Admission Requirements

Requirements

Degree

• Baccalaureate Degree from a U.S. regionally accredited College or University.

Grade Point Average

• The following GPA are required:
  • Overall GPA of 3.0 (Undergraduate) or Overall Graduate GPA of 3.0 (only for applicants holding an earned graduate degree). 
  • Prerequisite GPA of 3.2. 

Prerequisite Coursework

• A minimum grade of "C" or better is required for prerequisite coursework.
• Prerequisite coursework MUST have been completed no more than 10 years prior to matriculation. Courses must have been completed after January 1, 2015. 
• CLEP (College Level Examination Program) or AP (Advanced Placement) course credit may not be used or substituted to meet prerequisite requirements.
• Experiential learning is not substituted for prerequisite coursework.
• Online courses from regionally accredited institutions are accepted.
• Courses only offered pass-fail by the college or university due to COVID 19 (Spring 2020 through Spring 2021) will be accepted and will not contribute to the calculated GPA or Pre-Requisite GPA. Pass-Fail courses will not be accepted if there was an option to choose pass-fail or graded. If it is not clearly stated on the transcript a letter will be required from the college or university to confirm that pass-fail was the only option.
• Degree and prerequisite coursework taken outside of the U.S. is not accepted (regardless if made equivalent by a U.S. institution).
• Applicants may have one (1) outstanding course at the time of the application deadline. This course must be completed by the end of Fall Semester (December 31) of the application cycle.
• Completion of a Medical Terminology course is strongly recommended for success in the program.

Direct Patient Care Experiences

• Applicants are expected to have hands-on, direct patient care experiences in a healthcare setting.
  • A minimum of 500 hours of direct patient care experience in a healthcare setting must be completed prior to application. 
  • Direct patient care experiences in a healthcare setting will be evaluated based on the type of experience and the number of hours. 
  • Quality of prior health care experience will be taken into consideration; favorable healthcare settings include: 
    • Direct health care experience serving disadvantaged populations
  • Examples of direct patient care experiences in a healthcare setting may include but are not limited to:  EMT, Medical Scribe, Paramedic, Medical Assistant, Nurse, Surgical Technician, Athletic Trainer, Physical Therapy Aide, Medical Corpsman, and volunteer hours in a hospital or nursing home where there was direct contact with patients.
  • Applicants will submit verifiable information regarding their direct health care experiences.  

Letters of Recommendation

• Three letters of recommendation are required. 
• Letters should be from physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, research mentors, professors or volunteer coordinators/supervisors who had direct interaction with the applicant within the last 5 years and can attest to their qualities, strengths and suitability for a career as a physician assistant.
• Letters must not be from a family member or peer.

Personal and Supplemental Statements

• Personal and Supplemental Statements

Residency

• US Citizens.
• Lawful Permanent Residents of the United States: Applicants who are legal permanent residents of the U.S. will be required to provide a copy of their permanent resident card ("green card") prior to admission. Note: Permanent residency status "pending," is not eligible for admission.

Transfers of credits or Admission with Advanced Standing

• Transfer credit or admission with advanced standing from another PA program is not accepted.
• No advanced standing, or transfer credit is given to foreign medical school graduates. All learners admitted to the PA program must take all courses with their cohort.
• All of the curricular components of the program are required for graduation and must be completed at the Ithaca College Master of Science in Physician Assistant Program.