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Medical trainees examining a patient in a clinical setting.

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

Become a Physician Assistant in two years with this graduate program designed for ambitious learners. You’ll gain the knowledge and practical experience to assess, diagnose, treat, and support patients across diverse healthcare settings, while preparing for collaborative practice in a physician-led team.

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

Become a Physician Assistant in two years with this graduate program designed for ambitious learners. You’ll gain the knowledge and practical experience to assess, diagnose, treat, and support patients across diverse healthcare settings, while preparing for collaborative practice in a physician-led team.

Medical trainees examining a patient in a clinical setting.

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

Become a Physician Assistant in two years with this graduate program designed for ambitious learners. You’ll gain the knowledge and practical experience to assess, diagnose, treat, and support patients across diverse healthcare settings, while preparing for collaborative practice in a physician-led team.

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About the program

Apply now Admission requirements

The Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) prepares you to become a clinically skilled, competent and compassionate Physician Assistant (PA) ready to practice in different health care settings. You’ll graduate ready to work in physician-led teams, providing patient-centred medical care across hospitals, primary care, emergency medicine, and specialty services.

Your learning in this is two-year, full-time professional master’s targets PA-specific competencies and graduate-level training, and is aligned with our program in Undergraduate Medical Education. You’ll train within a physician-led model of care, build competency through Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs), and complete a graduate research project - ensuring you’re practice-ready and prepared for national certification.

Prospective students are advised that the program is still subject to formal approval.

  • Program name: Master of Physician Assistant Program
  • Credential: Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
  • Duration: 2 years (full-time; 6 consecutive graduate level terms)
  • Applications for September 2026 opening soon
  • Contact: gradapps@uwo.ca
Full-time
6 consecutive terms
In-person
Clinical rotations
Simulation-based
Graduate Clinical Research Curriculum

Reasons to study

Doctor in scrubs chatting with a seated patient in an exam room.

Patient centred clinical training

Develop strong clinical judgment and hands-on experience through simulation, case-based learning, and supervised rotations. Train in a physician-led model to deliver safe, ethical, culturally responsive care across diverse populations.

Two healthcare workers walking and talking in a clinic hallway

Small cohort

Benefit from close mentorship, direct faculty access, and meaningful feedback in a focused cohort that fosters collaboration, professionalism, peer support, and strong interprofessional relationships.

Three medical residents in scrubs walking outside near a clinic building.

High employment demand

Physician Assistant graduates enjoy exceptional career prospects, with growing demand driven by healthcare needs, expanding PA integration, and opportunities across hospitals, primary care, emergency medicine, and specialties.

What you'll learn

Year 1 focuses on medical foundations, clinical skills, professional competencies, and research training through in-person, case-based, and simulation-based learning.

Medical Foundations I–III

Study systems-based medicine across the lifespan, integrating anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and pathology. This foundation strengthens clinical reasoning and prepares you to assess, diagnose, and manage common and complex medical conditions.

Clinical Skills I–III

Develop patient-centred communication, history taking, physical examination, and procedural skills. Simulation and standardized patient encounters allow you to apply knowledge safely before entering supervised clinical practice.

Professional Competencies

Explore ethics, professionalism, wellness, and the evolving role of Physician Assistants in Canada. This course supports leadership development, accountability, and effective collaboration within physician-led healthcare teams.

Interprofessional Learning

Participate in structured learning alongside other health profession learners, including undergraduate medical students. Shared sessions strengthen teamwork, clarify professional roles, and prepare you to contribute effectively within collaborative care environments.

Clinical Research & Quality Improvement

Develop graduate-level skills in critical appraisal, research methodology, and evidence-based medicine. Complete a quality improvement or research project that applies evidence to real clinical questions.

Year 2 focuses on supervised clinical rotations across core specialties, and two elective blocks. You’ll collaborate with other learners to complete a group quality improvement or research project, applying principles of research learned in Year 1 to real clinical questions. Year 2 concludes with a structured Transition to Practice experience.

Family Medicine

Complete an extended rotation in community-based primary care. Under physician supervision, you’ll assess patients, develop management plans, and build continuity-of-care skills across diverse populations.

Core Hospital Rotations

Complete rotations in internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, psychiatry, geriatrics, anesthesia & pain medicine, and emergency medicine. Assume progressive responsibility as you achieve competency milestones and EPAs.

Supervised Clinical Practice

All clinical learning occurs within physician-led teams. Your scope of practice develops through negotiated clinical autonomy, structured feedback, and direct supervision tailored to your demonstrated competence.

Competency-Based Assessment

Clinical performance is evaluated through workplace-based assessments, practicum logbooks, and EPA completion. A competence committee reviews progression to ensure readiness for increasing responsibility and safe patient care.

Elective Rotations

Select two elective experiences aligned with your interests and career goals. Electives allow you to deepen expertise while continuing competency-based assessment within supervised clinical environments.

Transition to Practice

In the final phase of training in Year 2, you’ll consolidate clinical competencies and prepare for national certification. Structured sessions focus on professional readiness, clinical decision-making, and entry into supervised practice.

Application requirements

Admission to the MPAS program is competitive. The requirements listed are considered a baseline. We’ll look for you to show strong academic preparation, professionalism, and a demonstrated commitment to patientcentred healthcare.

  1. Four-year undergraduate degree from a recognized institution
  2. Minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 (75%) in the final two full-time years
  3. Preference will be given to applicants who have completed university-level coursework in Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, and Statistics
  4. Academic background in health, biomedical, or related sciences preferred
  1. Online application through Western Graduate Studies
  2. Resume or curriculum vitae
  3. Two letters of reference
  4. Official transcripts

If your first language is not English, you’ll be asked to provide one of the following:

  • TOEFL iBT: Minimum 86 (no section below 20)
  • IELTS Academic: Overall 6.5 (no band below 6.0)
  • CAEL: Minimum 60

Upon successful admission, you’ll be asked to provide:

  1. Immunization records
  2. CPR and First Aid certification

Applications opening soon

Get updates Admission requirements

Plan your finances

Graduate student funding & fees explained

What it costs

Program tuition will be confirmed following final program approvals. Fees are expected to be comparable to other Canadian Master of Physician Assistant Studies programs. Additional costs may include textbooks, equipment, and clinical placement requirements. 

Tuition & fees

Support available

As a graduate learner, you may be eligible to receive financial support.

Graduate students who find themselves in financial need have access to a full range of bursary programs, loans and financial aid counselling at Western.

Financial support 

Plan ahead

Managing your finances, time, and overall wellness are critical to your academic success.

Use the Graduate Student Affordability Calculator to estimate how much money you will need to pay for your tuition, fees, housing, food, and other necessities for a 12-month (three-term) academic year.

Budget planning 

Clinical placements

Primary care

During your eight-week Family Medicine rotation and additional community placements, you’ll assess patients across the lifespan, develop management plans, and support continuity of care. Under physician supervision, you’ll build diagnostic reasoning, patient communication, preventive care skills, and longitudinal clinical judgment in team-based primary care settings.

Hospital-based rotations 

Across core rotations in Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Geriatrics, and Anesthesia/Pain, you’ll participate in supervised patient care within academic and community hospital teams. Through workplace-based learning, you’ll progressively develop clinical decisionmaking, procedural competence, and safe patient management aligned with PA Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) assessments.

Elective rotations & transition to practice

Elective rotations allow you to explore areas of clinical interest while strengthening generalist competencies. Working within physician-led specialty teams, you’ll refine assessment, procedural, and collaboration skills in focused practice environments. A dedicated Transition to Practice block supports certification preparation and professional readiness for entry into supervised clinical practice.

What comes next?

As a graduate of the MPAS program, you’ll be prepared to enter supervised clinical practice as a certified Physician Assistant within physician-led healthcare teams across Canada.

Where You May Practice

  • Family medicine clinics
  • Hospital inpatient services
  • Emergency departments
  • Surgical and procedural services
  • Specialty medical clinics
  • Rural and community settings

Certification and licensure

As a graduate, you’ll be eligible to challenge the Physician Assistant Certification Examination (PACE) administered by the Physician Assistant Certification Council of Canada (PACCC). Successful candidates earn the Canadian Certified Physician Assistant (CCPA) designation.
In Ontario, Physician Assistants must register with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) to practise under the Physician Assistant title.

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