Advance your career as a physician assistant/associate (PA) without putting it on hold. The College of Idaho’s fully online Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program empowers you to lead change in healthcare settings through evidence-based implementation science, equipping you with skills you can apply immediately.
Apply to one of the College’s 18-month-track programs within our DMSc Curriculum:
Join our next cohort starting in July 2026. Complete your application before June 13, 2026!
The DMSc program is a post-professional degree for licensed, certified and/or registered PAs ready to elevate their expertise. As a bachelor’s-trained PA, to qualify for admission to the program’s 18-month tracks, you must meet all application requirements listed below.
Applicants without a master’s degree can meet equivalency requirements by holding a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution awarding physician assistant studies degrees or a PA certificate from an accredited institution, along with at least one of the following:
Applicants being consider for the Master's Equivalency Option are only eligible to apply to the College's 18-month-track programs.
With four start dates each year, you can begin the online Doctor of Medical Science program when it best suits your schedule. Complete the DMSc curriculum in 18 months over six 10-week terms.
Check out our Academic Calendar below and select your preferred start term and submit the online DMSc application by the associated deadline.
| 2026-2027 AY | Start Term | Term Dates | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26-27 Fall Block 1 | July 2026 | 07/13/26 - 09/20/26 | June 13, 2026 |
| 26-27 Fall Block 2 | September 2026 | 09/28/26 - 12/13/26 | August 28, 2026 |
| 26-27 Spring Block 1 | January 2027 | 01/04/27 - 03/14/27 | December 4, 2026 |
| 26-27 Spring Block 2 | March 2027 | 03/22/27 - 05/30/27 | February 22, 2027 |
| 2027-2028 AY | Start Term | Term Dates | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27-28 Fall Block 1 | July 2027 | 07/12/27 - 09/19/27 | June 12, 2027 |
| 27-28 Fall Block 2 | September 2027 | 09/27/27 - 12/12/27 | August 27, 2027 |
| 27-28 Spring Block 1 | January 2028 | 01/03/28 - 03/12/28 | December 3, 2027 |
| 27-28 Spring Block 2 | March 2028 | 03/20/28 - 05/28/28 | February 20, 2028 |
Your investment here is one that pays off for a lifetime. The College of Idaho delivers the kind of personal, high-impact education that leads to real-world results. And while our outcomes rival the best, our graduation tuition is below the national average for similar programs— and includes personalized experiences, small classes and a support system unlike any other.
For aspiring and current educators, this traditional 18-month track enhances your skills in academic roles. Through six core DMSc courses, four targeted courses and a two-course practicum series, you gain expertise in educational leadership, curriculum development and student engagement.
Core Doctor of Medical Science Courses and Practicum Series
Health Professions Education Courses
This traditional path is ideal if you’re focused on leadership opportunities in areas like administration, policy and quality improvement. Develop the expertise to guide health systems toward better patient outcomes with core and specialized courses and a two-course practicum series.
Core Doctor of Medical Science Courses and Practicum Series
Health System Leadership Courses
For clinical PAs at any stage of their career, this traditional 18-month path enhances your clinical skills. Through six core DMSc courses, four targeted courses and a two-course practicum series, you gain expertise in explore evidence-based strategies for disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention and provider well-being.
Clinical Certificate Requirement
To complete this track, students must identify a clinical certificate that they are qualified to earn and prepared to work towards during their enrollment in the DMSc program. Students will declare the certificate before they begin their concentration courses. To meet the requirements for this track, the PA-qualified external clinical certification must meet the following criteria:
Students do not need to complete the PA-qualified external certification requirements as part of their DMSc graduation requirements, but rather document progress working towards the certification. All expenses incurred as part of the external PA-qualified certificate, including the cost of required CME, and application and exam fees, are paid by the student separate from their DMSc tuition.
ore Doctor of Medical Science Courses and Practicum Series
Lifestyle Medicine & Advanced Clinical Practice Courses
There’s more to know about paying for graduate school beyond tuition information. From offering student-centered payment plans to course-specific expenses and refund policies, our goal is to make the process clear and manageable. As you review the details in the next section, know we’re here to support you every step of the way.
After you've been accepted to The College of Idaho, you must pay a $300 matriculation deposit to secure your spot in the graduate program. This one-time, non-refundable deposit is credited toward your first term’s tuition.
We require graduate students to purchase textbooks for their courses. Students may order books from The College of Idaho's online bookstore, which MBS Direct manages. Students with book vouchers can use them through MBS Direct. Alternatively, students can order or rent books from other sources, such as Amazon, independent booksellers, textbook sites like textbooks.com or ecampus.com or directly from publishers. Before purchasing, students should carefully review book requirements and ensure they obtain the correct edition, using the ISBN for accuracy.
Note: The Cruzen-Murray Library does not endorse any of the retailers listed. We are providing this information for the benefit of students.
All graduate students enrolled in a residential certificate, master’s or doctoral program at The College of Idaho, or participating in a College athletic program, must have health insurance coverage. Students enrolled in a hybrid program or an exclusively online program are encouraged but not mandated to have health insurance unless their immigration status requires it.
Graduate students can purchase student health insurance through The College of Idaho. The health insurance premium is $2,492 for the 2025-2026 plan year.
We create an inclusive environment where students can access the medical and psychological support they need to make the most of their graduate experience. Therefore, as part of the Graduate Program and Technology fee, all graduate students can get 24/7, on-demand medical and mental health assistance from counselors, doctors, nurse practitioners and more.
Graduate students enrolled at The College of Idaho receive 12 free virtual sessions a year with TimelyCare. Examples of the services provided include:
Upon enrollment, students can access financial account and payment information online through Self Service. They can view real-time account balances, charges, payments and statements and make payments online via credit card or e-check. The payment terms and options simplify the payment process, ensuring students can focus on classes instead of financial concerns.
To make a tuition payment, take the following steps:
NOTE: The College reserves the right to charge interest on all unpaid balances at a rate of 1.5% per month. Interest is not charged to accounts enrolled in Nelnet.
Effective April 1, 2025, a credit card convenience fee will be applied to all student account payments:
Note: This fee is charged to cover the processing costs associated with credit card payments. It does not apply to other payment forms such as ACH, cash or checks.
Dropping a Course
Students who drop a course during the current term but remain actively enrolled will receive:
Withdrawing From a Program
Students who withdraw from all courses by the Last Day to Drop for the term receive a 100% refund of tuition and class fees. Those who withdraw after the Last Day to Drop but on or before the 60% point in time of the term/semester, calculated using calendar days, receive a refund based on the total payment on the account from all sources, minus the charges for tuition and fees for the enrollment period.
Tuition is prorated for the attendance period. Student fees are non-refundable. Funds are returned to the federal programs, institutional programs, outside scholarships and then to the student. Students who withdraw after the 60% point of the term/semester do not receive a refund.
Under the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, if a student withdraws from all courses on or before the 60% point in time of the term/semester, calculated by calendar days, The College of Idaho must return a portion of the Title IV funds received, specifically funds from Federal Unsubsidized Loans for graduate programs. Withdrawn students receive a copy of the return calculation and an itemized list of returns to the various fund accounts.
If financial aid awards create a credit on a student’s account, a refund check is sent to the student's mailing address.
DMSc Resources
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Director of Doctor of Medical Science Program
Whether you’re a new PA focused on delivering high-quality care or a seasoned professional ready to take on leadership or teaching roles, the online DMSc degree program prepares you to implement real change in healthcare.
Take the next step in your career as a physician assistant, clinical officer or clinical associate — apply to join The College of Idaho’s online Doctor of Medical Science program.
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