JAAPA: Scope, Submission Rules & Journal Guide

The Journal of the American Academy of Physician Associates (universally known by its official abbreviation, JAAPA) is the peer-reviewed clinical journal of the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA). Published monthly, the journal delivers clinical reviews, health services research, and professional updates to practicing physician associates across the United States.

What It Is

JAAPA is a monthly medical journal owned by the AAPA and published by Wolters Kluwer Health under the Lippincott Williams & Wilkins imprint. Founded in 1988 and retitled JAAPA in 1994 (ISSN 1547-1896), it is distributed directly to AAPA members and practicing clinicians. In addition to peer-reviewed articles, each issue provides structured opportunities to earn AAPA-approved Category 1 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits through post-reading assessments.

The journal is indexed in MEDLINE (since 1999, volume 12, issue 1), PubMed, and CINAHL. Digital object identifiers are deposited through Crossref for persistent discovery, and full-text content is disseminated globally via the Wolters Kluwer Ovid platform and the journal website.

Who Runs It and What It Covers

JAAPA is owned by the American Academy of Physician Associates and operated under an independent editorial board of experienced clinical PAs and academic researchers. Editorial independence is strictly maintained between AAPA leadership and the editorial team to guarantee objective, evidence-based review.

The journal considers several manuscript categories:

• Original Research (2,000 to 3,500 words): Empirical investigations into PA workforce dynamics, clinical delivery models, patient safety, and clinical outcomes. Manuscripts reporting survey research must submit the complete survey instrument. Human subjects studies require documented Institutional Review Board (IRB) disposition or exemption justification under 45 CFR 46 (see our reference on IRB approval and exemption protocols).
• Brief Research Reports (800 to 1,600 words): Focused reports of pilot trials, quality improvement projects, or preliminary institutional datasets.
• Clinical Reviews and CME Articles: Evidence-based reviews of diagnostic pathways, therapeutic regimens, and pharmacology. Each review requires structured learning objectives and a clinical needs assessment.
• Case Reports and Clinical Departments: Diagnostic challenges, imaging assessments, and practice topics. Formats include Diagnostic Imaging Review, A Difficult Diagnosis, Pharmacology Consult, Mindful Practice, and Global Insights (up to 2,500 words).

Manuscripts involving commercial pharmaceutical or medical device company sponsorship, planning, or ghostwriting are rejected. Authors must disclose all financial relationships and funding on the title page following standard conflict of interest disclosure procedures.

How to Search or Use It

Researchers and clinicians interact with JAAPA through literature retrieval platforms and an online manuscript submission portal.

Searching the Literature

1. Ovid Medical Database: Query JAAPA archives on Ovid (ovid.com) using MeSH terms like "Physician Assistants" to filter by article category, publication date, or full text.
2. Journal Web Portal: Access journals.lww.com/jaapa to browse current monthly issues, specialty article collections, and online CME post-tests.
3. PubMed/MEDLINE: Search the National Library of Medicine database directly using the journal title abbreviation: JAAPA[ta].

Submitting a Manuscript via Editorial Manager

All manuscripts are processed online through Editorial Manager (editorialmanager.com/jaapa) using these sequential steps:

1. Account Registration: Access the portal, select "Author Login" or register a new profile with institutional contact details.
2. Manuscript Preparation and Citation Style: Format the text in accordance with the AMA Manual of Style and ICMJE guidelines. Number references sequentially using superscript Arabic numerals, and use PubMed journal abbreviations. Submissions using APA style are not accepted.
3. Metadata and Author Roles: Select the article category, enter the abstract, and input all coauthors, ensuring adherence to corresponding author responsibilities.
4. File Upload: Upload the main manuscript text, editable tables, high-resolution figures (minimum 300 DPI for halftone/color), and required survey instruments or IRB documentation.
5. Disclosures and Copyright Transfer: Complete the mandatory electronic copyright assignment and conflict-of-interest forms during the "Additional Information" step.
6. Editorial Screening and Single-Blind Peer Review: Submissions undergo initial screening by editorial staff. Suitable manuscripts are dispatched to at least two external peer reviewers under a single-blind model (author identities visible, reviewer identities masked). Screening and review require 8 to 10 weeks; revisions are due within 4 weeks. Due to publication volume, accepted articles are scheduled for editing 3 months prior to publication, with total timelines averaging 15 to 18 months from submission to print.

Strengths and Limits

Strengths

• Nationwide Clinical Reach: Direct monthly distribution to AAPA membership reaches thousands of active clinicians across primary care and surgical specialties.
• AAPA Category 1 CME: Post-test integration provides regular continuing education credits, driving high reader engagement.
• Authoritative Indexing: Continuous MEDLINE, PubMed, and CINAHL indexing guarantees long-term visibility and citation tracking.
• Rigorous Independent Peer Review: Managed by an independent editorial board enforcing systematic peer review standards.
• Hybrid Open Access: Authors with open-access mandates can publish un-gated articles via Wolters Kluwer's open health program upon acceptance.

Limits

• Lengthy Publication Queue: High submission volume creates a 15- to 18-month timeline from initial submission to final print publication.
• Strict Citation Format: Submissions formatted in APA style are rejected; the journal strictly enforces AMA superscript numerical citations.
• Single-Blind Model: Author identities are disclosed to reviewers, which may concern authors preferring double-blind review.
• Practitioner-Focused Scope: Basic science, animal studies, and non-clinical laboratory manuscripts are outside the journal's scope.

Alternatives

Authors evaluating JAAPA should consider these alternative peer-reviewed clinical and health professions journals:

Journal	Publisher / Sponsoring Body	Primary Scope	Review Model & Access Type	Key Distinguishing Feature
JAAPA	Wolters Kluwer / AAPA	Clinical medicine, PA workforce, health policy, and CME reviews	Single-blind; Hybrid Open Access (subscription base)	Official journal of AAPA; reaches clinical PAs across specialties
Journal of Physician Assistant Education (JPAE)	Wolters Kluwer / PAEA	PA educational research, curricula, admissions, and faculty development	Double-blind; Hybrid Open Access	Dedicated to PA educational programs and academic faculty
Annals of Family Medicine	Annals of Family Medicine, Inc.	Primary care delivery, health services, and team-based primary care	Double-blind; Open Access	High-impact journal for interprofessional primary care teams
BMJ Open	BMJ Publishing Group	Broad clinical medicine, study protocols, and epidemiology	Open peer review; Gold Open Access (APC required)	Rapid publication with public peer review histories and protocols
Journal of Hospital Medicine	Wiley / Society of Hospital Medicine	Inpatient medicine, hospital care delivery, and acute care quality	Double-blind; Hybrid Open Access	Focuses on inpatient medical practice and hospitalist operations

Authors comparing journal performance metrics should review our guide on evaluating a journal impact factor across Clarivate JCR and indexing indexes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What citation style does JAAPA require for manuscript submissions?

JAAPA strictly requires the AMA Manual of Style (or ICMJE Uniform Requirements). References must be numbered sequentially using superscript Arabic numerals in the text, and journal abbreviations must match PubMed standards. Submissions formatted in APA style are not accepted.

Who publishes JAAPA and who owns the journal?

JAAPA is owned by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) and published monthly by Wolters Kluwer Health under the Lippincott Williams & Wilkins imprint. Editorial decisions are made by an independent editorial board.

How long does the peer review process take at JAAPA?

Editorial screening and peer review take approximately 8 to 10 weeks. If revisions are requested, authors receive 4 weeks to revise. Final publication in print typically takes 15 to 18 months from submission due to publication queues.

Is JAAPA an open access journal or subscription-based?

JAAPA is a hybrid open access journal. Standard publication is subscription-based without author submission fees. Upon acceptance, authors may choose to pay an open access fee to make their article openly accessible via Wolters Kluwer.

Can physician assistant students submit manuscripts to JAAPA?

Yes, PA students can submit manuscripts. Student submissions require a faculty coauthor or clinical reviewer statement verifying that the work has been vetted by an experienced clinician.

Sources

• National Library of Medicine. NLM Catalog: JAAPA (NLM ID: 9513102). Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nlmcatalog/9513102 (Checked 2026-11-07).
• Editorial Manager & Wolters Kluwer Health. JAAPA Instructions for Authors (Submission guidelines updated July 9, 2025). Available at: http://edmgr.ovid.com/jaapa/accounts/ifauth.htm (Checked 2026-11-07).
• Crossref. Journal Metadata Record: JAAPA (ISSN 1547-1896 / 0893-7400). Available at: https://api.crossref.org/journals/1547-1896 (Checked 2026-11-07).
• National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubMed E-Utilities API: Citations for Journal JAAPA. Available at: https://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/ (Checked 2026-11-07).