In 2006, Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences (FHCHS) paved the way for a mutually-beneficial relationship in health care education by entering into an articulation agreement with the Physician Assistant (PA) program at Nova Southeastern University, Orlando Campus.
In the agreement, Nova Southeastern reserves up to 10 spots in its PA program for FHCHS applicants. In order to be eligible for admission, students must complete the residency requirements for a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at Florida Hospital College. If admitted to Nova Southeastern, they will spend two additional years there, receiving a Bachelor’s degree from FHCHS after their first year, and completing their Master’s degree as a Physician Assistant after their second year. This articulation agreement only applies at Nova Southeastern’s Orlando Campus.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that, between 2006 and 2016, jobs for PAs will increase by 27 percent due to an anticipated expansion of the health care industry. And, with Nova Southeastern and Florida Hospital College’s partnership, everyone wins.
"We want to be sure our students understand that this agreement is a great arrangement for them," stated Katie Shaw, Director of Enrollment Services at FHCHS.
Admission requirements include having a total of 90 credit hours, comprised of lower division, upper division, and science-based courses, completed before applying for the program. In addition, students must maintain a minimum 2.80 GPA and be enrolled at Florida Hospital College to apply.
If an FHCHS student has met the basic requirements that Nova Southeastern mandates, then qualified applicants are invited for an interview and considered for admission. In return, Nova Southeastern students utilize the Florida Hospital College Library, as well as have clinical facilities at Florida Hospital.
"We’re simply working together," commented Dr. Len Archer, Chair of the Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences. "It’s an opportunity for our students to have an advantage."
By all estimates the field of Physician Assistant will continue to expand; and this joint venture offers students at Florida Hospital College the chance to take part in that expansion. For more information contact Enrollment Services at Florida Hospital College at 407-303-7742.
