Physician Assistant School: Application Process

Most Physician Assistant (PA) programs admit students once a year, most commonly for Summer or Fall matriculation, but start dates range from May-January of the following year.

Applications are submitted at least 12 months in advance of the desired enrollment date. However, the timing depends on when you will complete your degree and the necessary coursework, and successfully take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) if necessary. All degrees must be posted to your transcript prior to starting a PA Program, and the timing is sensitive.

While applying early in the cycle has advantages, the best time for you to apply is when your application is the best it can be.

Requirements vary from school to school. Research schools early for specific information about requirements.

Before submitting applications, have people with an unbiased eye go over each entire application to catch any errors. Your preprofessional advisor is happy to do this for you

The PA Program Application process includes 4 or 5 main components

1. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE)—Some schools
2. Primary Application
3. Letters of Recommendation
4. Secondary Applications
5. Interviews

Follow social media of programs of your interest, visit their website, attend webinars, and visit their campus if possible.  You can find the list of programs on the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) Program Directory.

Choose schools that are of serious interest to you, but give your list enough variety to maximize your chances for admission.

Types of Schools to Consider

• one or two “reach” schools where your GPA and GRE might be on the low end
• at least one to two solid "back-up" schools at which your chances are very good
• several school where you are likely competitive, but in the middle of the pack

On average, students apply to 5- 10 programs. Assess your credentials realistically and give your school selection careful thought. You can also refer to our statistics for PA.

Ask these questions as you select schools you want to apply;

• Size of School and size of individual classes.
• Location and environment--do you prefer a large metropolitan area or a smaller city atmosphere? What about surrounding area, quality of life, etc.?
• Cadaver labs and other facilities--quality of cadaver/simulation labs, tutoring and other academic support services, adequate staff, study/meeting space, open hours, etc.
• General “personality” of School--what are your impressions from their faculty representatives you meet?  Are you looking for an intense, more competitive environment or more of a community feeling?
• Special interest areas: combined degree programs; specialized courses, student organizations in your area of interest; early decision program availability, etc.
• Student/faculty ratio.
• Student body--How do you fit in with GPA and Standardized Test Score averages of students previously admitted? How balanced and diverse is the student body? How is the student morale? Do students have input in operation of School?
• Faculty diversity—Are they largely all from the same background or relatively diverse with respect to race, creed, gender? Are they well-balanced in educational experiences or only from the same School or schools? What is the extent of their research and professional activities? 
• Faculty-student relationships--Are faculty accessible and committed to teaching? Is there an “open door” policy?
• Opportunities for clinical programs, research, international clinical rotations, student-run free clinics etc.
• What student support programs are available? If applicable, what minority or disabled student services are available?
• What are the board certification exam passage rates? Are graduates finding employment in the geographic areas you are interested in? What are the average or median salaries of graduates?
• Tuition costs. You cannot ignore the cost, but neither can you use it as your only criterion. Consider the cost and potential indebtedness along with the other factors, and make sure you are choosing the right schools for the right reasons.

Some PA programs require the GRE. The GRE is administered throughout the year. It may be repeated, but the best strategy is to prepare thoroughly and take it once. Taking the exam by spring the year before you wish to enter PA school will enable you to apply earlier. More information on the GRE, including sample questions, can be found here https://www.ets.org/gre/.

August is the last GRE accepted by most schools for their following summer or fall entering class.

GRE structure:

• 2 multiple choice sections which are scored on a scale of 130-170

• Verbal Reasoning
• Quantitative Reasoning
• 1 Analytical Writing essay that is scored on a 6 point scale.

University of Utah Continuing Education offers a GRE Prep Course.

CASPer

Physician Assistant programs incorporate a variety tools in their assessment in order to gather a holistic view of their applicants, to make sure they are not only academically capable but also possess the characteristics of someone who will likely succeed on the job. One such tool used by many PA programs including the University of Utah, is CASPer®, which is a situational judgement test designed to assess how an individual will behave in certain situations.

CASPer® assesses for 10 characteristics: Collaboration, Communication, Empathy, Equity, Ethics, Motivation, Problem Solving, Professionalism, Resilience, and Self Awareness. 

It is a 90-110 minute virtually proctored assessment, made up of 2 sections. The first section is video responses, the second is typed responses, with a total of 14 scenarios to navigate.  Scores will be sent to selected programs automatically, 2-3 weeks after the test date. 

Further information is on the CASPer website. https://acuityinsights.app/casper/.

Primary Applications are processed through a central application service called the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).  Primary applications are not school specific. The same information is sent to all schools to which you are applying.

Deadlines: CASPA is Available Online in mid April through early March. Program deadlines range from July – March. UPAP’s deadline is on August 1.

Because many schools use a rolling admission process (they begin reviewing applications and admitting before deadlines), it will enhance your chances if you submit your application early regardless of when you take the GRE.

Make sure you will have plenty of time to fill out the application. Completing the application will take at least one week, and most students take several weeks. READ ALL INSTRUCTION MANUALS AND DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY!

The CASPA Application will include:

• Your GRE score, if applicable
• A list of all college classes taken, as well as official transcripts from each college where you have earned credit.
• A list and descriptions of your activities since graduating from high school
• A Personal Statement outlining your motivation for pursuing a career as a Physician Assistant
• Letters of Recommendations

NOTE: To help us advise other students, we would appreciate it if you would release your statistical information from your applications to the Health Professions Advisor when prompted. This information will always be kept confidential.

The personal essay is about you and your motivation for pursuing a career as a physician. Remember, why you want to be a physician is different from how you were inspired to become one. Describe your current passion for the field with specific examples from recent experiences. Try to choose a theme rather than random thoughts. The primary application activities section provides a list of accomplishments. Your personal essay is an opportunity to provide additional, more in-depth information.

Remember, your audience is smarter, has more medical knowledge, and knows what is like to be a physician. Don’t try to impress them with your knowledge of the field.

Get feedback! Have 3 or 4 people you can trust to be honest with you (professor, doctor, medical student, parent, advisor, Writing Center, tutor, etc.) read your essay and offer feedback.  Do not ask too many people to read it. Having too many opinions can become confusing.

Use our Personal Statement Guide for more information.

Submitting Letters of Recommendation

You will have your letters submitted to CASPA. From there they will be distributed to the PA programs to which you apply.  These programs will request Letters of Recommendation (LORs) after they receive your CASPA Primary Application, so do not delay submitting your primary application while waiting for letters to arrive.

Requirements for letters vary between schools, so research schools early and know what you need. Most schools require 3 or 4 letters.

Requesting Letters of Recommendation

• Ask if potential writers if they feel capable of writing a supportive letter. If anyone is hesitant, you should probably try someone else.
• Get business cards with your recommenders’ contact information.
• Ask if recommenders would welcome any written background material. You could include a brief biographical sketch or resume, your interests and activities, career goals, and motivation toward your intended profession. You could also include a snapshot, a copy of a paper or assignment from their class, or transcript.
• For recommenders who are unsure of how to write a good letter, the PPA Advising office provides our Guidelines for Letter Writers.
• Always give recommenders ample time. Two to three weeks at a minimum. Follow up to make sure that your letters have been sent.
• Send thank you notes.

For more detailed information, check out our “How To” Guide.

Once PA programs receive your Primary Application, they will send out Secondary Applications. You will generally have a month to complete these. These are specific to each school, and vary in length and structure, but often require one or more additional essay. FOLLOW DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY.

Some Schools send Secondary Applications to every student who submitted a Primary Application. Other schools will screen Primary Applications first and only send Secondary Applications to students who make the cut.

Secondary Applications usually have a fee attached, so it is a good idea to reevaluate your list of schools at this point. If you have changed your mind about applying to a school, you do not have to complete their Secondary Application.

The final stage of the application process is the interview. If you receive an invitation for an interview, that is an indication that a program has decided that you are a qualified applicant and they want to get to know you better. Most PA Programs hold “interview days” where they bring in a group of applicants for a day that may consist of some or all of the following: Interviews, written essays, school tours, and opportunities to meet students and faculty. Remember:  the entire day is the interview, not just those times when you are in a formal meeting. Be on your best professional behavior all day!

Interviews can take many forms, so it is important to research your schools and be prepared for each kind. The PreProfessional Advising office can help you with preparation tips and practicing your interviewing skills.

The most common types of interviews are:

• One-on-one interview
  • Usually one or two 30-45 minutes interviews
• Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)
  • 7-10 rooms with a different prompt or scenario posted on the door. You are typically given 2 minutes to think about the prompt before entering a room, and 5-8 minutes to respond to the prompt and any follow up questions, or play out the scenario with a trained actor.
• Group interview
  • May be either one applicant interviewed by several interviewers, or in a group of applicants interviewed by one or more interviewer.

PrePA Mock Interviews Offered Through PPA

The PreProfessional Advising Office offers traditional one-on-one mock interviews for current and former University of Utah prePA students. 

• Our tranditional mock interviews are one hour long.  The first half will consisit of the actual interview and the second half consists of the advisor providing verbal feedback.
• To schedule a traditional mock interview, please call our office at 801.581.5744 to have our reception team schedule this appointment.  Students cannot schedule these mock interviews online; they must call.  If a student schedules a regular 45-minute appointment online, the advisor will not conduct the mock interview.