Admissions

• The Pfeiffer University MS-PAS Program uses the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) for all applications. Applicants may start applying on April 28, 2022, and our cycle closes on September 1, 2022. Apply now!
• Applicants may start applying to the Pfeiffer University Master of Science Physician Assistant Studies program through CASPA on April 28, 2022, and our deadline for applications to be received through CASPA is September 1, 2022.
• Once your CAPSA application has been fully completed and verified, the application will be reviewed by our admissions committee.
• Click here for CASPA Application Fees.

• All applicants must apply through CASPA. The 2022-2023 application cycle opens on April 28, 2022.
• The deadline for your completed application is September 1, 2022.
• Please note that CASPA considers an application to be complete when all items including fees, transcripts, letters of recommendation and other required items are submitted with the application.  Applicants requiring further assistance with CASPA should contact customer service at 617-612-2080 or by email at [email protected].
• Pfeiffer University does not require a supplemental application.
• Qualified candidates will be invited to an on-campus interview. The interview process will begin July 2022 through November 1, 2022.
• Pfeiffer University has a rolling admissions process.  When the cohort is fully seated the admission process will end for that application cycle.
• For the 2022-2023 application cycle the program may accept a maximum of 45 full-time students
• All applicants will receive email notification regarding their status.

The admissions process is highly selective. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview or acceptance. Most competitive applicants meet or exceed the minimum requirements.

Each applicant will be evaluated and ranked on the following:

• Baccalaureate Degree from a U.S. regionally accredited College or University.
• Cumulative Grade Point Average (cGPA)
• Pre-requisite Grade Point Average (pGPA)
• Trends U60 Grade Point Average
• Physician Assistant College Admissions Test (PA-CAT)
• Letters of Recommendation
• Personal Statement
• CASPer®Test Score
• Quality and length of prior health care experience
• Direct health care experience serving disadvantaged populations
• Rural health care experience
• Military health care experience
• Extracurricular activities
• Performance during the interview

The Admissions Committee will use a rubric to award points based on the criteria above.  All decisions will be based upon the applicant’s overall application and interview.

Interview Process

Applicants are considered for an on-campus interview based on the strength of their CASPA application in meeting or exceeding the Pfeiffer University MS-PAS program requirements as compared against the applicant pool.

• Program faculty will lead interview teams that include faculty, admissions committee members, health care providers and Pfeiffer University Center for Health Sciences faculty.
• Notification of an interview will be sent to the applicant’s email submitted on the CASPA system.
• Note: An interview is required for admission.
• All applicants should understand that acceptance into a physician assistant program is an extremely competitive process. An interview does not constitute or guarantee acceptance.

Interview day will include all of the following activities:

• Individual interview
• Campus tour of the Center for Health Sciences
• Q & A with current students

Interviewed applicants will be notified by email of the Admissions Committee decision shortly after the interview. Interviewed applicants will be accepted, alternate/wait list, or denied. Applicants on the alternate/wait list will be reconsidered after each interview day. Applicants qualifying for the alternate list will be informed by email and asked to confirm their interest in being added to the list. Offers will be extended on a rolling admissions basis.

Accepted Applicants

Conditional acceptance is contingent on:

Each applicant accepted into the program must pay non-refundable $1000 seat/orientation fee. Seat deposits are not refundable. Upon acceptance and receipt of seat/orientation fee, accepted applicants will receive instructions regarding background checks, drug screenings, verification of immunizations, medical clearance, valid CPR certification, orientation and other program information and dates

Background Checks

• All students who have been offered conditional acceptance must complete a criminal background check prior to matriculation. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure safety and maintain high quality care of patients and the community.
• All matriculated students must complete a second criminal background check upon completion of the didactic phase of the program.
• Additional criminal background checks remain at the discretion of affiliated hospitals or clinics and/or the Pfeiffer University MS-PAS program.
• A student may be prevented from progressing in the program’s didactic phase, being promoted to the clinical phase of the program or being recommended for graduation if the results of the criminal background check prohibits a student from rotating in affiliated hospitals or clinics. Therefore, the Pfeiffer University MS-PAS program reserves the right to withdraw offers of conditional acceptance if criminal or other negative legal histories are uncovered during the background check.
• The Pfeiffer University MS-PAS program encourages candidates to verify with the State licensing board in which the wish to practice determining whether their background may be a barrier to future licensing. North Carolina State Laws on Physician Assistant Licensure and Practice

Required Drug Screen

• All students who have been offered conditional acceptance must successfully pass an initial chain of custody drug screen. The purpose of this requirement is to promote the health, safety, and productivity of students and those in their care.
• All matriculated students must complete and successfully pass a second chain of custody drug screen upon completion of the didactic phase prior to entering the clinical phase of the program.
• Additional chain of custody drug screens and “for cause” testing for any student suspected of being under the influence of unlawful drugs or alcohol during their course of study remains at the discretion of affiliated hospitals or clinics and/or the Pfeiffer University MS-PAS program.
• A student may be prevented from progressing in the program’s didactic phase, being promoted to the clinical phase of the program, or being recommended for graduation if the student fails a chain of custody drug screen. Therefore, the Pfeiffer University MS-PAS program reserves the right to withdraw offers of conditional acceptance if the candidate fails the initial chain of custody drug screen.

Required Physical Examinations and Immunizations

• A comprehensive physical examination by a licensed medical provider must be completed indicating that the conditionally accepted applicant is free of infectious disease and has been medically cleared for admission.
• The Student Health Packet includes instructions and the following forms:
  • Medical History
  • Physical Examination
  • Immunization Verification*
  • Chain of Custody Drug screen
  • Presentation of a valid CPR for Healthcare Providers certification

*Student immunization requirements are based on the Centers for Disease Control Recommended Vaccines for Healthcare Workers.

Failure to comply with these requirements will result in withdrawal of the conditional acceptance offer.

Due to continued challenges faced by students due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program would like to address the following concerns.

Pass/Fail Grades

The program will accept pass/fail grades for the following prerequisite courses.

• Psychology
• Statistics
• Medical Terminology

Please note that pass/fail coursework will not factor into the GPA calculations. All GPAs will be calculated by CASPA.

Direct Patient Care/Shadowing Hours

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all applications will be considered regardless of clinical hours completed at the time of application. Proper documentation of those completed direct patient care and shadowing hours is still required for this process. Click here to complete the form.

Please note this consideration is only acceptable for the 2022-2023 application cycle.

PA-CAT Standardized Test

The PA-CAT is not required for the 2022-2023 application cycle.

Application Deadline

CASPA will open on April 28, 2022, with a Completed status by the September 1, 2022 deadline. A Completed date is given when the application is e-submitted, at least two letters of reference are completed, and all transcripts and payment fees have been received by CASPA and attached to the application. Applicants should prepare and move forward with the application process as early as possible to ensure all documentation is received in a timely manner.

Interview Process

There are no changes currently. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis starting in July 2022.

If you have any questions regarding these updates or the application process, please contact our Admissions Support Coordinator, Deidra Harwood, [email protected].

Veterans and Pfeiffer University students/alumni A3.13 (a)

Favorable consideration for admission is given to applicants who are Veterans and/or have graduated or will be graduating from Pfeiffer University. A3.13 (a):

• All veterans and Pfeiffer University students/alumni who meet or exceed the program’s requirements and selection factors will be granted an interview and an opportunity to earn acceptance into the program.
• All applicants should understand that acceptance into a physician assistant program is an extremely competitive process. An interview does not constitute or guarantee acceptance.

Underrepresented Populations experiences A3.13 (a)

Additional preferences, such as, ranked higher, will be given to all applicants who demonstrate the following attributes and experiences.

• Applicants from underrepresented populations and those whose backgrounds correspond to (CASPA) socioeconomic indicators.
• Applicants who have direct health care experience serving disadvantaged populations.
• Applicants who have rural health care experience.

• Baccalaureate Degree from a U.S. regionally accredited College or University prior to matriculation. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is recommended.
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended are required and must be sent to CASPA for review and verification.
• Applicants may apply before the bachelor’s degree is completed, but the degree must be earned prior to the January matriculation.
• Degree and prerequisite coursework taken outside of the U.S. is not accepted (regardless if made equivalent by a U.S. institution).

The following GPA is recommended:

• Overall GPA of 3.0 (calculated by CASPA)
• Prerequisite GPA of 3.2 (calculated by CASPA)
• Trends U60 GPA (Looking for an upward grade trend of the last 60 credit hours taken.)

The PA-CAT is not required for the 2022-2023 application cycle.

• The following are REQUIRED courses and MUST be completed from a U.S. regionally accredited -institution. A prerequisite GPA of 3.2 is required.
• Please note that all prerequisite coursework must be completed prior to matriculation. Applicants may apply with one (1) outstanding prerequisite course, provided they can complete the course by the January matriculation.

• Requisite coursework MUST have been completed no more than 7 years prior to matriculation. We strongly recommend that applicants refresh any prerequisite course older than 5 years.
• CLEP (College Level Examination Program) or Advanced Placement (AP) courses credit may not be used or substituted to meet prerequisite requirements.
• One course cannot be used to satisfy multiple prerequisites.
• Experiential learning is not substituted for prerequisite coursework.
• Online courses and labs from regionally accredited institutions are accepted.

North Carolina Community College Equivalents

Please use the chart below to plan your prerequisite pathway.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all applications will be considered regardless of clinical hours completed at the time of application. Proper documentation of those completed direct patient care and shadowing hours is still required for this process.

• Applicants are expected to have in-depth, 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. 24 of the 500 hours must be shadowing a physician assistant.
• Direct patient care experiences in a healthcare setting will be evaluated based on the type of experience and the number of hours during the application process.
• Quality of prior health care experience will be taken into consideration, favorable healthcare settings include:
  • Direct health care experience serving disadvantaged populations
  • Rural health care experience
  • Military health care experience

  Click here for Direct Patient Care Experience/Shadowing form. This form should be completed and included in your CASPA application.

• Examples of direct patient care experiences in a healthcare setting may include but are not limited to: EMT, Paramedic, Medical Assistant, Nurse, Surgical Technician, Athletic Trainer, Physical Therapy Aide, and Military Medical Corpsman.
• Shadowing experiences will not substitute direct patient care experiences in a healthcare setting.
• Applicants will submit verifiable information regarding their direct health care experiences on CASPA.
• Unfortunately, we are not able to assist students and applicants in obtaining their healthcare-related experiences.

If you have a question regarding your patient care or shadowing experience, please email Deidra Harwood at [email protected]

• Three letters of recommendation are required and should be submitted through the CASPA application.
• Letters should be from physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, research mentors, professors or volunteer coordinators/supervisors who had direct interaction with the applicant and can attest to his/her qualities, strengths and suitability for a career as a physician assistant.
• References from friends, family members and relatives are not appropriate and will not be accepted.

• A Personal Statement is an admissions requirement and must be complete in your CASPA application.

To best evaluate personal characteristics such as communication, ethics, and empathy; the program is requiring all applicants to complete the CASPer ® test. This is an online “situational judgment test” designed to evaluate non-cognitive skills. For more information regarding the CASPer ® test, dates and fees please visit: takealtus.com. The applicant is responsible for the CASPer ® test fees.

• Degree and prerequisite coursework taken outside of the U.S. is not accepted (regardless if made equivalent by a U.S. institution).
• Applicants must meet the Pfeiffer University MS-PAS  Program Technical Standards.
• In accordance with Pfeiffer University Graduate Admissions; if degree and prerequisite coursework are from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university; international students must submit evidence of English proficiency through one of the following methods:
  • TOEFL score of at least 550 PBT/213 CBT80 IBT, administered at an official ETS testing center (not at a university)
  • IELTS score of at least 5.0
  • English as a first language reinforced with a satisfactory graduate entrance assessment score
  • Completion of an appropriate level in an ESL program which, according to the ESL school, is sufficient for the undergraduate level of university study
  • CEFR score of C1

• U.S. Citizen.
• If not a U.S. citizen, documentation of immigration status will be required.

• Transfer credit or admission with advanced standing from another PA program is not accepted.
• All of the curricular components of the program are required for graduation and must be completed at the Pfeiffer University Master of Science in Physician Assistant program.