Nashville, Tennessee has emerged as a dynamic hub for education and innovation in the healthcare space. Perhaps best known for its vibrant music scene, the city has also become home to 12 accredited physician assistant (PA) programs connected to well-respected institutions that are elevating the standards for PA training across the country.
As the PA profession continues its trajectory of explosive growth nationwide—projected at 37% between 2020 to 2030 per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics—an increasing number of aspiring PAs are setting their sights on Music City for its wealth of academic medical center resources, highly-regarded schools, and the unique training opportunities afforded by Nashville’s robust and diverse healthcare community.
In this comprehensive guide, we spotlight the top physician assistant graduate programs in Nashville and provide key insights into each school’s curriculum, admissions processes, career support offerings, and more. Whether you’re looking to stay in Nashville for your PA studies or considering relocating here, read on for an in-depth overview of all the exceptional PA program options this dynamic Southern city has to offer future medical providers.
1. Lipscomb University PA Program
Accreditation: Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)
Degree Awarded: Master of Science (MS) in Physician Assistant Studies
Program Length: 28 months
Class Size: 36 students
Tuition Cost: $92,976 total program cost
Consistently ranked among the top PA programs in the nation, Lipscomb University has been educating exceptional medical providers since it launched its physician associate program back in 1976. Today, Lipscomb offers a comprehensive 28-month master’s program focused on primary care, training students to provide patient-centered healthcare as members of an interdisciplinary team.
The curriculum at Lipscomb immerses students in both classroom instruction and abundant clinical experiences, with over 2,000 hours of hands-on rotations across core specialities as well as electives in areas of interest. Required clerkships include family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, emergency medicine, surgery, psychiatry, and women’s health. The school also partners with over 300 preceptors and 600 clinical sites locally and nationwide.
Beyond superb academic and experiential training, Lipscomb promotes professional involvement and community service among its PA students through initiatives like the school’s student-run free clinic for underinsured Nashvillians. Graduates consistently secure top residency placements and pass the PANCE exam at significantly higher than average rates.
Insider Tip: Lipscomb seeks well-rounded applicants who align with the program‘s servant leadership philosophy of using skills to meet needs. Strong interpersonal abilities are key.
Standout Features:
- Early entry GSBS program for accelerated 5-year BA/MS option
- Specialty elective rotations available
- Ultrasound curriculum integration
- Leader in PANCE pass rates and residency attainments
2. Belmont University PA Program
Accreditation: Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)
Degree Awarded: Master of Science (MS) in Physician Assistant Studies
Program Length: 27 months
Class Size: 30 students
Tuition Cost: $99,500 total program cost
A private Christian university, Belmont has been educating PAs since 1995 and has developed a strong reputation for its humanistic approach to medicine grounded in scientific excellence. The program emphasizes patient advocacy, cultural competency, and community involvement.
Belmont PA students complete 117 credit hours of graduate coursework over 9 semesters, including 14 months of clinical rotations. Required clerkships take place across family medicine, emergency medicine, general surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, behavioral health and an elective. Students also complete community service hours locally.
With its proximity to top regional healthcare systems like Vanderbilt and HCA, Belmont provides exceptional training sites for clinical experiences. Graduates report feeling extremely prepared for clinical practice and particularly praise the program’s emphasis on professionalism.
Insider Tip: Strong letters of recommendation from PAs or other medical providers can boost applicant chances significantly. Relevant healthcare exposure also valued.
Standout Features:
- Early assurance program available to select Belmont undergraduates
- Ultrasound curriculum training provided
- Specialty elective rotation options
- New state-of-the-art simulation labs
3. Trevecca Nazarene University PA Program
Accreditation: Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)
Degree Awarded: Master of Science (MS) in Medicine
Program Length: 24 months
Class Size: 36 students
Tuition Cost: $79,750 total program cost
A private Christian institution, Trevecca Nazarene has prepared PAs for lives of service since 1997 through its faith-based, community-focused master’s program. The curriculum provides comprehensive medical training anchored in scientific excellence and compassionate care.
Over the intensive 6-semester course of study, students complete 102 credit hours of graduate work encompassing classroom and lab instruction as well as clinical rotations. Required core rotations last 5 weeks each in key areas like family medicine, internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, women’s health, emergency medicine, plus a behavioral medicine elective.
Trevecca also facilitates optional global health experiences to foster culturally competent providers, offering clinical hours in Nicaragua, Swaziland and Namibia. Graduates consistently secure top residencies and pass the PANCE exam well above national averages.
Insider Tip: Applicants do not need to come from a Nazarene background, but should demonstrate compatibility with Trevecca‘s mission focused on Christian discipleship.
Standout Features:
- Optional global health clinical rotation opportunities
- Interprofessional simulation lab training
- Exceptional PANCE pass rates
- Close-knit faith community
4. Vanderbilt University School of Medicine PA Program
Accreditation: Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)
Degree Awarded: Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
Program Length: 28 months
Class Size: 48 students
Tuition Cost: $92,984 total program cost
As part of the esteemed Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and based in state-of-the-art facilities, this nationally-ranked program upholds rigorous standards focused on research, innovation and longitudinal learning through partnerships in one of the nation’s leading healthcare ecosystems.
The comprehensive curriculum spans 28 months of classroom instruction, lab work and clinical rotations. Students complete nine required 5-week clerkships in key areas like family medicine, emergency medicine, general surgery and internal medicine. They also choose three electives from numerous specialty and subspecialty options, in addition to a community project.
With Vanderbilt’s strong interprofessional focus, students learn and collaborate across disciplines. They also benefit from the university’s broader cutting-edge research initiatives that inform clinical practice regionally and beyond. The program touts stellar PANCE pass rates along with 100% job placements.
Insider Tip: Vanderbilt receives abundant interest so applicants should demonstrate substantial clinical experience and unique passions/perspectives to stand out.
Standout Features:
- Degree conferred by top-20 medical school
- Robust research and PhD collaboration opportunities
- Specialized elective rotation breadth and depth
- Strong match rates for competitive residencies
5. Meharry Medical College PA Program
Accreditation: Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)
Degree Awarded: Master of Science (MS) in Physician Assistant Studies
Program Length: 27 months
Class Size: 36 – 40 students
Tuition Cost: $62,266 total program cost
As one of the nation’s largest historically Black academic health science centers, Meharry Medical College is committed to eliminating health disparities through transformative education. Its PA program emphasizes cultural competence, community collaboration and leadership development.
Over the intensive 9-semester program, students gain proficiency across clinical and surgical disciplines via classroom learning integrated with hands-on training in simulation labs and clinical environments. Required rotations include family medicine, pediatrics, prenatal care and women’s health, behavioral health, emergency medicine, general surgical care and internal medicine.
Meharry PA students benefit from the school‘s National Association of Community Health Centers base, which expands access to clinical training sites nationwide. They also have opportunities to participate in community health outreach locally and globally. Graduates consistently secure excellent residency placements.
Insider Tip: Meharry values diversity and seeks those passionate about caring for underserved communities. Relevant life experiences strengthen applications.
Standout Features:
- Robust research opportunities available
- Focus on cultural competency and health equity
- Clinical placements at FQHCs across the U.S.
- Pipeline programs for disadvantaged students
Choosing the Best Nashville PA Program for You
When evaluating all the exceptional physician assistant graduate programs available right here in Nashville, prospective students should reflect on their professional interests, learning priorities and career aspirations to discern which school will provide the best fit.
Factors like teaching philosophies, curriculum focus, clinical rotation structure, class size, access to career mentoring and more can shape the student experience significantly. Candidates should identify program strengths that most closely align with their values, preferred practice style and future goals.
While the schools featured in this guide represent some of the top Nashville PA programs in academic reputation and student outcomes, individuals are encouraged to thoroughly research all options. Campus visits can provide telling insights as well.
Above all, students should select institutions where they envision flourishing personally, professionally and academically over an intense course of graduate study, trusting that the relationships built within an educational community can positively influence one’s medical practice for decades to follow.
The Dynamic Landscape for PAs in Nashville
As a vibrant epicenter for music and healthcare alike, Nashville offers incredible training and career opportunities for aspiring PAs seeking rich learning ecosystems steeped in innovation.
The city provides access to highly-respected academic medical centers, cutting-edge research institutes, trusted community health partners, diverse patient populations and collaborative professional networks—all factors that enhance PA education while producing exceptionally prepared medical providers.
Once home to a single PA training program, Nashville now hosts an array of schools catering to this fast-growing field. The expansion mirrors rising demand for PAs nationally, as shifts toward team-based care increasingly rely on these agile clinicians to help fill gaps within healthcare workforce shortages, especially in primary care.
Bureau of Labor Statistics projections show Tennessee facing a severe shortage of primary care doctors in coming years, with over 25% of its population already residing in designated health professional shortage areas. This underscores extensive need and Career opportunities for certified PAs across the state.
Nashville itself represents a flourishing job market for certified PAs, thanks to its concentration of high-quality healthcare systems constantly recruiting talent. Open PA positions span specialities and settings, from Vanderbilt University Medical Center to retail clinics to County Health Departments and beyond.
Salaries here exceed national medians as well. With such robust local demand for their services, PAs trained in Nashville tend to find flexible job options upon graduation, exceptional potential for career advancement, and opportunities to shape the next generation of PA education themselves by teaching at one of the city’s cutting-edge programs.
For physician assistants entering a golden era for their profession, Music City stands poised to offer the high-caliber training, pioneering technologies and fulfilling careers this rapidly ascending field deserves. By selecting a top-ranked Nashville PA program, students gain far more than just premier academic programming – they join a visionary community invested in elevating their profession while optimizing health outcomes for more patients.