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Frequently Asked Questions

Physician Assistant History Society

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How do I learn more about the program to help me apply? Can I meet personally with a member of the admissions team or program faculty?
    Our intent is for the PA program website, FAQ section, class admission profile and virtual advising sessions to assist applicants in completing the CASPA and the program’s supplemental application. Unfortunately, due to the volume of applicants, PA faculty are unable to meet individually with all applicants. The information sessions offer an excellent opportunity for applicants to interact with graduate admissions counselors and learn more about the program. If you have used all of the resources and continue to need assistance, we recommend sending an email to the admissions team at pam@ut.edu . Please allow five business days for us to reply. If you don’t receive an email response after that time, then resend the email.
  2. Does the PA program offer part-time classes?
    No. The program must be taken full-time. Students can expect to be in classes Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  3. How long is the PA program?
    UT’s PA program is 27 months in duration, with seven semesters and a total of 112 credit hours.
  4. How many seats are available for each incoming class?
    Each class will admit a maximum of 48 applicants.
  5. When do classes start, and when is graduation?
    Each class will begin the program in mid-August of year one and graduate in December of year three.
  6. Does the PA program have admission interviews? When will they occur? What is the interview schedule?
    • Yes, selected applicants will be sent a notification by the PA program for an on-campus interview.
    • Applicants are selected for an interview based on the strength of their CASPA application, including a review of their academic preparation and the program's preferences.
    • During the interview process, the applicant will be provided with and asked to acknowledge their agreement to follow the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) Code of Ethics and the Physician Assistant Medicine Program's social media and professionalism policies.
    • Applicants will be provided with the technical standards of admission at the time of the interview and must meet these standards upon admission.
    • The interview event includes four traditional interview stations and group evaluation.
    • Professional dress is expected during the interview. Lunch will be provided to all applicants invited for an interview.
    • The program will interview 16 applicants per session for a total of 80 applicants.
    • Interviews will be held on Fridays from September 2024 to January 2025.
    • Interview invitations will be extended approx. three weeks prior to each interview date. We recommend applicants submit a complete application at least two months prior to the interview date they are applying for, but no later than the CASPA verified deadline for the program of Dec. 1, 2024.
    • Admission notifications occur approx. one week after each interview date.
    • Admission deposit of $1,500 is due two weeks after the interview date.
    • The daily schedule of the interview session will be handed to interviewees during interview registration.

    Parking: If driving to campus, we have spots reserved in the Thomas Parking Garage. Please enter the garage from West North A Street off North Boulevard. Follow the signs to the Jenkins Health building, second floor.

    Accommodations: There are many hotels close to UT’s campus. We will provide storage space on campus for your luggage, if needed. We suggest you explore some of the local attractions as well. Mobile rideshare apps such as Uber and Lyft are available in the area. Tampa International Airport is just six miles away from campus.

    The applicant is responsible for all travel-related expenses (flight, lodging, local travel and off-campus meals), and there are no grants or scholarships available to offset interview expenses

  7. Does the PA program offer advanced placement, accept transfer students or provide credit for experiential learning?
    No. UT’s PA program does not offer advanced placement for students with prior graduate work, nor does the program accept transfer students or offer credit for experiential learning. The program does not offer credit for prior experience working in the healthcare field. All incoming students will be required to complete all coursework in the program curriculum .
  8. Is there a mandatory graduate research project during the PA program?
    Yes. All students enrolled in the PA program must successfully complete a master’s project and receive a passing grade in order to graduate. Faculty will guide, monitor and assess the quality of each student’s work in this process.
  9. Is UT’s PA program accredited?
    The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to The University of Tampa Department of Physician Assistant Medicine Program sponsored by The University of Tampa . Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards .

    Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards . The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be March 2034 . The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

    The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-university-of-tampa/ .
  10. What degree is awarded by the PA program?
    Each graduate will be awarded a Master of Physician Assistant Medicine (MPAM) degree.
  11. What are UT’s NCCPA pass rate scores?
    The Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) results may be viewed here: PANCE pass report PDF .
  12. What are the demographics of the first PA cohort?
    Read about the admission characteristics (PDF) of those who matriculate.
  13. Are PA students able to work outside of the PA program?
    • PA students are not prohibited from working while enrolled in the PA program; however, due to the amount of study and intensive nature of the curriculum, students are generally discouraged from obtaining or maintaining employment while enrolled. No special academic accommodations or scheduling arrangements will be made or granted for students who choose to work while enrolled.
    • PA students are not required to work for the program.
    • PA students are not allowed to substitute for or function as instructional faculty.
    • PA students are not allowed to substitute for clinical or administrative staff during clinical rotations.
    • In addition, PA students are not permitted to engage in any paid or salaried role in conjunction with completion of their clinical rotations.

  1. Is there a requirement to shadow a PA?
    Physician assistant observation or shadowing is not required for application. However, competitive applicants will have observed a PA for as many hours as necessary to demonstrate they are knowledgeable of the PA role on the healthcare team and will be evaluated during the interview.
  2. Does an applicant need to take the GRE or MCAT for admission?
    No. UT’s PA program does not require the GRE or MCAT for admission. Faculty do not look at scores on applications for those who report scores.
  3. Do you require the PA-CAT?
    Yes. The Physician Assistant College Admission Test (PA-CAT) is required for admission. Go to the Exam Master PA-CAT website to learn more about how and where to take the exam. You must select The University of Tampa PA Program to report scores to, and the program will receive a score report. The program uses the composite score and quintile or percentile score when evaluating your performance.
  4. How long are the PA-CAT scores good for?
    PA-CAT scores are good for as long as defined by Exam Master.
  5. How do you handle PA-CAT scoring when I take the test more than once?
    If the PA-CAT has been taken more than once, the program uses the highest composite score reported by Exam Master.
  6. When should I take the required PA-CAT for the score to be reported by the CASPA verified deadline for the program of Dec. 1, 2024?
    Applicants should plan to complete the PA-CAT at least 3 months before the interview date they are applying for, but no later than the end of October for Exam Master to report their scores by the time of application or by the CASPA verified deadline for the program of Dec. 1, 2024. It can take two to three weeks to schedule an exam to be taken remotely or in person at a test center.
  7. What is the minimum required GPA for the application?
    The minimum last 60 credit hours GPA is 3.0, and the minimum prerequisite GPA is 3.0. The last 60 credit hours is defined as the last 60 credit hours you have taken chronologically, whether it is undergraduate, graduate or post-graduate coursework.
  8. My last 60 credit hours GPA and/or prerequisite GPA are/is below 3.0. Will my application still be considered?
    No. Applicants must meet our minimum standards to be considered for admission.
  9. Are there requirements for applicants educated outside of the United States?
    If you have attended a college or university outside of the United States, you must arrange to have all post-secondary records evaluated by an organization that is certified by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). The list of NACES members can be found at https://www.naces.org/members .
  10. Do I need to take the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo test?
    Official TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo test scores will be required of all applicants who have not earned a baccalaureate degree or graduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S., Commonwealth Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Australia or New Zealand. Official and valid TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo test scores must be submitted and received by the time of application or by the application deadline of Dec. 1, 2024, depending on which interview you are applying to. TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo test scores are valid for two years prior to the application deadline. The minimum score is a 90 on the TOEFL, a 6.5 on the IELTS or a 120 on the Duolingo test, and the requirement may not be waived.
  11. Are foreign medical graduates (FMG) required to complete all PA program courses?
    Yes, all applicants are required to complete the entire PA curriculum in the same time frame as other PA students. Advanced placement is not available for FMG, and there is not a separate preference for FMGs.
  12. Does it matter what my academic major or degree is from undergraduate/graduate school?
    No. Applications are reviewed holistically, and no specific academic major or degree is preferred.
  13. Can I apply before completing my bachelor’s degree?
    Applicants may apply before they have completed their bachelor’s degree; however, the degree must be earned by July 1, 2025. The last 60 credit hours GPA will be calculated for all courses taken up to the application deadline.

  1. If my prerequisite courses were taken more than 10 years ago, can I still apply for admission?
    Prerequisite courses greater than 10 years from the date of graduation (degree during which prerequisites were completed) will not be accepted unless the applicant has provided direct patient care for at least 4,000 hours within the last 10 years from Dec. 1 of the year applied.
  2. Can I apply before completing all the prerequisite courses for admission?
    Yes, but applicants must earn a B- (BC) or better in prerequisite courses and they must be completed at a regionally accredited institution by Dec. 1, 2024. However, if you are applying for the September – December 2024 interviews, all prerequisite courses must be completed at a regionally accredited institution by the time of application. The program does not allow outstanding prerequisites beyond the application deadline of Dec. 1, 2024. You may send one email to pam@ut.edu alerting us of all changes to your application after submission but not later than Dec. 1, 2024. The changes should also be uploaded to your CASPA application. Transcripts for prerequisites and graduate degrees completed after your application submission must be uploaded and verified by CASPA and an email sent to pam@ut.edu by Dec. 1, 2024.
  3. What are the prerequisite courses for admission?
    Prerequisite science courses (must include labs):
    • Two general biology with lab. The Biology II requirement may be substituted with cell biology, genetics, immunology, virology or biochemistry*.
    • One microbiology with lab
    • Two human anatomy and physiology with lab (can be one-semester anatomy and one semester physiology, or combined anatomy and physiology courses)
    • Two general chemistry with lab. The Chemistry II requirement may be substituted with organic chemistry or biochemistry*.
    • One statistics (not a lab science) — may be met by educational/psychology or biostatistics course

    *Cannot count twice

    The following recommended supplemental courses assist students in the academic transition to the physician assistant medicine program curriculum. No preference is given for recommended supplemental courses, and some of the listed courses can substitute for the Biology II and Chemistry II prerequisites (see information listed above).

    • Medical terminology
    • Biochemistry
    • Genetics
    • Organic chemistry
    • Educational/psychology or biostatistics

    Selecting Prerequisites:

    • Only highlight the required prerequisites and respective labs with the highest grades. This is consistent with our grade forgiveness policy.
    • Do not highlight any repeated courses with lower grades or substitute any courses for which a petition form hasn’t been submitted. This slows your application down from being reviewed and may delay an interview offer.
  4. I’m a UT student. What UT prerequisite course and sequence do you recommend if I want to apply during my senior year?
    The following prerequisite schedule will meet the PA program’s prerequisites by the end of your junior year, and the sequencing meets the required courses needed to enroll. The ability to enroll in the sequence is based on conditions outside the PA program’s control, and you are encouraged to work with your academic advisor to meet your educational goals and requirements for graduation. The PA program has no preference for your academic major. We encourage you to work with Jackie Mikulski , academic program specialist for pre-professional programs, for advisement.

    Freshman year
    Fall Semester: CHE 152 and CHE 153L
    Spring Semester: CHE 154 and CHE 155L

    Sophomore year
    Fall Semester: BIO 198 and BIO 198L
    Spring Semester: BIO 199 and BIO 199L

    Junior year
    Fall Semester: HSC 230 and HSC 234 or BIO 250/250L and BIO 330/330L
    Spring Semester: HSC 231 and HSC 235 or BIO 302/302L
    Either semester: BIO 307 and BIO 307L

    Statistics: Recommend BIO 230 or HSC 350, but SOC 355, MAT 201 or CRM 240 are acceptable alternatives. If you choose to take psychology statistics, you must take both PSY 211 and PSY 312 to meet the statistics requirement for the PA program. Statistics can be taken in any year, but would recommend freshman or sophomore year.

  5. Do prerequisite courses need to be completed at a four-year university?
    Prerequisite courses can be completed at a regionally accredited four-year university or junior college. Use the PA program petition form (PDF) to petition the program to accept alternative prerequisites other than the substitutions allowed for Chemistry II or Biology II.
  6. Does UT accept prerequisite courses completed online?
    UT will accept online courses as long as they meet our prerequisite course requirements.

  1. How much direct patient care experience should a competitive applicant have?
    While direct patient care is not required, the program has a preference for applicants with a minimum of 750 hours of hands-on patient care experience.
  2. How can applicants strengthen their application and be more competitive?
    The admissions process for the UT PA program is highly competitive. Applications are holistically reviewed relative to our program preferences, prerequisite GPA*, last 60 credit hours GPA*, PA-CAT scores reported*, personal statement, letters of reference and interview performance. Applicants can review our mission, vision and values and our class characteristics (PDF) to evaluate the extent to which the applicant aligns with the program preferences for admission.

    *Pre-req GPA, last 60 GPA, and PA-CAT scaled score performance are weighted in the application scoring, but do not serve as preference requirements.

  3. What must re-applicants do to qualify for re-application?
    Re-applicants must improve in at least two program preferences to reapply. The guidance given in FAQ question number 2 also applies here.
  4. What are the program preferences?
    • Direct patient care experience > 750 hours
    • Work experience or research hours > 500 hours
    • Community service/mission work > 250 hours
    • Leadership activities ≥ one year
    • First-generation college student (you or your siblings are the first in your family to earn a bachelor’s degree)
    • Graduate degree earned in any discipline by the time of application or Dec. 1, 2024, depending on which interview you are applying to.
    • Military service (veterans must have an honorable or entry-level discharge)
    • University of Tampa alumni

    *Pre-req GPA, last 60 GPA, and PA-CAT scaled score performance are weighted in the application scoring, but do not serve as preference requirements.

  5. Is there a preference for residents in the State of Florida?
    No. The University of Tampa is a private university. No preference is given to State of Florida residents.
  6. Is there a preference for UT alumni or legacy applicants?
    Yes. There is a preference for UT alumni applicants defined as the applicant’s degree having been conferred by UT, but applicants must be competitive in their entire application and admission is not guaranteed nor automatic. See the UT2UT policy for information related to the accelerated application process and requirements for UT Alumni: https://www.ut.edu/graduate-degrees/physician-assistant-medicine-program/admissions . If a UT Alumni is not accepted through the UT2UT accelerated admission process, they may still apply through CASPA.
  7. Is there a preference for UT Legacy? There is no preference given for those with a UT legacy (defined as having parents, grandparents or siblings who are UT alumni).

  1. How can I apply to UT’s PA program?
    All applicants must apply through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) . The CASPA application must be verified, all prerequisites completed, graduate degree completed, PA-CAT score reported, and supporting documents uploaded to CASPA by the deadline of Dec. 1, 2024, to be considered for an interview for the next class. However, we encourage applicants to submit a complete application at least 2 months before the interview date they are applying for, to be considered for the September - December 2024 interviews.
  2. Is there a supplemental application?
    Yes. There is a supplemental application. There is no fee for the supplemental application, which is due at the time of application or Dec. 1, 2024, depending on which interview you are applying to. The supplemental application is included in the CASPA application and will be completed with the CASPA application.
  3. Can I request a review of my whole application, including references and transcripts, prior to submission?
    No. The PA program receives hundreds of applications and is unable to review individual applications prior to submission. The information posted on the PA program website describes the admission process .
  4. When will the PA program start accepting applications?
    Applications for the class matriculating in August 2025 opens through CASPA on April 25, 2024. The program has a rolling admissions process with a verified application deadline of Dec. 1, 2024. We highly encourage interested applicants to apply early, depending on the interview date they are applying to, and submit a complete application. There is an advantage for early applicants with a complete verified application to be considered for the September - December 2024 interviews. You must have a complete verified application no later than the Dec. 1, 2024, deadline. Applicants who apply by the Dec. 1, 2024, deadline will be considered for the January 2025 interview date. It can take up to 30 days for CASPA to verify all application materials, so plan ahead accordingly to meet the verified deadline of Dec. 1, 2024.
  5. Do all application materials need to arrive at the same time?
    No, but only completed applications are reviewed for consideration. We highly encourage interested applicants to apply early, depending on the interview date you are applying to, and submit a complete application. A complete application includes a CASPA application, fee payment to CASPA, supplemental application (included within the CASPA application), transcripts and three references. Applicants are not penalized if required parts of the application are received at different times. The complete application with all supporting documents must be submitted to CASPA and verified by Dec. 1, 2024, in order to be considered for August 2025 enrollment. You may send one email to pam@ut.edu alerting us of all changes to your application after submission but not later than Dec. 1, 2024. The changes should also be uploaded to your CASPA application. Transcripts for prerequisites and graduate degrees completed after your application submission must be uploaded to CASPA and an email sent to pam@ut.edu by Dec. 1, 2024.
  6. Can an applicant send in additional letters of recommendation, beyond those included in CASPA?
    No.
  7. I’ve submitted a CASPA application. When will I hear a status update?
    Once you have submitted a CASPA application, you will receive an email notification from CASPA that it has been received and then verified. At this point, your application will be made available to UT’s PA program as verified for processing purposes. Interview invitations will be extended approx. three weeks prior to each September 2024 – January 2025 interview date.
  8. I’ve completed other courses since submitting my initial application. How do I update the PA program?
    Your CASPA profile has a feature called "Academic Update." For courses added and/or grades earned after submitting the CASPA application, this feature provides an unofficial update to your CASPA course listing. Entered grades and courses will not be re-verified, but this can provide your designated programs with an updated, unofficial picture of your academic profile. You may send one email to pam@ut.edu alerting us of all program preference changes to your application after submission but not later than Dec. 1, 2024. The changes should also be uploaded to your CASPA application. Transcripts for prerequisites and graduate degrees completed after your application submission must be uploaded to CASPA and an email sent to pam@ut.edu by Dec. 1, 2024.
  9. How do I update other parts of my application, such as patient care or volunteer experience?
    Updates to patient care, volunteer or community service and shadowing experiences can be made through CASPA. You may send one email to pam@ut.edu alerting us of all program preference changes to your application after submission but not later than Dec. 1, 2024.
  10. Are electronic transcripts accepted?
    All transcripts should be sent directly to CASPA. Please refer to CASPA for their requirements.

  1. Is there a rolling admission process for the PA program? Yes, UT will conduct a rolling admissions process as follows:
    • One verified application deadline
      • Dec. 1, 2024 - You must have a complete verified application no later than the Dec. 1, 2024, deadline. However, qualified applicants with an early complete verified application will be considered for the September - December 2024 interviews.
    • Numbers interviewed
      • The program will interview 16 applicants per session for a total of 80 applicants.
      • The program will select applicants for admissions from each interview date (for a maximum of 48)
    • There may be a numerical advantage to applying early and getting admitted
    • There is no preference for Florida residents
  2. When will applicants know if they have been selected for an interview?
    Interview invitations will be extended approx. three weeks prior to each September 2024 – January 2025 interview date. Applicants not selected for an interview will be informed by the beginning of March, when the admissions cycle has concluded.
  3. Who is on the Admissions Sub-Committee, and who makes the final decision?
    The admissions team consists of the PA program faculty, other UT health professions faculty, admissions personnel and college administration. Final admission decisions are made by the Admissions Sub-Committee.
  4. Does the program accept applicants with a history of felony convictions?
    No. Currently, the program is unable to accept applicants with a history of felony convictions. This is due to the inability to place students clinically with partners in the community. The program will review this policy annually and amend the policy as soon as feasible when it can provide equal access to clinical placements for applicants with a history of felony convictions.
  5. Does the PA program require drug screening?
    Yes. Drug screenings are required. Clinical rotation sites may also require additional drug screens.
  6. Are background screenings conducted in the PA program?
    Yes. UT requires a level two background screening after acceptance to the PA program and prior to the start of clinical rotations. Clinical rotation sites may also require additional background screens to the two required background checks.
  7. Does UT provide feedback for denied applicants?
    No. We are unable to provide individualized feedback due to the volume of applications and requests for feedback. Many of your questions can be answered by reviewing our admissions webpage, FAQ and by participating in a PA virtual information session. These sessions include admissions requirements as well as statistics of the current cohort. You can sign up at https://graduate.ut.edu/portal/infosession .
  8. May I tour UT’s PA program facility?
    Not at this time. Facilities may be reviewed here: https://www.ut.edu/graduate-degrees/physician-assistant-medicine-program/facilities .
  9. What is UT's policy regarding delayed or deferred admissions?
    Conditionally accepted students may be permitted to delay matriculation for up to one year on a case-by-case basis. The written request must be submitted to the Chair of the Progression, Promotion and Professionalism (PPP) sub-committee as soon as possible, but no later than the first day of orientation. The PPP's decision will be communicated to the student and the decision may be appealed to the department chair and program director. More information may be found under the " Deferred Admissions Policy ."
  10. Are international students eligible for admission?
    No. All applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The PA program has not been approved for international students at this time.
  11. What are the technical standards for admission?
    Please review the admissions page under "Technical Standards for Admission."

  1. Can clinical rotations be completed outside the State of Florida?
    Yes.
  2. Where are the clinical rotations sites?
    UT’s PA program has established partnerships with multiple highly regarded hospital systems, clinics and private practices in the state of Florida. Clinical training sites in the panhandle region are being actively developed. Completing the clinical phase rotations in the panhandle may be an option and/or requirement.
  3. Are all clinical rotation sites within the state of Florida?
    Yes. Clinical rotations are located within the state of Florida.
  4. Do PA students have to secure their own clinical rotation sites?
    No. The clinical team secures all required clinical rotation sites for students. Students may request specific clinical rotations. All requests and arrangements are coordinated through the clinical team.
  5. Is housing provided for clinical rotations?
    No. Most sites are within driving distance of campus. Any clinical rotation requiring housing is the responsibility of the student.
  6. Can a PA student take time off during the clinical year?
    No. In the event of a medical/personal emergency, the student may request a leave of absence. If granted, this will result in a delayed graduation date.

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