International Applicants

Academic Credentials
International students must provide an evaluation of their academic credentials prepared by an international credentialing agency.  Please refer to the CASPA Web site for additional information and accepted credentialing agencies  https://caspa.liaisoncas.com .  Go to the Foreign Transcripts section under FAQs.

TOEFL/TSE/IELTS
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is required of applicants for whom English is not their native language. The TOEFL/IELTS requirement is waived for applicants with Bachelors, Masters or Doctoral degrees from an accredited U.S. Institution.  The scores must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to CASPA in electronic format.  The ETS TOEFL score report will then be matched with your CASPA application.   TOEFL scores are valid two years from the date of testing.  Please refer to the CASPA FAQ page for additional information regarding how to report TOEFL scores.

Prerequisite coursework
For the 2019-2020 application cycle, planned summer 2020 admission, applicants must complete a Bachelor's degree and all prerequisite coursework with a grade of C (2.0) or better by December 31, 2019.  Unless otherwise noted, Pass/No Pass, AP credit, or IB credit will not be accepted to fulfill the prerequisites below.

The requirements indicate the MINIMUM required, competitive applicants will generally apply with more than the minimum.
Prerequisite
Requirement
Additional Information

Degree equivalent to U.S. bachelor’s degree

Degree must be completed by end of fall term prior to matriculation
  • Must have non-U.S. or Canadian transcripts evaluated by an international credentialing agency
  • Minimum GPA equivalent to U.S. 3.0
Biology, Chemistry and/or Physics (BCP) credits

Minimum of 30 semester credit hours or 40 quarter credit hours
  • Of the minimum 30 semester/40 quarter credits, 20 semester/30 quarter credit hours must be taken at a regionally accredited U.S. or Canadian institution.
  • Includes all coursework taken in the biology, chemistry, and/or physics departments that are medically, human, and/or animal science related.

Human Anatomy and Physiology with Lab(s)

 2 semester courses or 3 quarter courses of a combined A&P with lab

OR

1 semester Anatomy with lab and 1 semester Physiology with lab
  • This requirement must be taken at a regionally accredited U.S. or Canadian institution.
  • Must be completed within 5 years of planned PA program matriculation.  
    • For application during the 2019-2020 cycle (matriculation in June 2020) A&P coursework must have been taken Spring 2015 or more recent.
    • Both Anatomy and Physiology with labs must be within 5 years of planned matriculation, whether taken as individual or combined courses.
    • If the last anatomy with lab and/or physiology and/or combined A&P with lab course was taken over 5 years ago (as of planned matriculation), then a refresher of anatomy with lab and/or physiology is required.
  • Refresher course requirements:
    • The refresher can be taken as a minimum of one term (quarter or semester) of combined A&P with labs or as individual terms of anatomy with lab and physiology.
    • Refreshing the full A&P with lab sequence is preferred and is the best preparation for PA school.
  • Labs are required. Physiology without a lab can be considered if a separate physiology lab was not offered by your institution.  Anatomy only and combined A&P courses must be taken with labs. If they are taken without a lab, they will not be accepted.
  • Preference is for an in-person lecture and lab.  However, a hybrid course with online A&P lecture and an in-person lab will be acceptable.  Online A&P labs are not accepted.

Microbiology with Lab

One course with lab; minimum of 3 credits
  • This requirement must be taken at a regionally accredited U.S. or Canadian institution.
  • The lab is required.
  • Will not accept Bacteriology to meet requirement.

Biology

Minimum 8 semester credits/10 quarter credits

Lab(s) highly recommended
  • This requirement can be fulfilled through a combination of the following courses:
    • General biology
    • Cell or molecular biology
    • Genetics
    • Introductory coursework is accepted, but not preferred
  • The courses can be non-sequential as long as the minimum credits are met.
  • Labs are highly recommended, but not required.
  • Additional biology coursework is recommended.
  • Will accept AP or IB credit towards this requirement (AP or IB credit must show on college transcript as biology credit).

Chemistry

 Minimum 8 semester credits/10 quarter credits

Lab(s) highly recommended
  • The chemistry requirement can be fulfilled through a combination of the following courses:
    • General chemistry
    • Inorganic chemistry
    • Organic chemistry
    • Biochemistry
    • Introductory coursework is accepted, but not preferred
  • The courses can be non-sequential as long as the minimum credits are met.
  • Labs are highly recommended, but not required.
  • Will accept AP or IB credit towards this requirement (AP or IB credit must show on college transcript as chemistry credit).

General or Developmental Psychology

One course; minimum of 3 credit
  • General Psychology, Human Development, or Introduction to Psychology.
  • Will accept AP or IB credit towards this requirement (must show on college transcript as psychology credit).

Biostatistics or Statistics

One course; minimum of 3 credits
  • Will accept courses offered through math, stats, bio, psych, or soc departments
  • Business statistics will not be accepted.
  • Will accept AP or IB credit towards this requirement (must show on college transcript as statistics credit).

English – reading and writing courses

6 semester credits or 9 quarter credits
  • This requirement may be waived if coursework or education was taken at an English-speaking institution.