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Admission Factors

Physician Assistant programs generally consider the following factors when deciding who to admit.

Academic Ability

  • Successful completion of prerequisite coursework, usually with C grade or above.
  • Average GPAs for accepted applicants are in the 3.0 – 3.5 and higher range.
  • Many programs may require a minimum GPA of 3.0.
  • GRE scores.

Clinical Experience

  • Volunteer or paid experience working with patients in a health-related setting is required by many schools and encouraged by all.
  • Patient-related experience allows applicants to test their career decision and be confident that it is a good fit.
  • Applicants who have researched and gained direct exposure to the profession will be better prepared to write a compelling application and respond to the interview questions.
  • Many hospitals and community clinics may offer patient volunteer experiences.
  • Review our Explore Opportunities section for possible volunteer opportunities.
  • Many PA programs require a significant number of patient-contact hours and most of their successful PA applicants may have 1-3 years of full-time healthcare work experience in the following types of positions:
    • Medical assistant
    • Emergency medical technician (EMT)
    • Paramedic
    • Medic or medical corpsman
    • Peace Corps volunteer
    • Lab assistant/phlebotomist
    • Registered nurse
    • Emergency room technician
    • Surgical tech
    • Certified nursing assistant (CNA)

Source: American Academy of Physician Assistants

Letters of Recommendation

  • The Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) requires 3 letters of reference submitted electronically through their system.
  • Schools may require letters from particular individuals, such as a physician assistant or other healthcare professional, professor, or work supervisor.
  • Applicants will need to check the schools’ specific directions regarding letters before setting up their letter of reference information in CASPA.
  • Although HPA offers a recommendation file service for medical and dental school applicants, PA applicants should use the electronic letter of recommendation system provided through CASPA.

Interview

Be prepared to discuss why you are pursuing a career as a PA and how you perceive the role of the PA in health care. You may be rated on:

  • Your knowledge of the profession.
  • Your motivation to pursue a career as a physician assistant.
  • How you present yourself and interact in a group.
  • Your ability to solve problems.

Sample questions available on the Physician Assistant Life website.