Each Physician Assistant (PA) School has different requirements for prerequisite courses. Research schools early for specific information about requirements.

Though requirements for individual schools vary, here are some recommended courses that would apply to most schools:

• General Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Human Anatomy
• Human Physiology
• General Biology
• Microbiology
• Statistics
• Psychology (including Developmental Psychology)
• Medical Terminology

For a comprehensive list of potential prerequisites, please see the CASPA program directory.

Physician Assistant (PA) programs admit students once a year with start dates that differ from school to school. Please check with each of the schools you are looking at for their deadlines and start dates to determine when your application process should begin. 

Applications are submitted about 8-12 months in advance of the desired enrollment date. However, the timing depends on when you will complete your degree, the necessary coursework, and successfully take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) if necessary.

Physician Assistant School Application process includes 5 main components:

1. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE)- (Most Schools)
2. Primary Application
3. Letters of Recommendation
4. Secondary Applications (Most Schools)
5. Interviews

Due to the variable nature of application processes across schools, an exact timeline cannot be provided. We recommend creating a spreadsheet to track deadlines and requirements. It is important to note some schools have rolling admissions while others have deadline admissions. The Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) opens annually on the last Thursday of April. Please note application cycles can overlap from year to year, so pay careful attention when creating your account. Below is a list of steps to take ahead of beginning the application process. 

Before Applying

• Complete prerequisites.
• Consider completing shadowing hours with a PA in various settings.
• To be a competitive applicant, we recommend students earn a significant number of hours of patient contact experience (PCE). Please carefully review the requirements of individual schools you are considering.
• Order official transcripts from all colleges and universities that you have attended to be sent to CASPA.
• Determine who will write letters of recommendation.

Letters of Recommendation/Support:

Requirements vary between schools, so always make sure you review the letters required for the schools you are applying to. CASPA requires a minimum of three letters of recommendation and allows a maximum of five. Begin early to establish a network of professors, supervisors (for volunteer or paid work), and healthcare providers who are familiar with your work. It is important to choose recommenders who know you well. 

Personal Statement:

The personal statement is about you and your motivation for pursuing a career as a Physician Assistant. Describe your current passion for the field with specific stories 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, and is not a place to repeat your previously mentioned accomplishments. It can be helpful to remember why you are interested in becoming a PA.

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required by many PA programs and is administered throughout the year. It may be repeated, but the best strategy is to prepare thoroughly and take it once. More information on the GRE can be found here.

Most Physician Assistant schools hold 'interview days' where they bring in a group of applicants that may consist of some or all of the following: Interviews, written essays, school tours, and opportunities to meet students and faculty.

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

The most common types of interviews are:

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

Involvement allows you to supplement a strong academic record. Physician Assistant school admissions committees like to see evidence of initiative, creativity, leadership and collaboration, and organizational skills. However, it is important to remember that such activities will not substitute for poor grades, so don’t sacrifice study time for activities. Search UK Student Organizations/Programs via BBNVolved.

Patient Contact

Physician Assistant schools require patient contact experience (PCE) hours. The recommended number of hours varies from school to school and can be earned by working as a CNA, EMT, CMA, Medical Tech, or Scribe, for example. Applicants must demonstrate hands-on clinical skills such as, but not limited to, taking patient vitals, measuring glucose, administering immunizations, etc. Not all healthcare experience qualifies for PCE hours, so please review each school's guidelines before beginning an experience. 

Volunteering

As a caring attitude is central to the practice of Physician Assistant, applicants should demonstrate a commitment to service, more specifically direct service, and a desire to help others. Applicants may wish to highlight volunteer and service activities, including tutoring, assisting seniors, volunteer EMT, coaching youth sports, mentoring, etc.

Physician Assistant Schools in Kentucky

• Sullivan University
• University of the Cumberlands 
  • Campuses in Williamsburg & Northern KY.
• University of Kentucky
  • Campuses in Lexington & Morehead.

Find a Physician Assistant School: CASPA Program Directory.

Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA)

 Kentucky Academy of Physician Assistants

 Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA)