UW La Crosse Physician Assistant program

​​​Marshfield Clinic Health System supports the education of Physician Assistant students as one of the four partner institutions comprising the University of Wisconsin La C​rosse – Gundersen – Mayo – Marshfield Physician Assistant Program.  

The program’s tw​o-year curriculum includes a 12-month pre-clinical phase consisting of classroom and laboratory activities at the Health Science Center located on the campus of UWL.   

Clinical instruction during the second 12 months of the program occurs within the three clinical partners’ health care systems. 

Through our partnership, the program strives to educate highly competent and compassionate physician assistants who excel in meeting the health care needs of the regions served by Gundersen, Mayo, and Marshfield health care systems.

Accreditation

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse Physician Assistant Program sponsored by the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.  

Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.

Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards.  

The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be September 2027.  The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy. 

Admissions

All students must earn a Bachelor’s degree and complete required prerequisite coursework prior to matriculating into the program. Individuals may apply while finishing their degree and/or completing prerequisite courses.  

Prior direct patient health care experience is expected, but not required for admission.  The program participates in the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).  

For further information regarding the program’s admission process, please refer to the UWL-Gundersen-Mayo-Marshfield PA Program website.  

Graduation and Certification

Upon successful completion of the PA Program, graduates receive a Master of Science (MS) degree in Physician Assistant Studies.  

Graduates are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).