Admission Requirements

The Drexel University Hahnemann Physician Assistant Program: Admission Requirements

NEW FOR THE 2013-2014 ADMISSIONS CYCLE: APPLICATIONS MUST BE VERIFIED BY CASPA NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 1, 2013

The Drexel University Hahnemann Physician Assistant Program utilizes the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). All applicants must complete the CASPA application process no later than October 1st of the year prior to expected date of matriculation. Applications must be e-submitted, complete (including the receipt by CASPA of all transcripts, reference forms, and other supporting documentation such as foreign transcript evaluations and TOEFL score) and verified by CASPA by the October 1st deadline. Applicants may not apply directly to the Drexel University Hahnemann Physician Assistant Program. Applications made directly to the Office of Enrollment Management (Admissions) of Drexel University will not be processed.

Applications remaining unverified by CASPA for any reason after the October 1st deadline will not be processed.

Application Prerequisites:

• A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale from all colleges and universities attended is required for the following three (3) categories: non-science courses, natural science courses, and combined overall courses. Applications will not be reviewed unless the applicant has attained these minimum requirements at time of application.
• Meet the technical standards for admission, progression, and graduation from the Physician Assistant Program. Each applicant is expected to review completely the “Technical Standards for PA Program” PDF at the end of this page. Individuals unable to meet these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, are counseled to pursue alternate careers.
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended sent directly to CASPA.
• Non-United States-based educational institutional transcripts must be evaluated by an approved agency (see the listing of acceptable agencies on the CASPA website at https://portal.caspaonline.org/faq/foreign_transcripts.htm). Evaluation fees are the responsibility of the applicant. Evaluations must be sent directly to CASPA.
• Three completed reference forms with accompanying letters of recommendation attached submitted as part of the official CASPA application. Preferred references are from individuals who have been in a supervisory capacity over the applicant or academic instructors who have personal knowledge of the applicant. Submissions of references from friends, relatives, personal physicians, or instructors who do not possess a personal, supervisory knowledge of the applicants are discouraged.
• A personal statement recorded as part of the CASPA application.
• An applicant whose native language is not English must submit scores from the TOEFL iBT examination unless the applicant has graduated with a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college or university. The minimum required score for the iBT (Internet Based Testing) is 79 and a minimum score of 26 is required for the speaking component. Find more detailed information at http://www.toeflgoanywhere.org/. Scores must be submitted directly to CASPA.
• Meet the minimum prerequisite coursework as detailed in the “Admission Requirements and Process” PDF below.

A minimum of 500 hours of clearly documented volunteer/paid direct hands-on patient contact accrued by the time of application and recorded as part of the official CASPA application is strongly recommended. Ensure that all hours are accurately reported. Applicants may list the same position in multiple sections in order to account for multiple experiences (patient contact, related health care, research, shadowing, etc.) accrued in the same position as long as each hour is not reported in more than one experience category. Please review the "Patient Contact" PDF below for more information regarding acceptable forms of patient contact.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required.

The Physician Assistant Program does not grant advanced standing for coursework similar to that contained in its curriculum when completed at other educational institutions.

Additional Information for Applicants:

Admission Requirements and Process. (PDF)

Physician Assistant Program estimated costs: Class matriculating Fall 2013. (PDF)

Physician Assistant Student Handbook 2012-2013. (PDF)

Technical Standards for PA Program. (PDF)

Patient Contact. (PDF)

Frequently Asked Questions. (PDF)

We offer a Pre-Professional option through Drexel University. For detailed information, see links below.

Pre-Professional Options at Drexel University:

Accelerated Degree Program In Physician Assistant Studies. >>

Pathway to Health Profession Program. >>