Admission Requirements

Competencies

 

Standards

 

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Physician Assistant Studies program is extremely competitive. Approximately 30 students will be admitted to a cohort class. Our admission policy emphasizes the selection of students who reflect varied social, cultural, educational and professional backgrounds. In addition to intellectual capacity and personal maturity, students are selected upon demonstrated evidence of their concern for human and societal needs. Communication and interpersonal skills are important assets that are considered by the admission committee.

To apply, students must have:

  • A baccalaureate degree from a nationally accredited college or university with a minimum 3.0 GPA overall (4.0 scale)
  • Taken the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Competitive applicants score at least 1000 combined (OLD version) or 300 combined (NEW version) on verbal and quantitative portions and at least 4.0 on the analytical writing portion. Applicants that have completed a graduate degree from an accredited US university of college may submit graduate GPA in lieu of GRE scores. To schedule the GRE exam, visit http://www.gre.org.
  • A minimum TOEFL score of 550 for the paper exam or 85 for the web based exam if English is their second language. Students must also submit their foreign transcripts to an approved credentials evaluation agency. An official report from the credentials evaluation agency must be received prior to admission to the program.
  • Completed the following prerequisite classes ( “The PA program does not accept advanced placement and/or transfer credit from other programs” ) with a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) at a nationally accredited institution:
    • General Biology I with lab + General Biology II with lab or Cell and Molecular Biology – 2 courses
    • Anatomy with lab – 1 course. Human emphasis preferred to courses of a more general nature, and courses with labs are preferred over courses without lab experiences (cadaver lab highly recommended!)
    • Physiology – 1 course. Human emphasis preferred.
    • General Chemistry I & II with labs – 2 courses
    • Introduction to Statistics – 1 course
    • Genetics – 1 course
    • Microbiology – 1 course
    • Recommended Courses: Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, Computer Science, Psychology or Sociology, Research Methodology, technical writing.

    “ALL prerequisite coursework must be current within five (5) years of admission to the PA program.”

  • A minimum of 250 hours of formal, hands-on clinical experience in a medical setting.
  • Students are required to submit to a criminal background check and a urine drug testing in order to matriculate. The fees associated with the background check and drug testing are the responsibility of the student. Refusal to submit to the background check or drug screen will result in dismissal from the program.

 

Procedure

The program’s admissions committee carefully reviews all applications. Selected candidates are invited to the program for personal interviews. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission, nor does it guarantee an interview. Candidates are evaluated based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, academic achievement, references, personal interview, motivation and quality of health care experience.

 

Apply For Admission

Applications for admission to the PA program must be made through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). To begin your application process, you should visit their website at www.caspaonline.org. USF application deadline is November 1st.

If you have any questions or need assistance with your application, call CASPA at (240) 497-1895. CASPA’s Customer Service Representatives are available.