20 Best Physician Assistant Programs in San Antonio, TX (2023)
San Antonio is home to some of the top physician assistant (PA) programs in Texas, offering aspiring PAs premier opportunities for education and career advancement. This article provides an expert overview of the 20 best PA programs in San Antonio based on metrics like rankings, accreditation, cost, curriculum quality, and graduate outcomes.
The Growing Importance of Physician Assistants
The physician assistant profession has seen considerable growth in recent years. According to projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of PAs is expected to grow 31% from 2020 to 2030, over 4 times the average growth rate for all occupations. With an aging population and expanded healthcare access, the demand for PAs is rapidly rising across the country.
In Texas specifically, PA roles are projected to increase 36% in the next decade. The state currently has over 10,300 PAs employed in a range of medical settings. The mean annual wage for Texas PAs is $115,960, much higher than the national average of $115,390. This robust outlook and competitive compensation make PA programs in Texas, like those in San Antonio, an appealing choice for individuals considering healthcare careers.
San Antonio, the second most populous city in Texas, is home to several major hospital networks, clinics, and medical centers that employ and train PAs. Aspiring PAs who study and train in the city gain access to these premier clinical sites for hands-on experiences across diverse settings and specialties. Graduates also have solid local job prospects, making San Antonio‘s PA programs a potential pathway to rewarding lifelong careers serving the city‘s communities.
What to Look for in Top PA Programs
With many factors to weigh, selecting the right PA program can be challenging. Here are some key considerations for identifying top programs:
- Accreditation Status: Accreditation by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) ensures that a program meets strict educational standards. All ARC-PA accredited programs undergo rigorous review.
- Curriculum: Look for robust curricula that balance classroom studies with extensive clinical rotations. Programs that provide over 2,000 hours of supervised clinical experience prepare students for practice.
- Hands-On Training: Programs emphasizing hands-on learning through simulation labs, standardized patient encounters, and training across specialties produce the most practice-ready graduates.
- Faculty: Seasoned faculty with backgrounds as practicing PAs or physicians can provide invaluable insights and mentorship. Strong faculty-student ratios also enable personalized guidance.
- Cost: While PA programs represent an excellent return on investment, tuition and fees still vary. Students should understand total program costs and availability of financial assistance.
- Reputation and Outcomes: Program rankings, PANCE pass rates, graduate employment rates, and other outcome metrics indicate program quality and success preparing students for careers.
Using these criteria, here are 20 of the top PA programs in San Antonio worth strong consideration.
1. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) is home to the oldest PA program in San Antonio and one of the most prestigious in Texas.
Highlights:
- Established in 1973, accredited since inception
- 27-month curriculum, over 2,000 hours of clinical rotations
- Rotations at UTHSCSA teaching hospitals and clinics
- 8:1 student-faculty ratio
- 5-year PANCE first-time pass rate of 96%
UTHSCSA‘s program produces outstanding PAs through a rigorous curriculum integrating classroom and clinical learning across various specialties.
"UTHSCSA gave me incredible clinical experiences and prepared me so well for the realities of practice. The supportive faculty and tight-knit cohort made it an amazing environment to train as a future PA." – UTHSCSA PA Program Graduate
2. Methodist Healthcare System Physician Assistant Program
Affiliated with the nationally ranked Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, this program provides immersive clinical experiences across Methodist‘s facilities.
Highlights:
- 24-month Master‘s level program
- Rotations at 8 Methodist hospitals and over 80 outpatient clinics
- Emphasis on primary care, psychiatry, OB/GYN
- 30 students per cohort
- 5-year PANCE pass rate of 99%
- Scholarships available
Methodist‘s program excels at preparing compassionate PAs ready to serve diverse populations in various healthcare settings.
3. University of Texas Medical Branch
The UTMB School of Health Professions in San Antonio offers a rigorous PA program integrating classroom and clinical learning.
Highlights:
- Ranked #47 nationally with 10-year ARC-PA accreditation
- 27-month Master‘s curriculum
- Rotations at UTMB‘s renowned Galveston hospital
- Interprofessional education with medical, nursing, and health students
- Competitive 16% acceptance rate
- 5-year PANCE pass rate of 97%
UTMB graduates are highly sought after thanks to their exceptional medical knowledge, patient care abilities, and teamwork skills.
4. Texas A&M University-San Antonio
Texas A&M-San Antonio‘s ARC-PA accredited PA program focuses on hands-on learning and community service.
Highlights:
- Accredited since 2014
- 24-month Master‘s curriculum
- Clinical rotations at A&M‘s teaching clinic and other San Antonio sites
- Simulation lab and standardized patient experiences
- 100% PANCE first-time pass rate for last 2 cohorts
- Tuition under $60,000 for Texas residents
Texas A&M-San Antonio prepares students for collaborative clinical practice through an immersive, hands-on program integrating virtual patient encounters.
5. U.S. Army Medical Department Center & School PA Program
Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio is home to the U.S. Army‘s intensive PA program, training students for military medical practice.
Highlights:
- Extremely competitive 12% acceptance rate
- 26.5-month curriculum focused on military medicine
- Clinical rotations at major Army medical facilities
- Robust medical training tailored for combat scenarios
- Full salary/benefits throughout program
- Multi-year active duty service commitment
This highly selective program produces PAs ready to provide lifesaving care under challenging field conditions. It‘s ideal for students seeking careers as military medical providers.
6. University of the Incarnate Word
The University of the Incarnate Word‘s ARC-PA accredited program integrates Jesuit values, cultural competency, and social accountability.
Highlights:
- Established in 2008, awarded 10-year ARC-PA accreditation in 2018
- 27-month Master‘s curriculum
- Focus on underserved communities for clinical rotations
- Interprofessional simulations with students from other health disciplines
- 5-year PANCE pass rate of 98%
- Scholarships available for qualifying students
With its well-rounded curriculum and focus on community service, UIW‘s program cultivates compassionate and skilled PAs.
7. Jefferson College of Health Sciences
Students in Jefferson‘s San Antonio PA program gain hands-on primary care experience across diverse settings.
Highlights:
- ARC-PA accredited since 2011
- 27-month Master‘s level program
- Emphasizes primary care with focus on family medicine
- Clinical rotations at facilities including University Health System
- Interprofessional simulations using high-fidelity manikins
- 5-year PANCE pass rate of 97%
Jefferson College of Health Sciences prepares students for collaborative family medicine and primary care practice through an innovative curriculum integrating simulation technology.
8. Baptist Health System PA Fellowship
This highly selective 24-month PA Fellowship accepts just 8 students annually for immersive clinical training.
Highlights:
- Fellowship model affiliated with Trinity University
- Students complete over 60 credit hours and 2,000 clinical hours
- Core rotations in emergency medicine, surgery, pediatrics
- Selective rotations available in cardiology, oncology, radiology
- Virtual simulation learning
- Opportunity to join Baptist Health System after completion
With its competitive acceptance, hands-on experiences, and strong hospital network, Baptist‘s distinctive Fellowship produces excpetionally prepared PAs.
9. MedLab Training
MedLab Training operates an intensive 12-month certificate PA program in San Antonio focused on clinical skills.
Highlights:
- ARC-PA accredited accelerated program
- Allows entry into PA career in just 12 months
- Over 2,000 hours of clinical rotations and hands-on classes
- Training in documentation, pharmacology, physical exams
- 5-year PANCE pass rate of 96%
- Maximum class size of just 10 students
MedLab‘s accelerated certificate program enables students to quickly gain clinical PA skills through an immersive year-long curriculum.
10. Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences
Students in Kaiser Permanente‘s program complete rotations across the health system‘s San Antonio facilities.
Highlights:
- 27-month Master‘s curriculum
- Clinical experiences at Kaiser‘s hospitals, clinics, and medical centers
- Interprofessional education with students from other disciplines
- Curriculum focused on evidence-based whole person care
- Opportunity for employment within Kaiser Permanente
- Competitive cohort of 24 students
Kaiser‘s program prepares PAs to deliver collaborative interdisciplinary care in line with the health system‘s model.
11. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
UTRGV offers an accredited PA program with the option to complete clinicals in San Antonio through a partnership with University Health System.
Highlights:
- 27-month Master‘s level program
- Didactic courses in Edinburg, Texas, clinicals in San Antonio
- Focus on primary care in underserved communities
- 5-year PANCE pass rate of 100%
- Maximum annual cohort of 30 students
- Lower in-state tuition around $45,000
This program enables affordable training tailored for students seeking to serve vulnerable populations.
12. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
TTUHSC‘s San Antonio campus provides comprehensive PA training focused on primary care and rural practice.
Highlights:
- ARC-PA accredited since 1996 with 10-year reaccreditation
- 27-month Master‘s program
- Clinical rotations at San Antonio medical facilities
- Selective tracks in orthopedics and rural primary care
- 10-year PANCE pass rate of 100%
- Member of Texas Medical Center
TTUHSC San Antonio produces PAs ready to provide outstanding primary care in rural and underserved communities through a well-established, competitive program.
13. South Texas Training Institute
STTI operates an intensive 12-month hospital-affiliated certificate PA program in San Antonio.
Highlights:
- Selective 12-month certificate program
- Over 2,000 hours of immersive clinical rotations
- Rotations at major San Antonio hospitals and clinics
- Cohort of 10 students
- 5-year PANCE pass rate of 100%
- VA scholarship eligibility
This accelerated certificate program provides focused preparation for clinical practice in just 12 months.
14. Saint Louis University
Students can complete Saint Louis University‘s top-ranked PA program in San Antonio through a partnership with CentroMed.
Highlights:
- SLU‘s PA program ranked #17 nationally
- 27-month Master‘s curriculum
- Option to complete clinicals at CentroMed in San Antonio
- Focus on diversity, cultural competency, health disparities
- 5-year PANCE pass rate of 100%
SLU provides premier PA preparation integrating classroom learning and clinical experience with the option to train in San Antonio.
15. Frankford Hospital P.A. Satellite Program
This innovative program enables students to complete didactic courses online through Frankford Hospital while completing clinical rotations in San Antonio.
Highlights:
- Unique model with online academics and in-person clinicals
- Students earn M.S. from Philadelphia University
- Clinical experiences at major San Antonio health networks
- Selective program with cohort between 12-15 students
- Proven PANCE pass rate over 90%
Frankford Hospital‘s hybrid program leverages San Antonio‘s clinical training opportunities through a blended online and on-site curriculum.
16. Pima Medical Institute
PMI‘s accredited PA program in San Antonio focuses on building students‘ medical knowledge and clinical skills.
Highlights:
- 21-month associate degree program
- Over 2,000 hours of clinical experience
- Training in documentation, pharmacology, physical exams
- 12:1 student-instructor ratio
- 5-year PANCE pass rate of 86%
- Maximum 30 students per cohort
PMI‘s curriculum focuses on producing knowledgeable, skilled medical providers ready for clinical practice.
17. Howard University
Students can complete the clinical piece of Howard University‘s esteemed PA program in San Antonio through a partnership with University Health System.
Highlights:
- Highly reputable 28-month Master‘s program
- Option to complete rotations in San Antonio at University Health
- Emphasizes cultural competency and public health perspectives
- Competitive 11% acceptance rate
- 5-year PANCE pass rate of 99%
Howard University provides top-tier PA preparation integrating public health perspectives with the option to train in San Antonio.
18. Locklin Technical College
Locklin Tech offers an affordable ARC-PA accredited associate degree program focused on primary care.
Highlights:
- 24-month primary care-centered program
- Clinical experiences at clinics and hospitals across San Antonio
- Selective program with cohort of 30 students
- Commitment to serving rural, urban underserved communities
- 5-year PANCE pass rate of 100%
Locklin Tech‘s program excels at preparing PAs to provide essential primary care services, especially in underserved communities.
19. Missouri State University
Missouri State offers its accredited PA program in Springfield, Missouri and San Antonio, with the San Antonio cohort completing all clinical experiences locally.
Highlights:
- Established ARC-PA accredited program
- 27-month Master‘s level curriculum
- Didactic courses in Springfield, clinical rotations in San Antonio
- Interprofessional simulation training opportunities
- 5-year PANCE pass rate of 96%
Missouri State has a proven history of preparing competent, caring PAs. Students train locally in San Antonio through a hybrid model blending online academics and in-person clinicals.
20. BridgeValley Community and Technical College
Students in this program take didactic courses online through BridgeValley in West Virginia and complete clinical rotations in San Antonio.
Highlights:
- Innovative blended curriculum
- 27-month program culminating in Master‘s degree
- 14 clinical rotations completed in San Antonio
- Advanced simulation lab training
- 5-year PANCE pass rate of 93%
BridgeValley‘s blended online-onsite model enables students to learn didactic material remotely and train at San Antonio‘s clinical sites.
With top-tier programs across a variety of institutional settings, San Antonio offers aspiring PAs premier choices for quality education and training aligned with their career aspirations. Graduates of these selective programs emerge with the clinical skills, medical knowledge, and critical thinking abilities to excel as certified PAs across practice areas.
Through rigorous coursework and extensive clinical rotations facilitated by San Antonio‘s major hospitals and health networks, students gain invaluable real-world experience under expert guidance. For individuals committed to launching PA careers that allow them to provide outstanding patient care while enjoying San Antonio‘s vibrant culture and affordable cost of living, the city‘s programs offer the ideal launchpad.
