Admissions

Program Menu

Students can also enter the physician assistant profession through the hybrid program. Learn more about the Physician Assistant Studies Hybrid Program at Pitt.

Application

Application Opens

April 25, 2025

Application Closes

July 31, 2025

Application System

Apply through the Centralized Application System for Physician Assistants (CASPA)

The application fee is set by CASPA.

Academic Standards and Prerequisites

Qualified applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Applicants should have an overall GPA of 3.0 (based on 4.0) in all college level coursework and a minimum GPA of 3.0 (based on 4.0) in the prerequisite science courses designated below with an asterisk (*).
- See the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) site for definitions of these GPAs.
- Exceptions may be made (but are not guaranteed) for applicants who present compelling evidence of success in graduate coursework. This means that if an applicant has an overall GPA of <3.0, their application may still be reviewed/considered if they have completed an entire master’s or doctorate level program.
- Completion of graduate level courses without a diploma from said programs will not be considered, nor will graduate-level certificate programs.

All admissions requirements must be completed by the application deadline to start classes in the following spring term (January).

Prerequisite Coursework

Biology with lab designed for science majors, two semesters*
Chemistry with lab designed for science majors, two semesters*
Microbiology with lab, one semester*
Anatomy with lab and Physiology*
- This requirement may be met by taking either one semester of Anatomy with lab and one semester of Physiology or two semesters of Anatomy with lab and Physiology combined.
Statistics, one semester
Medical Terminology, one semester for at least 1 college credit
English Composition/writing, two semesters
Psychology, one semester

There is no expiration date for prerequisite courses. For questions about whether specific courses satisfy the prerequisite requirements, please review this detailed prerequisite rubric. If applicants still have questions after reviewing the rubric, please contact pittpa@shrs.pitt.edu for additional information.

Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended will be required.

NOTE: The GRE General Test is not required for admission to the program.

Transcripts

Applicants are required to provide transcripts from all U.S. universities, colleges or other higher education institutions attended.

Admitted students will need to submit official transcripts to the SHRS Admissions Office prior to enrolling in classes.

Experience

A minimum of 500 hours of direct, hands-on, patient care experience is required by the admissions requirement deadline. Eligible experiences include work as registered nurse (RN), emergency medical technician (EMT), paramedic, medical assistant and physical or occupational therapy assistant.

Contact the PA enrollment specialist if you are unsure if your experience will satisfy this requirement.

Current Pitt Students: View this SharePoint Site for more information about local Pittsburgh shadowing, volunteering and other hands-on opportunities. Pitt Passport required.

Personal Statement

Applicants must provide two (2) personal statements in CASPA.

The first essay should be a personal statement focusing on why the applicant wants to become a physician assistant/associate.
The second essay should reflect the mission of the Pitt PA Studies program and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Letters of Recommendation

Three (3) professional letters of recommendation are required for the application.

Please see examples of who can and should write these letters and content below:

One (1) to Character Reference
1. Evidence of leadership, integrity and humility, values honesty and equity among all person. Examples could be but are not limited to:
  1. peer
  2. coworker
  3. mentor
  4. volunteer group
  5. and/or religious/spiritual leader
One (1) from a PCE Supervisor
1. Evidence of positive interactions of applicant within with in patient care setting, respectful of best practices/protocols, takes ownership of actions, has strong work ethic, and values wellness of patient and teamwork
2. Superior who directly oversees your patient care hours who can specifically speak to your skills and patient interactions. Examples could be but are not limited to:
  1. current/past manager or assistant manager
  2. department director
  3. mentor
  4. and/or military superior
One (1) from a prior instructor
1. Evidence of a dedication to learning, is driven and disciplined to achieve good outcomes, sets high standards and willing to ask questions when unsure of materials
2. A person who has been directly involved in teaching the applicant in some capacity and can specifically speak to the applicant’s ability to learn/be taught. Examples include but are not limited to:
  1. College of university instructor/professor
  2. a certification or skills teacher
  3. a superior who provided the applicant on the job skills training
  4. and/or a military instructor.

Technical Standards and Skills

Students admitted to the program must review the Technical Standards for admission and graduation and submit a signed form at the time of matriculation verifying satisfactory performance of the essential skills.

Application Review Process

Application Review

The entire application (including prerequisites courses, letters of recommendations and statements) must be received and verified by CASPA no later than 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the deadline. Applications not verified or any required application materials not submitted by the deadline will not be considered and will disqualify the application.

The admissions committee will then rate and review all completed applications. The highest-rated applicants will receive invitations to online interviews in September. Applicants will be notified of a decision (offer of admission, waitlist, or denial) in October after all applicants have completed their interviews.

The application and admissions processes for the program does not favor specific groups or individuals based on their personal or social identities.

Admissions Decisions

Admissions decisions are made in accordance with these practices:

Screening of Applications: Upon receipt of a verified application from the CASPA service, the Director of Admissions and the rest of the Admissions Committee (which includes the Program Director, all full-time faculty, select current students and program staff), along with program staff, award points for certain applicant criteria and characteristics and the total points are used to decide who is invited to interview for a seat in the program. These criteria and characteristics include:
1. Health care experience and level of experience – Higher scores are awarded for longer service and at higher levels of patient care
2. Diploma and degree – While a bachelor’s degree is required, a graduate degree is scored higher
3. Grade Point Averages (GPAs) – Higher undergraduate and specific prerequisite science GPAs receive higher scores
4. Scoring of personal statements – Higher scores are awarded based on the strength of evidence of desire to be a PA, understanding of the role of a PA, demonstration of understanding of the program mission, evidence of how one’s background, qualifications, and/or identities match and/or support the mission, language and writing skills, and editorial care
5. Letters of Recommendation: Scores are compiled from the quality of the letter and score provided by the recommender in CASPA
Interview: Interviews for seats are performed and scored by the Program Director, faculty and practicing PAs. They include the following parts and scoring:
1. Essay – Higher scores are awarded based on apparent appreciation for the state of the PA profession, passion for pursuing PA school to positively impact the profession, language and writing skills and editorial care.
2. Individual interview – Higher scores are awarded based on the strength of demonstration of the following qualities:
  1. adaptability/stress management
  2. conflict resolution
  3. technical and professional knowledge
  4. ability to learn
3. Group interview – Higher scores are awarded based on the strength of demonstration of the following qualities:
  1. active listening
  2. conflict management
  3. probing the group to maximize performance
  4. leadership skills
  5. clarification of group responses
  6. encouraging and harmonizing with fellow group members
  7. articulation
  8. drawing others into the conversation
  9. offering ideas
  10. summarizing
Total Scoring and Final Review by Admissions Committee: After completion of the above, the committee reviews candidate scores, reviewer comments and application information to decide who is accepted, waitlisted and denied admission.

Other Requirements

Individuals from Health Professions Shortage areas, underrepresented minorities in medicine and other minoritized communities are encouraged to apply. Applicants of all abilities/disabilities, religions, marital statuses, familial statuses, sexes, ages, sexual orientations, veteran statuses, national origins, all ethnic and racial backgrounds, genetic information, and gender identities and expressions are welcome to apply.
Advanced placement, defined as a waiver of required coursework included in the PA curriculum for applicants to the program and/or a waiver of required coursework included in the PA curriculum for currently enrolled students in the program which results in the student advancing in the curriculum without completing required curricular components at the University of Pittsburgh, is not an option in this program.
Admitted students will need to complete a background check.
- This includes a criminal background check, health assessment and drug screen.
- Matriculation as a student in the program is conditional upon these results.
- Failure to complete this process and submission of documents on or before the deadline given will result in forfeiture the admitted student’s seat.
- If a student declines to undergo this process, or if findings of a grievous nature are revealed, the offer of admission will be revoked. During enrollment, repeat background checks, health and drug screens will be required. If a student declines to undergo a background check, health assessment or drug screen while enrolled in the program or if findings of a grievous nature are revealed, this will be grounds for dismissal from the program.
- This program requires the student to complete portions of their education (e.g. clinical preceptorship, practicum) at facilities external to the University to meet requirements for graduation. Many of these external facilities require screening measures such as, but not limited to, background check, child abuse clearance, health appraisal, fingerprint-based background check and/or drug test prior to placement at the facility. The results of these requirements may limit and potentially eliminate placement options for the student which can, in turn, result in an inability to meet graduation requirements.
- Additionally, conviction of a misdemeanor, felony or felonious or illegal act may prevent the student from becoming credentialed and/or licensed to practice in the field.

International Student Information

The following requirements are necessary for applicants from outside of the U.S.

For questions about the international student requirements, please reach out to the SHRS Admissions Office.

Academic Credential Evaluations

Students who have completed the equivalent of a baccalaureate degree or higher at an institution outside of the United States are required to provide an academic credential evaluation from Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. or World Education Services (WES), Inc. with their application.

A course-by-course evaluation with GPA conversion is required.
Evaluations are not required for degrees earned in the United States. If you have attended an English Canadian institution, please contact the SHRS Admissions Office.
Individual SHRS programs may have their own specific Academic Credential Evaluation requirements.

Verification of English Language Proficiency

The University of Pittsburgh accepts the official results of the Duolingo English Test, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) as a measure of English language proficiency.

Verification is required unless the following apply:

The applicant is a citizen of a country whose official language is English.
The applicant has completed a degree program at a regionally accredited institution in the U.S.
The applicant is not a citizen of a country whose official language is English but has completed a degree program at an institution outside of the U.S. where the language of instruction is English and where the official national language of the country in which the institution is located is English.

Minimum Scores by Program

On-campus Programs — Duolingo: 115 | IELTS: 6.5 | TOFEL: 80

Athletic Training (MS)
Health Informatics (MS)
- Health Data Analytics (Certificate)
- Health Information Cybersecurity (Certificate)
- Leadership in Health Informatics (Certificate)
- Revenue Cycle Management (Certificate)
Occupational Therapy (Post-Professional MS)
Physical Therapy (Post-Professional MS)
Prosthetics and Orthotics (MS)
Sports Science (MS)

On-campus Programs — Duolingo: 130 | IELTS: 7.0 | TOFEL: 100

Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MS)
Communication Science and Disorders (Post-Baccalaureate)
Communication Science (PhD)
Dietitian Nutritionist Program (MS)
Doctor of Audiology (AuD)
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Physician Assistant Studies (MS)
Rehabilitation Science (PhD)
Speech Language Pathology (MA/MS)

Hybrid and Online Programs — Duolingo: 130 | IELTS: 7.0 | TOFEL: 100

Hybrid
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
- Master of Rehabilitation Technology (MRT)
Online
- Doctor of Clinical Science in Occupational Therapy (CScD)
- Advanced Practice Certificate in Implementation of Evidence in Clinical Practice (Certificate)
- Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)
- Health Informatics (MS)
- Health Data Analytics (Certificate)
- Health Information Cyber Security (Certificate)
- Leadership in Health Informatics (Certificate)
- Revenue Cycle Management (Certificate)

How to Submit Scores

Duolingo English Test: Scores should be made available electronically to “University of Pittsburgh – School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences”
International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Scores should be made available electronically to “University of Pittsburgh Health and Rehabilitation Sciences”
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Scores should be submitted electronically through ETS to institution code “2927”.

Physician Assistant Studies (MS)

Have Questions?

Admissions

Application

Application Opens

Application Closes

Application System

Academic Standards and Prerequisites

Transcripts

Experience

Personal Statement

Letters of Recommendation

Technical Standards and Skills

Application Review Process

Application Review

Admissions Decisions

Other Requirements

International Student Information

Academic Credential Evaluations

Verification of English Language Proficiency

How to Submit Scores

Related Programs:

Physician Assistant Studies (MS)

Physician Assistant Studies, Post-Professional (DMSc)

Physician Assistant Studies Hybrid (MS)

Have Questions?

Related Programs:

Physician Assistant Studies (MS)

Physician Assistant Studies, Post-Professional (DMSc)

Physician Assistant Studies Hybrid (MS)

Get More Information

Get More Information

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