get your questions answered
The following are some of the most frequently asked questions about the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program.
All prerequisite courses must be passed with a grade of "C" or better and be completed prior to matriculation. Applicants must possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a science GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants may apply with up to two outstanding prerequisites.
- Anatomy & Physiology I (4 credits) - lab required
- Anatomy & Physiology II (4 credits) - lab required
- Chemistry I (4 credits) - lab required
- Chemistry II (4 credits) - lab required
- Biology (4 credits) - lab required
- Microbiology (4 credits) - lab required
- Statistics (3 credits)
- Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry (4 credits) - lab required
Recommended Courses (Not Required)
- Genetics
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Nutrition
- Psychology
No. While each of the PA programs have the same sponsoring institution, they are separate PA programs. You must submit separate applications in CASPA for each campus to which you wish to apply.
We accept all forms of credit (Term, Quarter and Semester) for pre-requisite coursework. However, number of attempted credits, as calculated by CASPA, must meet the minimum credit requirement for each pre-requisite course. Please note, credits awarded in CASPA may differ from those awarded by your institution’s credit system.
A new MPAS cohort begins in Graduate Term II. This is typically the week before or after Thanksgiving.
Over 1,000 applicants apply to our program each cycle.
There are no expiration dates on prerequisites. If your prerequisites are more than five years old, we recommend considering taking a refresher course.
With the exception of Psychology and Statistics, all prerequisites must have a lab.
No. All prerequisite courses must be taken at a regionally accredited College or University and you must have received a letter grade for the course work.
Yes. As long as all course work is completed at a regionally accredited institution and the prerequisites include the necessary lab requirements.
No, we do not make college recommendations. We do require that the institution be regionally accredited.
You may apply through CASPA before receiving your bachelor’s degree. However, if accepted into the program, a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution must be completed and confirmed before matriculation.
We do not specify what your degree is in; we take applicants from all different fields of study.
Yes. Applicants are required to demonstrate at least 500 hours of patient care experience. We define ‘Patient Care Experience’ as experience in which you are involved in hands-on direct care of a patient that is not for academic credit. Examples of direct patient care experiences include, but is not limited to, employment or volunteer experiences as a nurse, EMT, paramedic, CNA, phlebotomist, respiratory therapist, etc.
No.
Applicants are required to shadow at least 20 hours with a PA in order to be eligible for review. The PA Shadowing form must be signed by the PA you shadowed or by an individual with authority to attest to the number of hours you shadowed a PA or number of PAs.
We recommend candidates to have a solid knowledge of the PA role and to shadow a PA. We do not provide a shadowing service. If you do not already know a PA, you may consider asking a local health care provider, local medical office or area hospital to recommend a practicing PA. Just make sure to first obtain permission from the physician assistant and be aware that you may also need permission from the hospital or clinic, as there are strict patient privacy (HIPPA) issues involved.
Yes, you may apply to our program. Applicants with foreign transcripts must have their transcripts evaluated and sent to CASPA. While the University agrees to review the evaluation for possible transfer credits, we reserve the right to accept or deny credits based upon the results of the evaluation. Fees are the responsibility of the student. Acceptable agencies for use are those who maintain a professional membership with AACRAO (American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers) or NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) and include but are not limited to: World Education Service (WES), Center for Educational Documentation (CED), Foundation for International Services (FIS), or AACRAO International Education Services (IES).
No.
Yes, if you were born outside of the United States and did not graduate from a United States high school, you will be required to submit internet-based TOEFL (iBT) scores with your application. There are no exceptions to this requirement, including having attained upper-level education in the United States. A minimum total score of 100 (with at least 25 in each section) is required.
Transcripts should be submitted to CASPA. Please do not submit your transcripts to our program. The only time we require transcripts is if you are accepted into the program.
No.
We have a supplemental application which must be submitted in your CASPA application. The application consists of your resume/CV and a copy of your PA Shadowing Verification Form.
We accept applications through CASPA, the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants. You may submit your CASPA application to our program. You will need to fill in the application at their website. Please visit the Admissions Requirements page for further details.
Yes, we require three (3) letters of recommendation. We cannot specify from whom you should obtain them, but do suggest they be diverse, i.e. professors, employers, co-workers, etc.
The Franklin Pierce MPAS program does not have an application or supplemental application fee. Please refer to the CASPA website for their fee information.
Mid to late April.
November 1. Please note that your application must be deemed “Complete” by CASPA on November 1. You may want to inquire of CASPA when they recommend submitting your application to ensure they have ample time to review it and give a status of “Complete.”
Applicants are able to update their CASPA application with classes they have completed. Please do not send us your transcripts; we look at grades directly on your CASPA application.
We ask that applicants DO NOT call for status updates. We have a high volume of applications to review and cannot give updates over the phone. Applicants are updated via email when their application is received. Interview invitations are also sent via email.
We assess applications and fill available seats on a first-come, first-served basis. Our Admissions committee evaluates applications and sends out decision letters throughout the application season. However, we will not fill all seats before evaluating each application received by the November 1st deadline with a “Complete” status in CASPA.
Once all of your application materials have been received by the program you will be notified via email as to what the next steps in the application process are. Typically, interviews are held in the Nov-May timeframe.
For the 2022-2023 application cycle only, interviews will be conducted virtually. For subsequent cohorts, interviews will be conducted on campus. We feel that meeting with you face to face gives us a better understanding of who you are.
Yes. If you were placed on the wait list or were not accepted and you would like to reapply the following year, you will be required to go through the entire application process again.
On-campus housing is not available. We provide information on local housing options/websites to applicants who are accepted into our program.
No. The MPAS program is a full-time day program that is only offered at the Lebanon Campus.
We do not allow deferred acceptance.
We accept all forms of credit (Term, Quarter and Semester) for pre-requisite coursework. However, number of attempted credits, as calculated by CASPA, must meet the minimum credit requirement for each pre-requisite course. Please note, credits awarded in CASPA may differ from those awarded by your institution’s credit system.
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Franklin Pierce University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Franklin Pierce University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be September 2027. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
We do not offer job placement.
Due to the intensity and rigor of the curriculum, working while enrolled is highly discouraged.
The second year consists of thirteen months of clinical training. This provides students with hands-on learning in a variety of rural and community clinics, hospitals and private practices under supervision of a clinical preceptor. Clinical preceptors may be Physician Assistants, MDs, DOs, Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives, and Clinical Social Workers/psychologists. One rotation each of Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and a Primary Care Elective make up the first 12 months of the clinical experience. Students also have an elective rotation.
The Clinical Education Staff will determine clinical assignments. The primary responsibility of the program is to ensure a quality clinical experience and education. Students are not required to provide their own clinical sites or preceptors for any required rotations. Although preferences are considered, the program does not guarantee personal preference can be accommodated.
The Franklin Pierce MPAS Program has affiliations with many local sites throughout New England. While on rotations, students must be prepared to travel to assigned site.
Housing and transportation are the responsibilities of the student. The program will assist in identifying housing near the assigned site. The program does not guarantee students will be able to remain near their homes or families during the clinical year.
Lebanon Center: (603) 298-5549
Admissions Coordinator
Master of Physician Assistant Studies
603-298-6617
CONTACT
Admissions Coordinator
Master of Physician Assistant Studies
(603) 298-6617
paprogram@franklinpierce.edu
