Prospective Applicants

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or equivalent foreign institution is required. No specific major is required or preferred. A degree may be in progress at the time of application, but must be complete by closure of the application cycle. 

• Minimum 3.0 overall cumulative GPA (on 4.0 scale) is required.  Calculated by CASPA.
• Minimum 3.0 prerequisite GPA (on 4.0 scale) is required.  Calculated by CASPA.
• Any graduate coursework may be considered in addition to the cumulative undergraduate GPA.
   

Entrance exams such as the GRE, PA-CAT, and MCAT are not required. 

Due to the compressed and accelerated nature of the PA curriculum, competitive applicants must demonstrate a strong foundation in the basic sciences and an ability to successfully manage a challenging academic workload.  

Prerequisite courses must be taken at regionally accredited community colleges and/or universities. The prerequisites indicate the minimum required; competitive applicants will generally apply with more than the minimum.

• Applicants must complete all prerequisite coursework with a grade of C (2.0) or better by September 1 prior to the year of matriculation. All planned prerequisite coursework must be listed in the CASPA application transcript as "in progress."  Advanced Placement (AP) or international baccalaureate (IB) credit will not be accepted to fulfill the prerequisites below.
• Regarding online coursework: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many students completed coursework online. Carroll College recognizes the unique challenges many students face. As such, online coursework completed during the 2020-2021 academic year will be acceptable in most instances to meet the prerequisites. Exceptions are Anatomy (in-person lab required) and Organic Chemistry OR Biochemistry (in-person lab required).
• Pass/No Pass:  Although letter grades for coursework and labs are preferred, the program will accept pass/no pass grading (only passes equal to C or above are acceptable to meet prerequisites) for a maximum of two prerequisite courses.
  If you are unsure if the course you took meets the requirement as a prerequisite course, please contact the Carroll College PA Program at pa@carroll.edu. Applicants should include a copy of the course syllabus or course description. 

Anatomy

• 1 semester or 2 quarters with lab (cadaver lab not required)
• A one-year combined anatomy and physiology course is acceptable
• Must include all organ systems
• Must be completed within 10 years of the application deadline
• If it has been more than 10 years since the course was completed, a refresher course is required.  A refresher course in anatomy (only) or a combined anatomy & physiology refresher course must be taken in person.
• Acceptable courses may include: human anatomy, human anatomy and physiology, comparative anatomy, gross anatomy.  Others may be acceptable. Inquire with PA program if unsure.
• Not meeting requirement: Embryology, neuroanatomy

Physiology

• 1 semester or 2 quarters with or without lab in human or animal physiology
• A one-year combined anatomy & physiology course is acceptable
• Must include all organ systems
• Must be completed within 10 years of the application deadline
• If it has been more than 10 years since the course was completed, a refresher course is required.  A refresher course in physiology (only) may be completed online. A combined anatomy & physiology refresher course must be taken in person.
• A stand-alone course in physiology that was completed during the COVID-19 pandemic is acceptable (if taken 2020-2021).
• Acceptable courses may include: general, animal, or human physiology, integrated physiology, cellular & molecular physiology.  Others may be acceptable. Inquire with PA program if unsure.
• Not meeting requirement: Exercise physiology, kinesiology, sports physiology, or any course that does not include all organ systems.

Microbiology

• 1 semester or 1 quarter with or without lab
• The course should include a broad overview of microbiology that includes bacteriology, virology, fungi, and parasites.
• Must be completed within 10 years of the application deadline
• If it has been more than 10 years since the course was completed, a refresher course is required, which may be completed online.
• Online course completed during COVID-19 pandemic is acceptable (if taken 2020-2021).
• Acceptable courses may include: general microbiology, medical microbiology, clinical microbiology; others may be acceptable.
• Not meeting requirement:  Stand-alone courses in parasitology, virology, bacteriology

Chemistry

General Chemistry

• 2 semesters or 3 quarters
• Lab required
• Acceptable courses may include: general chemistry, inorganic chemistry, essentials of chemistry.
• Organic Chemistry OR Biochemistry
• 2 semesters or 3 quarters
• In-person lab required
• Courses should be 200 level or higher and intended for science majors

Additional Biology/Chemistry

• At least two (2) additional courses that are applicable to human physiology
• Courses must be 200 level or higher
• A variety of courses will meet this prerequisite including (but not limited to): genetics, immunology, biochemistry, neuroscience, molecular biology, nutrition, pharmacology.
• Not meeting requirement:  botany, ecology, marine biology

Mathematics

•    One course in statistics
•    Generally, any course with statistics in the title is acceptable

Social Science

• One course in the social sciences
• Required: A course in psychology, sociology, or anthropology will meet this requirement, although a variety of courses can fulfill this prerequisite
• Not meeting requirement: political science, economics, history
   

A minimum of 500 hours of paid or unpaid healthcare experience is required at the time of application. Healthcare experiences that involve direct patient care and exposure to other members of the healthcare team will be scored highest. Hours spent observing, volunteering, shadowing or as a requirement for an educational training program will all be counted toward the 500-hour minimum requirement. Healthcare hours/experience are subject to verification. A maximum of 4,000 hours will be scored

Applicants with community service/volunteerism is desirable but not required. Community can be defined in a variety of ways, and service may include a range of experiences.

The PA program values and encourages applicants to gain experience job shadowing PAs and other health professionals; however, this is not a requirement for admission.  In particular, applicants who have opportunities to work with or shadow PAs in a variety of clinical settings and specialties will gain a better understanding of the responsibilities and scope of practice of the physician assistant. 

Applicants must submit three letters of reference as part of their CASPA application. Each letter should include sufficient information to provide the Carroll College PA Program Admissions Committee with information regarding a candidate's potential for becoming a PA and readiness for a graduate-level PA program. Letters should be submitted using the Evaluations section of the CASPA application so that they arrive as part of your complete application.

The PA program recommends letters of reference to be submitted from each of the following:

• a physician assistant (PA) or physician (MD or DO)
• a current or former work supervisor
• an academic advisor, instructor, or professor

Letters of recommendation should come from professional sources, not family members or friends.

Applicants should refer to the CASPA Help Center for further information regarding the process for requesting reference letters.
 

• As a student in a healthcare program, the requirements for immunizations are more stringent than for the general population. The PA program follows the CDC immunization recommendations for adults and healthcare workers.
• PA students must provide documentation of completion of all immunizations and titers, if applicable, no later than April 1st, prior to the summer semester of matriculation. Failure to meet this deadline may result in the applicant’s removal from the Program and an alternate to be selected. Physician assistant students must remain in full compliance with the immunization requirements for the duration of the program.
• Some hospitals and health care organizations may require additional vaccines and/or TB screening in order to complete clinical rotations with their organization. All students must comply with the program and clinical rotation site immunization policies at which they are assigned to successfully complete the program.
• Immunizations that are commonly required include Tetanus/TdaP, Polio, MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), Hepatitis B, and Influenza. Other immunizations may also be required. The exact requirements will be updated prior to the first application cycle.
   

• Carroll College and the PA program are not responsible for reviewing background checks or paying for them. Clinical rotation sites may require background checks. If a student is unable to complete a clinical portion of the PA program due to negative items contained in a criminal background check or failure to pass a drug screening, the student will not graduate.
• Neither Carroll College nor the PA program will be held liable for the student’s failure to obtain state licensing as a result of a failed criminal background check and drug screen.
• Students are subject to institutional and PA Program policies regarding alcohol and drug use.