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A Bachelor's Degree is required to be accepted into the MPA ProgramMaster of Physician Assistant Program due to the competitive nature of the application process.
Our program statistically accepts more Georgia residents due to the high number of in-state applications received.
Admission is based on undergraduate college coursework including the overall, transfer, and math/science grade point averages. Other criteria include personal interviews, assessment of the applicant's motivation and the possession of the personal qualities needed to successfully complete the program. Prior to enrollment, the applicant will be evaluated on:
Interviews are by invitation only. The 2023 Interview Cycle will include opportunities for both in-person and virtual interviews. Interviewees will need to be available for activities between 8am and 5pm on the day of the interview, regardless of format.
Applicants whose first language is not English must submit official TOEFL scores. A minimum TOEFL score of either 250 on the computer-based exam (cBT), 600 on the paper exam (pBT), or 100 on the internet based exam (iBT), with 26 in the speaking component. Applicants must take the TOEFL by October 15 to be considered for admission the following year.
The Admissions Committee selects the applicants who seem best qualified for the program from among those who apply and submit all required documentation. Applications and all associated supporting documentation must be received by the Office of Academic Admissions by October 15th in order for an application to be considered complete. Earlier application is highly encouraged.
The prerequisite courses required to apply to Augusta University Master of Physician Assistant Program comprise a core curriculum divided into seven categories. The courses acceptable to meet the requirements of each category are listed below.
A. Essential Skills (9 semester hours)
B. Professional Skills (4-5 semester hours)
C. Humanities and Fine Arts (6 semester hours)
D. Science, Mathematics and Technology (10-11 semester hours)
E. Social Sciences (12 semester hours)
F. Courses Required for Major (34 semester hours)
G. Guided Electives for Major (15 semester hours)
* These courses are MANDATORY.
** Students may take any other science course to satisfy the remaining hours in this section.
There is no advanced placement, transfer of credit (except for 90 semester hours of prerequisites at an accredited college or university) or credit for experiential learning allowed. Previous medical professions course work will not be accepted toward completion of the MPA degree. It is important that our students are exposed to specific course content. To ensure this, only courses taught within our curriculum are accepted for credit toward graduation. The Augusta University Physician Assistant program does not have a program in which foreign-trained physicians or medical graduates are given advanced placement or preference in admission decisions. For additional information, please see the Office of Academic Admissions' Transfer Credit Policy.
Criminal background checks will be conducted on conditionally accepted applicants prior to their enrollment in participating programs in the College of Allied Health Sciences. Final admittance is conditional on a satisfactory criminal background report which must be completed and approved prior to matriculation. Additional information regarding this policy may be found here.
Augusta University does not honor grade forgiveness at another institution. All grades from all courses attempted and earned are included in all of our transfer GPA calculations and evaluations for admission.
Credit by Exam (AP/CLEP) may be accepted, but grades are not earned, therefore they cannot be calculated in the GPA considered for admission.
The Physician Assistant Program at Augusta University does not accept Health Science based science courses as equivalent for prerequisite science requirements. While the Transfer Equivalency Guide for students transferring into an undergraduate program at AU may indicate that a health science based science course will transfer in as an undergraduate science equivalent course, the PA Program will not accept this course.
All science prerequisite coursework is expected to be at the level of what would be required for a science major in an undergraduate program. Remedial or introductory level coursework will not be accepted. For example, BIO 1101 & 1102 at Augusta University are introductory science courses that non-majors can take. BIO 1107 & 1108 are the first sequential Biology courses in a science major curriculum. In this example, the PA Program would not accept BIO 1101/1102 as meeting the prerequisite of Principles of Biology I/II, but BIO 1107/1108 would be accepted.
The CASPer Test - Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics
All applicants to the Master of Physician Assistant Program at Augusta University
are required to complete CASPer for the 2022-2023 Admissions Cycle. CASPer is an online test which assesses for non-cognitive skills and interpersonal
characteristics that we believe are important for successful students and graduates
of our program and will complement the other tools that we use for applicant screening.
In implementing CASPer, we are trying to further enhance fairness and objectivity
in our selection process. Augusta University encourages applicants to sign up for the earlier CASPer test dates to ensure that we receive results before our interview process
begins in late August.
How to complete Altus Suite (CASPer)
To take Altus Suite, you will be responsible for securing access to a laptop or desktop computer with webcam and audio capabilities and a reliable internet connection with an internet speed of at least 1.5 Mbps and upload speed of at least 2 Mbps. You will require the following for both account creation and completing Altus Suite:
Please direct any inquiries on Altus Suite to Support@altus.as. Alternatively, you may use the chat bubble in the bottom right corner of your screen on the Take Altus website.
Please note that Augusta University does not require you to take Snapshot or Duet.
Accommodations: If you require testing accommodations for Altus Suite, you will need to submit the Accommodations Request Form signed by you and your qualified professional 3 weeks in advance of your desired test date. More information regarding accommodations can be found here.
CASPer test results are valid for one admissions cycle. Applicants who have already taken the test in previous years will therefore be expected to re-take it.
Students of the Augusta University Physician Assistant Program may obtain a license in Georgia and/or South Carolina after successfully passing the National Commission on Certification for Physician Assistant (NCCPA). This examination administered is by the NCCPA. The Augusta University Physician Assistant Program was able to determine Licensure eligibility for other states.
