Current Applicant Characteristics

564 people applied to the MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Training Program in 2009, which reflects an 8.5% decrease in applicants compared to 2008. This slight decrease in applicant numbers may reflect the late approval of the Master of Clinical Health Services degree option by the State of Washington HEC Board and UW Provost. We are already seeing an increase in interest and full attendance at each Information Session this year.

The prior medical experience of applicants continues to be very diverse and most of the accepted class of 2009 had more than one area of experience. The clinical experience of our current class ranges from nursing, medical assistants, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and military corpsman. Other experience includes, but is not limited to, community health aides, physical therapist, licensed massage therapy, Peace Corps experience, experience in clinical research and, International Medical Graduates.

The average number of years of clinical experience of those accepted to the MEDEX program in 2009 was 6.75 years. MEDEX saw a difference in the average number of years of clinical experience when the degree options were considered. Applicants who applied to the Master’s option had an average of 5.37 years of direct patient care experience while those applying to the Bachelor’s degree option had an average 8.44 years.