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Minimum Requirements

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements before your application can be reviewed:

  • Bachelor's Degree or Higher

    From a regionally accredited institution of higher education, or, be accepted by a U.S. equivalency reporting agency as an equivalent from a foreign institution

    Please see International Application Requirements

  • Minimum GPA Requirements (3.0)

    Must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)

    Minimum Science and Prerequisite GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)

    Science GPA includes all courses with subject codes of Biology or Zoology, Chemistry (Inorganic, Organic, and Biochemistry), and Physics

  • CASPer Exam

    Exam taken and score submitted to the program. More information can be found here. 

  • Healthcare Experience

    Minimum 500 hours. 

  • CMU Graduate Application Fee 

    The graduate application fee must be paid by September 1st. Details can be seen here.

Prerequisite Requirements

View Prerequisite Course Requirements

Health Care Experience

A minimum of 500 hours of health care experience is required at the time of application. Hands-on, direct patient care experience may come from a variety of places. The extent to which an applicant is actually involved in patient care will be weighed based on the details provided by the applicant related to his/her duties during the hours of experience.

Community Service

Community service engagement is highly recommended and will be considered during the applicant screening process. Service activities should demonstrate a commitment to helping others but do not need to be related to the health care industry. Demonstrated leadership activities and a commitment to volunteer service in your community is desired. No minimum number of hours are required.  It is the responsibility of the applicant to explain the community service engagement during the application process.

References

Three references submitted on the official CASPA Reference Form are required. It is recommended that students request references from the following:

  • Professor: A person who can attest to the applicant's academic preparedness for the program based on direct experience in a teacher-student relationship.
  • Supervisor: A person who can attest to the applicant's interpersonal attributes and interpersonal communication abilities based on direct observation as supervisor of the applicant's volunteer or work experience.
  • Health care Professional (PA, NP, MD, DO): A medical provider who can speak to the applicant's skills and abilities related to patient care and working as a future medical professional.

Standardized Test Scores

Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for admission to the CMU PA Program. 

International Applicants 

International applicants with a degree earned outside the U.S. must meet the following criteria:

  • All required prerequisite courses must be taken at a regionally accredited U.S. higher education institution and be verifiable through official transcripts
  • Must communicate well in English
  • TOEFL Exam score: Minimum 550 paper-based, 80 Internet-based
Additional information about CMU international admissions requirements can be found here. 

What We Value

We are interested in applicants who can articulate their passion for the Physician Assistant profession and a commitment to the CMU Bechtel Physician Assistant Program Mission and Vision. 

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