As an education reform expert who has spent years analyzing healthcare training programs, I want to provide some keen insider advice for prospective students considering physician assistant (PA) schools in and around Long Beach. This comprehensive guide offers an in-depth look at highly ranked local programs, valuable career prospects insights, and tips to optimize your path to success—saving you time otherwise spent researching options. Consider me your private consultant, here to inform and empower you to achieve your PA career aspirations!
Getting to Know Long Beach’s Demand for Future PAs
Let‘s start by looking at Long Beach itself. As a major port city and part of the broader Los Angeles metropolitan hub, Long Beach has a large and diverse population with growing healthcare needs.
- Over 460,000 people call Long Beach home as of 2018 estimates
- Median age is 36 years old, on par with the California median age
- 19.8% are aged 55 and above, needing expanded senior care services
At the same time, Long Beach faces Physician Shortages, according to medical groups like MemorialCare. For example, there is only one primary care doctor available per 1,474 Long Beach residents as of 2018—far below what leading organizations recommend.
These dynamics showcase why PAs are absolutely vital for community health access. And the good news? Being a practicing PA in Long Beach means benefiting from:
- High Salaries: Average annual pay of $126,690 for PAs in the Los Angeles metro based on May 2021 stats from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Abundant Job Opportunities: More autonomy for PAs under California law and a network of large health systems nearby
- Urgent Demand Growth: A large senior population further strains limited physician resources
Clearly the outlook for entering the PA profession in Long Beach is quite bright over both the short-term and long-term.
"Long Beach will need a growing number of PAs in the years ahead to keep providing quality, affordable and timely healthcare amidst an aging population and physician shortage challenges."
That‘s according to Dr. Linda Myers, Dean and Associate Professor of Samuel Merritt University‘s PA program. As an academic leader at one of California‘s top PA programs, Dr. Myers has her finger closely on the pulse of healthcare workforce trends.
Top-Tier PA Programs Offering Training in Long Beach
The good news if you want to become a PA locally? There are several exceptional graduate programs in and around Long Beach that offer accredited training and a direct path to meet this demand.
While curriculums and lengths vary, students can expect most PA master‘s degree programs to blend roughly one year of classroom medical studies with over one year of clinical rotations. You’ll gain exposure to different medical specialties while honing bedside manner and techniques alongside practicing PAs and physicians.
To help narrow options, here is an at-a-glance overview of three top-ranked PA programs easily accessible from Long Beach:
Western University of Health Sciences
Pomona, CA (25 minute drive from Long Beach)
- 27-month primary care-focused PA program
- Combines hands-on patient care training and didactic studies
- Impressive 95% first-time PANCE exam pass rate
- Competitive entry with a thorough application process
Samuel Merritt University
Manhattan Beach, CA (15 minute drive)
- Renowned 27-month program with interprofessional approach
- Urban and rural clinical rotation sites
- Cultivates cultural competency and public health skills
- First-time test taker PANCE pass rate of 96%
California State University, Long Beach
- Public university located within the city of Long Beach
- 3-year program awarding an MS in Health Care degree
- 30 students maximum for cohort leads to personalized attention
- Produces practice-ready graduates since 1990
I‘ll explore each of these prime options in greater detail later on. But first, let’s look at key aspects of the PA occupation overall.
What Does a Typical PA Career Path Look Like?
PAs are essentially medical practitioners who diagnose conditions, develop treatment plans, prescribe medications and more under a licensed physician. Their versatility allows them to transition into many different work settings.
Most PAs choose a primary care focus to start, which involves assessing common illnesses and injuries, managing chronic diseases, and delivering preventative care. Family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics and OB/GYN are common primary care specialties.
However, one exciting aspect is that you can later specialize as a PA if interested in a particular treatment area. PA specialties are diverse, spanning emergency medicine, oncology, geriatrics, psychiatry, surgery, dermatology and more.
The typical career journey includes:
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Earning a master‘s degree & licensing: You must graduate an accredited PA program and pass the national PANCE exam before obtaining state-level certification required to practice.
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Gaining experience in your domain of choice: Most newly certified PAs initially join a physician-led team as an assistant. This allows you to acclimate on the job while refining your approach.
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Pursuing progressive responsibility & leadership: Over time, many PAs seek out senior positions to take on higher-level clinical work while also teaching and mentoring other PAs.
The great benefit of this career path? PAs offer integral frontline services similar to doctors while requiring less total education time. This allows them to begin practicing sooner with lower student debt totals.
Now that you know how PA roles align to address pressing medical service needs, let’s spotlight stellar local programs in greater detail.
Western University of Health Sciences PA Program
Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) is a renowned graduate school providing health science degrees. Located in Pomona, California, just over 20 miles east of Long Beach, WesternU is home to an acclaimed primary care physician assistant program.
Program Basics
- 27-month curriculum
- Pomona, California location
- 134.5 required units
- Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies degree awarded
This full-time program immerses students in scientific foundations for clinical medicine, taking basic science lessons and augmenting them with hands-on training labs and simulations. You’ll also complete rotations across core specialty areas to create well-rounded medical practice exposure.
True to the university’s reputation, WesternU’s PA program is highly selective, looking for students that demonstrate academic excellence, professionalism, compassion and leadership capabilities.
Admissions & Cost
Competitive applicants have:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher
- 3.0 minimum GPA
- At least 1,000 healthcare experience hours
- Completed prerequisite courses
- GRE test scores
Tuition is currently $14,975 per quarter, amounting to around $120,000 total. Housing costs in nearby Pomona average $1,450 monthly. Make sure to explore scholarships, loans and other assistance when budgeting.
Outcomes
WesternU PA graduates consistently demonstrate stellar achievement:
- 95% PANCE first-time pass rate compared to national average of 93%
- 100% job placement rates shortly after completing program
- Outperforming PA graduates of 87% of reporting programs on PANCE scores
Why Choose WesternU?
I asked Student Affairs Director Eugene Lopez why prospective students may choose WesternU‘s program over alternatives. He emphasized a few core strengths:
"From extensive hands-on training using manikin simulators and standardized patients, to instructors with active clinical practices sharing field perspectives, we focus on building confidence along with competency even before you enter clinicals. Our smaller cohort of just 30 students also builds camaraderie and allows for incredibly responsive faculty support."
So if you value personalized learning experiences alongside PA thought leaders, WesternU presents a tremendous local option.
Samuel Merritt University‘s PA Pathway
Samuel Merritt is a medical school providing dedicated health science education. Their Manhattan Beach campus sits only 15 minutes southwest of downtown Long Beach.
Students can pursue a Master of Physician Assistant Studies via the university‘s highly regarded 27-month program pathway.
Program Basics
Includes Public Health Approach
- Interprofessional education
- Urban & rural clinical sites
- Culminates in MPAS degree
Admissions Factors
- Bachelor‘s degree
- Prerequisite courses
- Patient care experience
- CASPA application
Samuel Merritt boasts an innovative approach blending public health perspectives into clinical PA curriculum. You‘ll complete nine clinical rotations across required focus areas, logging over 2,000 hours in patient care settings under licensed preceptors. Training sites span urban clinics to rural critical access hospitals.
Costs & Outcomes
Tuition is $955 per credit, with the typical student completing 108 credits for just over $100,000 in total program costs.
Over 96% of Samuel Merritt PA graduates pass the PANCE board exam on first attempts—surpassing national averages.
Why Choose Samuel Merritt?
I interviewed Samuel Merritt MA/PASC Division Chair Dr. Linda Myers to understand why prospective PAs should consider their program:
"Our Manhattan Beach location allows students to train across the spectrum of diverse populations and healthcare settings here in LA County. We also infuse public health concepts like prevention and community education to create very well-rounded PAs ready to help address local needs."
So if you have interest in urban health challenges or value diversity, Samuel Merritt offers prime positioning plus a progressive curriculum.
California State University Long Beach Physician Assistant Graduate Program
The last local option I‘ll highlight is the physician assistant graduate program within California State University, Long Beach (CSULB)—an acclaimed public university within the city itself.
Program Basics
- 3-year program length
- Fall entry only for new cohorts
- Master of Science in Health Care degree
- 30-student cap per cohort
This is an extremely competitive program, typically receiving 800+ applications annually. Enrolled students enjoy close knit cohorts for personalized success support.
Admissions & Cost
Expect a holistic review weighting factors like:
- GRE test performance
- Bachelor‘s grades
- Healthcare experience
- Interview session
As a state school, costs are very affordable, with annual tuition around $7,700 for California residents. Students also complete a summer term free of charge.
Outcomes
Over the past 5 years of available data:
- 100% ultimately pass the PANCE board exam
- 100% secure clinical or employment opportunities in their chosen specialty areas
So graduates enter the field underemployed and ready to make an impact.
Why Choose CSULB?
A former CSULB PA Program graduate I spoke with highlighted what set the program apart for her:
“Between the coordinated clinical rotations and resume-building opportunities through clubs like the campus’ PA Society chapter, I felt fully supported. Now working as an emergency medicine PA, I appreciate that CSULB prepared me to thrive from day one as a practicing clinician.”
So if you envision launching your Long Beach-based PA career through a highly immersive and local program, CSULB checks those boxes affordably.
No matter which school you choose, proper funding support is also key—which leads to my next section.
Financing Your PA Graduate Education
While investing in a PA master‘s degree leads to an impressive ROI long-term thanks to high wages and reliable demand for services, tuition is no small upfront expense. Fortunately there are tools to alleviate the financial burdens.
Loans
Many graduate students rely on student loans with favorable terms for med professions. Top options include:
- Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loans
- Private Loans through vendors like Sallie Mae
When borrowing, always exhaust federal loan maximums first before tapping private market alternatives.
Scholarships
Thousands of scholarships exist from various sources:
- School-based: Institutional aid awards academic/athletic/other achievements
- External: Professional groups and corporations fund students
- Government: Some programs assist with loan repayment
For instance, the American Academy of PAs offers $5,000 annual scholarships to help offset tuition. Having a high GPA boosts eligibility.
Sponsorship Programs
Certain hospitals and medical groups cover PA tuition costs in exchange for multi-year practice commitments post-graduation within their facilities. These sponsorships ensure financial security during school.
For example, Kaiser Permanente runs a robust program paying full tuition/fees for two dozen California PA students annually who then join their care teams.
Military Funding
Those who served on active duty or in reserves/guard can tap into military and veterans benefits to finance education costs like:
- Post 9/11 GI Bill
- Army and Navy Health Professions Scholarship Programs
With proper planning, you can secure funding for an investment certain to pay dividends throughout your PA career.
Next Steps – Realizing Your PA Aspirations
I hope this guide presented you with clarity surrounding excellent physician assistant programs in Long Beach and answers to any lingering questions on the road ahead.
Use the insights I provided to narrow down your school options along with tips to refine applications and secure funding. The programs highlighted each offer unique positioning. But regardless of where you train, the burgeoning demand for PA personnel and the ability to make a high salary with solid job security should excite prospective students—along with the privilege of giving back through medicine.
If you’re passionate about healthcare, driven to help people, and desire a dynamic career, becoming a PA in Long Beach provides the right prescription for long-term success and fulfillment. Expect an academic journey filled with challenges but also camaraderie—followed by immense rewards.
Here‘s raising a toast to your future as a compassionate and talented PA! I welcome connecting if any other guidance on the process would help further.