A physician assistant (PA) degree is not a doctorate. The standard entry-level degree for PAs is a master’s degree, and the profession’s leading education organization, the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), formally affirmed in 2023 that the master’s degree should remain the entry-level and terminal degree for the profession. However, optional doctoral programs do exist for PAs who want to pursue advanced education after earning their master’s.
The Master’s Degree Is the Standard
To become a PA, you must graduate from a program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) and then pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE). Most accredited PA programs run approximately 27 months, or about three academic years, and award a master’s degree upon completion. Every state requires graduation from an accredited program and a passing PANCE score for licensure.
This makes the PA profession different from fields like physical therapy or pharmacy, which have transitioned to requiring a clinical doctorate (DPT or PharmD) as the entry-level credential. The PA field considered a similar move but chose not to go that direction. At PAEA’s 2023 Business Meeting, members voted to keep the master’s as the entry-level degree while directing PAEA’s board to explore how doctoral degrees could contribute to PA education in other ways.
Doctoral Degrees Available to PAs
PAs who already hold a master’s degree can pursue several types of doctoral programs. These are optional and do not change a PA’s scope of practice or licensure status. The most common options fall into three categories.
- Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc): Designed for PAs who want to become leaders, educators, or scholar-practitioners. These programs emphasize healthcare leadership, evidence-based practice, and education rather than hands-on clinical training. They are often completed online and part-time while working.
- Doctor of Physician Assistant Studies (DPAS): A clinically focused terminal degree built around clinical practicum experiences. The curriculum centers on incorporating current clinical evidence and trends, modeled loosely after graduate medical education for physicians. This option is geared toward PAs who want deeper clinical expertise.
- PhD in a health-related field: Some PAs pursue a PhD to conduct advanced healthcare research, develop a specialization, or move into academic roles. These programs typically require original research and a dissertation, along with additional coursework.
All three options are post-professional degrees, meaning you earn them after your master’s and initial PA training. None of them are required to practice as a PA, and completing one does not expand your prescribing authority or clinical privileges.
Using the Title “Doctor” as a PA
Earning a doctoral degree gives you the academic credential, but using the title “Doctor” in a clinical setting is a separate and sensitive issue. Several states have introduced or passed legislation that prohibits PAs (and in some cases advanced practice nurses) from referring to themselves as “Doctor” when providing patient care, even if they hold a legitimate doctorate. The reasoning is straightforward: when patients hear “Doctor” in a clinic or hospital, they assume that person is a physician, and legislators want to prevent confusion about who is providing their care.
If you earn a DMSc or DPAS, you can generally use the “Dr.” title in academic, research, or non-clinical professional contexts. But in exam rooms and patient-facing settings, the rules vary by state, and the trend is toward restricting that usage. This is worth understanding before pursuing a doctorate solely for the title.
Why This Distinction Matters
If you’re considering a PA career, the practical takeaway is that you need a master’s degree from an accredited program, not a doctorate. That means roughly three years of graduate education after completing your prerequisite coursework and bachelor’s degree. The total path is significantly shorter than medical school plus residency, which is one reason the PA profession has grown so quickly.
If you’re already a practicing PA weighing a doctoral program, the decision comes down to your career goals. A doctorate can open doors in academia, leadership, or specialized clinical roles, but it won’t change your day-to-day scope of practice or your salary in most clinical positions. Employers hiring PAs for patient care roles generally pay based on experience, specialty, and location rather than whether you hold a master’s or doctorate.