Physician Assistant
School of Health Sciences
Physician Assistant Center · (570) 327-4779
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the requirements for the PA Program at Penn College?
- Do all pre-requisite courses need to be completed before I can apply?
- Can all 61 credits be transferred in? Who evaluates courses to be transferred?
- How long is the PA Program at Penn College?
- How many students does Penn College accept each year?
- How are acceptances made for the PA Program?
- What types of health care exposure hours are accepted?
- Where are the clinical sites located?
- What degree does Penn College offer?
- Why should I attend Penn College's PA Program?
- How well do Penn College students perform on national standardized examinations?
- Can I schedule a tour of the facility?
- If I am interested in the PA Program at Penn College, what should I do?
- What is the deadline for applications for the PA Program?
Q: What are the requirements for the PA Program at Penn College?
A: In order to be admitted into the PA Program, all candidates must complete the 61 pre-requisite credits (Pre-Professional Program) before matriculation (starting the Professional PA Program). Students must also have a minimum of 300 hours of health care exposure. For further clarification of admission policy please see Admission Requirements for the PA Program.
Q: Do all pre-requisite courses need to be completed before I can apply?
A: No. All pre-requisite courses do not need to be completed before application. However, all pre-requisite courses MUST be completed before matriculation.
Q: Can all 61 credits be transferred in? Who evaluates courses to be transferred?
A: Yes, it is possible for all 61 credits to be transferred into Penn College. One should be aware however, that any courses taken from colleges or universities other than Penn College must be approved for transfer by the Admissions Office at Penn College.
Q: How long is the PA Program at Penn College?
A: The Penn College PA Program Professional Phase is 24 months in length with a 12 month didactic component and 12 month clinical component.
Q: How many students does Penn College accept each year?
A: The PA Program currently accepts approximately 30 students each year.
Q: How are acceptances made for the PA Program?
A: The PA Program accepts students based upon several criteria:
High school students must submit their application to the Admissions Office by January 15. Transfer students must submit their application and transcripts to the Penn College Admissions Office by January 15 prior to the fall semester in which they seek admission into the professional phase. In some cases, students currently enrolled in fall courses elsewhere will not have an official transcript available by this date. An unofficial copy may be sent initially; however, an official copy must be received for admission consideration. Applications and transcripts submitted after the January 15 deadline will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Note: For admission consideration, transfer students must have 3.0 graduation and math-science GPAs in the required Pre-Professional courses.
A certain number of guaranteed seats are available for freshman, or those who have graduated within the past two years and have an ACT score of 23 or SAT scores at/or above 550 in Math, 500 in Critical Reading, and a Writing Essay sub-score of 8 or better. The number of guaranteed seats is determined each year by the PA Program. Students who receive guaranteed seats as freshmen must maintain graduation and math-science GPAs of 3.0 during the Pre-Professional component.
Students must have 300 hours of documented health care exposure, including 16 hours with a practicing physician assistant, by May 30 of the year they are to enter the Professional Phase.
Q: What types of health care exposure hours are accepted?
A: The PA Program will typically accept hours in which demonstrated provider-patient interaction occurs. Hours must have been obtained within the past five years. Examples of types of hours accepted include working as an EMT, Nurse, Radiographer, Respiratory Therapist, Medical Assistant, or Nursing aide. Hours can also be obtained via observation with a health care provider. Of the 300 hours required as a minimum for entrance into the PA Program, 16 hours must be spent with a practicing physician assistant.
Clerical types of hours (filing, answering telephone, scheduling patient) will not be accepted as health care exposure.
All hours must be completed, and documentation must be received by Penn College's Admissions Office, by May 30 of the year the student would be enrolled in the PA Professional Program.
Q: Where are the clinical sites located?
A: Clinical sites are located mainly throughout Pennsylvania, with most sites boarding the state. Clinical sites are within two - five hours driving distance of Williamsport. Students should be aware that during the clinical year it is highly likely that some of the clinical rotations will be at sites that will require the students to relocate to an area closer to the clinical rotation. For some sites free housing is available. For those sites which do not supply free housing, student resources for housing are available at the Program office.
Q: What degree does Penn College offer?
A: Students who graduate from Penn College will be granted a Bachelor of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.
Q: Why should I attend Penn College's PA Program?
A: Penn College offers students a quality education that will help students become successful in their career as a Physician Assistant. Penn College is nationally accredited by the Accreditation Review Committee for Physician Assistants (ARC-PA). The curriculum is based upon integration so that students learn and master material through multiple classroom and laboratory classes. The Program’s low student-to-instructor ratios (8-10:1) allow personal attention to be given to students. State-of-the-art facilities and equipment assure students that they will get the most out of their educational experience. 98% of graduates have succeeded in gaining employment within 6 months of graduation.
Q: How well do Penn College students perform on national standardized examinations?
A: Penn College students typically score above the national mean in standardized exams both in the didactic and clinical phases. The overall pass rate for the National Certification (NCCPA) exam since the program’s inception is 100%.
Q: Can I schedule a tour of the facility?
A: Yes, PA Program staff and faculty will be happy to host a tour of the facility. Tours can be given on an individual or group basis. Penn College also has Fall and Spring Open Houses, during which students can tour the entire program and College. Faculty and staff are available to talk with students and families on a one-to-one basis.
Q: If I am interested in the PA Program at Penn College, what should I do?
A: The first step would be to apply to the College. If you are a transfer student, once an application is submitted, evaluation of transcripts will be done by the Office of Admissions.
Q: What is the deadline for application submission for the PA Program?
A: The deadline for freshman admission into the Physician Assistant Program is January 15. Acceptance is based on SAT or ACT qualifications.
All other applicants should submit their applications to the College on or before May 30. Students should submit their applications as early as possible due to the limited available seats. Interviews will be conducted during Fall and Spring semesters.