Is a Dual MPH/PA Degree Worth It? Explore Career Paths and Top Programs

A dual MPH/PA degree pulls together two separate graduate paths and turns them into one coordinated track. Students work through both sets of requirements, but in less time than it would take to earn each degree on its own.

Most programs run side by side. At George Washington University (GW), for example, students start with MPH coursework during their first year, then move into PA training, with some classes counting toward both degrees.⁴ Arcadia University follows a similar setup, beginning with public health classes before shifting into clinical PA studies.⁵ Yale University spreads both sets of courses across the full program, blending public health and clinical training throughout.⁶

The full program typically takes about three years to complete, rather than the four years it would take to complete both degrees separately. Some schools allow a small number of shared credits between the MPH and PA coursework to help shorten the timeline.

Can I do this program online?

Since PA training includes hands-on clinical rotations, most programs are still campus-based or hybrid. Some public health classes may be offered online, but clinical work is always conducted in person.

The dual MPH/PA degree expands professional preparation beyond clinical care alone, giving graduates both the qualifications needed for patient care and formal training in public health methods.

A 2020 study by professors at Touro University California compared PAs with and without MPH degrees. It found that those holding both credentials felt better prepared to handle socio-economic factors that affect health, such as “earnings/disposable income, social support, food insecurity, and race.”⁷ They also reported feeling more confident bringing up these issues with patients during care.⁷ While this knowledge alone doesn’t change overall health outcomes, the study stressed its value in helping clinicians connect patients with community resources.

For many graduates, clinical care remains the main focus. But public health training can also open doors to roles in community programs, emergency response, or leadership positions in health systems and nonprofits, where you need a stronger understanding of social and public health issues. That’s because standalone PA education often misses topics like population health, preventive medicine, healthcare access, or health equity. Plus, as an earlier study by GW professors showed that dual physician assistant/master of public health degree programs also “improve prospects for future roles as PA faculty members.”⁸

Is the dual degree worth the extra time and cost?

The extra year of training comes with additional costs compared to a standalone physician assistant program or an MPH program, but students interested in both degrees save money and time by pursuing a dual degree.

As previously mentioned, students pursuing a dual MPH/PA degree complete both clinical training and public health coursework. While not all universities have the same approach, most programs spread the total workload by starting with public health classes, then shifting into PA training while keeping public health requirements balanced across semesters. 

At Arcadia University, for example, the first year focuses on MPH topics, including epidemiology, biostatistics, public health policy, and program planning.⁵ Students complete a capstone or practicum project as part of the MPH component. Later PA training includes coursework in anatomy, pharmacology, behavioral health, and clinical procedures.

At George Washington University, PA students complete didactic studies before moving into supervised clinical rotations in areas such as family medicine, surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, and behavioral health.⁹ Prior MPH coursework in epidemiology and biostatistics may fulfill certain evidence-based medicine requirements in the PA curriculum, and many dual programs allow some overlap between the two degrees.^10,11

Admission to a dual MPH/PA program requires acceptance into both the PA and MPH portions, with applications submitted separately through systems such as CASPA for PA programs and the graduate school’s application for MPH programs.

Some universities, like Yale, require both applications to be submitted and accepted during the same graduate admissions cycle, while others allow PA students to add MPH courses a bit later.⁶ The University of North Texas, for example, encourages PA students to begin the MPH in the spring or summer prior to their medical courses and then continue with courses as their load allows.¹² To help them, advisors in both programs work with students to arrange MPH classes around PA-heavy periods.

Applicants need a bachelor’s degree with a solid GPA, usually 3.0 or higher. Most programs also expect prerequisite courses in subjects like anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, and statistics. On top of that, schools usually want to see some direct patient care experience. Arcadia asks for at least 200 hours, while GW and Tufts require a minimum of 1,000 hours by the time you apply.^13,14,15

Standard application materials include transcripts, a personal statement, and several letters of recommendation. Many programs waive GRE or MCAT scores if you’ve already completed strong coursework and have relevant healthcare experience. But Yale handles it differently: They require the GRE for PA applicants, and don’t accept the MCAT as a substitute.¹⁶

Will I need to pass the PANCE before applying to the MPH portion?

No. The PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam) comes after graduation, once all PA coursework and clinical rotations have been completed. Admission to the MPH portion typically happens before or alongside physician assistant studies, depending on the school’s structure.

Graduates emerge from these programs as fully licensed physician assistants, with public health training layered into their clinical background. What the MPH coursework means for their careers depends heavily on where they end up working and how much the employer values both sides of the training.

Some schools give a sense of how the degree can be used, though none promise a particular path:

What is the job market outlook for dual MPH/PA grads?

While there’s no separate data specifically for dual MPH/PA graduates, the extra credential may create opportunities in areas that blend clinical care with public health, giving graduates more ways to contribute to the field of healthcare. Some of them will stay entirely in clinical work, but others may find that the public health aspect opens different doors inside organizations where care delivery and health programs overlap.

Since training to become a physician assistant requires in-person classes, it’s good news that you can enroll in a PA/MPH dual degree program from coast to coast. Options range from Touro University in Vallejo, California, “the only program in which you’ll earn MSPAS and MPH degrees concurrently”, all the way to GW in Washington, D.C., the first joint degree of its kind in the United States, open to applicants since 1986.^4,19

Most programs cover the same ground, but there are still differences once you get into the details. Accreditation is always the first thing to check. PA programs need ARC-PA approval so graduates can sit for the PANCE.²⁹ For the MPH side, CEPH accreditation shows that the public health coursework meets national standards.³⁰

While all of these dual degree programs cover both public health and clinical PA training, how each one fits what you’re looking for matters. Some students want a schedule that keeps both parts evenly mixed. Others prefer to finish one before the next begins. In some programs, the setup is locked in; in others, there’s a little more room to adjust as you go.

It also helps to look at what kind of support is built in. Since you’ll be managing two degree tracks, having clear guidance on course planning makes a difference. Many schools pair you with advisors from both sides to help with that, but the level of coordination can vary.

Beyond structure, some schools offer experiences that may align better with your long-term goals. A program that runs a student-led clinic may give you extra exposure to community care. Another may emphasize policy work or research. None of these options change the core degree, but they can shape your time there.

Pro tip: You can also look at PANCE pass rates to see how well graduates do on the certification exam, even with the added public health coursework in the mix. Touro, for example, reports a 99.4% overall pass rate, with 94.5% passing on their first try.¹⁹