Admissions Information

Admissions Cycle

Important StepsImportant Dates
CASPA OpensMay 1
Application completed to CASPANovember 1
All requirements completed and verified by CASPAJanuary 15 
Interview selected candidatesNovember – February
Admission decisionNo later than March 15
Applicant- Must confirm acceptance offerWithin 7 days of receipt of letter
Seat DepositMust be received within 2 weeks of receipt of acceptance offer
Supplemental UMES Graduate School Application and supporting documentsOnly upon acceptance to the Program
Classes StartEnd of August

Special Preferences

The Department will admit qualified candidates to matriculate through the Masters of Medical Science – Physician Assistant Studies (MMS-PAS) program. The PA Program will consider the following preferences when selecting applicants for interview and admission into the program:

  • Applicants from underrepresented populations
    • Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P): https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/shortage-area/mua-find
    • Populations underrepresented within the PA profession
    • HBCU graudates- Graduates of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) and other Historically black colleges or universities (HBCUs) who meet all minimum admissions requirements will be offered an interview.  To ensure timely review of their application, after their application has been verified, applicants must notify the UMES PA Department that they are an HBCU graduate and have completed all admissions requirements.
  • Science GPA ≥ 3.0- higher science GPAs will strengthen an applicant’s application
  • Overall GPA ≥ 3.2
  • Health care experience requiring a technical certificate, degree, or license
  • >500 hours of health care experience- greater patient contact hours will strengthen an applicant’s application

Application Requirements

The UMES PA Program Admissions Committee, which includes Principal Faculty, selects students for admission. Applicants must meet the following minimum criteria for consideration for admission into the MMS-PAS Program:

  1. A Bachelor’s degree from a US institution of higher education accredited by a regional accrediting association or the degree equivalent in another country with a 3.0 GPA on a scale of 4.0 from the institution.
    • Applicants may apply while their degree is in progress; however, degree completion is required prior to the January 15th  UMES PA Program verification deadline.  In this case only should the student send his/her official final transcripts documenting degree completion to PADept@umes.edu as soon as possible after degree completion.
    • The PA Program does not round-up any grades or cumulative GPA’s.
  2. If an applicant’s cumulative undergraduate GPA is below a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and the applicant received a Master’s degree, his/her Master’s program cumulative GPA may be considered if the following criteria is met:
    • The applicant earned above a 3.0 GPA on a scale of 4.0 in the Master’s program.
    • Courses were taken at a regionally accredited US institution of higher education accredited by a regional accrediting association or the degree equivalent in another country. If requested, applicants provide additional information related to the reasons for academic performance.
    • The applicant emails the waiver form requesting the Master’s Degree GPA consideration to PADept@umes.edu. The waiver must be approved by the Program Director. Refer to the link, PA Student Admissions Waiver Form, to access the form. Waivers will not be considered until the application has been verified by CASPA.
      • If approved, the Program will consider the applicant’s graduate cumulative GPA when selecting the applicant for interview and admission into the program. Courses completed at a community college and courses taken alone (i.e., not with a full semester course load) will not be considered.
      • It is important to understand that this is done on a case-by-case basis. The program’s decision is final and not open to consideration for appeal.
  3. Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree earned outside of the US must send their transcripts to one of the member organizations associated with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (https://www.naces.org/members) for translation. Then submit the results to CASPA, and complete all Medical Core prerequisite courses (see the Medical Core Prerequisite Course chart on the following page) in the United States. No exceptions will be made.
  4. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens are required to submit official test scores for either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) https://www.ets.org/toefl, the Pearson Test of English (PTE) https://pearsonpte.com/ or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) https://www.ielts.org/en-us . The following are the minimum scores for admission consideration:
    • TOEFL: 250 computer-based or 100 Internet-based
    • PTE: overall score of 68
    • IELTS: an overall band score of 7.0, with no individual band score below 6.0.
  5. All applicants must successfully complete the following Medical Core prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or higher.  Prerequisites that were not completed during the applicant’s bachelor’s program may be completed at any accredited US college/university. Master’s level courses will be considered.
    • Prerequisites will not substitute for more advanced content within the UMES PA Program. {B2.01}7
    • All prerequisite courses are to be completed within six years prior to the date of admission.

Medical Core Prerequisite Courses and Credit Hours

CourseworkSemester credit hours
Medical Terminology1
Biology with Lab4
Microbiology3
Organic Chemistry I with Lab4
General Chemistry/Biochemistry with Lab4
Human Anatomy/Anatomy & Physiology I3 – 4
Human Physiology/Anatomy & Physiology II3 – 4
Psychology 3

 

  • A waiver of the six-year requirement for a prerequisite course may be requested by the applicant if the following criteria are met:
    • There is a continuous employment history that would demonstrate knowledge of the course content and/or
    • The applicant has a “B” grade or better, within the last six years, in a more advanced course in the same subject.  A Master’s level course in the same subject is considered to be an advanced course. 
    • The applicant emails the six-year requirement waiver form to PADept@umes.edu. The waiver must be approved by the Program Director. Refer to the link, PA Student Admissions Waiver Form, to access the form. Waivers will not be considered until the application has been verified by CASPA. 

Application Deadline

All applications must be submitted through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) by November 1st for consideration for the following fall (next year’s) entering class. Incomplete CASPA applications will not be considered.

Available Seats and Wait List (Alternates)

  1. The program will offer up to 30 seats to candidates.  The maximum class size of 30 is determined by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
  2. A waitlist of qualified alternate candidates for admission to the program may be maintained to replace previously selected candidates who decline or do not matriculate.

Interview and Admissions Criteria

  1. Applicants submitting a complete CASPA application prior to the November 1st deadline may be invited for an early interview in the fall semester. Otherwise, interviews of selected candidates will be conducted in the spring semester.
  2. Using criteria developed by the UMES PA Program’s Admissions Committee, applicants will be invited to interview. Please note that not all qualified applicants will be invited for an interview.
  3. The Admissions Committee will use the following criteria to evaluate applicants:
    • Cumulative undergraduate and science grade point averages
      • Graduate GPAs will be evaluated in approved applicants
    • At least three (3) but no more than five (5) letters of recommendation (LOR) addressing the applicant’s potential to be successful in the PA Program and as a future Physician Assistant.
      • One of the letters of recommendation must be from a practicing Physician Assistant with whom the applicant has had a minimum of 40 hours of first-hand observation or “shadowing” experience. Applicants must document shadowing hours using the following form, Documentation of Physician Assistant Shadowing Hours.
      • To receive credit for the LOR, the recommendation must recommend or highly recommend the applicant for the PA program.
    • A minimum of 500 hours of experience involving direct patient care hours are required; however, strong applicants will have > 500 hours.
      • Examples of strong patient care experience:
        • Paramedic
        • Certified Nursing Assistant
        • Phlebotomist
        • Medical Assistant
        • EKG Technician
        • Radiologic Technician
        • Dental Hygienist
        • Licensed Practical Nurse
        • Registered Nurse
        • Emergency Medical Technician
        • International MD
        • Behavioral Health Technician
    • The applicant’s personal statement detailing their desire to become a Physician Assistant; understanding of the Physician Assistant role and scope of practice; and interests in working in an underserved or diverse community.
      • Personal statements will be evaluated on the applicant’s ability to address these topics in an organized manner with minimal grammatical errors.
    • Emotional and intellectual maturity demonstrated during the interview including interpersonal skills, the ability to clearly communicate and establish rapport with others.
    • Other experiences, but not limited to: Research, Leadership, Community Service, Volunteering, Extracurricular activities, and/or Teaching will be considered.
  4. All applicants must be able to meet the PA Program’s Technical Standards. Refer to the Technical Standards Policy, Technical Standards.
  5. Applicants must be able to pass a criminal background check, Maryland Child Abuse check, and urine drug screen. Refer to the criminal background check and Maryland Child Abuse screen policy; and the urine drug screen policy.
  6. Applicants must have no history of dismissal from any Physician Assistant program for academic or disciplinary reasons.

Application Requirements are subject to change for the next application cycle. Please continue to check back on the website for any changes or adjustments.

Acceptance Policy

  1. Admission decisions will be based on information submitted in the candidate’s CASPA application and the result of candidate interviews.
  2. Admission decisions will be made no later than March 15th for the following fall admission cycle. 
  3. Upon acceptance to the MMS-PAS Program, the candidate will be notified of acceptance and given two weeks to respond to their acceptance letter.
  4. A non-refundable acceptance fee (seat deposit) of $1,500.00 must accompany the acceptance letter. On admission, this acceptance fee will be credited toward PA program fees. The fee will not be refunded if the applicant withdraws his/her acceptance; or fails a criminal background check, Maryland Child Abuse Clearance check, or urine drug screen.  There are special circumstances in which the acceptance fee can be refunded: sickness, pregnancy, or death permitting the student from matriculating into the program.
  5. Upon acceptance applicants will need to complete a supplemental UMES Graduate School Application and submit any supporting documents.
  6. The program reserves the right to rescind acceptance of any candidate who has submitted incorrect or false information or documentation; failed the criminal background check, Maryland Child Abuse check, and/or urine drug screen; exhibits unprofessional behavior; or has not met the benchmark for the pre-matriculation course.

*** The UMES PA Program evaluates candidates and extends acceptance into the Program as candidates are interviewed.  Therefore, it is highly recommended that candidates meet all admissions requirements by the November 1st deadline to be considered for an early acceptance.  Once the class is filled, selected remaining interviewed candidates will be placed on the waitlist.

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