ADMISSIONS: Physician Assistant Studies Program FAQs
What type of degree does this program offer? Is the program accredited?
Upon the successful completion of the 27 month continuous program, graduates will receive a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies degree.
Yes, the School of Physician Assistant Studies has been graduating successful clinicians since 1997. The School is fully accreditation by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Graduates from an ARC-PA accredited program are eligible to take the national Physician Assistant certification examination.
Do I need a completed Bachelor's Degree to apply?
In most cases the program requires the completion of a Bachelor's Degree upon application to the program. The program places no preference on type or major of the degree, but an emphasis is placed on the applicant's academic record in the prerequisite courses and the biological sciences. Consideration is also given to the last 45 hours of college course work.
Within certain limits, applicants who are on track to complete their Bachelor's Degree by the beginning of the program in June may apply. Admission to the program is contingent on the applicant's successful completion, grade "C" or better, of the required courses prior to matriculation into the program. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Admission Office directly to discuss their individual plan in this area.
For applicants who have gained a significant amount of health care experience but have not acquired a Bachelor's Degree, we offer the Bachelor's Degree Completion Option. This option allows incoming students to complete their Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree during the 27 month program. Graduates from the Bachelor's Degree Completion Option will enroll in the program just like other applicants. They will graduate with a B. S. in Health Science and a M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies. For more information about this option, click here.
What type of experience qualifies for the minimum 1,000 hours of direct clinical patient care?
A minimum of 6 months worth of paid or volunteer experience is required at the time of application. The applicant must be able to provide documentation of a minimum of 1,000 hours of experience with direct patient contact in a health-care setting through the CASPA 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.
A wide range of types of experiences will be considered such as: nurse RN/LPN, paramedic/EMT/corpsman, medical assistant/nurses’ aide, medical technologist/technician, respiratory therapist, physical therapist/assistant, occupational therapist/assistant, speech therapist/assistant, psychologist/therapist/counselor, medical office manager, hospital/clinic/nursing home facility volunteer, home- health aide, outreach worker, social worker, acupuncturist, chiropractor, naturopath, massage therapist in health care setting, patient educator, dental assistant and others. Shadow experience with a practicing physician assistant also qualifies.
The CASPA application will ask you to describe your experience by providing the time period, organization, supervisor and your role and responsibilities. We require 2 letters of recommendation, 1 must be from a practicing PA, MD, or NP with whom you have worked or shadowed. If you are selected for an on-campus admissions interview, members of the Admissions Committee will ask you to further describe specific elements of your experience. We recommend keeping a journal and resume to document your experience to refer to when applying to the program.
Is there a time limitation on the required prerequisite coursework?
Anatomy and Physiology courses must have been completed within 5 years prior to the start of the program. Other course work and degree completion has no limitation. We ask applicants to use their best judgment in ensuring their ability to understand the foundational concepts of biology, anatomy, physiology, chemistry and statistics in preparation for the program. In addition to the required courses, students are encouraged to learn Spanish and to take medical terminology.
We recommend completing and submitting the prerequisite worksheet with a copy of your transcripts (official or unofficial) for review by the Graduate Admissions Counselor for the program. The prerequisite worksheet can be downloaded and printed here.
Does all of my direct clinical patient care experience need to be completed by the time I apply to the program?
Yes, you must have completed at least 1000 hours of direct patient care experience when your application is submitted.
Do you require the GRE or MCAT to apply to the program? Will my application be more competitive if I take either of the tests?
No, our program does not require either test to apply. While the CASPA application will allow applicants to submit test scores, the Admissions Committee does not consider this information within it’s evaluation of your application.
Do you require a minimum GPA to apply to the program?
We require all prerequisite coursework to be completed at a “C” or higher grade and a minimum Science/Statistics GPA of a “C” average or higher. Most of our competitive applicants bring a “B+” average or higher in their Science/Statistics GPA and their last 45 semester hours of credit.
Is there a difference in tuition if I am an in-state resident or an out-of-state resident?
Pacific University is a private liberal arts institution which does not require in-state residence or hold a preference for in-state candidates. Our tuition fees are the same for all applicants, in-state or out-of-state. *International students must obtain a valid and current F-1 visa or have permanent residency in the United States to apply to our program.
If I am an internationally trained medical professional, what steps must I take to apply?
We require all international students to obtain a valid and current F-1 visa or have permanent residency in the United States to apply to our program. In addition, all international based education must be evaluated by either the World Education Services (www.wes.org), Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute (www.acei1.com), or the Education Credential Evaluators (www.ece.org). In addition, all international students must provide official TOEFL exam documentation. A minimum paper-based test score of 600 or an internet-based test score of 105 is required. International applicants whose primary language is not English will need to demonstrate an acceptable level of writing, speaking, spelling and comprehension in the English language to be admitted into the program.
What resources does the program provide for financial aid, housing, health insurance, student life, etc.?
We recommend completing a FAFSA application starting January 1 for the academic year you intend to enroll in our program. The FAFSA application can be completed at: www.fafsa.ed.gov. Pacific University is a participant in the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) which provides subsidized and unsubsidized loans to students based on need. For more information about Financial Aid, click here.
In addition, the Pacific University School of Physician Assistant Studies program offers a competitive Community Service Scholarship to four incoming students each year.
The Pacific University Division of Student Life provides an E-Classifieds listing of housing opportunities for all students of Pacific University. Our graduate students generally reside in off-campus housing within Hillsboro and the surrounding communities. Once admitted into the program, internal resource networking and housing opportunities are shared amongst current students. For more information on the Pacific University e-Classifieds, click here.
The Office of Student Life offers a wide and comprehensive variety of resources including: health care and counseling services, learning support services, student government and outdoor recreational programs. For more information, click here.