Admission Requirements
Update for the 2026-2027 Admission Cycle
As of the 2026-2027 CASPA application cycle, Dominican University will require a minimum of 750 hours of Healthcare/Patient Care Experience.
We will maintain our current policy of not accepting AP credits for prerequisite courses and not requiring the GRE for admission to our Physician Assistant Studies Program.
Application for Admission
Apply for admission using the online Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) application.
The following criteria are required:
- U.S. Bachelor's degree. The Physician Assistant Studies Program is a post-baccalaureate health professions program. Applicants must provide evidence of an earned bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college or university that is regionally accredited prior to enrollment. We do not accept transcript evaluations for credentials through World Education Services (WES) or other transcript evaluation services.
- Grade-Point Average. Both overall total GPA and overall science GPA each must be at least 3.0.
- Prerequisite Coursework. Official transcripts must verify that all prerequisite coursework satisfies the required attributes described on the Prerequisite Coursework webpage. Applicants should consult this resource for complete details and requirements.
- Healthcare/Patient Care Experience. A minimum of 750 hours of work or volunteer experience in a healthcare setting is required at the time of CASPA application submission. Documentation of Healthcare/Patient Care Experience hours must be quantified and described with supervisor contact information in the 'Experiences' section within the CASPA application. We strongly encourage applicants to upload supporting documentation of declared hours, such as attestation forms on organizational letterhead signed by preceptors or supervisors, to CASPA. Additions to the 'Experiences' section in CASPA will not be considered after your CASPA application submission. Applicants are considered competitive who have significantly greater than 750 hours of volunteer or work experience that resulted in demonstrable direct hands-on patient care or direct patient contact. Please see the FAQ section under How to Apply for a list of some accepted positions for healthcare experience.
- Letters of Recommendation. A minimum of three (3) Letters of Recommendation are required. It is strongly recommended that students request references from the following:
- Professor: A person who can attest to the applicant's academic preparedness for the program based on direct experience in a teacher-student relationship
- Supervisor: A person who can attest to the applicant’s intrapersonal attributes and interpersonal communication abilities based on direct observation as supervisor of the applicant’s volunteer or work experience
- Physician Assistant: A certified, practicing PA that can attest to the applicant's commitment, knowledge, and preparedness for the profession based on shadowing or employment experience
- Personal Statement. A personal narrative submitted through the CASPA portal is required. In this personal essay, applicants should please:
- Describe in detail their motivation or desire to become a physician assistant and
- Reflect upon the interprofessional nature of the physician assistant's role in health care teams
- Program Question. At least one additional writing sample is required by the Dominican University PAS Program through the CASPA Application portal.
- Technical Standards. The Dominican University Physician Assistant Studies Program is a demanding and concentrated program that places specific requirements and demands on all students who matriculate. The minimum technical standards establish the essential qualities considered necessary for students admitted to this program to achieve the knowledge, skills and competencies of an entry-level physician assistant. In the event an applicant is unable to fulfill these technical standards prior to or any time after admission, with or without reasonable accommodation, the student will not be allowed to enter or progress within the program.
The following criteria are preferred:
PA Observation Experience (Shadowing)
A minimum of 45 hours of PA Shadowing is preferred at the time of CASPA application submission. Additional hours will not be accepted after you have submitted your CASPA application. Documentation of PA Observation experience must be quantified and described with supervisor contact information in the 'Experiences' section under 'Shadowing Experience' within the CASPA application.
It is preferred that applicants demonstrate their knowledge and awareness of the Physician Assistant profession through direct observation of a Physician Assistant only. This can be obtained through observation (i.e. shadowing) of PAs, or an equivalent number of hours observing a PA while providing direct patient care alongside a PA. For example, a medical assistant or other individual who works alongside a Physician Assistant in their health care experience may count some of this time toward their PA observation hours.
PA Shadowing is not counted toward the healthcare experience hours.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores
Although we no longer require the GRE, scores above the 50th percentile will be viewed favorably.
Other Information
Disputing and Correcting CASPA Course Subjects for Prerequisites
If, during verification, a course subject is incorrectly assigned to the wrong category, or the course title does not match the prerequisite, CASPA can re-review the course title and make appropriate changes. The applicant should contact CASPA customer service at caspainfo@caspaonline.org. Please refer to the CASPA website for further information.
Transfer, Experiential Learning and Advanced Placement Credits
All courses within the Dominican University PAS program curriculum are required. No credit is granted for pre-admission experiential learning, prior coursework, degrees, certifications or advanced training. Transfer coursework (with a grade) to meet prerequisite requirements is acceptable. AP credit will not be accepted for any admission prerequisites. Any required course in the sciences will need to be taken at a college-level degree granting institution within seven years of the cohort start date.
Applicants in Another PA Program
Applicants should notify Dominican University of any current or previous enrollment in another PA Studies Program. Any grade transcripts from the applicant’s enrollment in any current or previous PA Studies Program must be sent to CASPA as part of the standard admission process.