WESTERN MPAS

Overview / Admissions / Program / Resources

Welcome to the Canadian PA Guide on Western MPAS

Last Updated July 23, 2026

Note: This is not an official Western University resource. Information is updated when available, but always verify details on the Official Program Website.

PA PROGRAMS > ONTARIO

Western University

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

Western University’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) is Ontario’s first graduate-level PA program. Part of the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western MPAS’ inaugural class will begin this September 2026 with a cohort of 30 students.

Program Website ⇗
Program Website ⇗
MPAS ADMISSIONS ⇗
MPAS ADMISSIONS ⇗

  • 2 years

    Duration

  • 30 students

    Class size

  • $20,000 CAD/year

    Tuition

  • September

    Start Date

  • Full Time, In-Person

    Format

  • Accreditation

    Pending. Learn more

APPLY TO WESTERN MPAS

PA Admissions Guide

Requirements →
Process →
Deadlines → 
WESTERN MPAS > ADMISSIONS

Admission Requirements

Western recently announced the launch of their 2 year, Master of Physician Assistant Studies program. Admission requirements are relatively simple: You must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada, be in your last year or completed a Bachelor’s Degree.

Mirroring the GPA requirement of other Master of PA Studies programs in Canada, Western MPAS requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 (approximately 75%) in the last two years of your study to apply. Many Pre-PA candidates find this helpful as academic performance tends to improve over time, meaning if you had a lower GPA at the beginning of your undergrad study, this won’t impact your competitiveness.

There is no MCAT, GRE or PA-CAT (US only) required, no pre-requisite courses to apply and no health care experience hours required.

With few requirements this is a very accessible entry point to PA education, this means that there will be a large applicant pool for a limited number of seats. 

WESTERN MPAS > ADMISSIONS

Preferred Admission Criteria

Western MPAS states that although these are not requirements to apply to their program, meeting these criteria would make you a more competitive candidate (think of it as ‘additional points added’).

These include having an academic background in health, biomedical, or related sciences; completing coursework in human anatomy, physiology, and statistics; and healthcare-related work, volunteer or research experience.

Don’t let this discourage you if you don't meet these criteria! There are many examples of applicants with non-science degrees (e.g. Bachelor of Arts), limited or no healthcare experience or preferred coursework that have been accepted to other Canadian PA programs.

If you plan on applying in the future or are in the process of re-applying, you may consider adding some of the preferred admission criteria (additional coursework, or experiences) to boost your competitiveness.

WESTERN MPAS > ADMISSIONS

PA Admission Process

To apply for Western MPAS program, you will submit your application through the Western Graduate Studies Application Portal.

Documents to send include unofficial transcripts, two letters of reference (one academic, one non-academic) and a written 550 word PA Supplemental statement answering questions around your motivation to pursue PA studies (see below).

Once that is reviewed by the admissions committee, competitive candidates are selected to be invited for a final interview, which takes place as a virtual asynchronous interview. This is an online recorded interview, where you answer questions and admissions will review those at a later date.

  • Supplemental statement

    Your statement should address:

    • Why have you chosen to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant?

    • What experiences, qualities, or accomplishments have prepared you to be an effective Physician Assistant? Please provide specific examples to support your response.

    The Admissions Committee is interested in learning more about your motivations, experiences, and potential contributions to the Physician Assistant profession.

    Format requirements:

    • Maximum length: 550 words

    • Font: 12-point (e.g., Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman)

    • Spacing: single-spaced

    • Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides

    • File format: PDF

    Statements that exceed the maximum word count or are not formatted as above may not be considered.

WESTERN MPAS > ADMISSIONS

Key Application Dates

Due to the relatively recent announcement of Western MPAS’ program launch, and September 2026 start, this leaves a very narrow 5-week application window (which has already passed at time of writing).

Deadline for applications including registration, submission of documents, references and completion of the written PA supplementary Application (550 words) were due on July 13, 2026.

Final interviews are due to take place end of July 2026, with a program start date in September.

If you plan to apply in the next cycle in 2027, have your statement and referees ready before the portal opens.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

About Western’s MPAS Program

About →
Year 1 →
Year 2 →
Post Graduation →

About

The Master of Physician Assistant Studies is the newest PA program in Canada and the first to offer a Master’s degree in this field. It is offered by Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry in London, Ontario.

The inaugural class will see a cohort of 30 students are admitted to a structured two-year program.

A Note Accreditation

Western’s MPAS program is currently undergoing the accreditation process through EQual, Accreditation Canada's health professions accreditation program.

This ensures Canadian PA programs meet national standards for curriculum quality, student training and graduate competencies. The program will complete its first full accreditation cycle before the inaugural class graduates.

WESTERN MPAS > About

Year 1: Pre-Clerkship

The first year focuses on building the foundation needed for clinical practice.

Students learn:

  • Medical sciences, including anatomy, physiology, pathology and pharmacology

  • Patient history-taking and physical examination skills

  • Clinical reasoning and diagnostic decision-making

  • Professionalism, ethics and healthcare team collaboration

  • Research methods and quality improvement

Learning takes place through in-person lectures, case-based learning, simulation and standardized patient encounters.

Students also have opportunities to learn alongside medical students, reflecting the collaborative nature of modern healthcare teams.

WESTERN MPAS > About

Year 2: Clerkship

Year 2 is a full-time clinical clerkship where students apply their knowledge during supervised core rotations in family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, OB/GYN, geriatrics, anesthesia and pain medicine.

Students work alongside physicians and other healthcare professionals while developing skills in patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and procedures.

Elective rotations also allow students to explore areas aligned with their career interests.

Clinical placements are located throughout London and Southwestern Ontario, so access to a vehicle is required.

WESTERN MPAS

Post-Graduation

Step 1: Certification as a Physician Assistant

Graduates of Western’s MPAS program are eligible to challenge the Physician Assistant Certification Examination (PACE) through the Physician Assistant Certification Council of Canada (PACCC).

Successful completion of PACE allows graduates to use the Canadian Certified Physician Assistant (CCPA) designation, which is the national certification credential for PAs in Canada.

Step 2: Register to Practice

PAs can practice in Canadian jurisdictions where the profession is regulated and recognized.

PAs are regulated in Ontario, and must register with the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) to practice in this province. Graduates planning to work in another province or territory must complete the registration process through the appropriate regulatory authority in that jurisdiction.

Step 3: Begin Clinical Practice

Once certified and registered, PAs can work across a wide range of healthcare settings, depending on provincial regulations, employer needs, and the individual PA/MD supervisory relationship.unities in any province or territory where PAs are recognized and regulated.

APPLY TO WESTERN MPAS

Applicant Resources