2024-2025

Physician Assistant Studies - Operations and Leadership, Graduate Certificate

Department of Physician Assistant Studies

College of Health and Human Services

The Operations and Leadership Certificate provides certified Physician Assistants (PAs) with knowledge and competencies to contribute to a patient-centered, safe, and cost-effective health care system.

PAs will develop a deep understanding of the U.S. health care delivery system, financing models, and patient outcomes. PAs will apply frameworks for collecting, analyzing, and using data to inform decisions, facilitate care coordination, and improve health outcomes of populations within and outside the health system; manage people, projects, and change within organizations; and apply informatics-based solutions to improve health care delivery.

PAs who complete the certificate program will be prepared to serve as integral members of the leadership team in industry, health care organizations, academic institutions, and other health environments.

    • Graduate certificate programs require a minimum of 12 credit hours. Many graduate certificate programs require more than 12 credit hours.
    • No more than one 400-level NAU course (3 - 4 units) may be used on a graduate certificate program.
    • No more than twenty-five percent of the units required for the certificate program may be transferred from another university.
    • A 400-level course (undergraduate course) completed at another university is not eligible for transfer credit.
    • A minimum grade point average of 3.0 must be achieved to obtain a graduate certificate. No more than three units of coursework with a Grade of "C" may be used in a certificate program.
    • A graduate student may pursue a graduate certificate concurrently with a graduate degree. Each graduate degree program must decide which, if any, certificate courses can be counted toward the graduate degree.
    • Students who are admitted to a graduate certificate program will be eligible for the official posting of the graduate certificate to their transcripts when all applicable coursework has been successfully completed and approved by the academic unit and the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.

  • Please be aware that federal financial aid is not available for some certificates if the certificate is pursued and completed as a stand-alone certificate (i.e., not completed concurrently with a degree program).  See the “Details” tab for additional information.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 12
Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
Some online/blended coursework Required

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the Operations and Leadership Certificate is to provide certified Physician Assistants (PAs) with the knowledge and competencies to contribute to a patient-centered, safe, and cost-effective healthcare system.

The program includes coursework in healthcare systems and practices, change management, healthcare finance and delivery, and health informatics.

PAs will develop a deep understanding of the U.S. healthcare delivery system, financing models, and patient outcomes. PAs will apply frameworks for collecting, analyzing, and using data to inform decisions, facilitate care coordination, and improve health outcomes of populations within and outside the health system; manage people, projects, and change within organizations; and apply informatics-based solutions to improve healthcare delivery.

PAs who complete the certificate program will be prepared to serve as integral members of the leadership team in industry, healthcare organizations, academic institutions, and other health environments.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Examine the interrelationship between the U.S. healthcare structure, financing, and organization, and patient outcomes and apply these findings to new models of healthcare delivery.
  • Apply frameworks for collecting, analyzing, and using data to inform decisions, facilitate care coordination, and improve health outcomes of populations within and outside the health system.
  • Recommend technology-driven, systems solutions to improve the delivery of safe, patient-centered care.
  • Communication:
    • Communicate effectively with peers (e.g., discussion boards), faculty (e.g., emails, presentations, projects), and health systems stakeholders (e.g., policy memos) on behalf of patients and communities.
    • Effectively communicate specific challenges in the U.S. healthcare system (e.g., system level, patient level, provider level) and provide recommendations for improvement using evidence-based frameworks unique to the discipline.

Graduate Admission Information

  • The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.

    Admission requirements include the following:

    • Transcripts.
    • Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.


    Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.

    Ready to apply? Begin your application now.

    International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

    • Degree from an ARC-PA accredited PA program.
Certificate Requirements

  • Students enrolled in this certificate may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:

  • This certificate may be pursued and completed concurrently with a degree program or as a stand-alone certificate. Under both circumstances, federal financial aid can be used for this certificate.

Additional Information

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.