SASKATCHEWAN MPAS

Overview / Admissions / Program / Resources

Welcome to the Canadian PA Guide on Saskatchewan MPAS!

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

PA PROGRAMS > SASKATCHEWAN

University of Saskatchewan

Master of Physician Assistant Studies

Saskatchewan’s first Physician Assistant program launched in Fall 2025 and accepts 20 students per cohort. The program is designed to train PAs for Saskatchewan’s specific healthcare landscape, with emphasis on rural and underserved communities, rather than functioning as a general training pipeline for practitioners who may work anywhere in Canada.

Program Website ⇗
Program Website ⇗

  • Address:
    Office of Physician Assistant Studies
    College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan
    Room GA20, Health Sciences Building
    107 Wiggins Road
    Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5

    Email: mpas@usask.ca

    Phone: 306-966-8365

  • Saskatchewan MPAS Youtube Podcast

  • 2 years

    Duration

  • 20 students

    Class size

  • $16,224 CAD/year

    Tuition

  • September

    Start Date

  • Full Time, In-Person

    Format

  • Accreditation

    “Admitted” Status via Canada’s EQual Program. 

APPLY TO SASKATCHEWAN MPAS

PA Admissions Guide

Requirements →
Process → 
SASKATCHEWAN MPAS > ADMISSIONS

Admission Requirements

To apply to the Saskatchewan MPAS program, you must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada. You must also four-year undergraduate degree before admission. Applicants completing their der degree during the application may receive a conditional offer.

You must have a minimum cumulative weighted average of 75% based on the last 2 years (most recent 60 credit hours).

Prerequisite courses applicants must complete the following Indigenous Studies, Human Anatomy & Human Physiology. Outstanding pre-requisites may be completed during your application year, but should be finished the Winter Term before program start. 

SASKATCHEWAN MPAS > ADMISSIONS

PA Admission Process

Once you have confirmed you are eligible to apply, you start with submitting an online application. This will include personal information, post-secondary academic history, information about the prerequisite courses you completed, and the contact information of 3 references.

Once you’ve submitted, you need to upload all required supporting documents through the application portal. This includes unofficial transcripts, proof of your status (Canadian Citizenship or PR), and English language proficiency documentation (if required).

You must ensure that your referees submit their recommendations before the application deadline

If everything was completed, you’ll receive an email invitation to complete a supplementary application via Kira Talent, with written and video responses. This is an assessment that evaluates non-academic and personal qualities.

Competitive applicants are invited to complete a Multiple-Mini Interview, conducted with a diverse panel. Following this interview, the committee does a final admissions review including academic performance, kira talent, MMI performance, reference feedback and Saskatchewan and rural connectedness, Indigenous background and diversity and social accountability considerations.

Admission offers are released in the Spring (~May).

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

About Saskatchewan’s MPAS Program

About →
Year 1 →
Year 2 →
Post Graduation →

About

Saskatchewan MPAS launched its PA program in 2025 with an inaugural cohort of 20 students. This program was created in response to growing need for healthcare providers and recent regulation of Physician Assistants in Saskatchewan.

The MPAS is a 24-month, full-time, in-person graduate program that prepares graduates to become competent, collaborative Physician Assistants capable of practicing in a wide range of clinical settings under physician supervision. The program was created to improve access to care, particularly in rural and underserved communities, by training physician assistants locally.

The curriculum emphasizes clinical excellence, research, interprofessional education, Indigenous health and social accountability, with a mission to improve healthcare access across Saskatchewan.

The first year is based in Saskatoon and focuses on foundational clinical sciences, systems-based learning, simulation and early clinical experiences. The second year consists of supervised clinical placements across Saskatchewan, with at least one-third of placements occurring outside Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert, including required rural training.

Accreditation

The University of Saskatchewan MPAS program currently holds “Admitted” status with Accreditation Canada's EQual Health Education Accreditation Program and is progressing toward full accreditation.

SASKATCHEWAN MPAS > About

Year 1: Pre-Clerkship

Year 1 is splint into three 16-week terms:

  • Term 1 (Late August to December)

  • Term 2 (January to May)

  • Term 3 (May to August)

Each term carries the same four courses:

  • Medical Foundations

  • Clinical and Procedural Skills

  • PA Professional Practice

  • Research and Evidence-Based Medicine

Students learn through a combination of systems-based, team-based and case-based learning, supported by classroom instruction, simulation, small group activities and early clinical experiences.

Year 1 course outcomes are mapped to the USask MPAS Program Level Objectives, the CanMEDS-PA Competencies, and the Entrustable Professional Activities published by CAPA.

SASKATCHEWAN MPAS  > About

Year 2: Clerkship

Second year is a 48-week practicum that is structured as a modified longitudinal integrated clerkship rather than a series of distinct blocks.

Students are scheduled across multiple locations throughout the year in both urban and rural settings. At least one-third of the placements fall outside Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert.

Travel for these rotations is expected, and having a driver’s license and access to a vehicle would help coordinate arrangements.

MPAS Capstone Research Project

The capstone builds directly on Research and Evidence-Based Medicine (MPAS 801.9) from Year 1. Research and Evidence-Based Medicine (MPAS 802) runs longitudinally across the year with quarterly check-ins, and covers the second half of the capstone: carrying out the project and meeting the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies requirements for graduation.

SASKATCHEWAN MPAS

Post-Graduation

PACE Exam

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

Successful candidates earn the Canadian Certified Physician Assistant (CCPA) designation.

Regulation

After passing the exam, graduates apply to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS), the regulatory body for PAs in the province. CPSS also handles the educational licence students hold during Year 2 clinical placements, so graduates will already be familiar with the process.

Areas of Practice

PAs work under physician supervision across any clinical setting, and the program describes opportunities in all areas of medicine. Saskatchewan Health Authority positions are posted through the provincial job board at saskhealthrecruitment.ca. The program lists PA salaries in Saskatchewan at roughly $106,288 to $130,000 per year for full-time work, before overtime.

Graduates can pursue job opportunities in any province or territory where PAs are recognized and regulated.

APPLY TO SASKATCHEWAN MPAS

Applicant Resources