Admission Criteria
Admission is highly selective and enrollment in the PA program is limited to 46 students.
The Physician Assistant Program Admissions Committee considers the following factors in the selection process
Strength and Breadth of Academic Record
All prerequisite courses and degrees must be completed before spring term of the intended year of entry with a "C" grade or higher. Admitted students must be able to provide a final official transcript showing all prerequisite courses completed prior to May 1 of the year of entry.
You may only have up to two prerequisite classes in progress at the time of application.
The CASPA Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) GPA and Last 45 Credits GPA must be a 2.75 or higher to apply.
To ensure academic coursework will fulfill our requirements, complete an Unofficial Prerequisite Evaluation and submit to the Admissions Counselor for review.
If you will not obtain a Bachelor's Degree prior to enrollment at Pacific University, please review our Bachelor's Degree Completion Option.
The School of Physician Assistant Studies does not grant advanced standing for any coursework and does not accept transfer credit from any other program.
Type and Depth of Prior Health Care Experience
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. 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.
Additional Direct Clinical Patient Care Experience Information
- Achieving the minimum required official score on the International Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam. Test scores are valid for 2 years after the test date, but will still be considered valid if the score exceeded the minimum requirement and you have maintained continuous residency in the United States since the exam date.
- Completion of a bachelor's, master’s, doctorate, or professional degree at an accredited college or university where English is the only language of instruction. Individuals who are in the process of earning a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution may be admitted to some programs.
- Test score less than Pacific’s minimum requirement;
- Test score more than two years old (unless you have lived in the United States since the exam date); or
- Institutional TOEFL score from any school except Pacific
- Completion of an English as a Second Language (ESL) program at any school
- Successful completion of English, writing, or literature courses at any college or university
- An associate’s degree from a community college in the United States
Strength of Professional Evaluations
We require two professional evaluations; it is recommended that at least one evaluation be obtained from a (non-relative/personal) Physician (MD or DO), a Physician Assistant (PA-C), or a Nurse Practitioner (NP) with whom you have worked with or shadowed. The method to obtain professional evaluations is through the CASPA online application.
Strength of On-Campus Personal Interview
Learn more about the On-Campus Interview.
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
English Language Proficiency Policy
A satisfactory command of the English language is required for admission to Pacific University. prior to admission. Please note that this requirement applies to all applicants, including resident aliens and citizens.
Requiring valid proof of English language proficiency is a mandate of the Graduate & Professional Programs & Colleges. Thus, only the program or College can approve any exceptions.
Valid Proof of English Language Proficiency
The following criteria represent different ways to prove English proficiency for this program.
Minimum Test Score Requirements
Paper-based |
Computer-based |
Internet-based |
|
600 overall Minimum per section: 54-55 reading 55 listening 55 structure/written expression |
250 overall Minimum per section: 21 reading 22 listening 22 structure/writing |
100 overall 22 speaking |
7.0 overall Minimum sub scores per section: 7.0 |
Invalid Proof of English Language Proficiency
The following criteria represent different ways that indicate insufficient English skills to join this program.