Welcome to the Physician Assistant program's admissions landing page! Applicants are encouraged to fully explore our Admissions Guidebook and our website for more information about applying to the Physician Assistant master's program. 

The 2024-2025 cycle will open July 1, 2024, with a deadline of March 1, 2025

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Admission Consults

Due to the volume of applications we are processing, individual consultations are not able to be offered. It is extremely rare that the majority of questions cannot be answered through the information provided online and in our Admissions Guidebook. It is recommended that applicants review our Admissions Statistics and critically evaluate the competitiveness of their application compared to the average matriculant.

NOTE: Meeting the minimum application requirements does not guarantee an invitation for an interview.

Fill out our inquiry form for specific questions about applying to the program, clarification about admissions requirements, or to obtain a personalized URL (PURL) and be connected to an admissions representative. 

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Our Competitive Application Process

Our competitive admissions process welcomes all applicants from diverse backgrounds with different life and career experiences. 

Because our curriculum is rigorous, we place value on an applicant's prior academic history. We value a strong cumulative GPA and also evaluate each candidate's GPAs in the following categories:

  • Overall undergraduate GPA (3.43 average)
  • Prerequisite GPA (3.86 average)
  • Replacement GPA (3.82 average)
  • Graduate GPA (3.67 average)

Healthcare experience, direct and indirect, and volunteer experience are other attributes of a successful candidate.*** While the program does not require a specific number of healthcare or volunteer hours, those who have been competitive and gained admission have earned:

  • 1500-2700 total healthcare experience hours based on the last 3 cycles (combined Patient Care and Healthcare Experience)
  • 876 hours of volunteer experience
  • 95% of applicants have reported community service activity

***Meeting these qualifications does not guarantee an interview or admission to the program. Also, the Physician Assistant program does not give advanced standing to any candidate for previous educational or clinical experience.  Advanced standing means allowing credit based on previous studies (for example, nursing school or paramedic certification credits) or work experience (RN, EMT, etc).

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General Admission Requirements

Admission to the Physician Assistant profession has become increasingly competitive over the years. The school evaluates applicants through four lenses: cognitive/academic, personal/non-cognitive, healthcare experience, and community service. Detailed information about admissions criteria for a competitive application can be found in our Admissions Guidebook. It is a comprehensive guide to our application requirements and the admissions process. 

  • Completed the CASPA application by March 1.
    Following the online instructions, applicants must contact every college or university attended and request transcripts be sent directly to CASPA. Click here for help sending your official transcripts.

  • Citizenship: Applicants to the program must be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents (Green Card)

  • Qualifying GPA of 3.20 or better (on a 4.0 scale)

  • Prerequisite Courses: All eight (8) prerequisite courses must be completed at an accredited U.S. institution with a B- or better grade by March 1. Except Anatomy & Physiology (OR A&P 1 and A&P 2), prerequisite courses must be equal to a minimum of 3 semester credits (5 quarter credits). Anatomy and Physiology must be equal to a minimum of 4 semester credits per semester (6 quarter credits per quarter).

    Prerequisite coursework must be completed before the March 1st application deadline. Applications with outstanding prerequisite courses will not be eligible for review.

    Required courses include:
    • Prerequisite Courses with No Time Limit for Completion:
      • Intro to Psychology
      • General Chemistry
      • College Math, Physics OR Statistics
    • Prerequisite Courses that Must be Completed within 10 Years of Application Deadline: 
      • Organic Chemistry OR Biochemistry
      • Microbiology OR Cell Biology
      • Advanced Psychology Course
    • Anatomy AND Physiology OR A&P I AND A&P II (2 courses required)** Time limit details below

**Beginning in the 2023-2024 application cycle, Anatomy AND Physiology OR A&P I AND A&P II will need to have 4 semester hours / 6 quarter hours per semester and need to be completed within the following time frames:

2024-2025 application cycle: within 6 years of application deadline
2025-2026 application cycle: within 5 years of application deadline

Application Deadline PA Class Entering Within x Years of Application Deadline Prerequisite Window
March 1, 2025 January 2026 6 January 1, 2019 - March 1, 2025
March 1, 2026 January 2027 5 January 1, 2021 - March 1, 2026
  • Bachelor's degree (or higher graduate degree) is required by July 1.
  • Additional Testing:
    • Beginning with the 2023-2024 cycle, the CASPer Test is no longer required
    • Specifics regarding TOEFL for applicants with foreign education can be found in the Admissions Guidebook.

  • Patient Care and Healthcare Experience: Although not required to apply, patient care and healthcare experience is desirable and rewarded in the application review process.

  • Licenses and Certifications: Although not required to apply, obtaining a certification in a healthcare field is often helpful in securing paid healthcare experience and is rewarded in the application review process. 

  • Volunteer Experience: Part of the school's vision is to be recognized as the most community-oriented school of medicine and health professions in the United States. Therefore, we reward applicants with a demonstrated commitment to community service.

  • CASPA Letter of Reference: The school requires two (2) letters of reference.

  • CASPA Personal Essay: The personal essay should be written at a graduate level and demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the PA role and function.

  • Technical Standards:  Applicants to the program must be prepared to independently meet the technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation.

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Application Deadline

A complete application file includes a completed CASPA application by March 1.

If an application is not complete by the March 1 deadline, it will not be considered, regardless of the original CASPA submission date.

Ultimately, it is the applicant's responsibility to be aware of all application requirements and comply with admissions deadlines for the current application cycle to ensure a successful application. 

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Interviews

Interview invitations go out during the month of June with interviews conducted mid-July. We conduct a holistic interview process that includes individual and group interviews. The interviews are conducted by the program’s faculty and community faculty.  Questions related to various topics are asked so that faculty and our community faculty can get to know the applicant and determine if the applicant is the right fit for our rigorous program. A separate writing sample is also performed during Interview Day. After the interview process, the full-time faculty meet to discuss the interview candidates and finalize the admissions offers. Admissions decisions are based on a holistic process that includes all elements of the application and the interview.

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General Review Process and Timeline

Our program does not have rolling admissions and there is no benefit to submitting an application earlier in the cycle. It is best to apply to our program shortly after you have completed all 8 prerequisite courses and have the final grades listed on your transcript.

2024-2025 Cycle

The following dates and timelines are in effect for the 2024-2025 admissions application cycle:

  • CASPA application cycle opens: July 1, 2024
  • CASPA application due: March 1, 2025
  • All prerequisites satisfactorily completed by: March 1, 2025
  • TOEFL completed by: March 1, 2025 (if applicable)
  • Applications reviewed for completeness by School of Health Professions Admissions: September 2024 - May 2025
  • Applications reviewed by PA Program Application Review Committee: January - May 2025
  • Interview offers made to selected applicants: June 2025
  • Bachelor's degree completed by: July 1, 2025
  • Additional transcripts submitted for any outstanding prerequisite courses since submitting the CASPA application by: July 1, 2025 (*prerequisite completion deadline is March 1)
  • Interviews conducted: July 2025
  • Offers of admission extended: August 2025
  • Acceptance of admission offer: 10 calendar days after offer
  • Matriculation: January 2026
  • Expected graduation: May 2028

2023-2024 Cycle

The following dates and timelines are in effect for the 2023-2024 admissions application cycle:

  • CASPA application cycle opens: July 1, 2023
  • CASPA application due: March 1, 2024
  • All prerequisites satisfactorily completed by: March 1, 2024
  • TOEFL completed by: March 1, 2024 (if applicable)
  • Applications reviewed for completeness by School of Health Professions Admissions: September 2023 - May 2024
  • Applications reviewed by PA Program Application Review Committee: January - May 2024
  • Interview offers made to selected applicants: June 2024
  • Bachelor's degree completed by: July 1, 2024
  • Additional transcripts submitted for any outstanding prerequisite courses since submitting the CASPA application by: July 1, 2024 (*prerequisite completion deadline is March 1)
  • Interviews conducted: July 2024
  • Offers of admission extended: August 2024
  • Acceptance of admission offer: 10 calendar days after offer
  • Matriculation: January 2025
  • Expected graduation: May 2027

Beginning with the 2023-2024 cycle, the CASPer test is no longer required.

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