Physician Assistant Studies

Mount Union PA Program Admissions Requirements: COVID-19 adjustments

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Physician Assistant Studies program has considered modifications to the admission requirements.  Please see the following in response to frequently requested information:

1. Shadowing hours – 40-hour minimum is still required but the date has been extended from the time of application to the time of matriculation (entrance date into the program). The program will accept virtual shadowing hours for up to half (20 hours) of the required total 40-hour minimum.
   • We still value PA shadowing and recommend applicants submit to CASPA all of their hours completed.
   • Additional shadowing forms submitted after completing the CASPA application can be sent directly to Laurie Scarpitti, scarpill@mountunion.edu.
2. GRE – required.  Scores are to be submitted directly to Mount Union using the code 5966.
   • Applicants are to submit the scores if they have taken the GRE, but if still awaiting testing, please consider taking the GRE General Test at Home.
3. Online prerequisite courses and labs - Online prerequisite coursework and labs taken between January 2020 and May 2022 will be accepted, and online lab courses prior to and after this time frame will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

PA Program Admission Requirements

• Degree: A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university or college is required. Applicants with degrees from any discipline are welcome to apply to the program as long as the prerequisite coursework is completed prior to matriculation (see item 3 below).
• GPA: The program requires an overall GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale and a cumulative GPA 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale in prerequisite coursework. Overall and science GPAs of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale are required.
• Prerequisite Coursework: The following coursework is required:
  
  

All prerequisite coursework must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.  No grade of “C-” or lower will be accepted.  All prerequisite science and math coursework must have been completed within the past 10 years.  Coursework older than 10 years will be reviewed on a case by case basis for acceptance.

† One semester of Human Anatomy with lab PLUS one semester of Human Physiology with lab can substitute for Anatomy and Physiology I and II.

†† Elementary Statistics cannot be replaced by any other math (like calculus).
††† Medical Terminology requirement must be met via a proficiency exam given on the day of orientation. Failure of the proficiency exam will require the student to complete and pass a self-directed medical terminology course prior to matriculation.

+ Courses from Mount Union are for reference only.  Students may take pre-requisites at other post-secondary institutions.

• Physician Assistant Shadowing Experience: All applicants to the program must complete 40 hours of shadowing an NCCPA-certified physician assistant prior to application to the program. The applicant is responsible for the arrangement of the shadowing experience. Documentation verifying the shadowing experience must be submitted with the CASPA application to the program. Applicants with more than the minimum 40-hour requirement will be preferred. Download Shadowing Form. (Note: Upload to CASPA all completed shadowing forms in one file)
• Supplemental Application: Applicants no longer need to download and fill out a Supplemental Application. This information will be captured when applying via the CASPA website.
• Completed Application: Applicants must complete an application via the  Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) and submit it by the  October 1st deadline.
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE): General Exam. Please designate code  5966 on the GRE registration. Test scores should not be older than three years. While there is no minimum GRE score required for admission, the competitive candidate will have scores above the 50th percentile. Scores greater than the 50th percentile are preferred.
• Candidates must have the ability to meet the Technical Standards of the program: See  Technical Standards link for details.
• Three letters of recommendation must be submitted via the CASPA website: One recommendation must be from a practicing physician or physician assistant.
• For International Students Only:
  Foreign Transcripts: All transcripts from an institution in any country other than the United States must have a course-by-course evaluation, plus determination of letter grade equivalence. The following agencies may be used for foreign transcript evaluation:

• International students must submit official TOEFL scores: Scores of 590 or above on the paper-based test, 243 or above on the computerized test or 100 or above on the internet test are required for citizens of non-English speaking countries.
• International students are required to have U.S. Visa information: if they are currently residing in the United States.

• Background Check: Students must request and pay online for a criminal background check prior to program matriculation. Information will be provided upon acceptance.
• Patient Care Experience: This experience is not required but is preferred.
• Preference: Preference in the selection of students for the interview process will be given to University of Mount Union graduates who meet all other admissions prerequisites.
• Priority Admission: The University of Mount Union Physician Assistant Studies Program offers priority admission to some applicants. Please see the  Priority Admissions section for details.
  Note - The University of Mount Union Physician Assistant Studies Program does not offer credit for experience. 
  Note - There is no advanced placement within the University of Mount Union Physician Assistant Studies Program. 
  Note - The PA Program does not accept transfer credit from a student previously enrolled in another PA program, nor does it accept experiential credit. All students accepted into the PA program must satisfy all requirements of the didactic and clinical years of study. 
  

Mission and Vision

MISSION

The mission of the University of Mount Union Physician Assistant Studies Program is to educate knowledgeable, competent, and compassionate physician assistants who, under physician supervision, provide patient care with professionalism and integrity. 

VISION STATEMENT

The Physician Assistant Studies Program will accomplish its mission by offering a graduate level curriculum that focuses on the development of critical thinking, professional problem solving, appreciation of human diversity, and ethical leadership. Through its mission, the program will help meet the surrounding communities’ need for qualified health care providers.

PROGRAM FOCUS

The strengths in the curriculum lie in its focus on:

• Patient-centered care that acknowledges diversity and an interdisciplinary team approach
• The impact of the U.S Healthcare Delivery System within the context of the complex societal problems that affect the individual, community, and world
• The collaborative physician/PA relationship
• An understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of heath care access and needs
• The importance of life-long learning for the PA
  
  

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

The program has a commitment to the provision of didactic and clinical education to yield excellent clinicians, who have the ability to evaluate and utilize current health policy, medical research, cultural effects, and information technology to enhance the care of their patients. The program is also committed to providing a foundation for life-long learning skills in students to prepare them for the expectations of the physician assistant profession. At the center of the educational philosophy is the appropriate care of, respect for, and responsibility to the patient, who is the ultimate beneficiary of the program’s graduate.

Mount Union's Physician Assistant Program Strives to:

• Educate Physician Assistants to be excellent health care providers
• Produce physician assistants who are valued members of the medical team
• Provide academic and clinical opportunities to enrich the physician assistant education experience
• Promote health and preventive medicine measures
• Participate as a partner in providing the community healthcare professionals

Accreditation Status

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the University of Mount Union Physician Assistant Program sponsored by the University of Mount Union. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
 
Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be March 2028. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

See the full accreditation history of University of Mount Union's Physician Assistant Studies program.

  
Attrition and Graduation Rates

See the program’s attrition and graduation rates.

Estimated PA Program Cost | 2024 Entering Cohort

Review the estimated costs for Mount Union's 27-month Physician Assistant Studies Program below.

TUITION

2024 Entering Cohort Class (tuition is fixed per cohort for the duration of the program)

FEES

2024 Entering Cohort Class (subject to change annually)

OTHER ESTIMATED COSTS

Estimated PA Program Cost | 2023 Entering Cohort

Review the estimated costs for Mount Union's 27-month Physician Assistant Studies Program below.

TUITION

2023 Entering Cohort Class (tuition is fixed per cohort for the duration of the program)

FEES

2023 Entering Cohort Class (subject to change annually)

OTHER ESTIMATED COSTS

Other expenses to be considered include housing and travel. While most clinical rotations are within a 70-mile driving distance from Mount Union, students may elect to attend a clinical rotation in a more remote area. In these instances, the student will be responsible for costs associated with student travel and housing unless previous arrangements have been made between the University and the clinical rotation site. Programs and/or courses may require additional fees.

The current cost of attendance figures are displayed under the Cost of Attendance section of our website.

TUITION AND FEES REFUND POLICY

See Mount Union's Tuition and Fees Refund Policy. For more information, please contact our Office of Business Affairs at (330) 823-6566.
 

*Fees are subject to change annually. Total fees for the entire 27-month program is an estimate based on the current year’s fees.