Program Tracks
We offer five unique tracks, providing flexibility and opportunities based on your own interests in public health or in caring for patients in underserved areas. Explore the tracks and discover the opportunities
Campus track
A full-time, 24-month, professional program offered on the UW–Madison campus.
Features
One year of didactic training, one year of Clinical Rotations
- Didactic: Live lectures, labs and discussions held at the Health Sciences Learning Center in Madison, Wisconsin
- Clinical: Four core two-month rotations in emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine and surgery
Who should apply
Candidates committed to the delivery of comprehensive health care in a culturally and ethnically sensitive manner and interested in primary health care for populations and regions in need.
Distance tracks
A part-time, 36-month, distance track option for candidates living within driving distance of Madison (rDE = regional distance education) or living in a medically underserved area. (tDE = traditional distance education)
Both tracks take 36 months to complete. (24 months half-time didactic instruction and 12 months full-time clinical training)
We are unable to accept applications from those living in California for our distance track due to federal regulations.
Features
- Video captured lectures with asynchronous discussions.
- tDE: Labs conducted twice a semester at the Health Sciences Learning Center (HSLC) in Madison
- rDE: Labs and hands-on activities conducted at least once per week at the HSLC in Madison. Students will be expected to commute to Madison up to several times per week, on a regular basis.
Structure
- Part-time: Two years of didactic instruction and one year of clinical rotations. All three years are done in or around the student’s home community.
- tDE: Students must be in Madison for the first summer of the program (10 weeks) and twice per semester (each visit lasting two to four days) thereafter.
- rDE: Students will be at the HSLC in Madison daily for the first summer of the program (10 weeks) and at least once per week during the two years of their didactic education.
Who should apply
- tDE: Candidates who meet our mission, have a strong connection to their community and a desire to practice there as a PA after graduation. Wisconsin residents who live in medically underserved communities get preference in the application process.
- rDE: Wisconsin residents who meet our mission, have a strong connection to their community and a desire to practice there as a PA after graduation. Candidates must have extensive health care experience and live within driving distance of the Madison campus.
View the distance track degree plan (pdf)
View distance track FAQs (pdf)
View a community-based learning video
MPH-MPAS dual degree
In this 33-month on-campus dual-degree track, students earn Masters of Public Health and Masters of Physician Assistant Studies (MPH-MPAS) degrees.
Delivery
- Live lectures, labs and discussions held at the UW–Madison campus
Structure
- Full-time: Two semesters MPH curriculum, one full year of PA didactic curriculum and one year PA clinical rotations
- 33 monthsM total completion
Who should apply
Candidates who meet our mission and have a strong desire to integrate public health into their PA practice after graduation
Learn more about the Master of Public Health Program
wisPACT@UW-Stevens Point at Wausau
A full-time, 24-month physician assistant education track in northern Wisconsin. The degree plan is the same as the campus track.
Features
- Live lectures and discussions delivered via video conferencing between UW-Stevens Point at Wausau and the UW–Madison campus
- Labs conducted by UW-Madison PA Program faculty at UW-Stevens Point at Wausau
Structure
- Full-time: One year of didactic instruction and one year of clinical rotations. Clinical rotations done in or around wisPACT@UW-Stevens Point student’s home community
- wisPACT@UW-Stevens Point students will be in Madison for the first summer of the program (10 weeks)
- 24 months total completion
Who should apply
Candidates who meet our mission and have a strong connection to northern Wisconsin and a desire to practice in this region after graduation.
wisPACT@UW-Platteville
A full-time, 24-month physician assistant education track targeting the tri-state region (Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa) experiencing a significant shortage of healthcare professionals, especially in rural communities. The degree plan will be the same as the current campus track.
Features
- Live lectures and discussions delivered via video between UW-Platteville and UW–Madison campuses
- Labs will be conducted on the UW-Platteville campus
Structure
- Full-time: One year of didactics and one year of clinical rotations. Most clinical rotations will be completed around the tri-state region (Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa), with 50% of rotations taking place in a rural community
- wisPACT@UW-Platteville students will complete their entire didactic education on the Platteville campus
- 24 months total completion
Who should apply
Candidates who meet our mission, and have a strong connection and desire to practice clinically in the tri-state region after graduation.
*The University of Wisconsin-Madison has received approval from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) to establish a distant campus in Platteville, Wisconsin. The campus will matriculate its first class in May 2023.