M.S. in Physician Assistant

The 2024-2025 admissions cycle, for Fall 2025 entry, will open in April 25th, 2024 on  CASPA: https://caspa.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login.

• Applications for Fall 2025 entry must be complete and verified by CASPA by September 1st, 2024. As per the CASPA website, it is suggested that applicants complete their application in CASPA 6-8 weeks prior to the program’s deadline to ensure that they meet the September 1st deadline. Please use the CASPA Quick Start Guide for more information regarding complete versus verified applications.
• A complete application includes three letters of recommendation, all supporting materials (including all post-secondary transcripts), and a $50 supplemental fee. Once the application is marked complete by CASPA, it must be verified by CASPA prior to the application being sent to the PA Program for review. The program does not make exceptions for applications completed, but not verified by the deadline; applicants are encouraged to submit their application based on CASPA’s guidelines.

Please note that the $50 supplemental application fee is non-refundable.

Prerequisite Coursework

Applicants are required to complete all prerequisite coursework and earn a letter grade of C or better by the end of the spring semester prior to their start of the program. It is preferable that applicants complete all the required prerequisites prior to applying to the program; however, applicants with incomplete prerequisites may apply. Competitive applicants will not have more than two outstanding science prerequisite courses at the time of application submission.  Applicants with outstanding prerequisites must state how they will satisfy the prerequisites by the end of the spring semester prior to the start of the program.

We accept CLEP credit for our General Psychology (CLEP course: Introductory Psychology) and English Composition (CLEP course: College
Composition). Applicants must earn a score of 50 or higher for credit.

Please click here to view our guidelines for prerequisite coursework.

Course Prerequisites for the 2024-2025 Admissions Cycle:

• General Psychology (3 credits)
• English Composition (3 credits)
• Statistics (Preferably Applied Statistics or Biostatistics from the Psychology, Biology or Math Depts.) (3 credits)
• Human Anatomy (3-4 credits)*^
• Physiology (3-4 credits)*^
• Microbiology (3-4 credits)
• Biochemistry (3 credits)
• Additional upper-level biology coursework (6-8 credits)

* Applicants may either take Human Anatomy and Physiology as two separate subjects or take a two-semester sequence of Anatomy & Physiology I and Anatomy & Physiology II.

Please click here for additional examples of courses that may fulfill our additional upper-level biology requirement.

If an applicant has not taken any coursework within the previous 10 years, refresher courses, specifically in the biological sciences, are recommended. When considering which courses to choose, we suggest the following: genetics, microbiology, immunology, cell biology, and biochemistry.

Essay

A well written, grammatically correct essay is expected.  The personal narrative is the applicant’s opportunity to share background information that is not readily evident in other sections of the CASPA application.  Individuals are encouraged to discuss any of the following that might apply:

• Motivation to become a PA
• Unique life experiences
• Success in overcoming adversity
• Leadership roles
• Positive attributes they bring to the PA program and ultimately the PA profession

Letters of Recommendation

Three Recommendation Forms must be completed through CASPA.  Applicants should seek recommendations from individuals who are thoroughly familiar with their academic ability, their work ethic and professionalism, and their general characteristics.  Examples may be an instructor, a previous employer or volunteer supervisor, a community leader, etc.  Many of our more highly competitive applicants have recommendations by healthcare providers such as physicians and PAs.

Patient Contact Experience:

Patient contact experience is required. The program has not established a minimum number of hours of health care experience, but the most competitive applicants will be able to document experience working directly with patients. Examples of the types of experiences that are recommended include, but are not limited to, medical assistants, nursing assistants/aides, nurses, EMTs, patient care technicians, physical therapy assistants, and hospice volunteers.

PA Shadowing

it is important that applicants spend time with PAs to ensure a sufficient understanding of the PA role in the delivery of healthcare. Therefore, applicants to the PA Program must be able to demonstrate familiarity with the PA profession through direct experience, which is best done through shadowing.

There are no minimum-hour requirements for healthcare experience, patient care experience, PA shadowing, or volunteer work. The objective of accruing hours is not necessarily to obtain specific skills, but rather to ensure the applicant has had adequate exposure to healthcare, patients, and the role of the PA. When the Admissions Committee considers volunteer work, we seek applicants who have shown consistent commitment to serving the community. To get an idea of the number of hours accrued by the most competitive applicants, please refer to the FAQ section to view the data from one of our recent matriculated classes.

Domestic Students who Studied Abroad

Please see the following guidelines for applicants who attend(ed) a U.S. institution, and studied abroad for one or more semesters:

The following situations do not require a foreign transcript evaluation:

• The transcript student’s home institution includes the grades and credits from each course taken during the semester abroad.
• The student took fewer than 3 non-prerequisite science courses while studying abroad.

Foreign transcript evaluations are required if one or both circumstances are met:

• The student took a science prerequisite course while studying abroad.
• The student took 2 or more semesters abroad.

The following circumstance is handled on a case-by-case basis:

• The student took 3 or more non-prerequisite science courses while studying abroad.

International Students:

Rutgers PA program accepts the TOEFL iBT Test. TOEFL Essentials will not be acceptable in the 2024-2025 admissions cycle.

Please click here to view the PA program’s TOEFL Policy.

All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by an evaluation agency and submitted to Rutgers University PA Program in support of your application. Applicants may use any agency that is recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (hyperlink: https://www.naces.org/members). World Education Services, Inc. is recommended.

As per the CASPA Applicant Help Center, some Canadian schools do not require a foreign transcript evaluation. Please click here for further guidance.

In addition the the criteria listed in the Admissions for those with a Baccalaureate Degree (above), applicants must also complete the criteria below for the MS/MPH. The program allows students to complete both their graduate Physician Assistant studies and Master of Public Health degree in four years (including summers).

• Students must apply to both programs separately and gain admission to both programs.
• Applicants should contact the MPH program to determine if they are required to submit GRE scores with their application.
• Students accepted into this dual-degree track would attend the Physician Assistant program part-time for two years, while attending the MPH program part-time.
• Students may begin this program in the summer prior to beginning the Physician Assistant program or in the first fall semester.
• During the third and fourth years, students attend the Physician Assistant program full-time and complete their fieldwork for the MS and MPH. There are multiple concentrations available for MPH students to choose from. Please contact the School of Public Health for more information.
• In addition to applying to CASPA, you must also apply to the School of Public Health through the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS)

Undergraduates in partner schools have an opportunity to enter the PA Program prior to earning a Bachelor’s degree. Designed as “3+3” program, the first three years are spent as an undergraduate at a partner school, and the last three years are spent in graduate school in the PA Program.

Click HERE to access the 3+3 application and instructions. Follow the instructions on the Complete Application and apply by June 1st of each year.

Admissions information

• Students may apply in April of their second undergraduate year
• Competitive applicants will be invited for interviews. The interview will determine the applicant’s emotional and intellectual maturity, ability to communicate, and potential to achieve career satisfaction.
• Applications must be received by June 1, and final notices of acceptance will be made by August 1.
• Acceptance will be guaranteed at the end of the third year if the applicant maintains a 3.2 GPA, is successful in the interview process, and meets all requirements for the undergraduate degree before the beginning of the fourth year (first professional year).

Attention Rutgers-SAS 3+3 applicants: As per the Degree Tracking Sheet on the 3+3 application, you are required to obtain a signature from your 3+3 Advisor from the Health Professions Office. Therefore, you should contact the Health Professions Office to schedule a meeting with Dr. Elizabeth Vogel to discuss the application process: hpo@dls.rutgers.edu.

Applicants are required to complete all prerequisite coursework and earn a letter grade of C or better by the end of the spring semester prior to their start of the program.

We accept CLEP credit for our General Psychology (CLEP course: Introductory Psychology) and English Composition (CLEP course: College
Composition). Applicants must earn a score of 50 or higher for credit.

Please click here to view our guidelines for prerequisite coursework.

Course Prerequisites for the 2024-2025 Admissions Cycle:

• General Psychology (3 credits)
• English Composition (3 credits)
• Statistics (Preferably Applied Statistics or Biostatistics from the Psychology, Biology or Math Depts.) (3 credits)
• Human Anatomy (3-4 credits)*^
• Physiology (3-4 credits)*^
• Microbiology (3-4 credits)
• Biochemistry (3 credits)
• Additional upper-level biology coursework (6-8 credits)

Please click here for additional examples of courses that may fulfill our additional upper-level biology requirement.

* Applicants may either take Human Anatomy and Physiology as two separate subjects or take a two-semester sequence of Anatomy &
Physiology I and Anatomy & Physiology II.

^Rutgers New Brunswick School of Arts & Sciences 3+3 applicants only: As per the PA program’s agreement with Rutgers-NB SAS,  01:119:116 General Biology II will fulfill the Physiology requirement if the applicant takes a separate Human Anatomy course.

Essay

A well written, grammatically correct essay is expected. The personal narrative is the applicant’s opportunity to share background information that is not readily evident in other sections of the CASPA application. Individuals are encouraged to discuss any of the following that might apply:

• Motivation to become a PA
• Unique life experiences
• Success in overcoming adversity
• Leadership roles
• Positive attributes they bring to the PA program and ultimately the PA profession

Test Scores

If you have taken the SAT or ACT, please provide an official score report.

• Learn how to obtain SAT scores
• Learn how to obtain ACT scores

Patient Contact Experience:

Patient contact experience is required. The program has not established a minimum number of hours of health care experience, but the most competitive applicants will be able to document experience working directly with patients. Examples of the types of experiences that are recommended include, but are not limited to, medical assistants, nursing assistants/aides, nurses, EMTs, patient care technicians, physical therapy assistants, and hospice volunteers.

PA Shadowing

It is important that applicants spend time with PAs to ensure a sufficient understanding of the PA role in the delivery of healthcare. Therefore, applicants to the PA Program must be able to demonstrate familiarity with the PA profession through direct experience, which is best done through shadowing.

There are no minimum-hour requirements for healthcare experience, patient care experience, PA shadowing, or volunteer work. The objective of accruing hours is not necessarily to obtain specific skills, but rather to ensure the applicant has had adequate exposure to healthcare, patients, and the role of the PA. When the Admissions Committee considers volunteer work, we seek applicants who have shown a consistent commitment to serving the community. To get an idea of the number of hours accrued by the most competitive applicants, please refer to the FAQ section to view the data from one of our recent matriculated classes.

Program Partner Update:

Rutgers Physician Assistant program will continue to accept 3+3 applications from the following institutions: Rutgers University SAS-NB and New Jersey Institute of Technology. Rutgers University SAS-NB should contact the Health Professions Office for more information.

We schedule two Information Sessions per year and we participate in the PAEA Virtual Fair.  We highly encourage prospective students to attend one of these sessions.  We will post the dates of our events on our website as soon as we determine them.  We provide campus tours to applicants during the interview session.

We ask prospective applicants to thoroughly review the program website and the FAQs, which will answer most of the commonly asked questions. If you still have specific questions after the website review, you may call the program 732 235-4445 and make an appointment to speak to a member of the faculty prior to applying to the program.

We typically receive 1,200-1,400 applications and interview up to 300 applicants for 50 seats each year.

Rutgers PA program uses semester hours. Courses that were completed in quarter hours are converted to semester hours. The conversion ratio is 1.0 quarter hour = 0.667 semester hours. For example, a 4.5 quarter credit course is equivalent to 3 semester hours. Click here to learn more.

If you are a 3+3 student at one of our affiliated undergraduate programs and have taken the SAT/ACT, you are required to submit the scores with your application.  If you are applying to the program with a Bachelor’s degree (most common route of entry), you do not  need to submit SAT/ACT scores.

The PA program does not require GREs. However, if GRE scores are reported in the CASPA application, the Admissions Committee will consider them in their holistic evaluation of the application.

If you are applying to joint Master of Science/Master of Public Health (MS/MPH) option, GRE scores may be required for the Public Health application. Scores must be submitted with your MPH application to the Rutgers University School of Public Health.

Anyone is welcome to apply to the PA Program. The application process and required coursework within the program is the same for all applicants, regardless of prior academic or work experience. There is no advanced standing for foreign medical graduates.

Applicants with a science and/or overall GPA of less than 3.2 must submit a letter of explanation in the designated upload area of the CASPA portal surrounding the circumstances of their academic performance if they want to be considered for further review.

If your GPA is just above our minimum GPA requirement, then we encourage but do not require you to share the circumstances that surround your academic history.  This is an opportunity to provide the Admissions Committee with additional information about your candidacy.

Students from other programs are welcome to apply but are required to follow the admissions process in the same way as all other students.

Transfer credits from domestic, graduate courses are determined on a case-by-case basis. Students must provide documentation of courses taken to ensure equivalency to the courses that the Rutgers PA Program provides.  We do not consider these requests until after the applicant has received an admissions offer.

No.  While many of the applicants are New Jersey residents, we seek the most competitive applicants from throughout the United States.

Yes, applicants can use AP credit to fulfill the following prerequisite requirements if they received credit from their undergraduate institution for their AP exams: General Psychology, English Composition, and  Statistics.

We accept prerequisite courses that are pass/fail. If your school provides an option, it is strongly preferable for applicants to take courses with a grade so that the Admissions Committee has more information to better determine the level of preparation which the applicant has in those subjects. If an applicant chooses to take pass/fail courses or the applicant’s college had deemed it mandatory during the Spring 2020 semester, we recommend that the applicant provide a brief statement to explain those circumstances.

Applications for Fall 2025 entry must be complete and verified by CASPA by September 1st, 2024.

As per the CASPA website, it is suggested that applicants complete their application in CASPA 6-8 weeks prior to the program’s deadline to ensure that they meet the September 1st deadline. Please use the CASPA Quick Start Guide for more information regarding complete versus verified applications.

A complete application includes three letters of recommendation, all supporting materials (including all post-secondary transcripts), and a $50 supplemental fee. Once the application is marked complete by CASPA, it must be verified by CASPA prior to the application being sent to the PA Program for review.

The program does not make exceptions for applications completed, but not verified by the deadline; applicants are encouraged to submit their application based on CASPA’s guidelines.

There is no one “thing.” We practice holistic admissions, which means that we look at all aspects of the application that demonstrate that the applicant is well-rounded.  We do our best to consider an applicant’s capability to thrive academically.  In addition, we assess how his/her background and professional goals align with our program’s mission and core values.  The most competitive applicants have a high GPA, strong science background, quality patient care experience, and evidence of serving their community, ideally in a leadership capacity.

We accept applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences, provided they demonstrate strong science course work and meet our other requirements.  We have students who enrolled in the program directly from their undergraduate studies but we also have students who are on their second and even third career.

Yes, we consider every applicant who meets our minimum requirements.  When reviewing the academic preparation section of the application, the Admissions Committee considers the number and rigor of science courses the applicant took and the grades the applicant earned in those courses.

While enrolled in the didactic part of the PA Program curriculum, matriculated students take a minimum of 18 credits of graduate level science each semester. Therefore, the most competitive applicants have an academic history of achieving high grades while taking several upper level classes at the same time. The Admissions Committee suggests that prospective students take more than one science class at a time to prepare for the academic rigor of the program.

Yes. But our most competitive applicants have taken most/all of their science coursework at an accredited 4-year university.

We accept the grade of a C.  While retaking the course will improve your GPA, what you demonstrate is that you can achieve a high grade by taking the course twice. Another option is to take other upper level science courses and perform well to show the admissions committee that you can achieve a good grade in upper level science courses on the first try.

There are no minimum-hour requirements for these categories. The objective of accruing hours is not necessarily to obtain specific skills, but rather to ensure the applicant has had adequate exposure to healthcare, patients, and the role of the PA. When the Admissions Committee considers volunteer work, we seek applicants who have shown consistent commitment to serving the community.

To get an idea of the number of hours accrued by the most competitive applicants, please view the table below for data of a recent class of matriculated students. Note that the quantity of hours is evaluated with the quality of hours, and that these components are just part of the application which undergoes a holistic evaluation process.

Class of 2020

The program requires patient care hours to ensure that the applicant is familiar with what it is like to care for patients.  The Admissions Committee considers direct hands-on experience to be more desirable; for example, an EMT is more hands-on exposure than a transport volunteer.

It depends on the tasks that the scribe performed.  The Admissions Committee would not consider scribing to be direct patient care if the scribe is simply transcribing the history that another provider elicited.  It is the applicant’s responsibility to fully explain their role for each health care experience so that the Admissions Committee can make an informed assessment.

It is important that applicants demonstrate an understanding of the PA role. This can be accomplished either by working alongside a PA in a clinical setting or via shadowing. Ideally, shadowing of PAs in various specialties would provide the applicant with a breadth of experiences. The Admissions Committee also considers the applicant’s background in relation to the PAs that he/she shadows.  For example, if the applicant’s patient care hours are as a physical therapy aide, he/she would be a stronger applicant if he/she shadowed a PA who works in a field other than orthopedics.

One of the core values of the Rutgers PA Program is selflessly giving back to the community.  The most competitive applicants are those who demonstrate consistent involvement within their community, not only for their own accumulation of medical experience, but rather for the good of their community.  Volunteering after disaster relief, tutoring special needs children, assisting in a house of worship, having a leadership role in a sorority, organizing a fundraiser for battered women, and donating time at a homeless shelter or a food bank are all examples of serving the community.

We do accept coursework completed more than 10 years ago but there are a few reasons why it is recommended to update your knowledge with more recent information. First, recent coursework demonstrates an applicant’s current aptitude to excel in rigorous science courses which is particularly helpful for those applicants whose past GPA and performance do not reflect their highest academic potential. Second, scientific information changes over time. Enrolling in courses that are more current helps to prepare applicants for the rigorous basic science year where baseline knowledge is expected upon entry into the program. When considering which courses to choose, we suggest the following: genetics, microbiology, immunology, cell biology, and biochemistry.

We will accept online prerequisite coursework that is from a regionally-accredited institution. Please click here to check your school’s accreditation status:  (select ‘Regional Accrediting Organizations’ under ‘Accreditor Type’).

We wish that we could take every qualified applicant but unfortunately, with only 50 seats and up to 1,500 applications each year, we cannot accept everyone who meets our requirements. Here are a few suggestions to consider:

• Complete our Applicant Self-Assessment Questionnaire.
• Review the GPA, patient care, PA shadowing, and volunteerism information about our accepted class (in Preparing to Apply section above).
• To improve your GPA, consider taking upper level science courses, preferably at a 4-year university.
• Consider the quantity, quality, and variation of your hands-on patient care experience.
• Consider doing more to serve your community if you have limited non-medical volunteerism.
• Consider applying to more PA programs for the next admissions cycle to increase your chance of being accepted to one.
• If you choose to reapply to our program for the next admissions cycle:
  • Reflect on the Applicant Self-Assessment Questionnaire.
  • Update your application including your essay, new letters of recommendation, etc.
  • Make it clear to the Admissions Committee what you have done to improve your application from the prior year.
  • Review our website again. We reserve the right to change our admissions criteria from year to year.

Rutgers School of Health Professions (SHP) awards several scholarships. By completing the SHP Online General Scholarship Application, applicants are considered for each of the scholarships which they are deemed eligible for. Some scholarships may require an additional personal statement (i.e. SHP Alumni Association Military/Veteran Appreciation scholarship and the PA Judith Yannariello scholarship). Click here to learn more about scholarship opportunities within SHP. There are also external scholarships available including, but not limited to: PA Foundation Scholarships (through AAPA), National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program, Indian Health Service Scholarship Program and scholarships through the armed services. As students approach graduation, there are loan redemption/loan forgiveness programs available through the NHSC and Primary Care Loan Redemption Programs. Many scholarships are based on financial need and it is highly recommended that applicants complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Please contact Rutgers Office of Financial Aid for more information: (732) 235-4689

Please click here.  Please note: Students pay for a maximum of 18 credits/semester.

Students who are interested in applying for resident status can find the policy and application here.

The class size is 50.

It is important for our applicants to understand that the Rutgers PA Program does not spread out a typical 24-27 month PA curriculum over 33 months.  We have a very rigorous curriculum. Our program offers extensive basic science coursework over the first year, which we believe prepares our graduates well for clinical practice. Other reasons for a robust 33-month program include longer rotations for some specialties and vacation time during both the didactic and clinical phases.

Most classes are for only physician assistant students, provided by doctorally-prepared scientists and clinical experts (physicians, PAs, etc.) in their medical specialty. In addition, students participate in interprofessional education groups including medical students, and students from nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, and other health professions.

Students do not complete a thesis. They are required to prepare an evidence-based medical literature review on a topic of interest.

Students are required to have a minimum 3.0 GPA at 75% completion of the program.

Due to the demanding nature of the program, we strongly discourage full-time students from maintaining employment.

Students can attend the program on a part-time basis for the first two years, and then they must become full-time students for the following two years.  Students can work while they are enrolled in the program part-time, however, it is important to note that classes are offered during typical work-day hours and schedules vary from semester to semester.

Our program offers academic tutoring, cognitive skills instruction, and confidential behavioral health counseling at no cost to the student.  Upon the start of the program, we match first-year students with second-year students, who serve as peer mentors.

Please click here to learn more about campus housing.  We send incoming students a housing questionnaire and redistribute the information that we receive from the questionnaire to our students, so that they can network and find housing together if they are interested in doing so.

Please click here to learn more about disability services at School of Health Professions or call: 973-972-5396

Yes, participation is required in many off-campus activities. In addition, many of our clinical sites are not accessible by public transportation. All students must have reliable personal transportation.