October 1 (11:59 PM EST): Deadline for application to be reviewed and verified by CASPA
Application Instructions
This program participates in the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Please consult CASPA for more information regarding specific CASPA application requirements, procedures and fees. The CASPA application needs to be completed by August 1 of the year prior to matriculation. Applicants should send all application materials directly to CASPA. Applicants should use GRE Code 0570 when sending GRE scores to CASPA. CASPA will verify the application information and send completed applications to the program.
Taking a break from, and returning to, your PA Supplemental Application submission:
To take a break while completing your submission; you will need to revisit the application on the same computer/browser as you did initially. The program automatically stores a cookie in your browser, and you should be able to pick up where you left off.
If you revisit the applications over two weeks after your last activity, on a different computer or browser, or after clearing your cache, you will be sent to the beginning of the application.
Following the program’s receipt of the CASPA application, official GRE scores, and UAB PA Supplemental Application, the UAB PA Program will review the packet.
Completed applications are reviewed by members of the admissions committee. Interviews are held in October and November. Admissions decisions are finalized in December. Students who are accepted to the Physician Assistant program will need to complete the UAB Graduate School Application.
Application Fees
There is a CASPA application fee of $177 for first designation and a fee of $51 for each additional designation.
There is a UAB Graduate School Application fee of $50 for domestic students and $60 for international students. This fee only applies to students accepted into the program.
There is a UAB PA deposit of $300 that is applied towards tuition in the first semester of the program. The deposit only applies to students accepted into the program. The deposit is non-refundable and will be forfeited by the applicant in the event that he/she does not enroll and attend the UAB PA program.
Baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited college/university.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores from the verbal, quantitative and analytic sections. Applicants with advanced degrees whose GRE scores are older than 5 years (i.e. the time limit that ETS will send scores) can request the PA program to consider dated scores if the applicant can provide documentation of their GRE scores directly from the institution they attended. The documentation should be sent directly from the student's graduate degree institution to the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. prior to the August 1st deadline for application evaluation. Please note that recent GRE scores often make applicants with an advanced degree more competitive than applicants with an advanced degree that do not have recent GRE scores. Furthermore, as with all applicants, the UAB admissions review committee could still determine that the applicant should retake the GRE and reapply the next application cycle.
A minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0).
A minimum overall science grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0).
A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the program prerequisite courses, with a minimum grade of C in each.
All applicants with 9 or fewer semester hours of prerequisite courses to complete on Jan 1st of the year of admission will be considered for admission. All prerequisite courses must be completed before the program begins in the fall semester.
Medical clearance: UAB physician assistant students must be medically cleared for enrollment if accepted to program. Detailed information is available via UAB Student Health Services.
Undergo a criminal background check and consent to drug testing if accepted into the program.
The Graduate School now monitors English proficiency to make sure applicants meet our minimum scores which are listed below.
IELTS – 6.5
TOEFL – 80
PTEA – 53
Other requirements include a financial affidavit of support and immigration documentation (if currently residing in the United States).
Credit for Prior Learning or Experience
Credit is not offered for prior experiential learning or prior course work (the Program does not offer advanced placement). Furthermore, credit is not offered for courses provided by another physician assistant program. No student may omit or waive any of the required clinical year rotations.
Evaluation Criteria
Applicants are evaluated on the following criteria:
Academics - Overall GPA, science GPA, prerequisite grades and GRE scores.
Clinical Experience - Experience in health care settings, such as providing direct patient care, surgical experience, shadowing and /or other health care experience, is considered by the admissions committee.
Personal Statement - Applicants are evaluated on the quality of their personal statement.
Reference Letters - Three (3) letters of support are reviewed and considered.
Supplemental Application - Applicants are evaluated on their responses to the supplemental application questions. The MSPAS Program is committed to recruiting and matriculating students who exemplify attributes that align with our program mission. This includes minority/underrepresented in medicine students, those from diverse or disadvantaged backgrounds, and students who have shown a commitment to service and practicing in an underserved or rural area in PA practice.
UAB Physician Assistant Studies Program Admission Data Summary
In order to ensure that patients receive the best medical care possible, the faculty of the UAB PA program has identified certain skills and professional behaviors that are required for successful completion of the program. These skills and behaviors are required to perform a variety of activities within the curriculum and also to function clinically as a physician assistant. Therefore, all students in the PA Program must be able to demonstrate these skills and professional behaviors, including students with disabilities when reasonable accommodations are made by the program.
UAB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and family-friendly environment in which all faculty and staff can excel and achieve work/life balance irrespective of race, national origin, age, genetic or family medical history, gender, faith, gender identity and expression as well as sexual orientation. UAB also encourages applications from individuals with disabilities and veterans.
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