Master of Physician Assistant Studies
Admissions Information for Prospective Students

Admission Requirements | Application Requirements | Academic Prerequisites | Foreign Course Work | Applicant Selection | Interview Selection | Decision Dates | Transcripts | Waivers and Advanced Placement | Transfer Policy for Students from other PA Programs | Texas Residency | Contact Information

Applicants are considered without regard to age, race, creed, sex, national origin, veteran's status or disability. All applicants are required to meet the posted
Health and Technical Standards in order to participate in the Physician Assistant Studies degree program.

You can now complete your Secondary Application before you e-submit the CASPA application!

Click here  to begin the UNTHSC PA Secondary Application

Admission Requirements

• Completion of ninety (90) semester credit hours of college credit from a U.S. accredited college or university.
• A minimum overall GPA of 2.85.
• Two or three letters of professional reference (submitted to CASPA).
• One additional letter may be submitted directly to the UNTHSC Admissions Office.

Note: The GRE is not required.

Application Requirements (click on links below)

• CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistants)
• Secondary Application   New Process
  In addition to the CASPA application, all applicants are required to submit a Secondary Application directly to the Physician Assistant Studies program. Applicants now have the option of completing the Secondary Application prior to UNTHSC receiving the applicant's CASPA application materials.  Please click on the Secondary Application link and login as an HSC Guest.  Once you are logged in as an HSC Guest, you will see the PA Secondary Application Link under the TCOM Admissions section.
  
  After the PA Studies program receives your CASPA application, an e-mail will be sent directly to the applicant.  This email contains the applicant's Enterprise User Identification (EUID) and Personal Identification Number (PIN).  Applicants who have not submitted a Secondary Application can use their EUID and PIN to login and begin their application.  With the EUID and PIN, applicants can access the status of their documents received by the Admissions Office, as well as get additional information about the admissions process.  UNTHSC's PA Studies program encourages all applicants to complete the Secondary Application as early as possible.
  
  The additional information requested on the Secondary Application will provide us with valuable insights during the selection process.  Applicant files will not be evaluated until we receive both the CASPA application and the Secondary Application.  There is no fee for the Secondary Application.

Academic Prerequisites

• Prerequisites may be in progress at the time of application submittal to CASPA. They must be completed by December 31 prior to matriculation into the program.
• A letter grade of 'C' or better is required for each prerequisite.

Important Notes

• The GRE is not required.
• A Bachelor s degree is recommended prior to matriculation, but not required.
• Exceptions cannot be granted to the prerequisite deadline (December 31).
• Prerequisite course requirements cannot be waived.
• One course cannot be used to meet two prerequisites. For example:
  Calculus can be used to fulfill the requirement for Math, but not for Statistics.
• Preference will be given to applicants who complete their course work in the classroom versus through examination tests such as CLEP.
• Correspondence or television courses obtained through U.S. accredited colleges or universities are recognized to meet the prerequisite requirement.

Foreign Course Work

Prerequisite course work to the PA Studies program at UNT Health Science Center must be completed at accredited colleges and universities located within the United States.

Admission requirements are the same for applicants with foreign course work:

• Completion of ninety (90) semester credit hours of college credit from a U.S. accredited college or university.
• A minimum overall GPA of 2.85.
• Two or three letters of professional reference (submitted to CASPA).

Note: The GRE is not required.

All course work taken at foreign colleges or universities must be evaluated for U.S. equivalence by a CASPA approved evaluation service.

For a listing of evaluation services, you should contact CASPA at apply@caspaonline.org or visit their website at https://secure.caspaonline.org/

Upon completing the required applications and admission requirements (see above), applicants with foreign course work will be processed with the same consideration as that given to other applicants.

Applicant Selection: Qualities we look for in a candidate

In reviewing applications for interview selection and acceptance, we evaluate many factors that help us examine the qualities that you bring to our program. Those factors include:

• Academic background
• Community service
• Extracurricular activities
• Honors, achievements and awards
• Interview results
• Letters of reference
• Life experiences
• PA exposure or mentorship/shadowing
• Patient care or health care related experience (paid or volunteer)
• Understanding the PA role in health care

Evidence of personal integrity, maturity, motivation, writing ability, dedication and the ability to work with others are additional factors that will be considered.

Interview Selection

Interviews are offered by invitation only. Interviews generally take place on campus from September to February. Interviews may end sooner if the class is filled. Candidates that are invited to interview will be contacted by phone or email. Declining an invitation or failing to appear for a scheduled interview will result in rejection of your application. Early submittal of your application can increase your chances of interview selection. Interview results are confidential and are considered in the competitive selection process.

Decision Dates

The PA program can make admission offers as early as October. Offers will be continuously made until the class is filled with qualified candidates. All applicants will be notified of their official status no later than April 30th in the admission year.

Transcripts

Upon notification of acceptance, all candidates admitted into the PA program will be required to send new official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities directly to the UNTHSC Admissions and Outreach Office.

Reminder: Official transcripts must be sent directly from the originating school to CASPA during the application process. Do not send transcripts directly to UNTHSC unless specifically requested to do so.

Waivers and Advanced Placement

Advanced placement and waiver of courses in the professional curriculum are not available to applicants to the Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree program. Once enrolled, a PA student may apply for advanced placement and/or course waiver by meeting specific requirements and deadlines. For more information on this, applicants should contact the PA program academic office directly. Prerequisite courses cannot be waived.

Transfer Policy for Students from other PA Programs

The Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree program does not admit transfer students from other physician assistant studies programs. All applicants must participate in a competitive admissions process.

Texas Residency

At least 90 percent of each entering class must be Texas residents. Up to 10 percent of each entering class may be filled with non-Texas residents. An alien living in the United States under a visa permitting permanent residence, or who has filed with the proper federal immigration authorities a declaration of intention to become a citizen, has the same privilege of qualifying for Texas residency as do citizens of the United States.

For rules and regulations on Texas residency, visit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's Residency Information site.

Contact Information

Office of Admissions and Outreach
Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Physician Assistant Studies Program
University of North Texas Health Science Center
3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard
Fort Worth, TX 76107-2699
Phone: (817) 735-2204 or (800) 535-TCOM (8266)
Fax: (817) 735-2225
E-Mail: PAAdmissions@hsc.unt.edu

Applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, sex, national origin, veteran's status or disability.

Candidates must meet Health and Technical Standards to participate in the Physician Assistant Studies degree program.