Applying to a Physician Assistant Studies (PAS) program at any school is a competitive process that requires careful preparation and attention to detail. It is essential to build a strong application that aligns with the program’s academic standards, prerequisite coursework, experience requirements and supporting documents.
Here at the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, we offer two PAS master’s degree programs (Physician Assistant Studies, On-Campus and Physician Assistant Studies Hybrid Program) that will prepare students to sit for licensure upon successful completion. Students can apply to both programs but note that they do have separate applications!
Get Started in 6 Steps
Not sure how to get started? Below is a quick guide to help you start your application for either PAS program at Pitt! For more detailed information, please review the individual admissions pages for the PAS On-campus program or the PAS Hybrid program.
1. Bachelor’s Degree and GPA Requirements
- Both of the Pitt PAS programs have a minimum GPA requirement, for both overall and prerequisite science courses.
- You can strengthen this area by retaking courses that do not best reflect your academic effort, or those that do not help you meet the minimum GPA requirement. When looking at this section of your application, all college-level courses taken will contribute to the overall GPA. If you decide to repeat a course in the prerequisite science category, we will take the higher grade of the two taken into the calculation.
- Tip: Calculating your Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) GPAs: CASPA will send us a calculation of all science courses. Pitt will calculate your prerequisite science GPA in their application review.
2. Prerequisite Coursework
- To ensure a well-rounded academic background, please closely look at our prerequisite coursework and utilize our detailed prerequisite rubric to ensure you are on track.
- All prerequisite courses and degree conferral must be completed with your final transcript submitted to the Pitt PA email in 6c below by the application deadline of July 31, 2025 – no exceptions. Applications that do not meet all admissions requirements by the deadline will not be considered.
- If you have any questions about whether a course meets the requirements, please contact the admissions team for an unofficial evaluation before submitting your application to avoid potential rejection.
- Tip: There is not an expiration date on prerequisite requirements! The Pitt PA programs require all prerequisite courses and labs to be completed from an accredited institution (including online). If it is completed from an accredited institution and covers all of our required key concepts listed in the detailed rubric, they should be accepted.
3. Patient Care Experience (PCE) Hours
- A minimum of 500 hours of direct, hands-on patient care experience is required by the admissions deadline. We encourage our students to get as many hours as they can!
- Tip: Eligible experiences include (but are not limited to) work as registered nurse (RN), emergency medical technician (EMT), paramedic, medical assistant, medical scribe and registered behavior technician. If you are uncertain whether your experience meets the requirement you can reach out to the dedicated PAS enrollment specialist.
4. Crafting a Compelling Personal Statement
- Prompts will become available for each program when the CASPA application opens each year.
- Tip: Have someone you trust look over your personal statements. It is never a bad idea to have a second set of eyes to ensure that your message is clear, concise and free of any errors or misunderstandings. A fresh perspective can catch mistakes you might overlook and help you present yourself in the best possible light.
5. Securing Strong Letters of Recommendation
- Three (3) professional letters of recommendation are required. All letters should be provided by individuals who know you well and can speak of your personal characteristics and traits that align with those of a successful graduate student or health care professional. It is important that the letters specifically highlight why you are a good candidate for the program.
6. Careful, Detailed Review
- Use the CASPA site effectively: CASPA calculates your GPAs, so review their guidelines to understand how your coursework will be assessed. Create your account before the application cycle opens!
- To ensure your application is verified on time for the Pitt PA Studies programs—which follow a green deadline requiring your application to be complete and verified by CASPA by July 31, 2025—you should aim to complete your application at least four weeks before the deadline. Applications that are submitted but not verified by the deadline will not be considered.
- While CASPA will verify your application as requirements are in-progress, please keep in mind all admissions requirements must be completed and final transcripts submitted to the Pitt PA email below by the application deadline.
- Document updates: After submitting your application, send any document updates (such as transcripts or PCE hours) directly to [email protected] (on-campus applicants) or [email protected] (hybrid applicants).
- Do not submit through CASPA. Submitting through CASPA will restart verification and may delay processing past the deadline!
More about the Application Review Process at Pitt
When your verified application is submitted, the Pitt PAS admission team will use a scoring method to help assist in reviewing the applicants. If you score well on your application, you may be invited to an interview as a next step of the Pitt PA programs’ application process!
By carefully preparing your application and ensuring that all components meet or exceed the requirements, you can position yourself as a competitive candidate for the Pitt PAS programs!
Good luck!