Physician Assistant Master’s Degree (PA Program)

Guided by the tradition of compassionate healthcare exemplified by the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady, the physician assistant program's mission is to develop graduates who will provide evidence-based, patient-centered medical care and who are committed to serving all God’s people.

Our program goals are as follows:

1. The first-time pass rate for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) will be at or above the national average

2. 100% of the program's graduates will be employed within one year of graduation

3. PA graduates will serve diverse patient populations in a variety of clinical settings/specialties

4. Students and Faculty will participate in at least 250 community service hours per academic year

At least 15% of graduates from the program will remain engaged in the program in a meaningful way

The program has identified seven program learning outcomes (PLO) as well as 45 associated entry-level PA competency measures (COMP). The learning outcomes and competencies were developed based on standards published by the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants, the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Physician Assistant Education Association.

As such, upon completion of the program, the entry-level PA graduate will successfully demonstrate the knowledge, skills and professional attributes defined by the program learning outcomes (PLO) and associated competencies (COMP).

Admissions requirements* for the PA program at FranU include:

• A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or equivalent.

• Meet the following GPA minimums:

  • Cumulative Undergraduate: 3.0

  • FranU Prerequisites: 3.0

  • Cumulative Undergraduate Science: 3.0

• Completed all prerequisite courses within seven years of application.

• Submit three letters of recommendation.

• Submit a personal statement summarizing why you desire to be a Physician Assistant and what you feel you can contribute to the profession and the mission of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University’s PA program.

• Completed the Casper assessment by the due date (posted annually in the CASPA portal).

  • The Casper assessment helps us evaluate the behavioral attributes necessary to succeed as a PA student. Applicants are responsible for scheduling their Casper test from available test dates (which vary by application cycle) and for the testing fee.

  • Failure to complete the Casper assessment before the published deadline will result in ineligibility for an interview. Explore instructions and tips for taking the Casper assessment.

• Attend a personal interview.

• Meet and maintain all Technical Standards in order to be enrolled in and progress through the PA program.

*The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant decided to allow the matriculation of the next cohort of students scheduled for January 2025. Please visit the CASPA portal for additional information on the 2024 application process.

For the application and admission cycle of 2025, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University PA Program will be held in abeyance until after the Commission’s probation review of the program at the September 2025 meeting. This will impact the class scheduled to matriculate in January 2026.

Applicants to the program must complete a program-specific application through CASPA. Applications must be in verification status by October 1 for a January start. Enrollment is limited to 30 students, and admission is via a competitive selection process.

For more detailed information on necessary admissions requirements, including test scores and prerequisites, application materials and additional considerations, please refer to the Prerequisite Course Requirements, Letters of Recommendation, Technical Standards, Interview Process and Additional Considerations menus below.

Prerequisite courses* for the MMS - Physician Assistant program include:

• Human Anatomy with lab

• Human Physiology (combined anatomy and physiology I and II with labs are acceptable alternatives)

• General Microbiology

• Organic Chemistry I

• Organic Chemistry II (2000 level or higher) or Biochemistry (3000 level or higher)

• General Psychology

• Statistics

• Genetics

• Medical Terminology (certificate or other courses acceptable)

*Please note:

• Applicants must make a minimum of C or higher in all prerequisite coursework.

• "Survey" courses do not meet admissions criteria.

• B or higher in all prerequisite coursework is preferred.

• Repeated coursework negatively impacts the applicant.

• No graduate, medical school or other transfer credit will be awarded as advanced placement/PA program credit.

• While the program will not waive any prerequisite requirements, in some circumstances, the PA admissions committee may allow substitutions for equivalent or more rigorous previous graduate, medical school course work or professional experience(s) as satisfying prerequisite requirements ONLY. This may apply to prerequisite courses taken beyond seven years ago as well.

  • Applicants requesting such substitutions should email pa@franu.edu to request a copy of the prerequisite substitution form. The form must be completed by the applicant and submitted to the admissions committee for consideration. Applicants should include detailed descriptions of course work, professional experiences, a copy of the undergraduate transcript and any additional materials as requested by the committee. The committee will evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis and all decisions made will be final.

• Example: A currently practicing licensed clinical social worker applies to the program. The applicant holds an undergraduate degree in psychology (2008) and a master's of social work (2011). She has conducted clinical research with several peer-reviewed publications. In this circumstance, the admissions committee will accept her Psychology 101 course taken in 2005 and her master's level Biostatistics course (taken in 2010) as satisfying the prerequisites because she has demonstrated evidence of continued knowledge and skills in those particular areas, despite the age of the courses.

When soliciting your letters of recommendation, keep the following in mind:

• Letters should be from individuals who know you well; former professors, employers and healthcare/professional colleagues are good choices.

• Recommenders should consider and attest to your academic success, work ethic, maturity, professionalism, interest in the healthcare field, etc.

• Letters must be submitted directly from the recommender through the CASPA portal (not mailed or emailed to program faculty or University administration).

• While it may be tempting to ask "high-profile" community members to provide a letter of recommendation, these are not generally helpful unless the above criteria are met; no extra consideration is provided for such letters.

Physician assistants must have the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to render a wide spectrum of patient care services in a broad variety of clinical situations. Consequently, it is essential that in its admission process, the physician assistant program assesses an applicant’s physical and emotional capabilities as well as his/her scholastic accomplishments and academic potential in order to assure that the applicant can meet the full demands of the program’s curriculum and graduate as a skilled and effective healthcare provider.

In making this assessment, the program must consider the applicant’s current physical and emotional status, any cumulative or progressive disability and any drug-induced impairment that may pose obstacles to the safe application of his/her knowledge and skills to the provision of quality care or prevent effective interaction with patients. Learn more about Technical Standards.

After the initial application review, qualified applicants will be further screened via personal interviews.

The PA program strives to transform enrolled students into competent entry level PAs as well as mission-centered servant leaders. As such, other factors such as diversity, maturity, professionalism, compassion and service to community are also important criteria for acceptance.

Therefore, in addition to excellence in academics, the admissions committee weighs other individual factors when considering each applicant, including:

1. Applicants from the University’s 3+2 Accelerated Pathway to Physician Assistant Studies; 3+2 students must meet all minimum admissions requirements as outlined above
2. Hands-on patient care experience
3. Licensed healthcare worker
4. Shadowing one or more PAs
5. Military service
6. Work/professional experience
7. Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University graduate
8. Applicants from medically underserved areas
9. Mission work/community service
10. Graduates from Catholic universities

In general, the higher the GPA and greater number of additional admissions considerations, the more competitive the applicant.

The following table should give the applicant guidance as to how competitive he/she is in comparison to prior PA classes. The competitive candidate has a “B” or better in all defined pre-requisite course work. Repeated attempts at pre-requisite coursework will be noted and weaken candidate’s overall application packet.

Attrition rate refers to the number of students who leave a program before completing all of the requirements to earn their degree. We calculate the attrition rate by dividing the number of students exiting the program by the total number of students in the incoming class. Learn more about PA student attrition rates.

A graduate degree is an investment in your future. We understand that to make informed decisions about funding your degree, you need transparent information about the cost of your education. That’s why we provide you with a comprehensive breakdown of our tuition rates and fees.

• TUITION AND FEES
• ADDITIONAL PROGRAM COSTS

When it comes to financial aid, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University has counselors available to assist you at every step of the process. We encourage you to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to see if you qualify for federal financial aid.

As an enrolled student, you may also be eligible for a number of scholarship awards offered by professional PA organizations. In addition, you may qualify for FranU’s Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Sisters Graduate Scholarship, which is awarded each year.

• OFFICE OF FINANCIAL AID