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Towson University CCBC-EssexPhysician Assistant ProgramApplication and Admissions InformationThis Booklet contains complete application and admissions information.All information contained in this booklet is subject to change. Pleaserefer to this site often for updates.Towson University Community College of Baltimore CountyRevised 03/09/2018

The contents of this booklet may not bechanged or duplicated without the -Essex Physician AssistantProgram Governing Committee.All policies are subject to change. Prospective applicants are required to abideby the Towson University/Community College of Baltimore County admissionpolicies. It is the applicant’s responsibility to read the booklet and becomefamiliar with the policies and principles detailed within the document. Shouldfurther questions arise, please contact the Program Director.Information and Admissions BookletPage 2

TABLE OF CONTENTSTop Reasons Prospective Students Choose Us . 4The PA Profession . 5Program Description . 7PA Program History. 8Program Sequence of Study . 9Description of Program Courses . 10Program Mission . 15PA Program Objectives . 16Educational Objectives . 16Clinical Practice Objectives . 17NCCPA Pass Rates . 20Financial Aid . 21Basics . 21Projected PA Program Tuition Costs. 21PA Program Expenses in Addition to Tuition & Fees. 23Admissions Requirements . 24International Students . 25United States Military Personnel . 26Application Process . 27Requirements for Successful Completion of Program . 29Physician Assistant Essential Functions . 30Professional Technical Standards . 30PA Program Candidate Guidelines and Information . 31Prerequisite Courses Equivalents . 35Frequently Asked Questions . 36General Information . 36Application . 37Admission Requirements . 38Admissions Interviews . 39Tuition and Financial Aid. 41Physician Assistant Applicant Examples of Patient Contact/Healthcare Experience . 43Information and Admissions BookletPage 3

TOP REASONS PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS CHOOSE US Solid reputation built on more than 40 years of excellence in PA education- Master’s Program initiated in 2001 Master’s degree program focusing on excellence in clinical practice, especially primarycare- Completion of seven (7) different clinical rotations in Year II- Close working relationships between students and faculty- Selection of final preceptorship in student’s area of interest Excellent student-to-faculty ratio- Thirty-six (36) students per class- Six (6) full-time faculty members with clinically experienced adjunct faculty membersfor specialty instruction Excellent graduate pass rate for the national certification exam 100% placement rate for all graduates seeking employment as a physician assistant- Assistance from the Program and faculty- Interest from local employers seeking Towson/CCBC-Essex graduates Experienced core faculty members Excellent clinical instructors and top-notch teaching sites- Affiliations with all of the major medical teaching institutions in the BaltimoreMetropolitan Area including: The Johns Hopkins Medical Center, GreaterBaltimore Medical Center, University of Maryland Medical Center, St. Joseph’sMedical Center- Participation of private physician offices- Clinical instructors dedicated to producing the best PAsInformation and Admissions BookletPage 4

THE PA PROFESSIONThe title "physician assistant" or "PA" refers to health care providers who are licensed topractice medicine with the supervision of a licensed physician. The concept of the professionoriginated in the 1960s as a way to enhance provision of health care to medically underservedcommunities. The founding of the profession was based on accepting the premise that withspecial training and education other health professionals could perform many of a physician’sfunctions with equal competence.Physician assistants, by nature of their education, are prepared to perform many duties thatwere most commonly the responsibilities of the physician. PAs are allowed to practice in all 50states, the District of Columbia, and Guam. They can also be employed in a broad range ofmedical facilities including private physician’s offices, hospitals, nursing homes, HMOs,occupational health centers, emergency departments, the military and correctional institutions.Working with the supervision of a physician and as a part of the larger medical team, PAspractice medicine through history taking and physical examination as well as ordering orperforming laboratory tests. They formulate diagnoses and develop management plans afteranalyzing medical data. Additionally, PAs perform many diagnostic and therapeutic proceduresincluding casting, splinting, and minor surgery procedures such as suturing and biopsies. All 50states, including Maryland, allow physician assistants to prescribe medications.The physician assistant profession is a rapidly growing career field with employment opportunitiesexpected to grow through the next decade.Information and Admissions BookletPage 5

SCOPE OF PRACTICEThe physician assistant is academically and clinically prepared to provide healthcare serviceswith the direction and responsible supervision of a doctor of medicine or osteopathy. Withinthe physician/PA relationship, physician assistants make clinical decisions and provide a broadrange of diagnostic, therapeutic, preventive and health maintenance services. The clinical roleof PAs includes primary and specialty care in medical and surgical settings. PA practice is centeredon patient care and may include: educational, research and administrative activities.The role of the physician assistant demands intelligence, sound judgment, intellectual honesty,appropriate interpersonal skills, and the capacity to react to emergencies in a calm and reasonedmanner. An attitude of respect for self and others, adherence to the concepts of privilegeand confidentiality in communicating with patients, and a commitment to the patients' welfareare essential attributes.PA practice is characterized by clinical knowledge and skills in areas traditionally defined as familyMedicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, surgery, and psychiatry/behavioral medicine. Specific tasks performed by individual PAs cannot b e delineated preciselybecause of the variation in practice requirements mandated by geographic, political, economic,and social factors. At a minimum, however, PAs are educated in areas of basic medical science,clinical disciplines, and discipline-specific problem solving. Physician assistants practice inambulatory, emergency, inpatient, and long-term care settings. Physician assistants deliverhealthcare services to diverse patient populations of all ages with a range of acute and chronicmedical and surgical conditions. They need knowledge and skills which allow them to functioneffectively in a dynamic healthcare environment. Services performed by physician assistants whilepracticing with physician supervision include, but are not limited to, evaluation, monitoring,therapeutic, patient education and referral.Information and Admissions BookletPage 6

Program DescriptionThis collaborative program of the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) and TowsonUniversity (TU) is designed for students who hold a bachelor’s degree prior to admission. Itprepares individuals with strong academic backgrounds and clinical experience for careers asPhysician Assistants. Full-time continuous enrollment is required throughout the 26-monthprogram. The Accreditation Review Committee on Education of Physician Assistants (ARC-PA)accredits the program. Graduates are eligible for certification by the National Commission on theCertification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) hasgranted Accreditation-Continued status to the Towson University/CCBC-Essex PhysicianAssistant Program sponsored by Community College of Baltimore County. AccreditationContinued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliancewith the ARC-PA Standards. Accreditation remains in effect until accreditation is withdrawn forfailure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation of the programby ARC-PA will be September 2023. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance withthe Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.Entry into the program requires admission to Towson University and CCBC as well as admissionto the collaborative PA Program. Enrollees must successfully complete all requirements of theprogram, which include both Towson University and CCBC courses. The program of study is 99credits—as of the class entering in the summer of 2017, the plan is for the curriculum to transition to60 graduate credits taken through Towson University and 39 undergraduate credits providedthrough CCBC. The majority of courses occur on the CCBC-Essex campus. Some educational activitiesoccur on the Towson University campus. Enrollees enjoy full student privileges on both campuses.Faculty have teaching appointments at either institution.The physician assistant curriculum (CCBC and Towson University courses) integrates a large volumeof technically-detailed information. Successful completion of the program requires strong science,general education, and medical experience preparation, as well as intense study and commitmentthroughout the 26-month Program. The first year of study is in large part didactic in nature.Students attend classes for 35 to 40 hours per week. In the second year, students complete clinicalrotations in medicine, family practice, pediatrics, women’s health, emergency medicine,community medicine and surgery. They will also complete an elective rotation and an eight-weekprimary care preceptorship. Students return to the Essex campus between rotations for classesduring their clinical year.Students will register for 200 level courses with CCBC-Essex and will register for 600, 700 and 800level courses with Towson University. Tuition and fees for 200 level courses are paid to CCBC-Essex.Tuition and fees for 600, 700, and 800 level courses are paid to Towson University. Applicants willpay application fees to each institution as appropriate. Towson University graduate course GPAsare calculated separately from CCBC courses. Students will receive two grade reports eachsemester and carry a GPA separate for Towson University and CCBC-Essex. Comprehensive recordsfrom both institutions are maintained by CCBC-Essex. Lastly, each student will receive an overallProgram GPA, which incorporates performance from both Towson University and CCBC-EssexInformation and Admissions BookletPage 7