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Admissions Requirements

Due to the limited number of available seats, the selection process for admission to the physician assistant program is extremely competitive. We accept applications for admission from students who have completed a prior bachelors degree. These students will apply for admission into the 2-year curriculum, which included didactic and clinical instruction and culminates in a MS degree upon completion of the program. 

Qualified applicants are determined on the basis of several criteria:

  • Interpersonal and intrapersonal, verbal and written communication skills
  • Written application materials
  • Results of personal interview
  • Ability to master the rigorous academic content of the program
  • Understanding and knowledge of the PA role within an interprofessional healthcare team
  • Emotional maturity and understanding of and motivation to enter the profession
  • Commitment to social justice and community engagement

Graduate Student Requirements

Admission to the Physician Assistant program is offered to a select group of graduate students who meet the following criteria. Applications and all required documents must be submitted and verified by CASPA by October 1st. Please be aware that verification of applications can take up to 4 weeks.

  • Received a baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale and a minimum science GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale as calculated by CASPA at the time of application.
    • Graduate students who complete a majority of prior academic work at a 4-year school and/or earned baccalaureate degree in science field or other healthcare field will be considered more competitive candidates.
    • Applicants with higher GPAs and more rigorous courses will be considered more competitive candidates.
  • Official transcripts from ALL previously attended colleges/universities.
  • Earned grade of B- or better in all science courses
    • Introductory and survey courses are not accepted to fulfill the required science prerequisites.
    • Applicants must earn a grade of B- or better in each of the following required subjects:
      • Human Anatomy & Physiology (I & II) including laboratory – 8 semester hours*
      • General or Developmental Psychology – 3 semester hours
      • General Inorganic Chemistry (I & II) including laboratory - 8 semester hours
      • Organic Chemistry including laboratory - 3 semester hours
      • Microbiology including laboratory - 3 semester hours
      • Statistics – 3 semester hours
      • English (including 3 semester hours of English Composition) – 6 semester hours
    • *Applicants who take the combination class of Human Anatomy & Physiology I (A&P I), then must complete the sequence by taking Human Anatomy & Physiology II (A&P II).
  • Three letters of recommendation.
  • Admissions essay specifically addressing the topic of why the student wants to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant.
  • Compliance with technical standards of the profession as noted in the application. 

Not Required (but utilized in a holistic review for admission if provided; may make an applicant more competitive):

  • Documentation of completed hours of direct patient interaction either through volunteer activities or employment activities.
    • Documentation of direct patient interaction (DPI), either through volunteer activities or employment activities, is strongly encouraged. While there are no current minimum requirements, candidates who have completed higher numbers of DPI hours will be considered more competitive.

Commitment to Social Justice/Community Engagement

The program seeks to enroll students who demonstrate a commitment to social justice and community engagement and will consider evidence of such a commitment in the applicant’s submitted materials. Applicants with a demonstrated commitment will be considered more competitive.

Advanced Placement

The D’Youville PA program’s curriculum is administered in a sequential fashion with each subsequent semester of coursework building upon the previous one. Consequently, the program does not consider applicants for advanced placement.

Interview and Acceptance

Following a review of application materials, select applicants are invited for an interview by the PA department faculty. Not all applicants who meet the minimum application requirements will be invited for an interview. 

Preference for Specified Individuals or Groups Preference for Specified Individuals or Groups
The program does not maintain admission and enrollment practices that favor specified individuals or groups (e.g., military experience) except for those that are  specified on the Admissions Requirements listed above

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