Lawrence Technological University is pleased to announce that it will launch a two-year, master’s degree program in physician assistant studies in Fall 2022, pending achieving Accreditation- Provisional status (see Accreditation tab for details).
Please check back here often for program updates and additional information.
Questions? Contact: 248.204.3587
The LTU Advantage
The majority of clinical rotations are within the Ascension Healthcare System, a nationally recognized and highly respected system (largest in the Nation and one of the largest employers in Michigan). Rotations are located in the greater Detroit and surrounding areas with preceptors committed to supporting the LTU Ascension partnership and vision. Your clinical experiences will be both outpatient and within the hospital setting and will be arranged entirely by LTU.
You will learn and master one of the most common electronic medical records (EMR) charting systems. You will have access throughout the program to refine your skills. In addition, you will graduate having the knowledge and abilities to utilize key technology in diagnosing and treating your patients.
A state of the art SIM lab will allow students to acquire procedural skills with the most advanced models, cadaver specimens and cutting edge equipment used in parallel with the medical students and other Ascension medical professionals. This includes a complete model OR with training provided by Ascension OR staff, diagnostic equipment for training including ultrasound and robotic surgery simulators, access to an impressive array of radiologic images from actual studies performed and extensive exposure and education on a wide range of diagnostic and procedures deemed vital to PA practice. Open lab hours are built into the structure of the PA program to practice and refine your skills.
LTU has implemented a student-first ideology with a focus on you. Your overall well-being and success is the driver behind our passion. The PA faculty at LTU is committed to your personal success and to providing the physical, mental and emotional support needed to assist you along the way. One of your PA professors will serve as your personal advisor and mentor throughout your journey at LTU and will guide you to other University resources should you need them.
One of the teaching methods employed in our program is the flipped classroom, where students are given the opportunity to preview key concepts in advance so that class time can be spent on problem-solving and in-depth exploration of the content. This approach significantly enhances learning as compared to a more traditional lecture-only approach and transforms the classroom into a dynamic, interactive learning environment where your professors can guide you in applying concepts and engaging creatively in the subject matter.
The LTU PA program focuses on patient-centered care. Compassion towards all patients across the lifespan is paramount to your success. A culture of humility will be present throughout, with a deep commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion of our patients, colleagues and community. You will learn to address barriers to providing optimal care related to personal bias, vulnerable and special populations. The ethical care of patients will be foundational to the program curriculum. The commitment to interprofessional collaboration will allow for a deeper understanding of the healthcare team which leads to better outcomes and more cost-effective and patient-centered care.
The newly-built, highly innovative, dedicated PA classroom and lab have been integrated with technology. Multiple areas in the program space have recording and playback capabilities to facilitate your learning. You will have access to the exam rooms throughout the week to hone your skills at your own pace. In addition, a dedicated break-room is available to allow you to rest, relax and refuel throughout the day.
The faculty have different areas of expertise which allows our program to provide you with distinct interdisciplinary experiences from the classroom to the lab. Instructors will collaborate and teach the core classes to best utilize their individual expertise and professional experience, giving you the best opportunity for understanding and success. Our instructors are passionate about providing you the best student experience possible. We provide multiple ways to engage with the faculty and our doors are always open. Your feedback is valuable to us and an essential component of our ongoing commitment to excellence.
LTU prides itself on honesty, integrity and transparency. We will make every effort to provide you with the expected expenses throughout the duration of the PA program. In addition, all accepted students will receive an internal scholarship that will help offset the cost.
LTU is so committed to decreasing the financial burden on every student accepted into the PA program that we have made every effort to reduce costs, utilize available resources and find creative cost saving solutions for all of our students. Students have access to an extensive e-Library through Ascension that allows them to utilize textbooks online without purchase whenever possible.
The average fees charged by other institutions in Michigan are over $10,900 for the two year program. Our tuition rate is not only competitive but includes the vast majority of fees within the tuition structure. This means lower out-of-pocket costs for you.
You have the unique opportunity to live on LTUs campus as a graduate student during your PA education if you choose. (Room and board are not included in the cost of tuition).
Lawrence Technological University is conveniently located, with easy access and ample free parking within steps of the program building. The building has secure access for PA students and faculty. Buildings, labs and classrooms are handicap-accessible throughout campus.
Our PA faculty team is committed to your success from beginning to end. If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to email (paprogram@ltu.edu). One of our PA faculty will answer your questions.
Lawrence Technological University offers applicants a unique opportunity through rolling admissions. LTU will evaluate applications as they are submitted and contact those applicants who fulfill the vision, values and requirements set forth by LTU. Rolling admissions allows LTU to select applicants for the upcoming 2022 PA program throughout the 2021 year. LTU strongly encourages all applicants to apply as early as possible. Once all thirty spots have been filled, later applications will only be considered for the waitlist.
CONTACT :
OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM
As a candidate for admission to the physician assistant program you must meet the following requirements:
- A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution within the United States is required (see below for international applicant criteria) and
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required to be considered for the physician assistant program. All prerequisite courses must be taken at regionally accredited institutions. No grade lower than a 3.0 will be accepted for prerequisite coursework. CLEP credits, AP credits and P/F credits will not be considered for prerequisites. Last 60 credit calculations will be considered if requested by the applicant who does not meet the 3.0 minimum requirement.
Special Considerations:
Applicants who meet all of the admission requirements, have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, and satisfy one or more of the categories listed below will be granted an interview:
- LTU graduate
- LTU student
- Students from colleges or universities with articulation agreements
- Veterans or active military
- Employees of Ascension Health
- Children of Ascension Health employees
- First-generation college student
- Economically disadvantaged
Factors that our admissions committee value include:
Traits desirable in a future physician assistant such as empathy, compassion and advocacy, previous accomplishments, diverse life experiences, a comprehensive knowledge of the PA profession and significant knowledge of how to deliver health care. Experiences which demonstrate these traits may include: volunteer work, international mission work, military service, proficiency in foreign languages, unique life experiences, health training or certification, unique leadership positions, and biomedical research experience.
Anatomy + Lab – one course in human anatomy with lab is required (or may complete a 2 semester series of anatomy and physiology with labs to meet both the anatomy and physiology prerequisites)
Physiology + Lab – one course with lab in human physiology is required (see above)
Biochemistry or organic chemistry – one course is required
Microbiology + Lab – one course with lab is required
Statistics or Biostatistics – one course is required
Developmental Psychology - One course in required
Other Encouraged courses:
Medical terminology is not required but strongly encouraged as you will be testing on your medical terminology knowledge the first week of classes. This course is available in a variety of settings including online courses that would prepare you for the exam.
Genetics is encouraged as a foundational class for the PA curriculum and the understanding of new treatments targeted at the genetics of individuals.
Ethics or Medical Ethics – The LTU PA program is committed to the ethical considerations of medicine and a foundation in ethics is very helpful in providing a framework from which to build and integrate this approach.
All Prerequisite courses must be completed within six years of matriculation.
You may have one outstanding prerequisite at the time of application but must successfully complete by the time of matriculation and must meet the required course minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
A waiver of a prerequisite may be considered if either or both of the following criteria are met:
- The applicant has been continuously employed in a field that demonstrates ongoing knowledge and application of the materials covered in the waiver requested course and/or
- The applicant has completed a higher level course(s) in the subject of the prerequisite requirement with a minimum of a B average within the past three years.
Direct Patient care Experience – As an applicant, you must have completed at least 750 hours of direct patient care experience* as an employee in a medical office, hospital, or extended-care facility. Acceptable roles include CNA (certified nursing assistant), medical assistant, EMT (emergency medical technician) or paramedic, radiology technician, ECG technician, LPN or RN, phlebotomist, medical scribe**, physical therapy assistant, surgical tech, respiratory therapist, chiropractor, athletic trainer and others. Patient care experiences obtained through the military (combat medic, field medical tech, etc.) are also competitive. Please contact the program with any questions regarding qualifying patient care experience. You may apply to the PA program prior to completing the patient care experience hours but must indicate a plan for completion on your application and have completed at least 500 of the 750 total hours at the time of application.
*This is defined as direct, hands on care of patients and the most competitive candidates will have 1000+ hours of direct patient care experience with the required hours completed at the time of application.
**Medical scribe experience can account for up to 500 hours of the total hours required but must be combined with actual hands on experience of at least 250 hours.
Shadowing – Shadowing a physician assistant is required for a minimum of 20 hours and at least two different physician assistants. Please note, completion of PA shadowing hours prior to application is expected for consideration.
In light of COIVD-19 and the global pandemic Lawrence Technological University recognizes the challenges and struggles facing all applicants. For the application cycle opening April 2021 and closing April 2022 LTU will accept either the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) or the PA-CAT (Physician Assistant College Admission Test) to satisfy admission requirements.
Lawrence Technological University PA program strongly encourages all applicants to take the PA-CAT (Physician Assistant College Admission Test). The PA-CAT is a specialized test designed to measure applicant knowledge in key prerequisite science subjects typically required for PA school. The PA-CAT will highlight an applicant’s areas of weakness and provide materials prior to matriculation to assist the applicants to be better prepared to start LTUs PA program.
For information about the PA-CAT and to schedule your exam, visit their website at www.PA-CAT.com
Step 1: Go to www.PA-CAT.com to register, pay and schedule your exam date for the PA-CAT.
- Ensure Lawrence Technological University is selected in your candidate portal as the institution to receive your score report.
- It is highly recommended you take the PA-CAT before March 1st, 2022 for your individual PA-CAT score to be processed and received by Lawrence Technological University PA Program admissions department in time to be included with your application.
Step 2: Study for the PA-CAT with resources provided on their website: www.PA-CAT.com. Instructions on how to access the resources are included in your registration confirmation email.
PA-CAT Study materials provided by Exam Master include:
- 120 Question PA-CAT Practice Exam
- Eight 50-Question Subject Exams
- Candidate PA-CAT Study Guide
- Pre-Matriculation Success Program
PA-CAT Covered Subjects: Anatomy, Physiology, General Biology, Biochemistry, General and Organic Chemistry, Microbiology, Behavioral Sciences, Genetics, Statistics.
You may wish to look for additional resources that will help you learn about the topics covered on the PA-CAT.
All applicants are required to take the Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics (CASPer). CASPer is an online test that assesses non-cognitive skills and interpersonal characteristics we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program. Applicants should go to www.takeCASPer.com to sign up for the American Professional Health Sciences test (CSP10101) and select Lawrence Technological University for LTU to receive your scores. You do not need to have results sent to CASPA. Please be sure to select the current admissions cycle and to review available test dates carefully. CASPer must be completed by March 1st, 2022 limited exam dates/times are available so last minute bookings are strongly discouraged.
CASPer test results are only valid for one (1) admissions cycle; applicants who have completed CASPer in previous cycles must retake it for the current cycle.
Technical Standards for Admission, Academic Promotion and Graduation
The purpose of this document is to specify the technical standards the University deems necessary for a student to matriculate, remain in good standing and ultimately achieve all the competencies/outcomes necessary for graduation within the PA program. The University, therefore, requires candidates to confirm their ability to comply with these standards, with or without accommodation, as a condition of admission and on an annual basis thereafter.
Fulfillment of the technical standards for graduation does not guarantee that a graduate will be able to fulfill the technical requirements of any specific residency program or employment settings.
Accepted students must complete a criminal background check, which may include a drug screen, through the LTU preferred vendor. Results must be released to LTU prior to matriculation, and the cost of this process will be paid by the student. Students are required to disclose all past or present charges, convictions, dismissals, deferred judgments and expunged records as related to a misdemeanor or felony. They are also obligated to disclose any additional charges and convictions which occur following completion of the initial criminal background check. Admission to the program may be revoked if misrepresentations or omissions from the application are noted in the background check. LTU students are required to complete annual criminal background checks, which may include drug screening, while enrolled in the LTU PA Program.
Permanent Residents
Applicants who are legal permanent residents of the U.S. will be required to provide a copy of their permanent resident card ("green card") prior to admission. Permanent residents will apply through the standard application process. If admitted to LTU, a notarized copy of your permanent resident card (green card) will be required as part of your conditions of enrollment. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide appropriate documentation with valid expiration date which covers the duration of your degree program.
NOTE: Applicants with permanent residency status “pending” are not eligible for admission.
Transcripts for degrees earned outside of the U.S.
Applicants with degrees earned outside the U.S. should plan to fulfill all standard application requirements, and additionally are required to submit a course-by-course Foreign Transcript Evaluation per one of the services listed below:
- World Education Services (WES)
- Josef Silny and Associates, Inc.
- Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE)
- SpanTran
Coursework taken at foreign institutions must be evaluated for U.S. equivalence by one of these evaluation services and an official copy must be sent from the service directly to CASPA and LTU. Your application will not be complete and cannot be verified without an official course-by-course evaluation. ECFMG certification does not waive this requirement. In addition, please follow the instructions provided by CASPA regarding transcript or evaluation submission.
TOEFL Score
TOEFL is required of all international applicants unless the applicant has earned a degree from an accredited University in any country whose sole national language is English. Results from the IELTS or USMLE are not accepted in lieu of TOEFL. There is no waiver for this requirement. The minimum TOEFL score is 85.
Three (3) letters of reference are required. Additional letters will not be considered by the program. Reference letters should not be from personal friends or family members. Letters of reference must be submitted directly to CASPA and postmarked prior to the application deadline. Letters of reference will only be accepted through CASPA. No exceptions. Examples include physician assistant, science professor, physician, nurse, previous employer (preferred in healthcare) and mentors.
When you have completed the requirements listed above, and are ready to build your future with LTU as a Physician Assistant, please use the CASPA portal to apply. The Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) application opens April 29th 2021.
LTU has applied for Accreditation – Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Lawrence Technological University anticipates matriculating its first class in August 2022, pending achieving Accreditation - Provisional status at the March 2022 ARC-PA meeting. Accreditation – Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding accreditation-provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students. The program will not commence in the event that provisional accreditation is not received. If students have been accepted and paid a deposit this will be fully refunded in the event that provisional accreditation is not achieved.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Physician Assistant program at LTU is to train exceptional, compassionate healthcare professionals in a supportive academic and clinical environment. To prepare future PA’s to provide outstanding holistic patient centered care throughout the healthcare continuum, embrace diversity, invite interprofessional collaboration and approach the complex and ever changing face of technology in healthcare with confidence. To inspire a generation of clinicians who will be lifelong learners, advocates of evidence based medical practice and who are passionate advocates of their patients, profession and community.
Vision
The physician assistant program will be a cutting edge program based on two guiding principles of LTU. The first, the Theory and Practice mode of education, which takes abstract ideas and brings them into the real world to solve tomorrow’s problems and to confidently and effectively integrate healthcare technology into their future practice.
GOAL 1
- To achieve PANCE pass rates that are at or above the national average and student confidence in their ability to succeed.
- Provided by maintaining a high standard of instruction throughout the program with ongoing assessments evaluating their knowledge base and focused guidance in areas of weakness in preparation for program completion
- As evidenced by LTU PANCE pass rates at or above the national average
- As evidenced by LTU PANCE performance in all organ system task areas at or above the national average.
GOAL 2
- To prepare students to actively and effectively participate in interdisciplinary healthcare teams and the care of diverse populations across the lifespan.
- As evidenced by participation in interdisciplinary educational experiences and exposure to diverse populations during the program.
- Measured by clinical preceptor evaluations, student site evaluations and student perception of preparedness to participate in interdisciplinary teams.
GOAL 3
- To create a culture of advocacy for the PA profession, patients and community.
- As evidenced by admission standards that value student experiences in volunteer activities and community involvement. The program will provide opportunities and participation in community service and professional memberships. There will be both required and volunteer opportunities during the program.
- As evidenced by student record of participation in community service, student memberships and attendance at state or national PA conferences.
GOAL 4
- To prepare students to confidently utilize available healthcare technology in order to enhance patient care and better prepare them for future practice.
- As evidenced by curriculum content that includes exposure to a variety of technology in healthcare practice such as EMR utilization, telemedicine exposure and diagnostic tools and procedures utilizing technology.
- As evidenced by clinical preceptor evaluation and course assessment and student survey responses.
- Patient Centered Practice Knowledge:
Graduates will be able to recognize healthy versus ill patients in the context of the patients’ lives. This will include:
- Diagnose, treat, manage illness and the ability to determine differential diagnosis
- Order and interpret laboratory findings and imaging
- Possess necessary core procedural competence
- The competent graduate will be able to determine the stage of illness: preventive, emergent, acute, chronic, rehabilitative, palliative and end of life and arrive at patient-focused shared decision making of the treatment course.
- Society and Population Health:
Graduates will be able to recognize and understand that the influences of the larger community may impact the health of patients and integrate knowledge of social determinants of health into care decisions. The competent graduate will be able to integrate into practice the cultural norms, needs, influences, socioeconomic, environmental, genetic and other population level determinants affecting the health of the individual and the community being served. Demonstrate accountability in assessing and removing barriers to health such as adequacy of individual and community resources and a commitment to ongoing quality improvement.
- Health Literacy and Communication:
Graduates will be able to communicate with patients as partners who engage in shared decision-making and who communicate, interpret and express themselves as individuals with unique personal, cultural and social values. Competent graduates will be able to establish meaningful relationships with their patients, families and other healthcare professionals.
- Interprofessional Collaborative Practice and Leadership:
Graduates will be able to recognize that teamwork and the coordination of care across multiple professions are the keys to delivering safe, quality, multidisciplinary health care in a way that is complementary to the goals of the provider-patient partnership while acknowledging that the patient is at the center of all health care goals. This requires the coordination of care to optimize the health and wellness of patients and populations.
- Professional and Legal Aspects of Health Care:
Graduates will be able to practice medicine in a beneficent manner, recognizing and adhering to standards of care while attuned to advancing social justice. This will include the ability to provide standard of care practice while demonstrating respect for the dignity and privacy of patients, demonstrate professional accountability, the recognition of personal limitations and self- advocacy, responsiveness to patient needs that supersedes self-interest and include personal wellness strategies to prevent impairment and burnout.
- Health Care Finance and Systems:
Graduates will be able to articulate the essential aspects of value-based health care and apply this understanding to the delivery of safe and quality care. The competent graduate will be a steward of resources, recognize the financial implications of the provision of health care and understand the different types of healthcare systems including private and governmental payors such as Medicare.
Simulation Lab
This lab allows students to acquire procedural skills with the most advanced models, cadaver specimens, and superior equipment used by Ascension medical professionals. Take advantage of ultrasound and robotic surgery simulators, access to an impressive library of radiologic images from actual studies performed, and an extensive exposure and education on a wide range of diagnostics and procedures deemed vital to PA practice.
Ascension
