For Physician Assistants (PAs) aspiring to expand their medical careers, the Accelerated Physician Assistant Pathway (APAP) offers a unique opportunity. This innovative three-year medical school curriculum culminates in a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree, designed specifically for certified PAs.
Physician Assistants already possess a strong foundation in medicine, having completed rigorous medical curricula and clinical rotations to earn their master’s degrees. Many PAs consider further medical education to gain greater autonomy in practice, enhance their medical knowledge, and broaden their impact on patient care. However, the traditional four-year medical school path can be daunting due to financial commitments and time away from their established careers. LECOM (Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine) addresses these challenges with the APAP, significantly reducing both the duration and cost of medical school. By condensing the curriculum, APAP makes the transition from Pa To Doctor more accessible and efficient.
Currently, the APAP program at the LECOM at Seton Hill campus offers twelve positions. Half of these positions are open for any residency specialty, providing flexibility for students to pursue their desired medical field. The remaining six slots are dedicated to primary care, requiring a commitment to a residency and five years of practice in essential fields such as family practice, general internal medicine, pediatrics, or OB/GYN.
APAP Admission Criteria
To be eligible for this accelerated pathway, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C): Applicants must hold current certification as a Physician Assistant.
- GPA Requirement: A minimum Grade Point Average of 2.7 is required.
- Science Coursework: Completion of at least one physics course with lab (4 credits) and one organic chemistry course with lab (4 credits) is necessary.
- Citizenship or Residency: Applicants must be US citizens or possess permanent residency status.
- MCAT Score or LECOM AIS: Applicants need to have scored at or above the 40th percentile on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) taken after January 2015. Alternatively, LECOM recognizes the Academic Index Score (AIS) as an alternative metric for candidates who have not taken the MCAT, particularly those with strong GPAs. A minimum AIS of 110 is required. The AIS calculation considers undergraduate and graduate GPAs along with ACT and/or SAT scores.
Calculate your AIS score here.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to submit their application through AACOMAS and subsequently contact the APAP Administrative Coordinator at [email protected] to ensure all necessary information is gathered for their application to the PA to doctor pathway.
