Admission Requirements for the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program

The Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program has the following requirements for consideration for admission to the program:

• Meets all admission requirements general to the UAMS College of Health Professions
• A bachelor’s degree or higher completed prior to matriculation from a regionally accredited institution in the United States
• A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (as calculated by the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants)
• A cumulative undergraduate natural science GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (as calculated by the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants). Please refer to CASPA’s Course Subject List for more information.
• Successful completion of specific coursework
• Completion of the required amount of patient care experience
• Meets specific technical standards
• Selection of qualified personal references

Criteria

Admission to the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program at UAMS is a highly selective and competitive process that evaluates applicants through a holistic lens to identify those who demonstrate the greatest potential for success and alignment with our mission.

Our review process considers three key areas: academic metrics, including undergraduate grade-point average, science grade-point average, and performance in foundational coursework; experience, emphasizing the quality of direct patient care, community service, military service, leadership, and other relevant activities; and attributes, such as geographic diversity, first-generation college status, socioeconomic background, cultural humility, self-direction, teamwork and professionalism.

Additionally, selection incorporates the evaluation of personal narratives, letters of recommendation and performance during the interview process.

Special Considerations

While Arkansas residents may receive first consideration, highly qualified out-of-state applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment and graduating diverse, compassionate, and highly skilled healthcare.

Applicants must have earned or be in the process of completing a bachelor’s degree from an institutionally accredited post-secondary academic institution in the United States. The program has no required undergraduate majors. UAMS recognizes that the study and practice of physician assistant education are enriched by the presence of students from a variety of academic backgrounds. However, a demonstrated amount of academic rigor is required to ensure that applicants can succeed with the scholastic demands of the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program curriculum.

Transcripts from institutions outside the United States are not accepted, even after the use of an evaluation service.

The degree must be completed before enrollment in the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program.

The following 41 credits are required for admission to the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program.

All listed courses must have been completed at an institutionally accredited post-secondary academic institution in the United States. Additionally, courses must fulfill all college requirements regarding acceptance of transfer credit. Coursework completed at institutions outside the United States is not accepted, even after the use of a transcript evaluation service.

A final grade of C or better is required in each of the prerequisite courses.

Fulfillment of the prerequisite courses for the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program does not guarantee admission.

Candidates who meet all requirements except for up to two prerequisite courses may be conditionally accepted. However, all remaining prerequisite coursework must be completed with a grade of C or better before matriculation.

Actual course titles may vary among institutions. If in doubt about the suitability of the following prerequisite courses, please contact the College of Health Professions Admissions Office.

Typical Course Title	Required Semester Credit Hours
General or Principles of Biology I and II with Labs1	8
Human Anatomy with Lab2	4
Human Physiology with Lab2	4
Microbiology with Lab	4
Genetics or Medical Genetics	3
General Chemistry I and II with Labs	8
Organic Chemistry I with lab	4
General Psychology	3
Biostatistics or Statistics	3
Total Prerequisite Hours	41

¹ If General Biology II is unavailable at the educational institution of attendance, General Zoology with lab or Cell Biology with lab may be substituted.

² A combined full-year Anatomy and Physiology I and II with laboratories will meet this requirement.

Survey Courses and Online Courses

Survey courses do not meet the prerequisite requirements.

The Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program will accept online laboratory courses for the prerequisite course requirements. The program expects applicants to enter the program with proficiency in utilizing a microscope, handling a scalpel, and exercising the tactile skills and dexterity needed to perform clinical and lab procedures in the program. Therefore, online laboratory courses utilizing these techniques may be helpful in preparation for program entrance. 

Experience with dissection techniques and laboratory chemicals fosters the importance of understanding laboratory protocols and safety issues and fosters an understanding of the unpleasant smells and environments that are a part of science and medicine.

Face-to-face laboratory courses are recommended to help foster this understanding but are not exclusive to program acceptance.

Seven-Year Requirement for Anatomy, Physiology and Microbiology

The Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program has specific prerequisite courses that are required of all applicants entering the program. This requirement is to ensure that all applicants enter into the program with the same general background. To meet this requirement, the anatomy, physiology and microbiology courses must have been taken within seven years of enrollment into the program or later.

The seven-year requirement for anatomy, physiology and microbiology is to ensure that the knowledge of the applicants is fairly recent. The Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program has a very intense and condensed curriculum and expects the students to enter the program with a solid foundational background. This is to ensure student success in the program and reduce attrition. 

While work experience in specific areas will be an advantage to the applicant, it will not substitute for the required coursework.

Transfer Credit

No didactic or clinical phase courses will be waived and no transfer credit for any previous coursework will be permitted even though it may be similar or identical to coursework in the UAMS Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program.

Pass/Fail Prerequisite Grades

Prerequisite coursework graded as pass/fail will not be accepted by the program.

Credit by Examination

The Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program will not accept Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or College Level Examination Program credits to fulfill any of the prerequisite coursework.

Advanced Standing

The Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program does not grant advanced standing to any applicant admitted to the program.

The Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program requires applicants to complete clinical experience of 500 hours demonstrating direct patient care³, which involves independently providing medical care to patients. This requirement must be completed prior to the start of the program.

The experience does not have to be paid or full-time experience. Volunteer hours may count towards this requirement. Student and intern hours completed in a supervised training capacity do not qualify as direct patient care.

This requirement ensures admitted students have first-hand clinical experience delivering care to and engaging with patients, which is crucial preparation for physician assistant practice.

The following are some accepted categories of experience:

• Athletic trainer
• Certified nursing assistant
• Chiropractic assistant
• Dental hygienist
• Dietitian
• Emergency room technician
• Licensed practical nurse
• Medical assistant
• Medical corpsman
• Nursing assistant or aide
• Occupational therapist
• Ophthalmology technician
• Paramedic or EMT
• Patient care technician
• Peace Corps volunteer (medical)
• Phlebotomist
• Physical therapist
• Physical therapist assistant
• Radiologist technologist
• Registered nurse
• Respiratory therapist
• Surgical technology

³ Direct patient care is defined as actively working in a medical setting with patients and having a direct influence of care on a specific patient. Example activities include eliciting histories, taking vital signs, drawing blood, performing procedures, etc. While shadowing a physician assistant or physician is highly recommended to gain a better understanding of the medical profession, they cannot count towards direct patient care. Up to 250 hours of scribing will be accepted as direct patient care. The remaining 250 hours must be from a different form of direct patient care.

In order to be admitted to the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program, applicants must possess certain physical, cognitive and behavioral abilities necessary to complete the curriculum. These requirements exist to ensure that students are able to effectively acquire the knowledge and skills needed to become competent and successful physician assistants. Please visit the Technical Standards page for details.

When applying to the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program, applicants must provide details of three individuals who are capable and qualified to assess their potential performance as students in the program.

Applicants should be prepared with the names and contact information for the following:

• A physician or physician assistant
• A supervisor (paid or unpaid)
• A university or college professor, or another physician or physician assistant

Letters must be written by individuals who have directly supervised or observed you in a professional or academic setting, such as during work, shadowing or other relevant experiences. Letters from family members, friends or relatives will not be accepted, as they do not provide the objective evaluation required for admissions consideration