How to Apply / Prerequisite information

Getting In
Admission to the Springfield College Physician Assistant Graduate Program is highly competitive, and a limited number of seats is available. To be considered for one of these positions, a candidate must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with an overall cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. and an overall science GPA of at least 3.0. Candidates must have received a C+ or better in all of the required prerequisite courses.  Completed graduate applications will be accepted up to and including June 15 of each year for classes beginning in January of the coming year. Interviews for graduate placement will take part in August and all candidates will be notified of the acceptance decision by September 1.

Candidates for the Undergraduate program are high school students, or an undergraduate student from another institution who has not completed their bachelor’s degree. Please contact the undergraduate admissions department at 748-3136, or visit their website.

Candidates for the Graduate program have at least a bachelor’s degree, and have completed all of the prerequisite coursework and requirements listed below. Please contact the graduate admissions department at 748-3225, or visit their website. If you have other questions that could not be answered from the web page you are welcome to register for an information session.

When comparing prerequisites from other institutions the course description and course prerequisites should be equivalent to the prerequisite courses offered at Springfield College

The following prerequisite courses must have been successfully completed:

• General Chemistry (8 credit hours)
• Biology (8 credit hours)
• College Algebra (3 credit hours) or higher level Math course

The following prerequisite courses must have been successfully completed within 7 years of enrollment:

• Human Anatomy and Physiology (8 credit hours)
• Microbiology (3 credit hours)
• Organic Chemistry (3 credit hours)
• Biochemistry (3 credit hours)
• Statistics (3 credit hours)

In addition to these academic requirements, candidates must have at least 220 hours of direct patient care prior to applying to the program.

What is "direct patient care"?
The best type of medical experience is direct patient care. Such experience involves hands-on care of patients as in positions such as nurse, nurse aid, EMT/paramedic, PT, PTA, OT, OTA, medical assistant, or CNA. In general, positions which have patient contact but are not considered as caring directly for the patient may include phlebotomist, medical technologist, transportation aide, radiology technicians, dietary aide, etc.
If employment in an above field is impractical for you, volunteering for a hospital, nursing home, rehabilitation center, or doctor’s office would suffice. When volunteering, it is important that you are able to observe or participate in direct patient care.
A note on official office stationary should be handed in, and you should not be working with a first degree relative.

What is not "direct patient care?"
Jobs that do not include patient care, such as filing; working in the supply departments, gift shop, or medical records; being a cook, dishwasher, or secretary; medical transcribing, or working in a veterinary office.

Knowledge of the profession, 30 hours of P.A. observation, healthcare field and a commitment to providing quality healthcare must be demonstrated. Personal references, submitted as part of the application process, must present evidence of strong personal qualities, character, and intellectual ability indicative of success in the PA Masters Program.

You are required to shadow a practicing PA for at least 30 hours. A note from the PA you shadowed (on office stationary or a prescription pad) should be included in your application stating how many hours you were present. You should not shadow a first degree relative.

Learn More About the Physician Assistant Program

• Physician Assistant Technical Standards
• View Our Course Catalogs

Handbook

• Two year track: Professional phase (.pdf)
• 5 year track: Pre Professional phase (.pdf)