There are over 100 Physician Assistant, or "PA" programs today in the United States. Each one with its own mission statement, didactic/clinical focus, and with many differing in the type of degree offered, it can often be overwhelming when choosing the "right program".
One great website is the PAEA (Physician Assistant Education Association). This website offers, among other things, the most comprehensive list of PA programs with highly detailed information on each in one place as I have seen on the web. However, the website requires a one-time membership fee of $35, which is a bit more than others but I have to say it was well worth it as far as research is concerned.
Another good, and more affordable option, is AAPA's (American Academy of Physician Assistants) page. This page shows most of the programs in the country and gives links to their home page.
The degree that is offered is another vital part of deciding which programs one should apply to. Traditionally, PAs were able to practice as long as they had passed the boards (PANCE). However, the "degree creep" is starting to hit the PA profession and many employers are starting to make the masters degree a necessity for hiring. I would recommend this route as being offered by the top schools on one's list and a very highly-ranking deciding factor in school choice so that one is not limited to the positions they are able to take upon graduation.
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