prerequisites, there is no time limit on coursework, and up to two outstanding prerequisites are permitted at the time of application. Required science courses include general biology with lab, human anatomy, human physiology, microbiology with lab, and statistics.
Applicants who fit well here will likely have strong GPAs, substantive paid patient care experience, and a genuine interest in primary care or underserved populations - and those drawn to a defined specialty focus should look closely at whether one of the Paths of Distinction aligns with their professional goals.