Master of Physician Assistant Studies
February 3, 2022 2026-03-25 19:32Master of Physician Assistant Studies
Become a Physician Assistant Serving the Rocky Mountain region
Rocky Mountain College’s 26-month Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree prepares you to provide evidence-based, compassionate care across primary care and advanced specialties—especially in rural and underserved areas of the intermountain West.
MPAS at a Glance
Studying at RMC means more than just a world-class education—it’s about thriving in an environment that inspires greatness. Located in Billings, Montana, the state’s healthcare hub, RMC offers unparalleled access to diverse clinical opportunities, dynamic healthcare networks, and a vibrant urban community.
With a perfect blend of leveraging our urban resources and applying our surrounding rural challenges in Montana, students receive the experience necessary to excel in any environment—as demonstrated by the majority of our student-led capstone projects focusing on rural development.
From immersive fieldwork settings to countless connections with top healthcare providers, RMC’s location gives you the tools you need to excel. Beyond your studies, Billings provides the perfect balance of culture, adventure, and community to make your educational journey unforgettable.
Your Education, Elevated, in Billings, Montana
DEGREE TYPE
Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
PROGRAM DURATION
26 Months, Full-Time In-Person Program
Class Capacity
48 Students per Cohort
Admissions Cycle
New Cohort Begins Each June
Primary Location
Billings, Montana
Why Choose Rocky Mountain College for Your MPAS?
Rocky Mountain College offers a student-centered MPAS program with close faculty support, broad clinical experiences, and a deep commitment to rural and underserved communities.
Rural & Regional Focus
Our program is designed to prepare PAs who are ready to serve across the intermountain West—especially in rural and underserved communities where healthcare access is limited and providers are urgently needed.
Broad Clinical Experiences
Students complete rotations in primary and specialty care across family medicine, surgery, behavioral health, and more. Notably, 60% of graduates accept positions at sites where they completed clinical experiences.
Small College, Strong Support
Enjoy low student-to-faculty ratios where professors know you by name. Our faculty are invested in your progress, helping you navigate the curriculum and the transition into practice.
Proven Results
Our graduates demonstrate consistently strong performance on the PANCE exam and receive high ratings from employers across Montana and neighboring states.
“My professors were flexible, supportive, and genuinely invested in my success. That small-college environment made it much less intimidating to step into PA school and then into practice.”
— Lauren, MPAS ’23 | Physician Assistant, Montana
Our Mission
The mission of the Rocky Mountain College Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program (MPAS) is to educate primary care providers who embody a combination of academic talents of evidence-based medicine, clinical skills, and professionalism while providing compassionate health care services, particularly to those in rural and underserved areas of this region.
What this means for you:
- Clinical experiences in rural and frontier settings across Montana and surrounding states
- Exposure to full-spectrum care—from preventive visits to urgent & emergent life-saving care—in communities with few local specialty services
- Faculty and preceptors who understand both the challenges and the rewards of rural practice
Curriculum & Clinical Experiences
The MPAS curriculum blends classroom-based coursework with rich clinical experiences that help you develop the knowledge, skills, and judgment expected of physician assistants.
“Graduation is a huge milestone, but you still have to pass your boards and find that first position. I rotated at the orthopedic practice where I now work, which made the transition from student to PA much smoother and helped me step into a role that fits me well.”
— Denae, MPAS ’22 – Orthopedic PA, Montana
Didactic Phase
- An integrated, systems-based didactic curriculum that sequentially incorporates foundational medical sciences, including anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology, to support the development of clinical reasoning and medical decision-making.
- Structured clinical skills instruction and assessment including history-taking, physical examination, clinical documentation, and interpersonal communication skills. Competency is evaluated through standardized patient encounters, simulation activities, and objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs).
- The curriculum incorporates case-based and team-based collaborative learning methodologies to promote the application of didactic knowledge to clinical scenarios. These instructional strategies are designed to enhance critical thinking, differential diagnosis development, and evidence-based clinical decision-making.
Clinical Experiences Phase
- Supervised clinical experiences in Family and Internal Medicine, Emergency Care, Surgery, Pediatrics, Women’s Health, and Behavioral Health.
- Exposure to wide-ranging patient needs in rural and underserved communities.
- Develop professional judgment and skills through direct patient care rotations.
Outcomes That Matter
PANCE Performance
Over the past five years, graduates have achieved a first-time PANCE pass rate of approximately 97%, consistently placing us above national averages.
Employment Success
With a 100% career placement rate, our graduates move directly into roles within primary care, emergency medicine, orthopedics, and surgical specialties.
Rural Impact
Alumni provide critical care in frontier settings, managing everything from family practice visits to emergency presentations in communities with limited specialty access.
Employer Readiness
Preceptors and employers consistently rate our graduates highly in medical knowledge, professionalism, and patient care competencies.
Admissions Snapshot
Admission to the MPAS program is highly competitive, with yearly acceptance rates as low as 5%. We prioritize applicants who are academically prepared and aligned with our mission to serve rural populations.
Basic Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required upon matriculation
- Minimum 3.0 Cumulative GPA and 3.0 Science GPA
- 1,500+ hours of paid, direct patient care experience (PCE)
- Shadowing in primary care settings strongly encouraged
Regional & Rural Preference
- Permanent residency in MT, WY, CO, ND, SD, UT, or ID
- Graduates from rural high schools within this region
- Alignment with the RMC mission for underserved communities
“I grew up in northeastern Montana and worked as a combat medic and EMT. Rocky’s PA program was the only place I wanted to be—I knew I wanted to come back and care for communities like the one I grew up in.”
— Sierra, MPAS ’22 | Physician Assistant, Montana
Learn from Dedicated Faculty
Our faculty bring years of experience in family medicine, internal medicine, emergency care, surgery, and additional specialties. In our small-college environment, they are approachable and invested in your growth—from your first semester through your first position as a PA.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Whether you’re just beginning to explore the PA profession or are ready to apply, we’re here to support you.
