Admission Requirements

Patient care experience (PCE) is evaluated based on your responsibilities, not your job title.

Qualifying experience typically includes hands-on patient care, such as:

• Taking vital signs
• Administering medications
• Drawing blood
• Performing diagnostic testing (such as EKGs or X-rays)
• Assisting with patient treatment and care

Examples of positions that commonly provide qualifying experience include:

• Medical Assistant
• EMT
• Phlebotomist
• Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA)
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Patient Care Assistant (PCA)
• Surgical Assistant

Patient care experience completed for academic credit cannot be counted toward this requirement.

Three letters of recommendation are required.

We recommend:

• One academic reference
• One professional reference
• One additional reference from someone who can speak to your qualifications

All recommendations should come from individuals in a position to evaluate your academic or professional performance, such as faculty members, supervisors, or healthcare professionals.

Transfer credit is not accepted for advanced placement in the Physician Assistant Studies program.

After you submit your CASPA application:

1. CASPA verifies your application.
2. The admissions committee conducts a holistic review of your academics, experiences, recommendations, essay, and supporting materials.
3. Selected applicants are invited to interview.
4. Interview invitations are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis during the fall and spring.
5. Following the interview, the admissions committee makes a final decision.

Admission decisions are released in December and March.

The Accelerated Master of Physician Assistant Studies program maintains articulation agreements with 11 colleges and universities.

Eligible students from participating institutions may receive consideration for a guaranteed interview, subject to space availability, if they meet the requirements of their institution's agreement.

General eligibility requirements include:

• Completion of a bachelor's degree
• Minimum overall GPA of 3.4
• Minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.4
• No prerequisite grades below C
• No repeated prerequisite courses
• Verified CASPA application submitted by October 1
• TOEFL or IELTS scores (if English is not the applicant's first language)
• Successful admissions interview

If the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of interview spaces available under an agreement, applicants are ranked competitively and any remaining applicants are considered through the regular admissions process.