Discrepancies in Faculty Hiring Policies and Practices in Physician Assistant/Associate Education: Implications for Transition to Entry-Level Doctoral Degrees.

Abstract

Introduction: Advancing to an entry-level doctoral degree in physician assistant/associate (PA) education has raised concerns about potential faculty shortages. This cross-sectional, descriptive study examined hiring practices for PA faculty in PA programs and faculty qualifications required by the sponsoring institutions. The purpose of this study was to examine whether faculty qualification requirements differ between PA programs and institutions.

Methods: Two separately distributed surveys assessed faculty hiring policies across 310 accredited PA programs and 273 sponsoring institutions. Piloted for content validity, surveys were distributed via email from March-May 2025 to PA program directors and chief academic officers. Respondents reported on policies for hiring principal (ie, full-time), didactic instructional (ie, part time), and preceptor faculty, including degree requirements, relevant qualifications, and minimum experience expectations. Data were summarized descriptively.

Results: Among responding PA program directors, 78% required full time principal faculty to hold a master's degree. For preceptor roles, programs required an average of 1.8 years of professional experience, with only 19% mandating a master's degree. Regarding sponsoring institutions, 73% of those responding indicated that full-time faculty hiring decisions were based on either an earned terminal degree or consideration of additional expertise or qualifications.

Discussion: Although neither institutional nor accreditation standards universally mandate policies that exclusively consider academic credentials, 78% of responding PA programs appear to apply degree expectations for full-time principal faculty. Experience remains a primary qualification for preceptors, with formal degree requirements less common. These findings offer insight into current hiring practices and faculty qualification requirements amid ongoing discussions about doctoral-level entry into the profession.