Admission to the Physician Assistant (PA) Program is highly competitive. Our admission practices reflect our goal to select candidates who have the best chance of success in meeting the program’s goals and learning outcomes in a rigorous, fast-paced environment. Each applicant is evaluated on their individual merits. Decisions are based on academic records, references, personal statements, interviews, level of healthcare experience, and non-cognitive traits.

To be considered for admission to the PA Program, applicants must:

• Meet the program's minimum academic standards
• Complete prerequisite coursework within the program’s specified timeframe
• Complete a verified Centralized Application Service for Physical Assistants (CASPA) Application prior to the application deadline
• Document direct, hands-on clinical experience through CASPA prior to the specified deadline
• Submit satisfactory letters of reference meeting the program’s specified standards
• Successfully complete an interview with faculty and/or staff
• Obtain a bachelor’s degree, or higher prior to matriculation
• Submit a $1,500 nonrefundable deposit before the specified due date

Minimum Academic Standards:

The minimum academic standard for admission is a 3.0 Overall GPA, 3.0 Science GPA and 3.0 Biology, Chemistry, Physics (BCP) GPA calculated by CASPA. All of the above courses must be completed with grades of "C" or above. Please note that a “C-" or below will not be accepted. All prerequisites must be completed before January 15, 2026.

Please note applicants not meeting the minimum GPA criteria will not be considered

Program Prerequisite Coursework

The following courses must be completed by January 15, 2026:

Minimum grade of "C" or better in the following courses:

No time limit:

• General Biology I with Lab (4 credits)
• General Biology II with Lab (4 credits)
• General Chemistry I with Lab (4 credits)
• General Chemistry II with Lab (4 credits)
• Statistics (3 credits)

The courses listed below must be completed recently, within seven years (Fall 2019 semester or more recently).  A minimum grade of "C" or better in the following courses:

• Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab (or Human Anatomy with lab if combined with Human Physiology) - (4 credits)
• Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab (or Human Physiology with lab if combined with Human Anatomy - (4 credits)
• Microbiology with Lab (4 credits)
• Organic Chemistry I or Principles of Organic Chemistry with Lab (4 credits)
• Biochemistry I (3 credits - lab not required)*
  _{*A second semester of Organic Chemistry may be substituted}

Notes on types of coursework:

• Courses completed on a quarter or unit system will be evaluated case-by-case.
• Pass/Fail courses without a grade are not accepted.  Please see the COVID-19 Admission Policy for any exceptions.
• Online courses are accepted. However, on-campus courses are considered more competitive. Please see the COVID-19 Admission Policy for any exceptions.
• Courses completed with a “B” or better are more competitive

If an applicant completed the above courses with a “C” or better but not within seven years, they may take the PA-CAT (pa-cat.com) examination in place of the recency requirement. Please note that the application will not be considered until the score report is received.

COVID-19 Admission Policy

Non-US Education:

Applicants need to submit additional documentation if education occurred out of the continental United States:

• TOEFL score (if high school graduate outside of the United States, evaluated on a case-by-case basis.)
• If you have attended any schools outside of the United States or any semesters abroad, and the grades are NOT on your college transcript, please provide a course-by-course WES evaluation. This is the ONLY type of evaluation we will accept. However, Canadian schools that provide English transcripts are NOT considered foreign.  Please see the U.S. and English Canadian Transcripts section for how to report your work.

Pre-Admission Clinical Experience

A minimum of 500 clinical hours of direct, hands-on patient care is required by January 15, 2026.  Examples include, but are not limited to, EMT, paramedic, nurse, medical assistant, CNA, ER tech, physical therapy aide, phlebotomist, etc. 

Experiences including shadowing, laboratory testing with no patient contact, non-clinical research, lifeguard, secretarial, front-office, or clerical work are not accepted as clinical hours.

Clinical experiences with higher levels of decision-making are viewed more competitively. Please review the relevant examples in our pre-admission clinical experience document. Please note that we do not count any patient care hours where academic credit was earned.

Resume/CV

Please upload a copy or your resume/CV to your CASPA application.

Letters of Reference

Three letters of reference must be received for an application to be complete. Please note the program will only review three references. One reference must be from a Physician or Physician Assistant/Associate, and another must be from a supervisor associated with the applicant's direct patient care experience. Note that if the Physician or PA is the supervisor of the direct patient care experience, that satisfies both conditions, and two additional letters are still needed. 

Personal references will not be considered.

Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA)

Students will apply to the program via a centralized application system operated by the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Applications will be accepted through CASPA beginning April 28th and must be verified by October 1, 2025, for the eleventh cohort starting in May 2026.

Degree Prerequisite

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited or equivalent institution must be awarded prior to matriculation into the program. A baccalaureate degree is a minimum requirement. Therefore, a master's or doctorate-level degree awarded in lieu of a baccalaureate degree will meet this requirement.

Note: meeting the prerequisite courses and the minimum number of clinical hours does not guarantee an interview or acceptance into the program.

Program Preferences

The Marist University Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program welcomes all applicants who meet the minimum program standards to apply. The Admission Committee has a holistic approach to recruiting a diverse cohort. Candidates with the following attributes are considered preferential:

• Applicants with strong academic performance
• Applicants with few Ds, Fs, and/or course withdrawals
• Applicants with few repeated courses
• Applicants with high levels of decision making in direct patient care experiences
• Applicants overcoming adversity
• First-generation college graduates
• Veterans
• Applicants with significant community service
• Applicants earning honors/awards
• Applicants with leadership experience
• Current Marist students and alum

Relevant Program Policies

The program does not offer deferral of acceptance to future cohorts, even in the case of extenuating circumstances.

The program does not offer reconsideration of application status once a final decision is made.

Applicants who do not meet the program's minimum requirements will not be considered and are automatically denied entry into the program.

Prior to matriculation, the following submissions are required:

• Official transcripts
• Background check
• Health packet
• BLS certification
• Health insurance
• Completion of Medical Terminology
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation required