- Cumulative Undergraduate: 3.0
- FranU Prerequisites: 3.0
- Cumulative Undergraduate Science: 3.0
For more detailed information on necessary admissions requirements, including test scores and prerequisites, application materials, additional considerations and processes, please refer to the Admissions Details, Additional Considerations, Technical Standards and Admissions Process menus below.
Note: Applications must be received and in verified status by CASPA by the program’s deadline of October 1 annually (exceptions to the deadline may be made on a case-by-case basis).
Admissions Details
*The commission decided to allow the matriculation of the next cohort of students scheduled for January 2025. Please visit the CASPA portal for additional information on the 2024 application process. For the application and admission cycle of 2025 Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University PA Program will be held in abeyance until after the Commission’s probation review of the program at the September 2025 meeting. This will impact the class scheduled to matriculate in January 2026.
Admissions Details
Students who were accepted and submitted a deposit to the 2023 application and admissions cycle will be allowed admission in the 2024 cycle with contingency of meeting all previous prerequisites.
Prerequisite Course Requirements
Prerequisite courses* for the MMS - Physician Assistant program include:
- Human Anatomy with lab
- Human Physiology (combined anatomy and physiology I and II with labs are acceptable alternatives)
- General Microbiology
- Organic Chemistry I
- Organic Chemistry II (2000 level or higher) or Biochemistry (3000 level or higher)
- General Psychology
- Statistics
- Genetics
- Medical Terminology (certificate or other courses acceptable)
- Applicants must make a minimum of C or higher in all prerequisite coursework.
- "Survey" courses do not meet admissions criteria.
- B or higher in all prerequisite coursework is preferred.
- Repeated coursework negatively impacts the applicant.
- No graduate, medical school or other transfer credit will be awarded as advanced placement/PA program credit.
- While the program will not waive any prerequisite requirements, in some circumstances, the PA admissions committee may allow substitutions for equivalent or more rigorous previous graduate, medical school course work or professional experience(s) as satisfying prerequisite requirements ONLY. This may apply to prerequisite courses taken beyond seven years ago as well.
- Applicants requesting such substitutions should email pa@franu.edu to request a copy of the prerequisite substitution form. The form must be completed by the applicant and submitted to the admissions committee for consideration. Applicants should include detailed descriptions of course work, professional experiences, a copy of the undergraduate transcript and any additional materials as requested by the committee. The committee will evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis and all decisions made will be final.
Letters of Recommendation
- Letters should be from individuals who know the applicant well; former professors, employers and healthcare/professional colleagues are good choices.
- Recommenders should consider and attest to the applicant's academic success, work ethic, maturity, professionalism, interest in the healthcare field, etc.
- Letters must be submitted directly from the recommender through the CASPA portal (not mailed or emailed to program faculty or University administration).
- While it may be tempting to ask "high-profile" community members to provide a letter of recommendation, these are not generally helpful unless the above criteria is met; no extra consideration is provided for such letters.
Interviews
After the initial application review, qualified applicants will be further screened via personal interview.
FAQ
Additional Considerations
The PA program strives to transform enrolled students into competent entry level PAs as well as mission-centered servant leaders. As such, other factors such as diversity, maturity, professionalism, compassion and service to community are also important criteria for acceptance.
Therefore, in addition to excellence in academics, the admissions committee weighs other individual factors when considering each applicant, including:
- Applicants from the University’s 3+2 Accelerated Pathway to Physician Assistant Studies; 3+2 students must meet all minimum admissions requirements as outlined above
- Hands-on patient care experience
- Licensed healthcare worker
- Shadowing one or more PAs
- Military service
- Work/professional experience
- Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University graduate
- Applicants from medically underserved areas
- Mission work/community service
- Graduates from Catholic universities
In general, the higher the GPA and greater number of additional admissions considerations, the more competitive the applicant.
The following table should give the applicant guidance as to how competitive he/she is in comparison to prior PA classes. The competitive candidate has a “B” or better in all defined pre-requisite course work. Repeated attempts at pre-requisite coursework will be noted and weaken candidate’s overall application packet.
237
140
2161
1543
Admissions Process
Minimum Admission Requirements
In order to be considered for admissions, all applicants to the PA program must:
- Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited, U.S. college or university or equivalent prior to the time of matriculation (with exception of applicant's from the university's 3+2 Accelerated Pathway to Physician Assistant Studies program)
- Meet the following GPA minimums:
- Cumulative Undergraduate:3.0
- FranU Pre-Requisites: 3.0
- Cumulative Undergraduate Science: 3.0
- Complete all pre-requisite courses within 7 years of application:
- Anatomy and Anatomy Lab for science or pre-health professions majors (2000 level or above)
- Physiology for science or pre-health professions majors (2000 level or above; a combined anatomy and physiology I and II with labs are acceptable alternatives)
- General Microbiology
- Organic Chemistry I (no lab required)
- Organic Chemistry II (2000 level or higher, no lab required) or Biochemistry (3000 level or higher, no lab required)
- General Psychology or other related psychology course (3 credit hours)
- Statistics
- Genetics
- Medical Terminology (certificate or other courses acceptable)
- Please note:
- Applicants must make a minimum grade of C or higher in all pre-requisite coursework; B or higher in all pre-requisite coursework is preferred.
- "Survey" courses generally do not meet admissions criteria and must be reviewed by the PA admissions committee for approval.
- Repeated coursework negatively impacts the applicant.
- No Graduate, medical school or other transfer credit will be awarded as advanced placement/PA program credit;
- While the program will not waive any pre-requisite requirements, in some circumstances, the PA admissions committee may allow substitutions for equivalent or more rigorous previous graduate, medical school course work or professional experience(s) as satisfying pre-requisite requirements ONLY. This may apply to pre-requisite courses taken beyond 7 years ago as well. Applicants requesting such substitutions should email pa@franu.edu to request a copy of the pre-requisite substitution form. The form must be completed by the applicant and submitted to the admissions committee for consideration. Applicants should include detailed descriptions of course work, professional experiences, a copy of the undergraduate transcript, and any additional materials as requested by the committee. The committee will evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis and all decisions made will be final.
- Example: A currently practicing licensed clinical social worker applies to the program. The applicant holds an undergraduate degree in psychology (2008) and a master's of social work (2011). She has conducted clinical research with several peer-reviewed publications. In this circumstance, the admissions committee will accept her Psychology 101 course taken in 2005 and her master's level Biostatistics course (taken in 2010) as satisfying the pre-requisites because she has demonstrated evidence of continued knowledge and skills in those particular areas, despite the age of the courses.
- Submit three letters of recommendation;
- Letters should be from individuals who know the applicant well; Former professors, employers, healthcare/professional colleagues are good choices.
- Recommenders should consider, and attest to the applicant's academic success, work ethic, maturity, professionalism, interest in the healthcare field, etc.
- Letters must be submitted directly from the recommender through the CASPA portal (not mailed or emailed to program faculty or university administration).
- While it may be tempting to ask "high-profile" community members to provide a letter of recommendation, these are not generally helpful unless the above criteria is met; no extra consideration is provided for such letters.
5. Submit a personal statement summarizing why the individual desires to be a Physician Assistant and what they feel they can contribute to the profession.
7.. Attend a personal interview; After the initial application review, qualified applicants will be further screened via personal interview.
8. Meet and maintain all Technical Standards in order to be enrolled in, and progress through, the PA program; Technical Standards are posted on the web page.
Technical Standards
Physician assistants must have the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to render a wide spectrum of patient care services in a broad variety of clinical situations. Consequently, it is essential that in its admission process, the physician assistant program assesses an applicant’s physical and emotional capabilities as well as his/her scholastic accomplishments and academic potential in order to assure that the applicant can meet the full demands of the program’s curriculum and graduate as a skilled and effective healthcare provider.
PA Program Enrollment*
*The commission decided to allow the matriculation of the next cohort of students scheduled for January 2025. Please visit the CASPA portal for additional information on the 2024 application process.
For the application and admission cycle of 2025 Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University PA Program will be held in abeyance until after the Commission’s probation review of the program at the September 2025 meeting. This will impact the class scheduled to matriculate in January 2026.Applicants to the program must complete a program-specific application through CASPA. Applications must be in verification status by October 1 for a January start. Enrollment is limited to 30 students and admission is via a competitive selection process.
Program Goals
Please click the blue links below to see how the program is meeting its goals.
- The first time pass rate for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) will be at or above the national average
- 100% of the program's graduates will be employed within 1 year of graduation
- PA graduates will serve diverse patient populations in avariety of clinical settings/specialties
- Students and Faculty will participate in at least250 community service hours per academic year
- At least 15% of graduates from the program will remain engaged in the program in a meaningful way
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
The program has identified seven program learning outcomes (PLO) as well as forty-five associated entry-level PA competency measures (COMP). The learning outcomes and competencies were developed based on standards published by the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants, the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Physician Assistant Education Association.
PA Program Mission
Guided by the tradition of compassionate health care exemplified by the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady, the Physician Assistant Program will develop graduates who will provide evidence based, patient centered medical care in diverse settings, and who are committed to serving all God’s people.
Enrollment
Applicants to the PA program must complete an application specific to the program through CASPA. Applications must be in verification status by October 1 for a January start. Enrollment is limited to 30 students and admission is via a competitive selection process.
Attrition
Length of Program
The program is a 28-month continuous program. The program consists of 108 credit hours (68 of those hours are in the didactic phase and 40 of those hours are in the clinical phase). Due to the intensity of the program, it is recommended that students do not work while enrolled in this program.
Application Information*
*The commission decided to allow the matriculation of the next cohort of students scheduled for January 2025. Please visit the CASPA portal for additional information on the 2024 application process.
For the application and admission cycle of 2025 Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University PA Program will be held in abeyance until after the Commission’s probation review of the program at the September 2025 meeting. This will impact the class scheduled to matriculate in January 2026.Transfer of College Credits
All credits for the Master of Medical Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies must be earned at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University. The PA program will not accept credit hours earned from other PA programs, graduate programs or medical schools.
