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Admission Requirements: Physician Assistant

The admission requirements for the Physician Assistant Program are as follows (see below for COVID-19 Policy):

  • Baccalaureate Degree
  • Recommended GPA of 3.0 or greater
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) - The CASPA GRE code for SUNY Upstate Medical University is 4523. Although there is no minimum required score, competitive candidates are typically within the 50th percentile. GRE's must be completed within five years of matriculation. GRE exams may be waived for applicants who have completed a masters or doctorate degree from an accredited college or university.
  • 1000 hours of health care related volunteer or employment experience-direct patient care preferred
  • Completion of Application
  • Completion of Prerequisite Courses
  • Prerequisite courses must be completed by the time of matriculation. Students may apply if prerequisite courses are in progress or planned to be completed by time of matriculation.
  • An expressed desire to work in rural or medically underserved communities; preference will be given to qualified candidates who originate from these areas.
  • Virtual interview, if invited. 
  • It is strongly recommended that applicants have shadowed or worked with a PA.
  • Additional Information regarding the PA Program
  • Incoming students will be required to submit a background check after being offered admission, and prior to enrollment at SUNY Upstate. All admitted students are admitted conditionally until background check results are obtained and reviewed by SUNY Upstate.

PA COVID-19 Policy:

Prerequisite Courses:

If your undergraduate institution required students in spring 2020 to go to Pass/Fail coursework, we will accept this. We realize that some of your prerequisites for the spring 2020 semester may not have allowed you to complete the lab component. We will still give this full consideration and will be as flexible as possible. This will be considered on a case-by-case basis. We also suggest that if you had to take a Pass/Fail in a prerequisite course, that you try to take an additional upper-level science course to demonstrate additional competency in the subject area.

 

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