Program Requirements

• Submission of the CASPA (Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants) application.
• Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or permanent residents of the U.S.
• A bachelor’s (baccalaureate) degree is mandatory.
• For applicants with degrees from institutions outside the U.S. or Canada, all coursework must be completed at an educational institution accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies:
  • Accrediting Commissions for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC)
  • Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
  • Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
  • WASC Senior College and University Commissions (WSCUC)
• Applicants with degrees from outside the U.S. or Canada must complete a minimum of 60 credit hours at a U.S. or Canadian accredited institution, including all required prerequisite course work.
• All prerequisite courses must be completed within 10 years of matriculation with a minimum grade of C or higher.
• Applicants who have earned a degree outside the U.S. or Canada must demonstrate competence in the English language by submitting TOEFL scores with a minimum score of 100 on the internet-based testing and a minimum score of 26 on the speaking component. Scores must be from within five years of matriculation.
• Applicants must attest that they meet the U of A PA Program Technical Standards (A3.13e) as described in the student handbook. This attestation is included in the University of Arizona supplemental questions section of the CASPA application.

All coursework can be in person or virtual. All courses must be provided by higher education institutions accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies: ACCJC, HLC, NWCCU, SACSCOC, WSCUC, MSCHE, or NECHE.

Science Course Requirements

• Anatomy & Physiology: Applicants must meet one of the two following options:
  • Three semester credit hours or four quarter credit hours of Human Anatomy AND three semester credit hours or four quarter credit hours of Human Physiology
  • Six semester credit hours or eight quarter credit hours of combined Human Anatomy and Physiology
• General Chemistry: three semester credit hours or four quarter credit hours, with or without laboratory
• Microbiology: three semester credit hours or four quarter credit hours, with or without laboratory

All required science prerequisite courses must be fully completed prior to the submission of the CASPA application. In-progress or planned science coursework will not be accepted. Each completed course must appear on an official transcript, with a final grade and course completion date clearly documented, at the time the application is submitted to CASPA. Transcripts must reflect that the course was completed and graded before the application deadline.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to confirm that their transcripts are updated and accurate before submitting their CASPA application to ensure eligibility.

Non-Science Course Requirements

• Medical terminology: one semester credit hour or two quarter credit hours 
• Spanish language proficiency - The U of A PA Program requires applicants to have a minimum of six semester credit hours or eight quarter credit hours of Spanish language or placement exam scores at the intermediate level. There are no language substitutes. Proficiency can be demonstrated by any of the following:
  • Taking six or more semester credit hours of Spanish language coursework within 10 years prior to anticipated program matriculation.
  • Taking eight or more quarter credit hours of Spanish language coursework within 10 years prior to anticipated program matriculation.
  • Taking the CLEP Spanish exam and receiving a score of 63 or higher.
  • Taking the U of A Spanish placement exam and receiving a score of 4PL or 3PR.
  • Taking a Spanish placement exam at another undergraduate institution that is reflected on official transcripts.

Preference Factors

• Strong history of health care experience
  • Documented in CASPA under "Experiences".  See FAQs for more information.
• Strong history of volunteer or community enrichment
  • Documented in CASPA under "Experiences". See FAQs for more information.
• American Indian/Alaska Native tribal 
  • Self-identified in CASPA under “Race & Ethnicity”
• Disadvantaged background
  • Documented in CASPA under “Background Information.” While disadvantage may take many forms (“see FAQs”), our program applies a binary scoring system: applicants either meet or do not meet the criteria for this preference factor.
• Honorable military service 
  • Documented in CASPA under “Military History”
• Rural area residency
  • Self-identified in CASPA under “Environmental Factors: Residency.” The program's definition of rural is provided in our FAQs.
• Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher or an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher in the most recent 60 credit hours
  • Documented in CASPA. This preference is also assessed using a binary scoring system.

Recommendation Letters

A minimum of three and a maximum of five letters of recommendation must be submitted through the CASPA application. The program will not review any letters beyond the fifth submission.

Letters should come from individuals who can speak to the applicant’s academic, professional or clinical qualifications, ideally clinicians, science professors or mentors. Letters from personal friends or family members will not be accepted.

All letters must be submitted electronically directly to CASPA no later than November 1. Letters submitted through other means will not be considered.