Admissions Criteria
Admission is highly selective and enrollment in the PA program is limited to 42 students. To be eligible for admission, students must have earned a bachelor's degree by the start of the program. *Applicants who do not have an earned bachelor's degree may be eligible for the Bachelor's Degree Completion Option.
The Physician Assistant Program Admissions Committee considers the following factors in the selection process:
- Strength and breadth of academic record: to learn more click here
All prerequisite courses must be completed by the start of the program, with a "C"
grade or higher. The prerequisite coursework Science/Statistics GPA
must be a 2.5 or higher to apply. The method to document required prerequisite
coursework is through the Pacific University supplemental application. To ensure
academic coursework will fulfill our requirements, complete an Unofficial Prerequisite
Evaluation and submit to the Admissions Counselor for review.
- Type and depth of prior health care experience: to learn more click here
Applicants must demonstrate a minimum of 1,000 hours of direct clinical patient care
experience within a health-care setting. The method to document this
experience is through the CASPA online application (www.caspaonline.org).
Please note: The Admissions Committee will consider the total number of hours
accumulated, "at the time" you submit your CASPA application. No consideration will be
given to hours projected for the future.
- Strength of professional evaluations
We require two professional evaluations; one evaluation must be obtained from a (non-
relative/personal) Physician (MD or DO), a Physician Assistant (PA-C), a Nurse
Practitioner (NP) or a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) with whom you have worked or
shadowed with. The method to obtain professional evaluations is through the CASPA
online application (www.caspaonline.org).
- Strength of on-campus personal interview: to learn more click here
- Understanding of the Physician Assistant profession
- Type of community activities
- Content of application forms and care with which they have been completed
- Quality of writing ability as demonstrated by personal narrative
- We do not require the GRE or MCAT for admission into the program
| The Hawaii Outreach Program (Applicants From Hawaii): |
The Pacific University School of Physician Assistant Studies offers the Hawaii Outreach Program for applicants currently living in Hawaii or from Hawaii, but living on the mainland, who have plans to return to the islands to work as a physician assistant upon completion of the program. Students enrolled in the program will complete their didactic year at Pacific University in Oregon and may complete a majority of their clinical year in Hawaii. All curriculum requirements are the same for all applicants enrolled in the program. A faculty member from the Pacific University School of Physician Assistant Studies resides in Hawaii to mentor and encourage potential applicants from Hawaii to apply to the program. The program offers two dedicated seats to the highest ranking Hawaii applicants each year.
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The Physician Assistant Studies program does not grant advanced standing nor accept transfer students from other physician assistant studies programs.