Admissions and How to Apply

CASPA Application 

Complete the full CASPA application including program specific questions. 

GPA Requirements (A3.13d)

Must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and prerequisite science GPA of 3.0.  

Visit the CASPA website to learn more about the calculation of GPAs. 

Letters of Recommendation 

Minimum of three (submitted in CASPA). 

One letter should be from a physician assistant. 

Other letters can be from another healthcare professional (physician, dentist, pharmacist, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, physical or occupational therapist, and/or from a mentor) 

Please note recommendations submitted by relatives, friends, personal healthcare providers, or personal friends of the family are not acceptable.  

Official GRE Score (PBA code 5553) 

GRE scores must have been taken within the last 5 years of application. 

A combined score of 300 and an essay of 3.5 is considered competitive.  

 500 Hours of Direct Patient Care (patient care experience) (A3.13b) 

Minimum of 500 Hours of Direct Patient Care/Patient Care Experience must be completed by the start of the program. 

Paid or volunteer accepted. 

Other allied health experience such as medical assistant (MA), certified nursing assistant (CNA), patient care technician (PCT), phlebotomist, pharmacy technician (PhT), emergency medical technician (EMT), athletic trainer (AT), behavioral health technician (BHT) and other health professionals like RN, CRT, MD, or CLT accepted. 

Prerequisite coursework (A3.13b) 

Courses must have been completed within 7 years of application. 

Must be completed with a C (2.0) or better from a regionally accredited United States institution.  

Applications with no more than two outstanding prerequisite courses will be reviewed and considered for interview. All prerequisite courses must be completed by the start of program.  

Required Prerequisite Courses include: 

General Biology and Lab – 4 semester hours 

Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II (Human Anatomy & Human Physiology including labs) – 8 semester hours. 

General Chemistry I and II including lab – 8 semester hours. 

Organic Chemistry including lab – 4 semester hours. 

Microbiology including lab – 4 semester hours. 

Psychology – 3 semester hours   

For the 2023-2024 application cycle, these specific courses taken during the summer of 2017 or later would meet the 7-year requirement.  

In addition, the following are not required but are recommended for a stronger application: 

Biochemistry – 3 semester hours 

Human Genetics – 3 semester hours 

Medical Terminology – 1 semester hour 

More direct patient care hours 

Baccalaureate degree (A3.13d) 

The degree must be obtained from a regionally accredited institution or internationally recognized equivalent. 

Applicants can apply while still earning a baccalaureate degree. However, the degree must be conferred before matriculation into the PA program. 

CASPA Application 

Complete the full CASPA application including program specific questions. 

Personal Statement

The personal statement is a brief statement expressing why you are interested in becoming a –   Physician Assistant (submitted in CASPA).  

Letters of Recommendation 

Minimum of three (submitted in CASPA). 

One letter should be from a physician assistant. 

Other letters can be from another healthcare professional (physician, dentist, pharmacist, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, physical or occupational therapist, and/or from a mentor) 

Please note recommendations submitted by relatives, friends, personal healthcare providers, or personal friends of the family are not acceptable.  

Baccalaureate degree (A3.13d) 

• The degree must be obtained from a regionally accredited institution or internationally recognized equivalent. 

Applicants can apply while still earning a baccalaureate degree. However, the degree must be conferred before matriculation into the PA program. 

• Accepted students must submit official transcripts to Palm Beach Atlantic University before matriculation into the PA program.  
• Any candidate who completed coursework outside of the United States must submit a transcript evaluation from an approved service such as World Education Services (WES), International Credential Evaluations (InCred), or ECE. 

Official College Transcripts

All official college transcripts must be submitted to and verified by CASPA. Accepted students must submit official transcripts to Palm Beach Atlantic University before matriculation into the PA program. 

GPA Requirements (A3.13d)

Must have a minimum baccalaureate GPA of 3.0 and prerequisite GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale as calculated by CASPA.  

Visit the CASPA website to learn more about the calculation of GPAs. 

Prerequisite coursework (A3.13b) 

Specific prerequisite courses must have been completed within 7 years of application. 

Must be completed with a C (2.0) or better from a regionally accredited United States institution.  

Applications with no more than two outstanding prerequisite courses will be reviewed and considered for interview. All prerequisite courses must be completed before beginning the MMScPA program.  

Required Prerequisite Courses include: 

General Biology and Lab – 4 semester hours 

Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II (Human Anatomy & Human Physiology including labs) – 8 semester hours. 

General Chemistry I and II including lab – 8 semester hours. 

Organic Chemistry I including lab – 4 semester hours. 

Microbiology including lab – 4 semester hours. 

Psychology – 3 semester hours   

• Prerequisites courses that MUST have been completed within 7 years of application include: Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II, Organic Chemistry I and lab, and Microbiology and lab. 
• For the 2024-2025 application cycle, these specific courses taken during the summer of 2018 or later would meet the 7-year requirement. 
• AP coursework will only be accepted for the Psychology prerequisite. Any AP credits for other prerequisite courses must appear on a college transcript with assigned grade and credits. 
• No survey courses permitted for prerequisites. 

 500 Hours of Direct Patient Care (patient care experience) (A3.13b) 

• A minimum of 500 Hours of Direct Patient Care/Patient Care Experience must be completed by the start of the program. 
• Paid or volunteer accepted. 
• Experience should involve direct responsibility for a patient’s care and can include but is not limited to performing vital signs, obtaining a medical history, performing physical assessments or procedures, medical documentation, directing a course of treatment, prescribing or providing medication, etc. 
• Other allied health experience such as medical assistant (MA), certified nursing assistant (CNA), patient care technician (PCT), phlebotomist, pharmacy technician (PhT), emergency medical technician (EMT), athletic trainer (AT), behavioral health technician (BHT) and other health professionals like RN, CRT, MD, or CLT accepted. 
• Medical scribe hours may account for half of direct patient care hours.  

Official GRE Score (CASPA GRE Code: 1289) 

• Must be completed by the time of application. 
• GRE scores must have been taken within the last 5 years of application. 
• Multiple GRE scores will be super-scored (the best score for each section used). 
• No minimum score is required, however, a score of 150 in quantitative and verbal, and an analytical score of 3.5 is considered competitive.  

Language Requirement

Palm Beach Atlantic University PA program requires a TOEFL score to demonstrate English proficiency of all non-native English language speaking and/or international applicants unless the applicant has attended high school and earned a degree from an accredited University in any country whose sole national language is English. A minimum TOEFL score of 100 is required for admission to the PA program. 

PA-CAT and Casper assessment are NOT required currently. 

Information coming soon

1. Accurately and in entirety observe patients both at a distance and close at hand.  This ability requires functional vision, hearing, and somatic sensation.
2. Ability to visually observe materials presented in the classroom and laboratory environment to include audiovisual presentations, written documents, microbiology cultures, microscopic examination of microorganisms, tissues and gross organs, and diagnostic images (e.g., ECG, X-ray, C.T.).

1. Effectively speak, hear, and observe patients to elicit information, perceive nonverbal communication, and describe changes in mood, activity, and posture.
2. Communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and their families through oral and written language.
3. Communicate accurately and efficiently in oral, written, and electronic form with members of the healthcare team.

1. Elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion, and clinical diagnostic testing.
2. Execute movements required to provide general medical care and emergency treatment to patients.  Such skills require coordination of gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and sensation.
3. Properly use clinical instruments and medical devices for therapeutic intervention (e.g., stethoscope, ophthalmoscope, venipuncture and intravenous equipment, gynecologic speculum, suturing and casting equipment).
4. Possess physical stamina sufficient to complete the rigorous course of didactic and clinical study, which may include prolonged periods of sitting, standing, and/or rapid ambulation.

1. Demonstrate the ability to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, and synthesize information.
2. Demonstrate the ability to acquire, retain, and apply new and learned information.
3. Demonstrate appropriate judgment in patient assessment, diagnosis, monitoring, evaluation, and intervention including planning, time management, and use of resources.
4. Comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of structures

1. 1. Possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his/her intellectual abilities, exercise good judgment, and promptly complete all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients.
   2. Demonstrate mature, receptive, and effective relationships with faculty, staff, patients, fellow students, and members of the health care team.
   3. Possess qualities of flexibility and adaptability in functioning in an environment of uncertainty inherent in the clinical problems of many patients.
   4. Demonstrate the capacity to tolerate taxing workloads and function effectively under stress.
   5. Display the personal qualities of compassion, integrity, commitment, motivation, and genuine concern for others that are intrinsic to the medical profession and will be assessed during the admissions and educational process.

(Approved by PBA Chief Legal Officer Feb 2023)