PA – Physician Assistant – Admission Requirements

Our Master of Science in Physician Assistant program has a rolling admissions process whereby applications are continuously reviewed and selected candidates interviewed until all 30 seats of the cohort are filled. Even after the cohort is filled, applications will continue to be reviewed for potential wait-list spots. As space in our program is limited, we recommend that you submit your application as early as possible.

The program is unable to grant advanced standing for prior coursework or experiential learning.

To apply to our physician assistant (PA) program, you must submit an application online through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).

• We recommend that applications and materials are submitted via CASPA by September 1 in order to be verified and complete by the October 1 deadline (fall-start only).
• When applying through CASPA, simply select Monmouth University from the list of schools, and your completed application will then be sent to our admission office.
• Any applications sent directly to Monmouth University will not be considered.

Application Requirements *

1. CASPA Application
   • Applicants must submit a completed Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) application.
2. Technical Standards Acknowledgement Form and Application Fee
   • Applicants must be able to meet the program’s technical standards.
   • Once your application has been verified by CASPA and imported by Monmouth University, you will receive an email with instructions on how to access your Applicant Portal. Through this portal, you will be able to sign and upload the required Technical Standards Acknowledgement Form as well as submit your $60.00 Monmouth University application fee.
3. Baccalaureate Degree
   • Possession of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university is required.
   • Applicants not having a baccalaureate degree by the time of the personal interview, if accepted into the program, will automatically fall into an Accepted Conditional status pending completion of their degree but must have degree completed prior to matriculation and evidence of meeting all GPA and prerequisite course requirements.
4. GPA Requirements
   • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from all courses at all institutions
   • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all prerequisite courses.
   • Competitive applicants have GPA’s of 3.3 or better.
5. Prerequisite Coursework
   • Successful completion, within 10 years before application, of the following prerequisite courses and associated semester credit hours (sch) with a grade of “C” or better (pass/fail grading is not accepted):
     • Human Anatomy with lab (4 sch) and Human Physiology with lab (4 sch) or alternatively Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II, each with lab and each 4 sch;
     • Chemistry I and II with lab, each 4 sch**;
     • Biology I with lab (4 sch) or Biology II with lab (4 sch) or Cell Biology with Lab (4 sch);
     • Microbiology with lab (4 sch);
     • General Psychology (3 sch) or Abnormal Psychology (3 sch) or Developmental Psychology (3 sch);
     • Medical Terminology (2 sch minimum): certificate courses and contact hour courses are not acceptable; course can be taken online.
     • Statistics or Biostatistics (3 sch): statistics courses within social or natural science departments (e.g., psychology) are acceptable.
     • Advanced Placement (AP) or College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit for any prerequisite courses is not accepted.
     • Online courses will be considered for acceptance in fulfilling admission requirements.
     • All courses must be completed at a regionally accredited College or University. Applicants who completed coursework from a college or university outside of the U.S. must submit a transcript evaluation from a reputable transcript evaluation service.
6. English Language Proficiency
   • Students whose native language is not English must provide an English proficiency score meeting the University’s requirements by the time of application.
7. Direct Patient Care Experiences
   • A minimum of 200 hours of paid or unpaid (i.e., volunteer) direct patient care experience by the time of application (up to 20 shadowing hours with a PA can be included).
8. Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
   • The GRE, taken in the past five years, is required for all applicants by the time of application.
   • Competitive applicants have scores near or above the 50th percentile in each of the test areas.
   • Your GRE scores can be submitted directly to us through CASPA. Use the Designated Institution Code 3880 and your scores will be included with your application.
9. Letters of Reference
   • All applicants are required to submit three specific letters of reference via the CASPA system by the time of application.
     • One letter must be from a current or former professor who has taught you in a class.
     • One letter must be from a paid or volunteer work supervisor. This should be someone that you report directly to and who can discuss your work ethic and performance. Letters from coaches are not counted as fulfilling this requirement.
     • One letter must be from a clinician.

*Note: Meeting minimal requirements does not guarantee a personal interview nor guarantee admission to the program. Additionally, no application requirements may be waived for any applicant. See our FAQ section for details on what makes an applicant more competitive.

**Note: Specific to Rutgers University, 7 credits of Chem I and II with combined lab meets the admission chemistry prerequisite.

Additional Matriculation Requirements

1. Candidates invited to join the program must obtain Basic Life Support certification from the American Heart Association before matriculation and maintain certification for the duration of their program.
2. Candidates invited to join the program must complete a comprehensive background check within 30 days before matriculation. Information in this regard will be provided once they are informed of their admission decisions. Background checks indicating past criminal history may prevent matriculation. Matriculated students may be required to complete additional background checks before and during supervised clinical practice experiences.
3. Candidates invited to join the program must have the Medical Clearance & and Immunization & Testing form completed before matriculation. This form will be accessible by applicants once they are informed of their admission decision.
   • Unless otherwise excused, Candidates invited to join the program must meet all immunization and testing (e.g., Tb) requirements before matriculation and for the duration of their program.
   • The Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MSPA) program adheres to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Recommended Vaccines for Healthcare Workers. Accepted students must provide documentation that they meet all immunization and Tb testing requirements prior to matriculation and maintain immunizations and complete annual Tb testing throughout their training.
   • Contraindications to immunizations will be considered on a case-by-case basis, only with documentation from a medical provider, and must be discussed prior to matriculation. Personal/Religious reasons for declining immunizations will be considered on a case by case basis and must be discussed prior to matriculation. The MSPA Program is not in control or have input into policies, procedures and protocols at clinical institutions. It is important to understand that participating in some clinical experiences may be prohibited from some institutions/practices without completion of immunization requirements, even for valid medical and/or personal/religious reasons, resulting in the Program’s inability to place students at some clinical sites and potentially resulting in a significant delay in graduation. It is for this reason that the Program requires students to discuss such issues prior to matriculation.
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4. As the program uses the ExamSoft platform for all didactic-phase written examinations, matriculated students are required to have a laptop that is compatible with Examplify. Virtually any modern laptop computer (i.e. purchased within the last 3-4 years) can be used, but, at this time, the program only supports Mac and Windows operating systems. Examplify will not run on Chrome, Android, or Linux operating systems.  Details regarding minimum laptop system requirements can be found at this link.
5. Matriculated students may be required to have a comprehensive drug screen before and during the clinical phase of training, but drug screens are not required before matriculation. Positive drug screens may prevent students from participating in supervised clinical practice experiences.
6. Monmouth University strongly encourages all students to be covered under a health insurance plan. Some clinical sites may require health insurance for all students participating in supervised clinical practice experiences at their locations.

Admissions Processes

• Individuals apply to the program via the Centralized Student Application Service (CASPA).
• The MU University Graduate Admission Office and the MSPA Program review applications and determine if applicants are invited for an interview.
  • In some cases applicants may be denied an interview or placed on an interview wait list for potential future interview. Generally, these applicants are less competitive than others applying at the same time (e.g., applicants with relatively low GPAs just meeting admission requirements, applicants with GRE scores falling <20%, and/or applicants with poor letters of reference). If placed on the interview wait list, applicants will be reevaluated prior to each subsequent interview session.
  • See our Program Outcomes page for data on average GPA, GRE, and Patient Care Hours of previous and present cohorts.
  • See our FAQ page for what makes an applicant more competitive.
• Invited candidates attend an interview (during the COVID-19 Pandemic, interviews have been converted to online format via the University’s secure Zoom platform).
  • Opening session welcoming candidates, reviewing the program and admission processes, introduction of faculty, students, and candidates, review of program curriculum, and question and answer session.
  • Individual interviews with program faculty
  • Small group session, led by current students, where a group of applicants will meet together to discuss an ethical dilemma or clinical problem.
  • Writing activity where applicants will write a social justice statement.
  • Closing session without faculty present, with current students for any remaining questions to be answered.
• Admissions decisions are made near the time of the interview.
  • Following the interview, MSPA program faculty meet to discuss all candidates and make admissions decisions.
  • Candidates are generally informed within one week of their interview regarding admissions decisions.
• Admission decisions include:
  • Denied for Admission
    • Candidates determined to not be a good fit for the program.
  • Wait-listed for Admission
    • Candidates appear to be a good fit but less competitive than other candidates interviewing on the same day.
    • Wait-listed applicants are re-reviewed following each subsequent admissions session and may be moved from wait-list to another admissions category (e.g., denied or accepted).
• Accepted Conditionally for Admission
  • Candidates determined to be e a good fit for the program but may have outstanding requirements for matriculation (e.g., one course remains to be completed; degree needs to be completed; more patient care hours need to be completed)
• Accepted for Admission

For additional program information, visit our FAQ page.