VA Physician Assistant Services (PAS) Office
Education & Veteran Scholarships
Veteran Scholarships to become Physician Assistants
VA is providing scholarship opportunities for Military Veterans seeking degrees in PA Studies. Educational Assistance for Certain Former Members of the Armed Forces, (EACFMAF) established a pilot program to provide educational assistance to certain former members of the Armed Forces for education and training leading to a degree as a physician assistant.
It awards scholarships to students pursuing a program of study leading to a Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies. The Scholarship awards provide for the payment of a monthly stipend, tuition, required fees, and other reasonable educational expenses, including books and necessary equipment. The benefits are exempt from federal taxation. After completion of their education, participants must serve as a full-time clinical VA employee for a minimum of two years in PA services with direct patient care of the participant’s discipline in an assignment or location determined by VA. HPSP Scholarship Information (PDF) PA scholarship is only open to those that have Veteran status.
Health Professionals Scholarship Program (HPSP’s) Scholarship Portal
Interested Veterans wishing to apply should Visit the Health Professionals Scholarship Program (HPSP’s) Scholarship Portal. The portal is open year-round, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis. You can find out more information about HPSP and apply for available scholarships on the portal https://va-ams-info.intelliworxit.com or contact HPSPTeam@va.gov
For more information, please contact
Rubina DaSilva, MBA-HC, PA-C, DFAAPA
Director of PA Retention, Recruitment, and Legislation
Rubina.dasilva@va.gov
Learn more about VA Physician Assistant (PA) post-graduate residency programs and locations at: https://www.patientcare.va.gov/PA/Residency_Programs.asp
- PA Post Graduate Residencies. (PDF)
The VHA has a history in employing PAs, has been progressive in changing the way PAs practice in the VA, and offers many benefits for PAs who chose to work in the VA. As the single largest employer of physician assistants(pdf) in the nation, VA can offer you a wide range of challenging opportunities across the continuum of care. 
Physician Assistant Degree/Certification
Physician assistants (PAs) perform physical exams, order lab tests, diagnose illnesses and prescribe medications. Students take undergraduate- and graduate-level courses before entering a PA program* and taking an exam to become a certified PA. PA programs are usually about 27 months long and culminate in a master’s degree.
A PA is a health care professional trained at the graduate level and credentialed to provide medical services to patients within a defined Scope of Practice. PAs receive over 2,000 hours of didactic training in the medical sciences and over 2,000 hours of supervised clinical training. PA training programs are nationally accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education of the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). PAs must receive a passing score on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) for initial board certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
Find a VA Healthcare System Facility: https://www.va.gov/find-locations/
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