Physician Assistant Program FAQ
BS/MS Physician Assistant Program:
There are two pathways for students to apply to Elizabethtown’s Physician Assistant program. High school seniors can apply for our BS/MS Physician Assistant Program option that provides a provisional seat in the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program. Students will be required to complete a series of required academic courses and maintain a minimum science and cumulative GPA in order to remain in the program.
- Completing the combined program allows a student to complete the Master of Physician Assistant Degree in a shorter period of time with less cost.
- Foundational coursework taught by Elizabethtown College faculty
- Physician Assistant faculty are the advisors starting second semester Freshman year
- First year, provisional acceptance into the Master of Physician Assistant Program, as long as criteria are maintained
Students applying for the BS/MS Physician Assistant Program are required to have an academic GPA of a 3.5, which will be recalculated using only academic course work, and an SAT score of 1100 or an ACT of 22.
As as result of the competitive nature of the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program, not all students meeting the minimum requirement will be offered a place in the BS/MS Physician Assistant Program. Selected candidates will be invited for a mandatory interview.
As as result of the competitive nature of the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program, not all students meeting the minimum requirement will be offered a place in the BS/MS Physician Assistant Program. Selected candidates will be invited for a mandatory interview.
Students must submit a completed application by December 1.
No, the BS/MS Physician Assistant Program does not offer rolling admissions.
Admissions decisions related to admission to the College, merit scholarship and admission to the BS/MS Physician Assistant Program will be released by the end of each January.
Around 20 students will be accepted to the BS/MS Physician Assistant Program each year.
The BS/MS Physician Assistant track and the Master of Physician Assistant Studies programs are competitive. Some applicants may be offered the option to be on a waitlist. As places in the BS/MS program become available, students on the waitlist may be offered a place in the program. Once the program is full, we will communicate this with students on the waitlist.
Yes, AP and dual enrollment courses will be accepted; however students who are accepted to the BS/MS Physician Assistant Program are required to still take science and math courses at Elizabethtown.
Yes, students are able to study abroad provided they do so within the first 6 semesters of the undergraduate program.
Yes, students in the BS/MS program are encourage to participate in extracurricular activities like varsity athletics, clubs, organizations, music, and community service.
Students will need to maintain a 3.0 overall GPA and 3.0 overall math/science GPA to maintain their seat. Students also need to complete 200 health care exposure hours (with a minimum of 20 hours shadowing a PA-C) before the end of their 6th semester. They cannot withdrawal from any prerequisite classes and all prerequisite classes need to be taken at Etown. A grade of a C or better in all prerequisite courses is required to enter the graduate program. Leave of absences will be considered on a case by case basis.
No, transfers are not able to apply to join the BS/MS program. However, transfer students can pursue a degree in Biology, Health Professions Concentration and apply for the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program.
While completing undergraduate courses, students will pay undergraduate tuition for the first 6 semesters. Students will begin to pay graduate course tuition, and any additional program fees at the start of their 7th semester.
Master of Physician Assistant Studies Graduate Applicants:
Applications will be completed online through the Elizabethtown College website beginning Spring 2021.
Course work (prerequisites):
Due to the competitive nature of the Physician Assistant Program, not all candidates will be offered an interview or admission into the Elizabethtown program. Candidates that are offered an interview will be invited to campus in late fall.
Admissions decisions will be released by January.
- General Biology – a minimum of 6 credits with labs
- Anatomy and Physiology – a minimum of 6 credits with labs
- General Chemistry – a minimum of 3 credits with lab
- Organic Chemistry – a minimum of 3 credits with lab
- Microbiology – a minimum of 3 credits with lab
- Statistics – 3 credits
- Psychology – 3 credits
Due to the competitive nature of the Physician Assistant Program, not all candidates will be offered an interview or admission into the Elizabethtown program. Candidates that are offered an interview will be invited to campus in late fall.
Admissions decisions will be released by January.
Some applicants may be offered the option to be on a waitlist. As places in the accelerated program become available, students on the waitlist may be offered a place in the program. Once the program is full, we will communicate this with students on the waitlist.
Courses will be evaluated for transfer from all colleges and universities, including community colleges.
Yes, students are welcome to take classes as Elizabethtown that fulfill the required prerequisites for the Master’s program.
Yes, you can still apply if you have outstanding prerequisites or not graduated with a bachelor’s degree; however if offered and interview and acceptance, the acceptance will be a conditional acceptance upon completion of pre-requisite coursework and/or bachelor’s degree following grade/GPA criteria.
June 2021 - Completed application materials submitted to the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA)
September 2021 - Initial provisional site visit to verify Elizabethtown’s ability to begin a program in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards and the program’s readiness to matriculate students
March 2022 – Commission review of the program and eligible to receive accreditation – provisional
February 2024 – Provisional monitoring site visit verifying that Elizabethtown College and the provisionally accredited program’s progress in delivering the program in compliance with the Standards and the ability to continue to do so.
2026 – Final provisional site visit verifying that Elizabethtown College and the program’s demonstration of compliance with the Standards, including the ability to incorporate and report the findings of a robust self-assessment process as required by the ARC-PA.
After commission review, the program is eligible for an accreditation status of accreditation – continued.
The Master of Physician Assistant Studies program is 26 consecutive months. The BS/MS physician assistant program is 5 years with students entering the Masters program during the spring of their senior year. The spring semester of the senior year also counts towards the undergraduate degree
- Offices of physicians 56%
- Hospitals; state, local, and private 23%
- Outpatient care centers 8%
- Educational services; state, local, and private 3%
- Employment services 3%
Clinical Rotation placement will be based upon multiple variables. All students will complete seven core rotations and one elective rotation. Students will be exposed to multiple specialties, locations, and communities. Students are not able to set up their own rotations and any costs associated with travel and housing is the student’s responsibility. Rotation sites include, but are not limited to, settings in Lancaster County and all of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland.
Students who have graduated from Elizabethtown, meet all of the application requirements, and are invited for an interview may be awarded additional interview points.
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Elizabethtown, PA 17022© 2023 Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown, PA 17022© 2023 Elizabethtown College
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