Colorado PA Programs

Colorado Mesa University

Grand Junction, Colorado

Red Rocks Community College

Arvada, Colorado

Rocky Vista University

Parker, Colorado

University of Colorado

Aurora, Colorado

The CMU Bechtel PA Program is an ARC-PA accredited, 28-month curriculum that combines 4 semesters of didactic coursework with 3 semesters of clinical rotations. Students complete 8 core rotations along with 2 elective rotations, ensuring a broad and customizable clinical experience. At the completion of the program, students are awarded a MPAS.

What makes us unique:

With a small cohort of 28 students, our program fosters a supportive, collaborative learning environment among students, faculty, preceptors, and the local community. We’re proud to offer hands-on training opportunities, including a full cadaver lab, dedicated point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) instruction, a state-of-the-art clinical skills lab featuring “Loretta,” our high-fidelity medical simulation manikin, and resources to help students develop medical Spanish proficiency.

Why I love this program: 

We love that our program has wellness based activities such as cohort yoga classes, river floats, and community book exchanges!

The RRCC PA program is a 27-month, nationally accredited program, established in 1998. Each year through a competitive selection process, 32 students are admitted to the program. Curriculum consists of 12 months of didactic training followed by 14 months of clinical training. Students will complete a total of 9 clinical rotations each spanning approximately 4-6 weeks. 

What makes us unique:

The RRCC PA program is one-of-a-kind as the only master’s program offered by a community college in the country and is staffed by an incredible faculty comprised of educators who each bring unique and valuable expertise to the program. During their clinical year, students can choose to apply to various (optional) clinical tracks to gain additional focus and experience in specific healthcare settings that they may be interested in. Upon graduation, students receive a Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS).

Why I love this program: 

I think that my classmates and I are so grateful to have an incredible faculty that truly cares and wants each of us to succeed!

The RVU PA program is 27 months in total and the class size is 36 students. The first 2 semesters are the Didactic Phase that is done full time on campus. The next 5 semesters are the Clinical Phase, and they are spent in clinical rotations around Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, Kansas, and New Mexico.  During this time, you complete 14 rotations and you get to specify 2 elective rotations. The program has Accreditation-Continued status per ARC-PA. After completing the 122 credit hours you are awarded a Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS).

What makes us unique:

The program started only 7 years ago, and the last graduating class had a first time PANCE pass rate of 100%. The faculty developed a competency-based curriculum, focusing less on just  memorizing material but how well you can apply what you’ve learned to real clinical tasks. The curriculum is built around Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs), which guide students from beginner to confident, practice-ready PA’s by emphasizing hands-on learning and real-world application.

Why I love this program:

One of the things I love most about the program is that the majority of our time is spent in clinical rotations. The short 8 month didactic phase is certainly intense, applying what we've learned in a clinical setting makes concepts so much easier to remember and truly understand. I also really like the pass/fail learning environment. It gets rid of competition between classmates and instead, everyone, from your peers and the class ahead of you to the faculty, is genuinely invested in your success. The faculty are always willing to give you a pep talk and will remind you anytime that you were hand-picked for the program and they believe you will be a great provider. 

The Child Health Associate/Physician Assistant (CHA/PA) program admits a class of 44 students per cohort and awards a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree upon completion. It spans a total of 36 months, with 18 months dedicated to the didactic phase and another 18 months for the clinical phase. Students also have the opportunity to complete four elective rotations during their clinical training. The program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).

What makes us unique:
CHA/PA is one of the oldest PA programs in the country and the only one to offer a three-year curriculum with early and longitudinal clinical exposure. Students rotate at a variety of clinical sites across Colorado, including urban, rural, and underserved areas, and have strong interprofessional education with other health programs at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Why I love this program:
The support from faculty and the emphasis on creating well-rounded, compassionate providers has been incredible. I’ve gained confidence not only in clinical knowledge but also in communication, advocacy, and patient-centered care.