MS Physician Assistant Studies: Admissions

All applicants to the Physician Assistant Program must submit an application directly to the online Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA), accessible at CASPA. The application cycle opens in April and the deadline for a verified application is October 1. Applications that are not verified by the application deadline will not be considered for admittance. Please note, the CASPA application verification process can take days to weeks, depending on when CASPA receives your application and documentation. CASPA will verify an applicant when they receive the application, required payment, all transcripts, at least two letters of reference, and they have calculated the GPAs. We recommend that you begin your application early in the cycle and submit your file in time to be verified by the October 1 deadline. Any questions you have about submitting your application through CASPA can be directed to caspainfo@caspaonline.org or by calling Call617-612-2080. The program does not accept applications through our website or sent to the University.

The program will not review any documentation submitted to CASPA after the October 1 deadline, including experience hours and shadowing hours. Applicants with up to 8 outstanding credit hours of prerequisite coursework at the October 1 deadline are permitted to submit their transcripts.

Apply at CASPA

Official Transcripts
Transcripts from each regionally accredited college and university attended, whether or not a degree was awarded, must be submitted directly to CASPA. Failure to disclose all colleges and universities previously attended could result in denial or dismissal. We do not accept transcripts delivered to our campus. Applicants with transcripts demonstrating high academic performance and the ability to carry a full course load of substantial content will be considered more competitive during the selection process.

Transcript Evaluations
Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applicants, we are unable to provide individual transcript evaluations. If you have questions or concerns regarding specific courses and if those courses fulfill our prerequisite requirements, you are welcome to email your inquiry to our program admissions team. In this email, please include the course description(s) with the course code(s) and the name of the institution(s) where the course(s) was completed. Please indicate which requirement you are looking to fulfill with each course that you submit. Email course inquiries to PA.info@ahu.edu.

International Transcripts
We require course-by-course transcript evaluations of college or university work that has been completed outside of the Unites States. All non-U.S. transcript evaluations must be completed through World Education Services (WES) and sent directly to CASPA. You can contact WES at Call212-966-6211, info@wes.org, or at www.wes.org.

All applicants must have a minimum of a conferred bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university prior to matriculation into the program. Selection preference is not granted to any specific fields of study. All fields of study are equitable and competitive.

We require a 3.00 minimum cumulative and overall science GPA on a 4.00 scale as calculated by CASPA at the time of application. Those candidates with higher GPAs, including pre-requisite courses, last 60 hours, and biology/chemistry/physics (BCP) GPAs, as calculated by CASPA, will be considered more competitive during the selection process.

Science prerequisites
(all must include a lab component with the exception of Genetics)

• Human Anatomy and Physiology I, II or Human Anatomy and Human Physiology – 8 credit hours
• Organic Chemistry I – 4 credit hours
• Organic Chemistry II or Biochemistry I – 4 credit hours
• General Microbiology – 4 credit hours
• Genetics – 3 credit hours

TOTAL – 23 credit hours

Other prerequisite courses

• *General Psychology or Developmental Psychology or Abnormal Psychology – 3 credit hours
• *General Statistics or Elementary Statistics or Biostatistics – 3 credit hours
• Medical Terminology – 1 credit hour (certification acceptable)

TOTAL – 7 credits

(We do not have a time frame requirement for any of our prerequisite courses, including science prerequisites)

*Advanced Placement (AP) courses will be accepted in place of the above referenced courses. The AP course must be listed on the applicants conferred bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

Policy regarding outstanding pre-requisite courses
An applicant is allowed up to 8-credit hours of outstanding prerequisites at the time of the verified application deadline. However, those applicants who have completed all prerequisites with a C and above by the verified application deadline will be considered more competitive during the selection process as they have true overall and overall science GPAs. Those who are offered a seat in the program with up to 8 hours of outstanding prerequisites must submit transcripts showing completion of the prerequisite(s) with a C or higher directly to our admissions department at pa.info@ahu.edu by 12:00 pm the Friday before matriculation.

CASPer

All applicants are required to complete the CASPer online test as part of our admissions process. CASPer is an online test that assesses social intelligence and professionalism, which we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program and will complement the other tools that we use for applicant screening. In implementing CASPer, we are trying to further enhance fairness and objectivity in our selection process.

In order to take CASPer, you will be responsible for securing access to a computer with audio capabilities, a webcam, and a reliable internet connection on your selected test date. CASPer can be taken practically anywhere that you can satisfy the aforementioned requirements.

Please go to acuityinsights.app, and select 2025-2026 Admissions Cycle to sign up for the USA Professional Health Sciences test (CSP10101) and reserve a test using your CASPA ID and a government-issued photo ID. You will be provided with a limited number of testing dates and times. Please note that these are the only testing dates available for your CASPer test. The last test date you can choose for your results to be available before the October 1st CASPA verified application deadline is September 16, 2025, at 8 pm EST. Please use an email address that you check regularly; there may be updates to the test schedule. You can find information and test preparation for CASPer at Casper Landing Page. Please be sure to select the CASPer for 2025-2026 tab.

Acuity Insights (CASPer) program provides a fee waiver for any applicant who qualifies and is approved for a CASPA fee waiver.

GRE and PA-CAT

The GRE and PA-CAT are not required in the selection process for AdventHealth University’s PA Program.

We strongly recommend that applicants submit at least one year – or 2000 hours – of direct patient care experience, including exposure to the PA profession. The Program believes that involvement in direct patient care, health care related experience, and exposure to the PA profession give an applicant a foundation to begin PA school and demonstrates an interest and commitment to the health care field. Quality and quantity of patient care hours will be considered during the selection process. The Program does not accept experience hours completed after the verified application deadline of October 1 but encourages applicants to continue gaining experience until the time of matriculation. Verification of listed experiences may be required.

Patient Care Experience

Patient Care is defined as positions that have hands-on, face-to-face contact with patients for the purpose of diagnosis, treatment, and management.

Examples of preferred patient care experience include:

• Athletic trainer
• Audiologist
• Cardiac monitor technician
• Certified nursing assistant
• Clinical pharmacy technician – hospital based
• Clinical researcher
• Dental hygienist
• Medical assistant (clinical)
• Medical scribe
• Military medical corpsman
• Nurse coordinator/navigator
• Occupational therapist/Occupational therapy assistant
• Paramedic/Emergency medical technician
• Perfusionist
• Phlebotomist
• Physical therapist/Physical therapy assistant
• Radiology technologist
• Registered dietician
• Registered nurse or Licensed practical nurse
• Respiratory therapist
• Surgical technician

Health Related Experience

Health Related experience is defined as positions that allow exposure to the health care field and may have an effect on the health of individuals, but do not allow for direct "hands-on" care for patients.

Examples of Related Healthcare experience include:

• Medical assistant (administrative)
• Medical laboratory technician
• Non-clinical researcher/Non-clinical research assistant
• Nutritionist
• Ophthalmic technician
• Patient care advocate
• Peace corps
• Pharmacy technician – retail/compound, non-hospital based
• Social worker

The above list of patient care and health related experiences is not all inclusive. Additional types of patient care and health related experience submitted on the application by the verified application deadline of October 1 will be critically evaluated for depth and breadth of the experience. Ensure you are not listing an experience as both patient care and health related experience. Make sure your experiences match the above definitions. If you have any questions about your experience, please contact pa.info@ahu.edu.

Please note, shadowing healthcare providers and any hours credited as part of a training, educational, or internship/externship program will not be considered direct patient care or related healthcare experience.

Although PA shadowing is not required, competitive applicants will distinguish themselves by having observed a variety of PAs for enough hours to show they have a well-founded understanding of the role of a PA within the healthcare team.

Although not required, other experiences will be considered during the selection process, such as extracurricular activities, working or participation in athletics while in school full time, leadership experiences, research, teaching, and volunteer/community activities.

Three letters of recommendation are required and must be submitted through CASPA. If more letters of recommendation are submitted in CASPA, we will only consider three. We highly recommend that two letters of recommendation come from practicing advanced practice providers or practicing physicians. Letters of recommendation from practicing PAs that the applicant has worked with make an applicant more competitive. These individuals should be able to attest to your potential as a physician assistant. We highly recommend that the third letter come from a college or university professor who can strongly attest to your academic ability. We do not accept letters of recommendation from family members or friends.

CASPA requires applicants to write two essays, the Personal Statement and the Life Experience Essay. The admissions committee will review both narratives in the selection process.

Pre-requisite courses:
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the AHU PA program will allow an applicant up to 8-credit hours of prerequisite pass/fail grades received during the 2020 and 2021 calendar year only. Any prerequisite course that has not received an alphanumeric grade must earn a “Pass” grade or equivalent. If the applicant has more than 8-credit hours of prerequisites with a pass/fail grade during this timeframe, their application will not be complete or considered for admittance until the applicant retakes the course(s) for an alphanumeric grade prior to matriculation. Prerequisite pass/fail credit hours will not be accepted outside of the 2020 and 2021 calendar year. Please note that courses taken for a pass/fail grade will not impact the applicant’s GPA. With this in mind, all applicants are still required to meet the minimum science and overall GPA for their application to be considered.

Non pre-requisite courses:
There is not a cap for non-prerequisite pass/fail credit hours as long as the applicant has a minimum of a conferred bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university at the time of matriculation.

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) are welcome to apply to AdventHealth University’s (AHU) Physician Assistant (PA) Program. International applicants must submit their non-U.S. transcripts in a timely manner to WES for evaluation and require the evaluation be sent to CASPA. IMGs, regardless of past medical experience, are required to complete all admissions requirements and all aspects of the 27-month program, including all clinical rotations. No exceptions to this policy will be granted.

International applicants, where English is not the primary language must demonstrate English proficiency by providing one of the following:

• A score of 90 or higher on the internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language iBT (TOEFL iBT), as well as appropriate evidence of temporary or permanent U.S. residency. These requirements are supplemental to the general education requirements.
• Successful completion of a bachelor’s, master's, or doctoral degree from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction.

We offer interviews by invitation only each cycle. Applicants who are selected for an interview will be contacted via email. Our interview experience is an opportunity for the program to learn more about the applicant than what can be gleaned from the application and for the applicant to learn more about the program to determine if our program is the right fit for them. Please understand that meeting our minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview invitation. Additionally, all applicants who are interviewed are not guaranteed admission.

Student Selection

AdventHealth University PA Program uses a holistic approach when evaluating each applicant. The admissions committee will consider the cumulative data collected, strength of the interview, and the applicant’s firm and clear commitment to the profession and the program. Due to the competitive nature of our admissions process, meeting the minimum standards does not guarantee admittance.

Selection Preferences

The following are the groups of applicants who receive preference for an invitation to interview. Applicants who meet any of these preferences AND meet the minimum academic and clinical prerequisites as every applicant, will be automatically invited to interview. Additionally, the presence of one or more of these preferences does not guarantee admission to the program. Applicants who do not meet any of these preferences are still considered for admission to the program.

• Graduates of AdventHealth University or other Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities
• Seventh-day Adventists
• Applicants with current or previous documented military experience

Additionally, AdventHealth University Physician Assistant Program has an articulation agreement with Stetson University that provides admissions preference to Stetson University graduates who meet the requirements of the agreed memorandum of understanding.

*Applicants who believe they qualify for admissions preference under the AdventHealth University Physician Assistant Program articulation agreement/memorandum of understanding with Stetson University should contact the appointed advisor at Stetson University to assess their eligibility.

State Residence Preference
Preference is not given to in-state applicants. Regardless of the state of residence, admission to the AHU PA program is equitable and competitive.

We require that accepted applicants place a nonrefundable $500 deposit to reserve your program seat. Your acceptance letter will provide a deadline indicating when we must receive the deposit. Once enrolled in the program, these funds will be applied to your account. Those who paid the deposit but decline to enroll in the program will forfeit the deposit; if that student is admitted to the same program at a later date, AHU will require another full deposit. A professional program deposit is not transferable to another department.

Matriculating students must provide verification of the following:

• Hepatitis B+ (3 vaccine series) and positive Hepatitis B Antibody test
• Influenza vaccine or declination (annually)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine or immunity
• Varicella history or vaccination
• Tetanus/Diptheria/Pertussis (Tdap)
• COVID-19 vaccine or authorized exemption
• Physical Examination

All accepted students must complete and validate the university’s physical examination form annually.

• Tuberculosis screening

All accepted students must provide evidence of a tuberculosis screening test annually. Proof of negative TB skin or serum test (positive results will require the student to receive a chest x-ray or negative QuantiFERON Gold and further evaluation). In the event of a positive test result, please refer to the Communicable Disease Policy in the AHU Student Handbook.

All accepted students must provide proof of health insurance at the time of matriculation and maintain health insurance throughout the duration of the program. AdventHealth University does not offer any health insurance programs for students.

All accepted students will be required to complete a drug screening prior to matriculation and before the clinical phase.  AHU and the PA department also reserve the right to do random drug screens during the duration of the program with the cost the responsibility of the student. Please see the AHU Alcohol and Drug Policy.

Upon acceptance to the program and again before the start of clinical rotations, a required Level II background check will be conducted that includes fingerprinting, GSA/OIG, sexual offender background check, and drug screening panel. Criminal convictions of any nature may create difficulty placing the student in clinical rotations, as well as potentially resulting in ineligibility for the national board examination and licensing in many states. It is the student’s responsibility to address any such issues and determine the continued viability of their program candidacy. Please refer to NCCPA and Florida Board of Medicine for further information.