Admissions - PA School Requirements
PA Interview Dates
The 猫咪社区APP PA 2024-25 Interview Dates to be conducted via zoom are:
- Friday, October 25, 2024 from 8 am to 4 pm
- Friday, November 1, 2024 from 8 am to 4 pm
- Friday, November 22, 2024 from 8 am to 12 pm
Thank you for your interest in the 猫咪社区APP Physician Assistant Studies program. If you have any questions please follow this link to email us.
Applicants who wish to apply to the 猫咪社区APP (猫咪社区APP) Physician Assistant
Studies (PA) program must meet the following minimum PA requirements. Please note
that admission to the 猫咪社区APP PA program is very competitive and accepted students typically
exceed the minimum PA school requirements.
All of the following PA school requirements must be met to be considered for admission
into the 猫咪社区APP PA program.
- Completion of a Baccalaureate degree in any field from a U.S. regionally accredited institution prior to the starting date of the program
is required. Note: International degrees or coursework does not satisfy this requirement.
- A minimum overall, science and last 60-hours GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, as calculated by CASPA (includes post-baccalaureate undergraduate
and graduate work).
- Completion of prerequisite course work completed with a grade of "C" or higher, from a U.S. regionally accredited institution
with one semester of at least 3 credits for each course below (except Medical Terminology
1+ credits). All prerequisite courses for the Physician Assistant Studies program must be completed
one semester prior to Matriculation (completed by December to enter the following
May) . Courses are not required to be taken within a timeframe. Bonus Courses are NOT required
but if completed with a 鈥淐鈥 or above will strengthen the application. All Bonus courses
must be upper level science courses. Quarterly credits are accepted, however, courses
that are in a sequence must be completed. For example, Anatomy and Physiology I,
II, and III.
Prerequisite required courses are: General Biology plus lab (4 credits). General Chemistry I and II plus lab (8 credits). Human Anatomy and Human Physiology OR Anatomy and Physiology I and II. Microbiology. Organic Chemistry. Mathematics (College Algebra minimum). Statistics. General Psychology. Medical Terminology (1 credit). For further details, please click the following button.
- Completion of the General Graduate Record Examination (GRE) within the past five (5) years from the October 1 deadline. The department accepts:
- A minimum of 145 in both the Verbal and Quantitative sections. The Analytical Writing section is required.
- The highest complete exam score is used in the ranking of applicants: We do not mix and match scores from different attempts.
- Official scores must be sent electronically to 猫咪社区APP PA Studies Institution Code 2169. 猫咪社区APP PA Studies Institution Code 2169 will allow GRE scores to be sent to both 猫咪社区APP and your 猫咪社区APP designated CASPA application. Scores must be received by CASPA no later than the October 1 deadline to be considered for the current cycle.
- 猫咪社区APP the GRE: visit for more information.
- Completion of at least 100 Direct Patient Care Experience hours is required: See Direct Patient Care Experience section under Holistic Application tab. Applicants
will document these hours on their CASPA application.
- Submission of three (3) reference letters, one of which must be from a Medical Doctor (MD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) or Physician
Assistant (PA) submitted to CASPA and included with your CASPA application. Reference letters sent
directly to our office will not be accepted. CASPA will not start the verification
process of your application until two of your three letters of reference have been
received.
- Submission of completed application materials by October 1 as stated in How to Apply, which includes the 猫咪社区APP PA Studies Program Supplemental Application (uploaded to the CASPA application, 猫咪社区APP Program Materials, Documents Section) and the 猫咪社区APP PA Studies Program Application Fee (paid online). CASPA applications must be SUBMITTED to 猫咪社区APP, COMPLETED and VERIFIED by October 1.
International Students have additional PA requirements and application steps for the 猫咪社区APP PA program. Please
see How to Apply for information.
Applicants are selected based on a holistic evaluation. Many factors are taken into consideration but preference is given to applicants with the following:
- Higher GPAs (overall GPA, Science GPA, last 60-hour GPA, both undergraduate and graduate level work).
- Higher GRE scores (quantitative and verbal sections).
- Possessing an additional degree (Master鈥檚 or Doctorate) or a 2nd bachelor degree.
- Completion of upper-level science coursework (Biochemistry, Genetics, Immunology, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology) with higher grades.
- Alabama residents and service area residents.
- Military Service: includes all branches of service.
- Leadership activities.
- Disadvantaged Background: Economically and/or environmentally disadvantaged as defined by HRSA and detailed on the CASPA application.
- Community Service/Volunteerism.
- Being from a Rural/Underserved area (Childhood residence in rural county as defined by HRSA rural grant qualifier).
- Higher hours of Direct Patent Care.
- Higher hours of PA Shadowing Experience.
- Current Health Training Certifications or Registration.
The interview process has been designed to complement the evaluation of an academically proven applicant by the holistic appraisal of non-academic traits.
Approximately 170 applicants to the 猫咪社区APP PA program will be selected for an interview during the fall. Invitations for interviews will be emailed throughout the interview cycle.
All interviews will be conducted via Zoom beginning in late October through November. Of those interviewed, 60 will be invited to matriculate in the class.
The 猫咪社区APP PA program does not offer advanced placement.
Students must be able to demonstrate abilities in observation, communication and motor functions, as well as critical thinking, interpersonal skills, and behavioral and social attributes. For a full description of the technical standards for admission to the 猫咪社区APP Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program, visit Technical Standards.