Earn a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, with a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.00, a minimum prerequisite non-natural science GPA of 3.00, and a minimum prerequisite natural science GPA of 3.00. Only grades of C or above will be considered. Note: A grade of C- will not qualify for consideration into the prerequisite GPA. The GRE and/or the CASPer are not requirements for the University of Dayton PA Program.

All science prerequisites must be done within 10 years of application except for anatomy and physiology, which must be completed within seven (7) years of application. There is no expiration for the non-science prerequisite courses.

• Human Anatomy with lab: 4 semester hours*
• Human Physiology with lab: 4 semester hours*
• Microbiology with lab: 3-4 semester hours
• Organic Chemistry I with lab: 4 semester hours
• Organic Chemistry II with lab: 4 semester hours
• Biochemistry (lab preferred): 3-4 semester hours
• General psychology: 3 semester hours
• Second psychology course: 3 semester hours (i.e., life span development, abnormal psychology)
• Statistics: 3-4 semester hours
• Medical Terminology: 1-3 semester hours

*Anatomy and Physiology will also be accepted as: Anatomy and Physiology I with lab and Anatomy and Physiology II with lab.

If an applicant has completed their prerequisite courses in a quarter system, please convert to semesters using the following: Each quarter hour of credit divided by 1.5 = semester credit hours. (example: 6 quarter hours = 4 semester hours)

Pass/Fail courses

All prerequisite courses must have an assigned letter grade. The program cannot accept pass/fail for any prerequisite courses. 

Survey courses/Outline courses

The University of Dayton PA program does not accept survey or outline science courses towards the prerequisite requirements.

Outstanding prerequisite courses

Any courses taken during the Fall semester of the application year are considered "in progress". Outstanding science prerequisite courses are those remaining to be taken the Spring or Summer semester before matriculation in the program.

Students may have up to two outstanding science prerequisite courses when they apply. Students with more than two outstanding prerequisite science courses should take a gap year to complete the required science prerequisite courses and apply the following CASPA cycle.

Prerequisite course grades

Students must receive a grade of at least a C in the prerequisite courses to meet the admission requirements. Any coursework resulting in a grade of C- or lower will not meet admission requirements and will need to be retaken. This outstanding coursework does count as an outstanding science prerequisite.

Advanced placement courses

Advanced placement courses will qualify for meeting prerequisite requirements for non-science prerequisites, but will not calculate into the required GPA. Each applicant is limited to two advanced placement courses.

Advanced standing/transfer students

Due to the variance in curricula among physician assistant schools throughout the country, no student will be admitted as a transfer from another program. There will be no advanced standing offered to any student; all applicants must meet all admission requirements and complete all coursework in the curriculum regardless of past academic background.  All applicants must also apply through CASPA, as no direct admission is offered. 

Obtain 250 hours of health care experience: Hours can be completed through observing/shadowing or participating in patient care (volunteer work is accepted). Hours must be submitted on the UD Health care form and verified by a supervisor or manager.

Clinical Observation Form

Instructions for uploading forms in CASPA:

On the "My Application" page click on "Program Materials"

Select "University of Dayton Physician Assistant Program"

Click on the "Documents" tab.

Clinical Forms will be uploaded to the "Shadowing/Healthcare Hours" and Community service forms will be uploaded to the "Other" forms 

Obtain 20 hours of community service experience: Complete a minimum of 20 hours of community service work (volunteer work is accepted). Hours must be submitted on the UD Community service form and verified by a supervisor or manager.

Community service form

Instructions for uploading forms in CASPA:

On the "My Application" page click on "Program Materials"

Select "University of Dayton Physician Assistant Program"

Click on the "Documents" tab.

Clinical Forms will be uploaded to the "Shadowing/Healthcare Hours" and Community service forms will be uploaded to the "Other" forms 

1. Supervisor/manager in the health care industry who can elaborate on your experience and work ethic.
2. Recent college professor or advisor in an academic setting. 
3. Physician or Physician Assistant who you have worked with you for at least 6 months.

Currently the UDPA Program allows for two (2) outstanding and two (2) in progress prerequisites. When applying in CASPA, please make sure to complete the area of the application that asks for detailed information about missing prerequisites. Include as much information as possible, including but not limited to, when and where you plan to complete the missing prerequisite courses.

ALL outstanding prerequisites must be completed by June 15 prior to the August matriculation. Final official transcripts need to be submitted before the June 15 deadline and are subject to approval. Your program enrollment is contingent upon successful completion of ALL prerequisites. Remember that grades below a C- are not accepted for any prerequisite requirement.

If you do not have a physician or physician assistant to write a letter of recommendation, the next best option is to obtain an additional letter of recommendation from someone you have worked with in the healthcare industry.

Currently we accept on-line prerequisites completed through an accredited education program or institution although we prefer in-person. We understand there are life circumstances and sometimes in-person courses are not an option for everyone.

In a way, yes. All applications that meet minimum qualifications and are completed and verified in CASPA by the October 1 deadline will be reviewed. However, we have a rolling admission process so we start reviewing applications in May and holding interviews in June. Offers of admission may be made at any point after the interview, and program enrollment is limited to 40 students. So it is possible that even the best student who applies right before the deadline may be put on the waiting list if our cohort has been filled.

We currently do not require the GRE or CASPER for our program.

AP credits are acceptable for any non-science prerequisite such as Psychology, Statistics and Medical Terminology. The credits must be listed on your transcript by course name and not "AP credit hours" to be acceptable. The same is true for any CLEP course.

We do not accept Survey courses.

The UDPA Program requires 250 health care hours. As long as you have submitted the required hours that is all that is needed. If you would like to update your hours, each applicant has the ability to add five (5) Clinical hour forms and five (5) community service forms. You can log into your CASPA account and update those forms after your application has been submitted. If you are in the process of completing your application, feel free to add those experiences to the health care experience section of your application.

Forms should be directly uploaded to your CASPA portal. This is located under the Program Materials area in the CASPA portal. Make sure you choose the "University of Dayton Physician Assistant Program" drop down if there is an option. This can be done while you are completing your application of after your application has been completed.

Direct patient-care hours are either paid or volunteer experiences that involve direct interaction with the patients for each shift worked. Including but not limited to: medical assistant, home health aide, STNA, PCA, patient transporters, EMT, paramedic, athletic trainer, physical therapist, nurse, social worker, speech pathologist, audiologist, etc.

We understand that management changes and sometimes your point of contact is no longer available. If this is the case, please have either someone from the human resources department sign your form or a current supervisor who can confirm your employment dates/hours.

Previously the UDPA Program required a shadowing form to be completed by all applicants. This form is no longer required. Please feel free to list shadowing hours under your experience on your CASPA application.