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
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.
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:
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:
***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).
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.
**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 |
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.
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.
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.
The following dates and timelines are in effect for the 2024-2025 admissions application cycle:
The following dates and timelines are in effect for the 2023-2024 admissions application cycle:
Beginning with the 2023-2024 cycle, the CASPer test is no longer required.
This website reflects current program information, including admission criteria and curricula. Information is subject to change.
