Frequently Asked Questions

What is the applicant pool like? Can I compete?

The following averages are typical for the classes :

• 8,000 hours direct patient care
• 3.2 GPA
• 26 of the 28 students admitted had a Bachelor's degree or above
• About ten applications were received for every seat in the Program
• Typically 2-3 students each year are from out of state.

What's the difference between PA education at Red Rocks and PA education at a medical school?

That depends upon who you ask. There's no question that medical schools enjoy substantial training resources, and many of the best PA programs in the country are located at schools of medicine. Many PA programs are justifiably proud of their medical school affiliations.

Unfortunately, PA students in the medical school setting often must compete with medical students, residents and other student health-care providers for access to patients during clinical training. Also, some medical school programs have 40 or more PA students in each class.

The Red Rocks PA Program was designed by the local medical community, which has strongly supported the Program throughout its existence. Our lecturers are drawn from experts in each specialty. Clinical rotations typically involve only the preceptor and the PA student, with no medical students or other student health-care providers at the training site. Our classes never have more than 28 students.

We believe that there are obvious advantages to the individual attention available to our students during both the didactic and clinical phases of training.

Is a Bachelor's degree required to apply?

No. However, the point rating system used to select candidates for admission favors applicants with a baccalaureate degree.

Must I have taken my prerequisites within a certain period of time?

No. However, experience has shown that students with training in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry or microbiology within the past five years tend to fare better during the didactic year training.

Am I required to take the GRE or other admissions examination before admission to the Program or before I start the master's option?

No.

Is there an application fee?

No.

Can I apply online?

Yes, in part. The online application materials permit you to transmit your application directly to the program. However, your academic transcripts and recommendation forms still must be transmitted to us by mail, in person or by courier service.

Can I complete any of the prerequisites pending after the application deadline?

Candidates must have all course work complete at the time of application or by the application deadline.

When is the application deadline?

All materials must be received by the PA Program or postmarked no later than December 19th each year for admission the following August.

Is this an accredited PA program?

Yes. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCCPA PANCE examination, which is the entry-level exam required for licensure in every state.

From what institution do I receive my master's if I qualify for the master's option?

You will earn a Master of Medical Science (MMS) from Saint Francis University of Loretto, Pennsylvania. Saint Francis University is ranked in the top 10 PA graduate schools in the nation.

The other Master's option available is a master's available in clinical leadership from Regis University in Denver.

Must I do all of my clinical rotations in the Denver area?

No. In fact, you will probably be required to do some of your clinical rotations at sites outside of the metropolitan Denver area.

Must I arrange my own rotations?

No. You may suggest or propose rotation sites to the faculty. However, there are strict requirements which must be met before the faculty can approve a rotation site. Only rotation sites and preceptors approved in advance by the faculty may be used by students.

Is part-time study available at the Red Rocks PA Program?

No.

Is it possible to transfer from another PA program to Red Rocks?

No.

Is it possible to obtain advanced standing in courses at Red Rocks?

No.

Is it possible to start the training program at any time other than in August of each year?

No.

Your brochure says that students are strongly discouraged from working during the didactic year and that employment during the clinical year is virtually impossible. I did quite well in college despite the fact that I held part-time job.

Experience has taught us that PA education is so intense and time-consuming that there is a direct correlation between the attempt to hold a part-time job and academic performance. Even those students whose academic performance has been superior in the past have had difficulty with any type of part-time employment during PA training. The Program is unable to alter its expectations or its academic schedules to accommodate part-time employment.

What's the job market like for physician assistants generally, and specifically what's it like in Colorado?

PAs generally still have many job opportunities, though the increasing number of PA students graduating every year has caused some observers to suggest that the job market may become tighter over time. In Colorado, many of the best jobs are not advertised. Within the Denver area, primary care jobs for PAs are sometimes hard to find, though there are frequently jobs in various medical and surgical specialties. In other parts of Colorado, employers are actively recruiting PAs for employment following graduation. For more information on job opportunities, contact www.AAPA.org.

What are the salaries like for PAs?

Physician assistant salaries vary greatly, depending upon the locale, the specialty and the amount of experience the individual PA brings to the practice. Often, though not always, surgical practices pay more than primary care practices. Rural salaries are often as high or higher and salaries in large metropolitan areas because the demand for providers in rural areas may be greater. Salaries paid to PAs working in government agencies are often lower than those in private practice. In the western United States, it is generally accepted that most new graduates employed by a private practice will begin with a salary between $60,000 to $65,000 annually, though some PAs report salaries that are somewhat lower or much higher.

Where should I call for more information?

You may reach the Program's technician, Cindy Somers,
at 303-914-6386, FAX 303-914-6806 or email at cindy.somers@rrcc.edu.

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