A baccalaureate degree either received or in progress from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States with a 3.2 science and 3.2 overall GPA on a 4.0 scale at the time of application is required for consideration of admission. Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements at the time of application submission will not advance to the next stage of application review.  All offers of acceptance are conditional upon students completing all prerequisite coursework with a grade of B- or higher, except for Organic Chemistry, which requires a minimum grade of C-, by the July 31st deadline. Pass/Fail classes will not fulfill prerequisite requirements, a letter and numerical grade must be submitted to fulfill the requirements. 

Credit received at undergraduate institutions for high school Advanced Placement (AP) prerequisite coursework may be considered as part of the admissions process if credit was granted by the applicant’s undergraduate institution. However, the PA program may request highschool transcripts and/or AP test scores for verification. Courses must be non-remedial level coursework. 

At time of application, students are able to list classes that they intend to complete, are currently enrolled in, or plan to repeat if they are below the current minimum grade requirements, and these will be taken into consideration during the application review process.

Please note, the PA Program does not grant advanced placement, which the ARC-PA defines as “a waiver of required coursework included in the PA curriculum for applicants to the program and/or a waiver of required coursework included in the PA curriculum for currently enrolled students in the program which results in the student advancing in the curriculum without completing required curriculum components at the sponsoring institution.”

Prerequisite Coursework Requirements:

Academic courses that must be completed (at a regionally accredited college or university) within 7 years of application to the program with a B- or above unless otherwise specified:

• Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs (minimum of 8 semester hours or 10 quarter hours)
• Organic Chemistry with lab* or Biochemistry with a lab** (minimum 4 semester hours or 5 quarter hours)
• Psychology (minimum 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours)
• Microbiology with lab (minimum 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours)
• Genetics (minimum 3 semester hours, lab optional or 4 quarter hours)

*Organic Chemistry must be completed with a C- or above
**Biochemistry must be completed with a B- or above

Academic courses that must be completed (at a regionally accredited college or university) within 10 years of application to the program with a B- or above:

• General Chemistry I and II with labs (minimum of 8 semester hours or 10 quarter hours)
• Biology I and II with labs (Mammalian, Cell or Human; minimum of 8 semester hours or 10 quarter hours)

No Time Limit (however, must be completed, at a regionally accredited college or university, with a B- or above):

• English (minimum of 6 semester hours or 8 quarter hours)
• Statistics, Algebra, Calculus, Finite Math, or other equivalent Advanced Mathematics (minimum of 6 semester hours or 8 quarter hours)
• Humanities and/or Social Science (minimum of 6 semester hours or 8 quarter hours)
• Medical Terminology (minimum of 1 semester hour or 1.5 quarter hours)

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

• GRE in the last 5 years

Please note that the PA Program does not offer individual transcript or application reviews/recommendations, CASPA application assistance, academic advising, prerequisite evaluation or verification, or individualized application counseling for prospective students. Applicants are strongly encouraged to utilize the prerequisite checklist and consult their undergraduate academic advisor for guidance on specific application concerns and/or questions. 

Applicants must complete a minimum of 200 hours within the past 5 years in a paid or unpaid position that requires applicant’s participation in the delivery of healthcare in a clinical environment. Shadowing hours to meet this requirement are not accepted.  

Please note that although we require 200 hours of healthcare experience, competitive applicants often have over 1,000+ hours of healthcare experience that includes direct patient contact upon acceptance to the PA program. 

The program considers an applicant’s position title, duties, and skills involved in healthcare experience when making decisions about admission. Applicants are strongly encouraged to be very detailed in their description of healthcare experience in their CASPA application. Below we provide a list as suggested avenues for obtaining healthcare experience. Please note, there may be other experiences that are not included in this list which may be accepted. It is at the sole discretion of the Admissions Director to determine satisfactory healthcare experience to meet this requirement. While optional, you may complete our Shadowing or Healthcare Experience Hours Form. Although this form does not need to be used exclusively, all prospective students will need to retain documentation as the Admissions Director can request proof and/or confirmation of these hours at any time.

Examples of Highly Competitive Patient Care Experience:

• registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN)
• surgical or radiology technician
• hospital technician (nursing, emergency room, behavioral health, dialysis) or inpatient certified nursing assistant (CNA) positions
• emergency medical technician (EMT) or paramedic
• medical assistant with hands on patient care responsibilities (inpatient or outpatient)
• medic or medical corpsman
• clinical nutritionist or dietician
• respiratory therapist

Examples of Other Accepted Less Competitive Health Related Experience:

• lab assistant/phlebotomist
• health care-related technician or other outpatient/nursing home technician positions
• pharmacy technician
• community health worker
• physical therapy aide
• medical technologist
• scribe
• clinical research assistant (with direct patient interactions)
• athletic trainer (or assistant)
• dental assistant

In addition to healthcare experience, applicants must have at least 50 hours of shadowing a clinically practicing physician assistant in the inpatient, outpatient, and/or telemedicine setting within the last 5 years. Virtual Physician Assistant experiences and Physician Assistant presentations do not fulfill shadowing requirements. Shadowing hours will not be used to fulfill healthcare experience hours unless you were personally responsible for and/or providing direct patient or health related care as part of your duties during this time. Healthcare experience hours and shadowing hours are not interchangeable and cannot be substituted for one another. Feel free to complete the Shadowing or Healthcare Experience Hours Form. Although this form does not need to be used exclusively, all prospective students will need to retain documentation as the Admissions Director can request proof and/or confirmation of these hours at any time.

Applicants are required to submit three references from sources who are familiar with the qualifications of the applicant. The reference is expected to comment on attributes they feel will ensure the success of the candidate while attending the Physician Assistant program and in the medical profession. References from relatives, even if they are healthcare professionals, are prohibited.

One reference is required from EACH category:

• A person holding the PA-C, MD, or DO designation who holds a current license to practice under that designation.
• A college or university professor holding a doctoral degree in any discipline where the candidate has been a student in one or more of the classes taught by the faculty member OR an additional person holding the PA-C, MD or DO designation who holds a current license to practice under that designation.
• A reference of your choice from someone who has knowledge of your work ethic, academic record, volunteer work or other activities and can comment on your ability to succeed in the physician assistant program.

Invitation to Interview

Interviews are initiated and scheduled by the PA program. Applicants are encouraged to apply early as we practice rolling admission. While your application will be accepted, interview preference will be provided to applicants that have completed all the prerequisite requirements (this includes coursework satisfying the minimum required grade(s), shadowing, GREs, letter of recommendations, and healthcare experience requirements) at the time of application review. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you promptly update your application if you fulfill any requirements after submission. Presbyterian College students and graduates who meet the minimum requirements will be invited for an interview.

Once you receive your interview invitation, you should respond promptly to confirm your interview appointment. In the case of a major conflict, you should email the Physician Assistant Program at PAProgram@presby.edu immediately to discuss rescheduling your interview. 

Please note, the PA program does not offer virtual interviews unless the applicant can provide compelling evidence that they are unable to attend an in-person interview, for example, because of military service requirements. It is at the sole discretion of the Admissions Director to grant virtual interviews.

You are responsible for arranging accommodations and travel to Clinton, SC for the interview process. If you are selected for an interview, you will be given detailed information regarding the interview date, time, and location.

Interview Process

Following the initial review of applications, a limited number of applicants will be invited for an in-person interview on our campus. During this time, you will be able to tour the campus, PA suite, and learn more about the program. 

The PA admissions interview is a structured interview process that is designed to assess core competencies that are difficult to measure via an application alone. These competencies are taken into consideration when making selection for admission, in addition to the student’s CASPA application submission:

• Commitment to the PA profession
• Verbal and written communication skills 
• Empathy
• Ethical and moral reasoning
• Interpersonal skills
• Motivation
• Conflict management
• Coping and resilience
• Commitment to community collaboration and service
• Commitment to the PA program and college mission

Interviewer scores, as well as the interviewer and staff comments, factor prominently in decisions for admission to Presbyterian College. Admission is competitive and selection for an interview does not guarantee admission.

Interview Tips

• Attire: Dress professionally. Suitable attire includes dresses or skirts of medium length, non-denim tailored slacks, and appropriate tops for females. Slacks, collared dress shirts with a jacket, tie, and socks are appropriate for males. Underdressing (jeans, tennis shoes, etc.), overdressing (party dresses, etc.), or wearing revealing clothing is inappropriate.
• Punctuality: To ensure that you arrive on time to your interview, you should allow time for the unexpected (e.g. traffic or weather delays). In the case of an unavoidable delay, you should email The PA Program at paprogram@presby.edu immediately.
• Answering Questions: Answer all questions honestly and as completely as possible. Be yourself! Don’t try to second-guess the “target” answer to questions. Ask for clarification if needed and answer “I don’t know” when applicable.

After the Interview

Please do not call or email the admissions office for information on the status of your file after your interview. The College and Program will not release any information on the status of your file until an official decision has been made. While we cannot guarantee, we attempt to provide notice on your application status as accepted, waitlisted, or denied within two (2) weeks of an interview via the CASPA portal.

Important: 

As stated in the CASPA application disclosures, CASPA provides matriculation and enrollment information to the PC PA program. In accordance with CASPA guidelines, you are required to notify the PC PA program within five (5) calendar days of enrolling in another PA program indicating that you no longer wish to be considered for admission.

If the PC PA program receives matriculation or enrollment information from CASPA, you will be notified via email and given 72 hours to respond. Failure to respond, or confirmation that you have matriculated elsewhere within the same admission cycle, will result in the revocation of your admission to the PC PA program, including the automatic forfeiture of any deposit paid (if applicable) and/or withdrawal of your application from consideration.

If discrepancies are identified in CASPA records, the PC PA program may request official documentation from another institution to verify non-matriculation.

The Presbyterian College Physician Assistant Program encourages applicants with various life experiences to apply. The admissions process is highly competitive and attributes beyond the minimum requirements will be considered during the interview and selection process. The principal faculty and interview panel will consider a wide range of factors when selecting applicants for interviews and for matriculation into the program.

The PA program principal faculty will render the final decision on candidates accepted into the program. When selecting applicants for interview and matriculation into the program, the principal faculty may consider all aspects of the student’s prior educational record and application materials. These factors include but are not limited to:

• Overall GPA
• Science GPA
• Healthcare experience within the past 5 years including the number of hours and duties
• GRE Scores
• CASPA student essay
• Letters of recommendations
• Advanced degree
• Community service within the past 5 years
• PA shadowing within the past 5 years
• Interview performance

All Presbyterian College students and graduates who meet the minimum requirements will be invited for an interview, granted interviews are still being conducted.

Criminal Record

All prospective students must be honest about their criminal record. A comprehensive background check will be performed through the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and CastleBranch, a national vendor for background screening. The Presbyterian College PA Program has the right to deny enrollment based on previous convictions or false information. Appeals to any information found during the background check or drug screen must be made directly through CastleBranch according to their listed policies and procedures. All cases will be reviewed individually.

The Presbyterian College Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree signifies that the graduate is prepared for entry into the practice of medicine.

Therefore, the graduating student must possess the skills and knowledge to effectively function in a variety of clinical roles and have a wide range of responsibilities. Superior patient care is critical, and therefore physician assistants require standards to maintain the integrity of quality patient care.

As part of the admission process, Presbyterian College will evaluate the total student to evaluate his or her ability to function effectively as a physician assistant. Therefore, the College will evaluate the applicant’s academic standing, current physical state, emotional status disability status, and any other obstacles that may impair the student’s ability to safely and effectively interact and treat patients and to work effectively with co-workers.

In accordance with College policy and as delineated by Federal and state law, Presbyterian College does not discriminate in admission, educational programs, or employment against any individual on the basis of that individual’s handicap or disability and will make good faith efforts to providing reasonable accommodation as required.

Candidates for the PA program must possess the ability, aptitude, and skills as outlined below:

Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities: These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis and synthesis. Problem-solving, the critical skill demanded of PAs, requires all these abilities.

The candidate must also be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures.

Behavioral and Social Attributes: A candidate should possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his/her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients.

Candidates should be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress.

Candidates should be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility and to learn to function in the face of uncertainty inherent in the clinical problems of many patients.

Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation are all personal qualities that are assessed during the admission and education processes.

Communication: A candidate should be able to speak, hear and observe patients in order to elicit information, perceive non-verbal communication and describe changes in mood, activity, and posture. A candidate should be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients. Communication includes not only speech but reading and writing as well. Communication in oral and written form with the healthcare team must be effective and efficient.

Observational: The candidate must be able to observe demonstrations and experiments in the basic sciences, visual presentations in lectures and laboratories, laboratory evidence and microbiologic cultures, microscopic studies of microorganisms, and tissues in normal and pathologic states. A candidate should be able to observe a patient accurately and completely at a distance and close at hand. Observation necessitates the functional use of the sense of vision and somatic sensation and is enhanced by a sense of smell.

Motor: Candidates should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion, and other diagnostic maneuvers. A candidate should be able to carry out basic laboratory tests (urinalysis, CBC, wet mount, gram stain, etc.), carry out diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (phlebotomy, venipuncture, placement of catheters and tubes) and read ECGs and X-rays. A candidate should have motor function sufficient to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatment for patients. Examples of emergency treatment reasonably required of a physician assistant are cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the administration of intravenous medications, the application of pressure to arrest bleeding, the opening of obstructed airways, the suturing of simple wounds and the performance of simple obstetrical maneuvers. Such skills require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium and functional use of the senses of touch and vision. Candidates must have sufficient motor function capabilities to meet the demands of the PA program and the demands of total patient care. They must be able to complete the didactic and clinical curriculum in its entirety.

Physical Demands: The PA student must possess the physical ability to learn and implement the various technical skills required by the program. The PA student must possess an adequate range of body motion and mobility, with or without accommodation, to perform the following essential functions: prolonged periods of sitting, occasional bending and stooping, and the ability to lift and carry books and other items such as medical instruments weighing up to ten (10) pounds, with or without accommodation. They must be able to exert up to ten (10) pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push or pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time.

Capacity to Practice Medicine: The PA student must demonstrate the ability to practice medicine. The capacity to practice medicine is to be construed to include all of the following:

• The cognitive capacity to make appropriate clinical diagnoses and exercise reasonable medical judgments and to learn and keep abreast of medical developments;
• The ability to communicate those judgments and medical information to patients and other healthcare providers, with or without the use of aids or devices, such as a voice amplifier; and
• The physical capability to perform medical tasks such as physical examination and surgical procedures, with or without the use of aids or devices, such as corrective lenses or hearing aids.