Admissions & Prerequisite Requirements

Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants

The CASPA portal is now closed and will open on April 25, 2025, for the 2025-2026 application cycle for the class beginning in June 2026

The Bay Path University Physician Assistant Program is a participating member of the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). All applications must be submitted online, directly to CASPA. Our CASPA admissions cycle begins in mid-April each year with a deadline of December 1st – COMPLETE & VERIFIED status.

Applicants are required to complete and submit a supplemental application. Download the supplemental application PDF. The fee is $60, and the deadline for completing the supplemental application is also December 1st.

Admission & Prerequisite Requirements

The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies has the following admission and prerequisite requirements: 

1. GPA Requirements:
   • Overall GPA 3.0 or higher
   • Overall Science GPA 3.0 or higher
2. Prerequisite Requirements: All prerequisite courses listed below must be completed within 10 years of matriculation at a regionally accredited U.S. or Canadian institution with a grade of “C” or better:
   • 15 semester hours of biological sciences, which must include Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II with lab (8 credits), and Microbiology (3 credits-lab not required)
   • 15 semester hours of chemical/physical sciences, which must include Organic or Biological Chemistry (labs must be included)
   • One college-level statistics course (3 credits)
   • One college-level Public Health, Social Justice or Ethnic/Gender Studies course (3 credits)
   • AP and CLEP exams are not accepted for prerequisite coursework
3. No more than two outstanding prerequisite courses remaining at the time of application (December 1st).
4. A baccalaureate or graduate degree from an accredited U.S. or Canadian institution is required prior to matriculation.
5. A minimum of 500 direct patient contact hours are required. Examples of patient contact hours can include but are not limited to EMT, Paramedic, CNA, Nurses Aid, Respiratory Therapist, Medical Assistant, Phlebotomist, Medical Scribe, Pharmacy Technician or other approved clinical experiences.
6. Three letters of recommendation are required. One must be from a direct supervisor.
7. No GMAT or GRE required.
8. The PA Program will not allow advanced placement for any professional courses or clinical experiences.
9. Preference given for:
   • Several HRSA Socioeconomic Indicators (including Economically disadvantaged, Family received public assistance, from a medically underserved area or health professional shortage area, or 1st generation college student), Military or Veteran Status, and holds an advanced degree.  
   • Direct Entry Program:
     The Physician Assistant (PA) Direct Entry Program is designed to prepare highly qualified students for admission into Bay Path University’s M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies program.
     Upon successful completion of the B.S. in Medical Science undergraduate program requirements and fulfillment of all PA graduate admission criteria, 10 students will be assured admission into the M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies program.
     Additional details can be found here.
10. Technical Standards for Admission and Graduation- Download the form here

Note: Meeting minimal requirements does not guarantee an interview.

International Student Admission Information:

International students must complete the admissions requirements listed above as well as the following:

1. All prerequisites must be completed within 10 years of matriculation and completed at a regionally accredited U.S. or Canadian institution.
2. Bachelors degree equivalent to U.S. Bachelor’s degree with an evaluation by World Education Services (WES). Transcript evaluation fees are the responsibility of the applicant and evaluations must be sent directly to CASPA.
3. English Second Language – TOEFL score of 90 int. – 233 computer – 550 paper

We do not enroll international students who have already completed a medical course of study in a foreign institution of higher education. Each applicant must have completed a bachelor’s degree prior to matriculation.

Note: Meeting minimal requirements does not guarantee an interview.

Application Review & Decision Process

The Bay Path University Physician Assistant (PA) Program utilizes a meaningful and mission-aligned admissions and selection process that considers the ‘whole’ applicant, balancing experiences, attributes, and metrics. It is an individualized and flexible process to evaluate criteria demonstrating the abilities and contributions of each applicant related to the program’s mission while promoting diversity.

The PA program is committed to creating a safe, respectful, and accepting learning environment built on collaboration and belonging. The program believes that a rich education is provided through diverse experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives.

Screening Applications: Upon receipt of a verified application from the CASPA service, all applicants are initially screened to verify that they meet all of the minimum admissions requirements. The Admissions Committee then reviews all eligible applications and will award points for certain applicant criteria, and the total points are used to decide who is invited to interview for a seat in the program. These criteria are:

• Grade point averages (GPAs): Higher overall GPA's and higher overall science GPA's receive higher scores.
• Direct Patient Care Experience: Higher scores are awarded for additional care hours over the minimum required.
• Personal statements: Higher scores are awarded based on the strength of evidence of the desire to be a PA, essay maintains a clear, specific and appropriate focus, connection between ideas and events, grammar, language and writing skills.
• Letters of Reference:  Scores are determined based on both the quality of the letter and the rating provided by the recommender in CASPA. The letter should reflect a comprehensive understanding of the applicant's abilities and work ethic. 
• Supplemental Application Essay Response: Higher scores are awarded based on how the essay demonstrates connection between extracurriculars and the PA profession, examples used, grammar, language, and writing skills.
• Leadership, Outreach, Community Service, Extracurricular Activities & Interests: Higher scores are based on evidence of involvement and commitment to leadership, community service, extracurricular activities, religious groups, athletics, or creative arts.

Interview: Interviews are performed and scored by the Admissions Committee. The following parts and scoring are included:

• Individual interview: Higher scores are awarded based on the demonstrated strength of communication skills, preparedness for interview, knowledge of the PA profession, social justice perspective, and response to feedback/stressful situations.
• Group interview: Higher scores are awarded based on the demonstrated strength of insight/maturity, ethics, empathy, judgement & honesty, trust, cultural/diversity awareness, communication, and ability to accept feedback

Total scoring and final review by the Admissions Committee: The committee reviews candidate CASPA application and interview scores, reviewer comments, and application information to decide who is accepted, waitlisted, and denied admission.

Interviews will be conducted in January or early February annually.

Acceptance or Waitlist: Students offered acceptance will be notified soon after interviews. Candidates who are not offered admission after the interview MAY be placed on a waitlist. Offers of acceptance are extended to candidates on the waitlist if a candidate from the accepted class list withdraws from the program prior to matriculation. Once an offer of acceptance is made by the program, the applicant will have a designated amount of time to accept or decline the offer. An acceptance must be accompanied by a non-refundable $1000.00 tuition deposit in order to hold the applicant's place in the class.

Please visit the MS in Physician Assistant Studies program page to learn about curriculum, faculty, program options, and more! 

More Questions? Visit our FAQs page.