Harmon Building, Room 305, 1944 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, Washington 98402
47.24376, -122.43653
Tacoma, Washington · Masters
MEDEX Northwest is a regional program that educates physician assistants in a proven tradition of excellence. MEDEX Northwest, the University of Washington School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program, is committed to educating experienced health personnel from diverse backgrounds to practice medicine with physician supervision. The program provides a broad, competency-based curriculum that focuses on primary care with an emphasis on underserved populations. MEDEX encourages life-long learning to meet ever-changing healthcare needs. As a pioneer in PA education, MEDEX continues to be innovative in identifying, creating, and filling new niches for PAs as a strategy for expanding healthcare access.
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CRITICAL ADMISSIONS STATUS: MEDEX Northwest elected a VOLUNTARY MATRICULATION PAUSE for 2026-2027 across ALL FIVE campuses (no MEDEX Class of 2028), to focus on accreditation and quality. The pause is stated at the program level with no campus carve-out. Admissions reopen for 2027-2028: applications accepted May 1 - Oct 1, 2026 via CASPA under University of Washington; applicants choose two preferred campuses and may be placed at their second choice. Mission-driven selection emphasizing substantial hands-on patient care experience, primary care, and service to underserved and rural communities.
Summarized from the program’s admissions information. Confirm current selection criteria with the program.
Program admissions informationMEDEX Northwest interview days include an admissions overview, a Q&A panel, interactive activities, and Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) that assess character, communication skills, professionalism, and adaptability. Interviews are conducted in-person and run from October through January under a rolling admissions process, with invitations and results sent by email.
Source checked Aug 7, 2026. Interview formats and dates can change between cycles.
Program interview informationReview each course, its lab, and the program’s policies. Your links are planning records; the program decides equivalency.
Courses shown as alternatives in the table are not all required. Confirm the accepted route with the program.
| Course | Credits | Lab | Min grade | Your coursework |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II2 course(s) Two-course human A&P sequence OR separate Human Anatomy and Physiology; full institution-awarded sequence accepted, no fixed minimum credits. Labs waived for 2026–2027 application cycle; required for 2027–2028. Survey courses do not qualify. A&P labs are waived for 2026–2027 applicants and required for 2027–2028 applicants; confirm the cycle before choosing courses. | Not publishedInstitution-awarded semester credits; no minimum credits published | Not required | Not specified | Sign in to plan |
| Human Anatomy (separate-course route)1 course(s) One course paired with Human Physiology, as an alternative to the two-course A&P sequence. No fixed credit minimum. Lab status follows cycle rule: waived for 2026–2027, required for 2027–2028. A&P labs are waived for 2026–2027 applicants and required for 2027–2028 applicants; confirm the cycle before choosing courses. | Not publishedInstitution-awarded semester credits; no minimum credits published | Not required | Not specified | Sign in to plan |
| Human Physiology (separate-course route)1 course(s) One course paired with Human Anatomy, as an alternative to the two-course A&P sequence. No fixed credit minimum. Lab status follows cycle rule: waived for 2026–2027, required for 2027–2028. A&P labs are waived for 2026–2027 applicants and required for 2027–2028 applicants; confirm the cycle before choosing courses. | Not publishedInstitution-awarded semester credits; no minimum credits published | Not required | Not specified | Sign in to plan |
| Biochemistry1 course(s) One course OR Organic Chemistry. Foundational chemistry related to living systems; survey courses excluded. Lab highly recommended, not required. | Not publishedInstitution-awarded semester credits; no minimum credits published | Preferred | Not specified | Sign in to plan |
| Organic Chemistry1 course(s) One course OR Biochemistry. Foundational chemistry related to living systems; survey courses excluded. Lab highly recommended, not required. | Not publishedInstitution-awarded semester credits; no minimum credits published | Preferred | Not specified | Sign in to plan |
Microbiology1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesOne course covering microbial structure/function and health/disease; survey courses excluded. Lab highly recommended, not required. | Not publishedInstitution-awarded semester credits; no minimum credits published | Preferred | Not specified | Sign in to plan |
Statistics or Biostatistics1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesOne non-survey course covering probability, descriptive methods, sampling, inference, data interpretation, hypothesis testing, and regression. | Not publishedInstitution-awarded semester credits; no minimum credits published | Not required | Not specified | Sign in to plan |
Prerequisite rules are shared across MEDEX campuses under one CASPA application. Applicants select two campus preferences; Tacoma is a campus choice, not a separate admissions track. All prerequisites must be within seven years and complete by the application deadline. Minimum combined prerequisite GPA 3.2; overall GPA 3.0 (3.2 recommended); no individual course grade minimum stated. No AP/IB. 2026–2027 cycle: labs waived and CASPA applications due October 1, 2026; labs required for 2027–2028. Genetics, social science, Medical Terminology, and Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry and Microbiology labs are recommended only.
When courses must be complete: Complete all academic prerequisites by the current application deadline; MEDEX 2026–2027 CASPA deadline is October 1, 2026, for June 2027 matriculation.
Confirm required CASPA processing status with program.
Published matriculation month; confirm the exact campus orientation date.
Cohort tuition increase anticipated; final rate not set
Basis: $89,208 program + $3,760 program · current-rate projection · high confidence
MEDEX lists $89,208 planning tuition plus $3,760 mandatory UW fees ($92,968 combined) for the upcoming cohort. It anticipates a tuition increase; this amount is shown for planning and excluded from current-price rankings until a cohort-specific rate is confirmed.
Basic and clinical sciences, physical examination, diagnostic reasoning and patient-care skills.
Ten rotations across the WWAMI region and Hawaiʻi; travel may be required.
Advanced skills and leadership coursework completes the master’s curriculum.
27-month, 162-credit MEDEX curriculum. Campus location remains distinct; the published shared curriculum includes classroom and clinical years plus an additional quarter.
Cohort year and experience averages need verification.
Published class statistics describe the named cohort or population. They are not admission minimums or acceptance probabilities.
Graduate outcomes
See first-time program performance with clearly dated national context.
Program reporting year not recorded; direct comparison unavailable.
Program reporting period not recorded; direct comparison unavailable.
A complete dated action history has not been added to this record.
Follow the source for the policy or cohort you are reviewing. A check date is separate from the year a figure describes.
The U.S. News PA rank uses the 2025 PA edition, matched to the listed program and campus. It reflects peer-assessed reputation, not admissions odds or a personal fit score. Programs without a separate entry are labeled “Unranked.”
Unpublished policies and unverified cohort statistics are left open for confirmation.
