When does the program start?
The Physician Assistant Studies program enrolls a new class each January. Only applications from the previous CASPA cycle (April - November) are considered for admission each January. The next class will start on January 8, 2023.
Do you require the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score for admission?
No, we do not require a GRE score for admission.
Does the program accept CLEP exam scores for required coursework?
No, the program does not accept CLEP exam scores.
Are there deadlines for International Applicants?
The University of Pittsburgh has special requirements for international applicants. Please click the following link for details: International Applicants. All international coursework must be submitted to an evaluation service for a course-by-course U.S. equivalency report. The agency should submit the report directly to CASPA. See the above link for the list of evaluation services accepted by the University.
Does the program accept online or community college courses?
Yes, we accept both online coursework (including online labs) and community college courses. We also accept Advanced Placement Credit (APCR) from high school courses that appear on a college transcript.
Can I work during the program?
Acceptance into Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Pittsburgh requires a full-time commitment. It is an intense and rigorous program that can be demanding. The program strongly discourages students from work during the academic year.
Is genetics acceptable for the biology requirement?
Our program does not accept genetics to meet our biology requirement.
What is acceptable for upper level psychology?
Any course above the introductory course from the psychology department is acceptable. You may contact the program with a course description if you are uncertain. Sample courses are developmental psychology, abnormal psychology and social psychology.
Do you offer "advanced standing?"
We do not offer advanced standing. All courses within the curriculum are required. No transfer credit is accepted and no credit is granted for pre-admission experiential learning; only full-time students are admitted to the curriculum.
What type of experience is accepted towards the 500 hours of patient care experience?
Patient care experience must be direct, "hands-on" patient contact e.g., RN, EMT or paramedic, patient care attendant, nurse's aide or assistant, Peace Corps volunteer or other cross-cultural health care experience, therapist, clinical research assistant (with hands-on patient care), respiratory therapist/aide, medical assistant, OR tech or PT/OT assistant.
What types of experience will NOT be accepted towards the 500 hours of patient care experience?
The following will not be accepted as patient care experience: PA or physician observer or shadowing, non-clinical research assistant positions, candy striper or junior volunteer positions, CPR or ACLS instructor, wilderness medicine instructor, patient transporter or sitter, pharmaceutical representative, ski patroller, life guard, aerobics instructor, unit clerk, insurance clerk, medical secretary or other clerical positions.
Can I defer my acceptance into the PAS program for a year?
Deferral requests will be evaluated on an individual basis. Deferral requests must be made by December 1 of the application year with no guarantee that all requests will be granted.
I received notification that I have been placed on the waitlist - is the waitlist ranked, and how can I find out about my position on the waitlist?
The University of Pittsburgh Physician Assistant Studies program does not utilize priority ranking for the waitlist. If a student has been placed on the waitlist, the student has been deemed qualified for admission. By nature, the waitlist process is extremely unpredictable and fluid, as it is dependent upon the decisions of our admitted students throughout the entire admissions cycle. The program cannot guarantee that we will visit the waitlist during a given admissions cycle. With this in mind, waitlisted students will be notified of their status and updated regularly throughout the admission cycle. Students may be invited from the waitlist leading up to, and after, the start of our program in January. All applicants, including waitlisted students, will be notified when the class has been filled and the admissions cycle has officially ended. The admissions committee and entire PA program faculty and staff realize that being on the waitlist can be a stressful and uncertain time, and we will contact you immediately if there are any changes to your application.
Should I contact the admissions office to check on my status or enhance my applications?
The admissions office sends status updates to all in-process applicants approximately every two weeks throughout the admissions cycle. If you still have questions after receiving an update, you can email the admissions office at pittpa@shrs.pitt.edu.
Where can I find tuition, financial aid and scholarship information?
Where can I find housing information?
Pitt does not offer graduate housing. Graduate students live off campus in surrounding communities. The University provides many resources for graduate students.