PA Program Phoenix Admissions
PA Program Admissions Requirements and Process
All applicants for the PA Program-Phoenix will be reviewed based on the following admissions requirements:
Residency Requirement
Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. legal permanent resident to qualify for admission to the program.
A TOEFL score may be required.
Admissions Process
April: Applications for the class expected to matriculate in August should be made through the Central Applications for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Please visit the CASPA website for more information.
May: The Admission Committee will begin reviewing completed applications. Applications will be reviewed and scored based on:
- Academic achievement (Cumulative GPA, Science GPA, Academic Rigor)
- Patient Care Experience
- Non-Health Care Related Service
- Well-Roundedness
- Written Communication
- References
- Demonstration, through past experiences, of a commitment to activities that align with the program’s mission and goals
August 1: All application materials must be received by CASPA.
By September 1: All applicants must complete a supplemental application for their application to be considered complete. There is a $50 non-refundable supplemental application fee. Additional information regarding the supplemental application will be sent to the applicant upon the program’s receipt of the verified application from CASPA.
General Academic Requirements
- Degree Requirement
- Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited U.S. educational institution.
- The degree may be in process at the time of application submission, but must be completed, with official proof of graduation submitted to the Program by July 15, before matriculation.
- Minimum GPA: 3.0
- 3.0 cumulative GPA as calculated by the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) is required for eligibility for the program.
- Grades for repeated courses will be averaged together and the mean grade will be used in GPA calculations for purposes of application.
- Minimum Science GPA: 3.0
- A 3.0 GPA total for science courses is required for eligibility for the program.
- It is strongly recommended that prerequisite science courses be completed within the past five years.
- Minimum Course Grades: C or higher
- All prerequisite coursework must be completed with a grade of C (or 2.0 on a 4.0 scale) or higher.
- Substitutions
- The program will not accept coursework graded as Pass/Fail obtained by CLEP Examination or Advanced Placement (AP) coursework.
- Coursework Deadline
- No more than 12 semester hours of prerequisite coursework may be outstanding (planned or in progress) at the time of application submission.
- All prerequisite coursework must be complete and official transcripts received by the program by July 15 of the summer before matriculation. Acceptance into the program will be conditional upon completing all required coursework satisfactorily.
- Advanced Placement
- No advanced placement or standing will be awarded for coursework completed before matriculation into the PA program. The program’s curriculum is specifically sequenced so each semester provides an educational foundation upon which the following semesters will build.
- Preferences
- Creighton does not give admissions preference to any specified individuals or groups of people.
- Selection factors will focus on evidence of academic preparation and a record of leadership, service and/or experiences consistent with the program mission and goals.
- Preference factors include: GPA/Science GPA, quality and quantity of patient care experiences, prerequisites completed within the last 5 years, higher course load and academic rigor, and participation in extracurricular activities, non-medical work, volunteer, research and leadership activities.
- GRE: Not required
Prerequisite Coursework Requirements
| Required: | Semester Hours |
|---|---|
| Human Anatomy & Physiology I or Human Anatomy (Lab required) | 4 credit hours |
| Human Anatomy & Physiology II or Physiology (Lab required) | 4 credit hours |
| Microbiology (Lab required) | 4 credit hours |
| Organic Chemistry | 3 credit hours |
| Biochemistry | 3 credit hours |
| Statistics | 3 credit hours |
| Abnormal Psychology | 3 credit hours |
| Medical Terminology | 1 credit hour |
NOTE: Abnormal Psychology provides an examination of the various psychological disorders as well as theoretical, clinical, and experimental perspectives of the study of psychopathology. Emphasis is on terminology, classification, etiology, assessment, and treatment of the major disorders. We will not accept the following courses, or similar courses, in lieu of our requirement: General Psychology, Introductory Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Child Psychology, etc.
Survey courses (i.e., introductory courses, science courses for non-majors) are not accepted. Pass/Fail only accepted for Medical Terminology and courses completed during COVID semesters (Spring '20-Spring '21).
Strongly Recommended:
- Genetics
- Immunology
- Pathophysiology
Extracurricular Requirements
Well-Roundedness: The extracurricular requirements and recommendations below are designed to ensure that matriculants to the program are not only academically prepared but possess the interpersonal and life skills necessary to succeed in clinical practice. We seek individuals who bring rich experiences and varied perspectives to share with their fellow students. We value students who have pursued a robust array of activities such as extracurricular activities, sports, non-medical work, volunteer activities, research, and leadership opportunities.
Patient Care: Minimum 250 hours required
- A minimum of 250 hours of patient care experience must be accrued at the time of application submission.
- Applicants will be evaluated on the quality of patient care hours. Direct, hands-on patient care in a clinical setting is preferred over observation-only experiences.
- Both volunteer and paid experiences are acceptable.
Examples of Patient Care Experience: The types of experiences below are suggestions but do not constitute an exclusive or exhaustive list of accepted patient care experiences. There may be other acceptable experiences that are not listed below. Please use the criteria described above when determining the type of experience to obtain before applying to the PA program.
- Athletic Trainer
- Certified nursing assistant (CNA)
- Clinical nutritionist or dietician
- Clinical research assistant
- Community health worker
- Emergency medical technician (EMT)
- Emergency room tech
- Lab assistant/phlebotomist
- Medic or medical corpsman
- Medical assistant
- Medical scribe
- Paramedic
- Peace Corps volunteer
- Phlebotomist
- Physical therapy aide
- RN/LPN
Service (Volunteer and Community Enrichment): Strongly Recommended
We value the Jesuit principles of service. This emphasis is reflected in our student selection process. Applicants will be evaluated on their demonstrated commitment to service to humankind through non-medical volunteer activities. Applicants will be evaluated on the breadth and depth of their service activities.
PA Shadowing: Not required
Application Requirements
- CASPA Application: All applicants must apply to the Creighton University PA Program – Phoenix, located in Phoenix, Arizona, through the CASPA website.
- Supplemental Application: Students who meet eligibility criteria will be required to submit a supplemental application to be considered for an interview.
- There is a $50 non-refundable supplemental application fee.
- Invitations to complete the supplemental application will be sent to applicants upon receipt of a complete and verified application.
- Personal Interview: A portion of applicants will be invited for an interview-based upon application screening.
- To be eligible for admission, invited candidates must participate in the interview, (in-person or virtual as determined by the program) if invited.
- Letters of Recommendation: Three (3) letters required
- Letters are not required from a specific source. Examples of appropriate sources for reference letters may include Physician Assistant or Physician (MD or DO), current or former work supervisor, academic sources such as an academic advisor, instructor, or professor.
- These should be considered suggestions for references only. Applicants should select references based on many factors and they should reflect those who know them best. The letters should come from professional sources, not family members or friends.
- Letters are not required from a specific source. Examples of appropriate sources for reference letters may include Physician Assistant or Physician (MD or DO), current or former work supervisor, academic sources such as an academic advisor, instructor, or professor.
Matriculation Requirements
- Technical Standards
- Students must meet the program-defined Technical Standards, as defined in the Program’s Student Handbook.
- All accepted candidates are required to meet the program’s Technical Standards (physical and psychological competencies of performance) before entering the program and through training. Technical standards include capacity for Observation, Communication, Motor; Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities; and Attitudinal, Behavioral, Interpersonal, and Emotional Attributes.
- Health and Immunization Requirements
- Upon acceptance, students will be required to submit and maintain evidence of current health status and immunizations.
- COVID-19 vaccination is a Student Immunization Requirement.
- Student Health Insurance
- Students are required to maintain University-approved health care insurance coverage while enrolled in the program. The University offers a health plan.
- Drug Screen
- All students will be required to pass a drug screen before matriculation. Random drug screening may be performed during the program. Scheduled drug screening will be repeated before the clinical phase of the program. Acceptance to the program is contingent upon drug screen results.
- Background Check
- All students will be required to complete a criminal background check before matriculation and before starting clinical rotations. Acceptance to the program is contingent upon the results of the background check.
- Prerequisite Coursework and Conditional Requirements
- All students must complete any outstanding prerequisite coursework or other conditional requirements as outlined in the student portal or admission letter of offer.
Interviews and Offers of Admission
On a rolling basis: Invitations will be extended for interviews on a rolling basis. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications to CASPA as early as possible. Applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are verified and completed, including the supplemental application. Invited candidates will be required to participate in an interview to be considered for admission.
*January: Final Admissions decisions are based on in-person interviews, recommendation of the Admissions Committee, and application review. Offers will be extended for positions and alternate positions in the class. Upon receiving an offer of admission, candidates will have 14 days to accept the position and conditions of acceptance and to pay the $500 security deposit to secure their position. If the student matriculates, the security deposit will be applied to the student’s tuition. *Anticipated date
