The UKPA Program is a Spring Semester start and a lock-step 29-month long program that is conducted in person with an ITV connection between the two campuses (Morehead & Lexington). The course director may lecture from either the Lexington campus or the Morehead Campus. All hands-on labs are conducted with a faculty member in person at the campus location. The first year and a half of the program is the didactic portion and the final year is the clinical rotations. Clinical rotations are completed every 4 weeks and all students will return to the Lexington campus to take their End of Clerkship (EOC) exam and prep for the next rotation. Clinical rotations are not in any particular order and are completed throughout the state of Kentucky. All students must complete one rural clinical rotation and only three out-of-state rotations are allowed. However, border cities such as Cincinnati are not considered out-of-state rotations. The program also offers international clerkship opportunities to interested students.
Graduates of the Physician Assistant Studies Program are awarded a Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies after completing the 29-month curriculum. Graduates are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination and upon successful completion, are then eligible for state certification/licensure to practice as a certified Physician Assistant.
Didactic Courses
| Spring Semester I | Course Name | Course # | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring I | Health Care Delivery in the 21st Century | PAS 620 | 3.0 |
| Spring | Principles of Human Physiology | PGY 412G | 4.0 |
| Spring I | Regional Human Anatomy | ANA 611 | 5.0 |
| Spring I | Intro. to the PA Profession | PAS 651 | 2.0 |
| Summer Semester I | Course Name | Course # | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer I (4-week) | Research Methods & Epidemiology in PA Studies | PAS 610 | 3.0 |
| Summer I (8-week) | Health Promotion and Disease Prevention | PAS 678 | 2.0 |
| Summer I (8-week) | Intro to Health and Disease | PAS 653 | 3.0 |
| Fall Semester I | Course Name | Course # | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall I | Clinical Lecture Series I | PAS 654 | 4.0 |
| Fall I | Pharmacology | PAS 672 | 3.0 |
| Fall I | Clinical Methods | PAS 650 | 4.0 |
| Fall I | Psychosocial Factors in Primary Care | PAS 655 | 3.0 |
| Fall I | Masters Project I | PAS 645 | 1.0 |
| Spring Semester II | Course Name | Course # | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring II | Clinical Lecture Series II | PAS 658 | 4.0 |
| Spring II | Patient Evaluation and Management | PAS 656 | 4.0 |
| Spring II | Pharmacology II | PAS 673 | 3.0 |
| Spring II | Clinical Lab Procedures | PAS 657 | 3.0 |
| Spring II | Masters Project II | PAS 646 | 2.0 |
| Summer Semester II | Course Name | Course # | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer II (4-week) | Survey of Geriatric Medicine | PAS 640 | 3.0 |
| Summer II (4-week) | Nutrition for Health Professions | CNU 503 | 1.0 |
| Didactic total | 57.0 credit hours |
| Spring I | 14.0 hours |
| Summer I | 8.0 hours |
| Fall I | 15.0 hours |
| Spring II | 16.0 hours |
| Summer II | 4.0 hours |
| Course Name | Course # | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine (8 week) | PAS 660 | 6.0 |
| Internal Medicine (8 week) | PAS 669 | 6.0 |
| Pediatrics (4 week) | PAS 661 | 3.0 |
| Behavioral & Mental Health (4 week) | PAS 671 | 3.0 |
| Woman's Health (4 week) | PAS 662 | 3.0 |
| Emergency Medicine (4 week) | PAS 670 | 3.0 |
| Surgery (4 week) | PAS 663 | 3.0 |
| Elective (12 week) | PAS 665 | 9.0 |
| Seminar in PA Studies (4 week) | PAS 680 | 2.0 |
These courses and the Semester in which they occur are subject to change.
Clinical total: 38.0 credit hours
Curriculum Total: 95.0 credit hours
Courses are graded on a 4.0 letter grade scale.
Program-Required Competencies for Entry-Level Practice
The University of Kentucky Physician Assistant Studies (UKPAS) Program prepares graduates with the knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors essential for entry-level clinical practice. Rooted in the program’s values of collaboration, compassion, and service, UKPAS prepares graduates with a strong foundation in primary care to serve underrepresented populations in both rural and urban communities.
Core competencies include medical knowledge, clinical reasoning, interpersonal and communication skills, clinical and technical skills, and professional behaviors. These reflect the program’s commitment to patient-centered care, evidence-based practice, and interprofessional collaboration.
Program-Required Competencies
Medical Knowledge
Graduates will demonstrate a strong foundation in biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences. They will apply this knowledge across the lifespan to recognize normal and abnormal findings, promote disease prevention, and integrate current evidence to support clinical decision-making.
Clinical Reasoning and Problem-Solving
Graduates will use clinical reasoning to obtain accurate histories, conduct physical exams, interpret diagnostic studies, and develop prioritized differential diagnoses and treatment plans. They will incorporate individual and population-level factors into patient care decisions and identify when referral or higher-level care is required.
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
Graduates will communicate effectively with patients, families, and healthcare teams. They will demonstrate empathy; respect for patients' values, language, and preferences; and professionalism in both routine and complex interactions, including the coordination of care and delivery of difficult news.
Professional Behaviors
Graduates will exhibit professionalism through ethical conduct, respect for diversity, and accountability in practice. They will recognize their own limitations, seek feedback, and maintain compliance with legal, regulatory, and institutional standards.
Clinical and Technical Skills
Graduates will safely and competently perform essential clinical procedures, including data collection, diagnostic testing, and therapeutic interventions. They will apply patient safety principles, prescribe responsibly, and leverage health technology to support care delivery.
*Students are not required to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors. The program coordinates sites and preceptors with the Area Health Education Center (AHEC). All clinical sites and preceptors go through a formal review and approval process.
The official version of this material is updated every July and available at the UK Graduate School site in the Graduate Bulletin.
The Morehead campus and curriculum tracks are under the administration of the University of Kentucky Physician Assistant Program.
Students complete the curriculum at their established campus in which they applied and are accepted.