Last Updated on December 20, 2022

Master of Physician Assistant Studies

Part of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies

Our accredited Master of Physician Assistant Studies program provides classroom, laboratory, simulations and clinical rotations that prepare graduates for careers as physician assistants.

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued to UT Health San Antonio’s Physician Assistant Program sponsored by the University of Texas.

Physician Assistant Studies Accreditation

The Accreditation Review Commission on the Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio Physician Assistant Program sponsored by the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio.  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remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards.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 2028.  The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

university of texas health science center at san antonio pa program prerequisites

What are the requirements to enter the Physician Assistant Studies program?

Two separate applications; (1) CASPA application and (2) the PAS Supplemental Application are required.  Both must be submitted through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).
•    The CASPA application, the PAS Supplemental Application, official transcripts, two reference letters, all other supporting documents and fees must be submitted and your CASPA status must be listed as completed by the specified CASPA application deadline.
•    Prior-year applicants must submit a new application and are not guaranteed an interview or admission into the program.  Questions about re-application should be directed to the School of Health Professions’ Office of Admissions and Special Programs and/or CASPA.

Altus Suite – admissions assessments of non-cognitive skills

All applicants are required to complete Altus Suite as part of the application to be eligible for the current admissions cycle.
Altus Suite consists of a two-part online assessment of non-cognitive skills, interpersonal characteristics, and personal values and priorities that we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program. 
•    Casper: a 60-90 minute online situational judgment test (SJT)
•    Snapshot: a 10-minute one-way interview with standardized questions
You will register for Altus Suite for the US Professional Health Sciences test (CSP-10101).  After completion, ensure you have selected UT Health at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) for distribution before the posted Distribution Deadline.  
Access www.TakeAltus.com to create an account and for more information on important dates and requirements, and the Altus Suite assessments.

Admissions process 

After reviewing eligible applications, the Admissions Committee invites select applicants to visit the campus for in-person multiple mini interviews.  After the interviews, the Admissions Committee conducts a final review and will notify candidates of its final decisions.

Admission and enrollment practices that favor specified individuals or groups

As part of the Health Science Center PA program’s holistic process, all applicants are categorized based on multiple performances and experience-based data points; these include overall GPA, science GPA, hours of community service, hours of health care experience, hours of PA shadowing, history of military service or an affiliation with a medically underserved region.  While none of these items, individually or in combination, guarantee selection, they have the capacity to augment the applicant’s overall submission. 

LEAP: The Laredo Early Admissions Program (LEAP) is designed to assist students in the Laredo and Webb county area with admissions to health professions programs at UT Health San Antonio.  Through the LEAP agreement, first-time TAMIU freshmen are guided through courses and other requirements needed to earn a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree at TAMIU. After meeting the necessary requirements and a successful application process, students are then given the opportunity to enter one of four master’s degree programs or a doctoral degree program in the School of Health Professions at UT Health.  Students who wish to matriculate to the program are subject to all the same admissions requirements to include successful performance during the multiple mini interviews in order to be offered admission to the PA studies program.  This policy is the same for both main and distant campus sites.  For more information on LEAP, see the following link:  http://laredo.uthscsa.edu/health/leap-agreement.asp

Campus Location:  The PA program will be offered on the main campus at UT Health San Antonio and at The University of Texas Education and Research Center at Laredo in Laredo, Texas.  All applicants are asked to select their campus location preference upon submission of their CASPA application as either “San Antonio”, “Laredo”, or “either campus”.  Priority for the Laredo campus will be given to graduates from the Laredo Early Admission Program (LEAP), applicants from Laredo who qualify through the normal admissions process outside of LEAP and choose the Laredo campus in CASPA, and those from outside of Laredo who desire to attend the Laredo campus and practice in Laredo Webb County area after graduation.  The regional campus provides a unique learning opportunity for individuals demonstrating a predisposition towards aiding and supporting a medically underserved population. 

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) official scores up to five years old (no minimum score requirement). GRE code for CASPA 7552.
• Shadow hours (PA, MD, DO, and NP), hands-on patient care experience and community service hours are strongly recommended and may enhance the application, but not required. 
• Two reference letters – submit directly to CASPA
• Candidates for this program must be able to meet these minimum Technical Standards, with or without reasonable accommodation 
• A grade of C or better in the individual prerequisite classes

All prerequisite courses must be completed by the deadline to be eligible to apply

When must prerequisites be completed?

All prerequisites must be completed by the application deadline with a grade of C or better. No prerequisites can be “in progress” after the application deadline. No exceptions.

Does it matter if I take my prerequisite courses at a two-year college instead of a four-year university?

The GPA is calculated the same way, whether it was taken at a community college or a four-year university.

No preference is given to courses taken at either institution. We understand the cost of education and want you to have as many options as possible in obtaining the prerequisite courses required for our programs. Please note that some required courses may not be offered at two-year colleges due to the academic level of the curriculum.

Can I have courses in progress when I apply?

Yes, you may have courses in-progress until May of the year of program entry as long as they are not required prerequisites. Your non-prerequisite coursework such as a missing course to complete your bachelor’s degree (for example) is allowed to be in-progress at the time of your application. The completion of your bachelor’s degree is required by May of the year of program entry.

Does it matter what my undergraduate degree is in?

The subject matter your undergraduate studies do not play a role in the admissions process. We encourage students to pursue an academic degree which is of their interest.

How can I find out if the prerequisite courses I took at my college/university meet the required prerequisites?

Please refer to the Prerequisite Equivalency Chart for Physician Assistant Studies for additional information. If you have additional questions for a course, it is best to email us at [email protected] and include: Name, contact information, program of interest, prerequisite you have a question regarding, course name, number, institution and credit hours (semester). If you have additional needs, please contact the School of Health Professions Office of Admissions and Special Programs and make an appointment to have an advisor evaluate your course work.  

Is the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) required?

Yes. The Graduate Record Examination is required as part of the application. There is no minimum GRE score required for admission. Official scores from the GRE must be received by the October 1st application deadline. Applicants may choose to submit scores from a previous examination if it was taken within the past five years. Please note that all PA applications are assessed from a holistic evaluation, not just by your standardized score.

In order for my GRE scores to be sent to the Physician Assistant Studies Program at UT Health San Antonio, what is the GRE code?

The institutional GRE code is 7552.

How does the program calculate GPA for admission requirements?

We calculate two GPA’s – your overall GPA of every college/university course ever taken and your overall science GPA (which includes all science coursework in your GPA calculation).

If I retake a course, how does this affect my GPA?

• If an applicant re-takes a science course, both the low score and the high score are used in calculating the overall science GPA.
• If an applicant re-takes any other course (a non-science course) both the low score and high score are used in calculating the overall GPA. Usually re-taking one or two courses makes little difference in the overall GPA calculation.
• We encourage all students to know where they stand regarding their GPA for planning and goal-setting purposes. Please utilize the unofficial GPA calculator tool on our website (coming soon) to assist you with your projected GPA calculations. All official GPA calculations will take place after you have officially applied to the UT Health San Antonio Physician Assistant Studies program.

I’ve reviewed all admission prerequisites and requirements but don’t quite meet all of them. What are my options?

We encourage you to continue to work toward the entrance to the program of your choice but, the School of Health Professions has many other programs that may fit your career and educational goals.

If you are interested in working directly with patients, our Master of Science in Respiratory Care program may be for you. This two-year master’s program will prepare you for a career in one of the fastest-growing health care careers in the country. Graduates work in ICUs, emergency rooms, home health and as pediatric flight team members.

If you are interested in the research and science behind medical diagnostics and treatment, our Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences program may be for you. This two-year master’s program will prepare you work as a medical laboratory scientist in a variety of settings including hospitals and research labs. As a medical laboratory scientist, your work affects up to 70 percent of all major patient care-related decisions.