the western michigan university physician assistant program leads to a master of science in medicine. it is a full-time, graduate professional program consisting of 95 semester hours taken in a prescribed sequence over a continuous 24-month period. year one requires 48 hours of primarily classroom education. year two requires 47 hours of primarily clinical placement education.

wmu's pa program is accredited by the accreditation review commission on education for the physician assistant, allowing graduates to sit for the physician assistant national certifying examination, required by most states for licensure to practice.