Physician Assistant Science, Master's Degree

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About Physician Assistant Science and Saint Francis University

FAQs About Undergraduate Programs

• How much does it cost to pursue the Physician Assistant degree?

  Students enrolling in the Undergraduate (3+2) pathway can reference our tuition and fees related to program costs.

   

  Financial aid is available to students in both degree paths, however students in the graduate PA path primarily use loans to cover program expenses.  Our Office of Financial Aid (814-472-3010) is available to assist students in researching financial aid options.  

• What is the typical timetable of the undergraduate application process for the physician assistant program?

  The direct-entry, 3+2 accelerated program for undergraduates enables students to apply after their junior year of high school. Applications and required materials are due in late Fall (usually November or December). Meeting the minimum criteria leads to acceptance in December, but acceptance alone doesn't secure a seat. Once accepted, securing seats depends on submitting tuition deposits in the order received. The program accepts a maximum of around 60 deposits, filling the program. Unsuccessful applicants, including new ones meeting requirements, move to a waitlist. As seats open, waitlisted students are invited to secure them through a monitored process.

   

  Students not meeting direct-entry criteria could be accepted into the Interdisciplinary Health Care Studies program with a Pre-Physician Assistant Science concentration. This program readies students for a Physician Assistance Sciences master's program. It has its own admission criteria. Those not meeting them might still join the Interdisciplinary Health Care Studies program without the Pre-Physician Assistant Science concentration or another qualified allied health program like Nursing, Occupational Therapy, or Public Health.

• What makes the SFU program stand out from other PA programs in Pennsylvania?
  • Early exposure to medicine with Medical Terminology and Introduction to Medicine courses completed in your first three years of study. An arrangement of these introductory PA courses allows for role concept and knowledge base development, while providing a bridge to the physician assistant training curriculum in the last two years.
  • Guaranteed progression in the major for all students meeting requirements.
  • Completion of a strong liberal arts foundation.
  • The SFU PA students work together, supporting each other along the way.
  • Clinical experiences are built into the didactic year of physician assistant curriculum.
  • We offer an integrated body system approach to medicine.
  • We offer dedicated faculty and staff that go the extra mile to assist you in being successful.
  • Many of our faculty continue to practice clinically.

FAQs About the Graduate Program

• How much does it cost to pursue the Physician Assistant degree?

  Students enrolling in the graduate (2 yr) pathway can reference the following detailed expense sheets related to program costs.

  • 2 yr Graduate Expense Sheet

  Financial aid is available to students in both degree paths; however, students in the graduate PA path primarily use loans to cover program expenses.  Our Office of Financial Aid (814-472-3010)  is available to assist students in researching financial aid options.  

• Does the PA program accept advanced placement credits for the graduate phase of the PA program?

  The Physician Assistant Department may grant advanced placement into the program in specialized cases for students who have matriculated into an accredited PA program in the United States, but who are unable to continue in the program due to forfeiture of accreditation by the sponsoring institution. In such cases, students must meet all graduate admissions requirements, other program-specific requirements and be in good academic standing.

   

  Other than in the very rare situation described above, the program does not grant any type of advanced placement for didactic or clinical courses.

• What steps do international students need to complete to apply for admission through CASPA?

  International students must complete the following steps in addition to all of the regular requirements necessary to apply for admission:

  • Secondary/high school transcripts and bachelor's degree transcripts must be evaluated by an international credential evaluating agency (SpanTran or a NACES member institutions).  All transcripts must be from an accredited institution.  
  • Foreign transcript evaluation(s) must be submitted with your application.  
  • International students whose native language is not English MUST submit proof of English language proficiency. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTs or iTEP exam score must be submitted.
  • Please note that students who have received a baccalaureate degree in the United States are exempt from this requirement. Applicants required to take a language proficiency exam must have a minimum of one of the following:
    • IELTS score of 7.0
    • TOEFL scores of 102 on iBT or 607 on PBT
• What are the prerequisite courses required to apply as a graduate student via CASPA?

  It is beneficial to have completed at least five of the seven prerequisite courses prior to applying.  Any prerequisite course not completed prior to the interview must be completed prior to the beginning of the didactic year with a grade of "B" or better for students accepted into the program.  All courses must have been completed at a regionally accredited college/university.

  • Chemistry- 2 courses (must have labs)
  • Anatomy & Physiology- 2 courses (must have labs)
  • Microbiology- 1 course (must have lab)
  • Medical Terminology- 1 course
  • Psychology - 1 course
  • Statistics or upper-level Math - 1 course
• Are there any preferences given to specific groups of applicants?

  No preferences are given. All applicants are evaluated based on their academic history and healthcare experience.

• What is the difference between Healthcare Experience and Patientcare Experience?

  Patientcare as defined as, "Experiences in which you are directly responsible for a patient's care.  For example, prescribing medication, performing procedures, directing a course of treatment, designing a treatment regimen, actively working on a patient as a nurse, paramedic, EMT, military medic, hospital corpsman and/or foreign medially-trained physician."

   

  Healthcare experience is defined as "Both paid and unpaid work in a health or health-related field where you are not directly responsible for a patient's care, but may still have patient interaction; for example, filling prescriptions, performing clerical work, delivering patient food, cleaning patients and or their rooms, administering food or medication, taking vitals or other record keeping information, working as a scribe, CNA, medical assistant, physical therapist, pharmacy tech and /or dental hygienist."

• Do you accept virtual (online) labs?

  Yes.   Virtual (online) labs taken after March 1, 2020 will be accepted.

• When will the academic year begin if I am accepted as a graduate student?

  May 2025

• What is required to apply for admission into the PA program?

  Applicants must have (at minimum):

  • Bachelor’s degree or the ability to obtain one prior to matriculation from a regionally accredited college/university
    • Applicants who have completed a degree or coursework at a foreign institution must have a foreign credential evaluation completed on their transcript
  • Prerequisite courses.* It is beneficial to have completed at least five of the seven prerequisite courses prior to applying. Any prerequisite course not completed prior to the interview, must be completed prior to the beginning of the didactic year with a grade of “B” or better. All courses must have been completed at a regionally accredited college/university.
    • Chemistry – 2 courses (must have labs)
    • Anatomy & Physiology – 2 courses (must have labs)
    • Microbiology – 1 course (must have lab)
    • Medical Terminology – 1 course
    • Psychology – 1 course
    • Statistics or upper level Math – 1 course
  • Overall Cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a Prerequisite GPA of 3.2. *Please note that competitive applicants have a GPA of 3.4 or better in both
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • 100 non-paid hours of health care experience
    • At least 40 of the required hours must be spent shadowing a physician assistant
      • Of the remaining 60 hours:
    • There is no limit to the number spent shadowing a PA, MD/DO, Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Midwife
    • There is no limit to the number spent working as an EMT, paramedic or military medic/hospital corpsman
    • A maximum of 20 hours may be spent working as a Certified Nursing Assistant, shadowing an athletic trainer, physical therapist, occupational therapist or EMS professional
    • A maximum of 10 hours may be spent shadowing a registered nurse (RN), working as a scribe or working at a camp for a special needs population
• Is the GRE required for admittance?

  It is not currently required.

• What happens after I submit my application through CASPA?

  Once all the supporting documentation is received and verified through CASPA, the PA Department with Saint Francis University will begin to evaluate and invite those selected for a face-to-face interview. Interviews are typically held in October, November and December. We admit students on a rolling basis, so it is very beneficial to apply early in the cycle and schedule for one of the earlier interview dates.

• What type of housing is available near Saint Francis University?

  Saint Francis University is located in Loretto, PA. The cost of living in Loretto is lower than the national average and the average rent is approximately $500.00 per month for a 1-bedroom apartment. Many students decrease their living expenses by sharing an apartment with a classmate. Altoona, Hollidaysburg, Cresson and Ebensburg are also cities in close proximity to Saint Francis University.

• Do I have to enroll in the Saint Francis University Health Insurance plan if I have private health insurance?

  Saint Francis University values the health and wellbeing of its students. All full-time graduate students enrolled in the Physician Assistant program must have health insurance coverage. A Student Health Insurance Plan is available for those students who do not have current insurance coverage. All full-time students must participate in this insurance plan unless proof can be furnished that other similar insurance is carried by the student while they are attending Saint Francis University.

   

• What makes the PA program at SFU distinctive?
  • The SFU PA students are like one big family. They work together, supporting each other along the way.
  • Clinical experiences are built into the didactic year of physician assistant curriculum.
  • We offer an integrated body system approach to medicine.
  • We offer dedicated faculty and staff that go the extra mile to assist you in being successful.
  • Many of our faculty continue to practice clinically.