PA Program Application Process

Image of Physician Assistant Studies students.


 
 
 

Application Process

The 2024-2025 application cycle for the USA Physician Assistant Studies (PA) program runs from April 25 - October 1, 2024.  Those who meet all minimum requirements may apply by completing the following process:

1. CASPA Application

Apply through the Centralized Application Service of Physician Assistants (CASPA) which simplifies the PA school application process. The CASPA application must be SUBMITTED to USA, COMPLETED and VERIFIED by October 1. 
Transcripts:  Official transcripts from every college or university attended are considered part of the CASPA application and must be sent directly to CASPA. Applications will not be verified until all official transcripts have been received by CASPA.  Please do not send transcripts to USA unless instructed to do so.
Evaluations:  Three (3) evaluation/reference letters are required and are considered part of the CASPA application and must be submitted to CASPA no later than October 1.  Applications will not be verified until at least two of your evaluations have been received.  At least one evaluation must be from a Physician Assistant (PA), Medical Doctor (MD), or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO).  Evaluation/reference letters sent directly to our office will not be accepted.

2. Supplemental Application

Complete the USA Physician Assistant Studies Program Supplemental Application.  This form must be completed and uploaded to the CASPA application, Program Materials-Documents section.  Please allow enough time so that the CASPA application can be submitted to USA, completed and verified by OCTOBER 1.     

3. Application Fee

Payment of the $110 non-refundable USA Physician Assistant Studies Program Application Fee by the October 1 deadline.  To pay the fee online, visit the Application Fee link. (If you are unable to access the payment center via this link, please try using a different browser as this should connect you to the site.  

4. GRE Score

Submit official (sent directly from ETS) Graduate Record Examination Score electronically to USA PA Studies,  Institution Code 2169. Scores must be received by CASPA no later than October 1. For details, visit ETS. Applicants can self-report unofficial scores on their CASPA application, but this does not replace official score reports.


It is the applicant’s responsibility to monitor the delivery of all materials to the USA Physician Assistant Studies program office and to CASPA. The program will not review applications that are incomplete, received after the deadline, or do not meet the minimum requirements.

 

International Students

In addition to the above procedures, International Students must also:

  1. Contact the Office of Immigration and International Admissions at the time of application to verify needed documents for admission to the University of South Alabama. Proof of having required documentation must be presented to the Department of PA Studies by the October 1 deadline to have your application considered for admittance into the program. Application to USA through the Office of Immigration and International Admissions is required in addition to completing the Department of Physician Assistant Studies requirements to be admitted into the program.
  2. TOEFL –International Students, whose native language is not English, and Permanent Residents (less than 2 years) must submit a score of 100 or above on the Test of English as a Second Language (TOEFL-IBT) for admission. Official scores must be submitted to the Physician Assistant Studies office by October 1.

Only Bachelor's degrees and prerequisites completed at U.S. regionally accredited institutions will be accepted to satisfy academic requirements.