Pre-requisites

Required (33): 

• Anatomy & Physiology I w/ lab (4)
• Anatomy & Physiology II w/ lab (4)
• General chemistry I w/ lab (4)
• General chemistry II w/ lab (4)
• Organic chemistry OR Biochemistry (3)
• Microbiology w/lab (4) \
• Statistics (3)
• Biological science w/ lab (4)  \
• Medical Terminology (1) 

Recommended (15): 

• Psychology (3)
• Genetics (3)
• Immunology (3)
• Nutrition (3)
• Cell biology (3) 

We strongly recommend that coursework be recent, at least within the last 10 years.

All prerequisite courses must be passed with a grade of "C" or better and be completed prior to matriculation.  Applicants must have an overall science GPA of at least 3.0 and an overall GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Applications are ranked for interview according to GPA, personal statement, letters of recommendation, clinical experience(s), and/or other experiences which may include life experience (e.g. challenges, achievements), shadowing, volunteerism, experience with rural and/or underserved communities, and/or socioeconomically disadvantaged populations; and research, teaching, and/or publications authored. Selected candidates will be notified by the admissions coordinator for a virtual interview.

Advanced placement is not granted to prospective students

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. 

First cohort will begin Graduate Term III; March 2024. Each cohort will start in Graduate Term III, which is in March of each year.

The MPAS program is 8 terms for a total of 24 months.

There are 48 seats available each year.

Yes. We welcome applicants from all over the United States.

Estimated Cost of Program

Tuition: $108,976
Fees:    $3,000
Estimated additional costs: $3,175 (see Tuition section for details) 

Estimated Total Cost of Program: $115,151

We are located at 301 Seton Pkwy, Round Rock, TX, 78662. The campus is 25 miles from downtown Austin.

All prerequisite courses must be passed with a grade of "C" or better and be completed prior to matriculation. Applicants must have an overall science GPA of at least 3.2 and an overall cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

No. Eligibility is determined by CASPA’s calculations for overall science GPA.  The minimum GPA requirement is firm.

Yes, you may have two prerequisites outstanding at the time of application. If accepted into the MPAS program, you must complete the outstanding prerequisites before matriculation into the program with a “B” or better.

We strongly recommend that coursework be recent, at least within the last 10 years. Otherwise, you may want to consider taking a refresher course. 

With the exception of Organic chemistry, and Biochemistry all science prerequisites must have a lab component. 

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.

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 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. 

We do not require that you have health care experience. However, we highly recommend shadowing a PA.

Yes

Shadowing is not required, but highly recommended. We recommend candidates have a solid knowledge of the PA role and this is enhanced with shadowing 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.  A local medical office or area hospital may be able to recommend a practicing PA. Make sure to first obtain permission from the PA and be aware that you may also need permission from the hospital or clinic, as there are strict patient privacy (HIPAA) 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. 

The Educational Testing Service (ETS) code for submitting your score to CASPA is D360.

Transcripts should be submitted to CASPA. Please do not submit your transcripts to our program.

No.

No.

We accept applications through CASPA, the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants website. Please visit our Admissions page for further information on applying to our program.  

Yes, we require three (3) letters of recommendation. Although the program does not specify who provides a letter of recommendation, we do expect at least one of the letters is from a physician (MD/DO) or physician assistant (PA).

The Franklin Pierce MPAS Hybrid program does not have an application fee. Please refer to the CASPA website for their fee information.

CASPA starts each yearly cycle at the end of April

The deadline for applications through CASPA is October 1st of each cycle

Applicants can 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.

The Texas MPAS Hybrid Program uses a modified rolling admissions process. As the program begins the interview process, applicants that meet, and exceed, admissions expectations will be offered a seat in the cohort. As more applicants are interviewed, the program will begin ranking the final applicants and also rank the waitlist. 

The Texas MPAS Hybrid Program expects to begin conducting interviews mid-summer through the end of the application cycle in October.

No. All interviews will be completed virtually. 

Yes. If you were placed on the wait list or were not accepted, you are eligible to reapply the following year.  However, you will be required to go through the entire application process again. 

On-campus housing is not available. We are able to provide information on local housing options to applicants who are accepted into our program. 

No. The MPAS Hybrid program is full-time coursework. 

No.

The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Franklin Pierce University Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) Hybrid Program -- Round Rock, TX Campus sponsored by Franklin Pierce University.

Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students. 

Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class. 

Due to the intensity and rigor of the curriculum, working while enrolled is not recommended.

The second year consists of 12 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. 

There are seven (7) required rotations and two (2) elective rotations. 

Primary Care (5 weeks)
Internal Medicine (5 weeks)
Emergency Medicine (5 weeks)
General Surgery (5 weeks)
Mental Health (5 weeks)
Women’s health (5 weeks)
Pediatrics (5 weeks)
Elective rotation (5 weeks)
Elective rotation (5 weeks)

The clinical team 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 Hybrid Program has affiliations with clinical sites throughout the United States with a majority in Texas. While on rotations, students must be prepared to travel to an assigned site if necessary.

Housing and transportation are the responsibilities of the student. The program may assist in identifying housing near the assigned site. The program does not guarantee students will be able to remain near their homes or families for the duration of the clinical year.

There are four (4) on-campus immersions throughout the 24-month program. On-campus immersions typically last one (1) week and give students the opportunity for the following experiences: 

Meet with faculty and peers in-person
Practice skills labs
Standardized patient experiences
Validation skills testing
Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
Guest speakers
Workshops
Interprofessional activities
*Travel arrangements and accommodations are the responsibility of the student. However, the program may be able to secure discounted rates at nearby hotels. 

No. While each of the PA programs have the same sponsoring institution, they are completely separate PA programs. You must submit separate applications in CASPA. 

The Arizona and Texas PA Programs are hybrid, which means that the 12-month didactic year is delivered online and there are four (4) required on-campus immersions throughout the 24 months of the program.

The 12-month clinical year provides hands-on learning clinical experiences and may be with any of our preceptors located in the United States.

Admissions coordinator:  Pam O’Brien azpaadmissions@franklinpierce.edu  

The Texas PA Program is currently approved for students to use the VA education benefits including the GI Bill.

For any inquiries please contact Aly Cauldron (P: 603-899-4095, E: CauldronA@franklinpierce.edu ).