Sep. 22, 2025
South College Orlando is enrolling students for a new Master of Health Science Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program. The degree program is designed to prepare graduates for physician assistant practice in just 27 months with the first cohort of students starting this fall.
The program has received provisional accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), which demonstrates the ability to meet all ARC-PA standards to prepare the first cohort and is the status initially awarded to new programs.
“The addition of a master’s degree in physician assistant studies continues to further our mission to offer educational programs that will lead to long-term professional opportunities for our students and help meet the employment needs of healthcare facilities,” South College Orlando President Jim McCoy said. “Whether our PA graduates end up in a fast-paced urban hospital, private practice or critical access facility in a rural community, we want to help prepare them for success.”
The program is designed to help students build a solid foundation in patient assessment, clinical medicine and the medical, behavioral, and social sciences. It includes classroom training, hands-on labs and clinical simulation assessments in a variety of patient settings.
The campus is equipped with two Apollo high-fidelity patient simulators; dozens of task trainers for specialized simulators and lifelike models of human anatomy; and a point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) program featuring nearly two dozen probes and ultrasound-compatible task trainers.
South College’s Physician Assistant program is ranked No. 23 in the country for Best Physician Assistant Schools, according to College Factual, a leading source for college data and insights.
The Orlando campus, which opened in 2021, offers healthcare-related certificate, associate, bachelor’s and master’s programs in areas such as Health Science, Imaging Science, Medical Assisting, Physician Assistant Studies, Nursing, Respiratory Therapy and Surgical Technology.
The Orlando campus is located at 6649 Westwood Blvd. South College students who qualify for financial aid have access to a range of programs as do members of the U.S. military, veterans and their families.
For more information about South College Orlando visit south.edu/location/orlando.
Across its national footprint, South College offers an array of academic programs in business, education, healthcare and other fields. The institution was founded in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1882 and now includes 10 physical campuses, as well as online and Competency-Based Education programs.
About South College
South College serves more than 18,000 students and is proud of its more than 20,000 graduates. The institution offers academic programs at multiple levels, including professional certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral degree programs via campuses in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Dallas, Texas; and Orlando, Florida, as well as Online and Competency-Based Education (CBE). South College focuses on ensuring high standards and quality educational offerings, maintaining multiple authorizations and accreditations.
South College’s programs span diverse fields such as business, criminal justice, dental hygiene/assisting, diagnostic medical sonography, nursing, occupational therapy, paralegal studies, physical therapy, radiography, respiratory therapy, physician assistant studies, pharmacy and surgical technology. The institution is dedicated to preparing students with the skills and knowledge needed for the professional opportunities ahead of them. For more information, visit south.edu.
