In 2025, PAEA members voted to create a new membership category for PA-only post-professional doctoral programs.
This decision brings all levels of PA education under one organization – recognizing and supporting both master’s and doctoral programs – so they can collaborate to advance excellence in PA education and strengthen the profession’s collective voice.
Benefits for our Educational Community
This new membership category strengthens PAEA’s ability to serve both master’s and doctoral programs, giving every program a seat at the table while reaffirming our ongoing commitment to master’s-level priorities.
For Master’s Programs:
- Enhanced collaboration opportunities with doctoral colleagues
- Strengthened collective advocacy in policy discussions
- Access to expanded educational resources and networking
- Continued dedication to meeting the needs and priorities of master’s programs
For Doctoral Programs:
- Formal representation in Association governance
- Eligibility to serve in Association leadership roles
- Full access to relevant PAEA member services, including advocacy, programming, and resources tailored to their unique challenges
Together, these changes build bridges between master’s and doctoral programs, creating new opportunities to learn from one another, share innovations, and strengthen the profession as a whole.
How We Got Here
The creation of this new membership category is the result of a deliberate, member-driven process:
- The PAEA Board of Directors formed a member-led Doctoral Degree Membership Task Force representing diverse program types, institutions, and regions
- The Task Force studied successful membership expansions in other health profession associations
- The Task Force gathered member input through surveys and feedback sessions
- PAEA consulted with the Consortium of Doctoral Programs, PAEA’s Special Interest Group for DMS/DMSc programs
Faculty from doctoral programs already contribute meaningfully to PAEA through their master’s program affiliations. This membership category formalizes that engagement, provides tailored support, and preserves strong connections between master’s and doctoral programs.
Timeline
Doctoral programs will be eligible for membership beginning July 1, 2026 (the start off the Association’s next fiscal year).
FAQs
For Doctoral Programs:
To qualify, programs must meet all the following requirements:
- Be a post-professional doctoral degree program
- Serve exclusively PAs
- Operate within an institution that holds regional accreditation
PAEA will share a structured application process for doctoral programs. We will provide clear guidance and timely communication to support programs throughout the onboarding process.
PA-only post-professional doctoral programs can join during the upcoming membership cycle beginning July 1, 2026.
We recognize that many doctoral program faculty and staff currently participate in the PAEA community through their institution’s master’s program roster. This new membership category provides formal recognition and representation specifically for doctoral programs, ensuring their distinct needs are met without changing the important role that master’s programs play in PAEA governance and leadership.
Faculty and staff affiliated with both master’s and doctoral programs may maintain dual affiliations within the PAEA member community.
As full voting members of PAEA, PA-only post-professional doctoral programs will have access to the same core benefits and privileges that strengthen the entire PA education community.
Governance and Representation
- Full voting rights in Association matters
- Eligibility for Board and committee leadership positions
Access to Resources and Community
- Access to relevant PAEA programming and services
- Opportunities to connect, collaborate, and share innovations with colleagues across the PA education continuum
- Inclusion in PAEA’s advocacy, research, and faculty development initiatives
PAEA is committed to developing doctoral program-specific resources and tailoring benefits to meet the evolving needs of PA-only post-professional doctoral programs while sustaining and expanding services that master’s programs have long relied upon.
For Master's Programs:
No. Master’s programs remain central to PAEA’s mission and daily work. This change adds recognition for PA-only post-professional doctoral programs without reducing the resources, advocacy, or attention dedicated to master’s-level needs.
This change will unite all levels of PA education under one Association, ensuring that both master’s and doctoral programs are recognized, supported, and working together to advance excellence in PA education.
By uniting master’s and doctoral programs within one Association, master’s programs gain new opportunities to:
- Collaborate with doctoral colleagues
- Strengthen advocacy efforts with a unified voice
- Expand their network and learn from innovations across the continuum
Just as today’s faculty often hold dual affiliations, this expansion encourages ongoing collaboration. The goal is not to divide resources, but to build stronger connections that advance PA education at every level.