Physician Assistant Admission Requirements
Admissions
The Meharry Medical College Physician Assistant Sciences Program uses a holistic admissions process designed to select individuals who are committed to serving underserved communities and reflect qualities that represent the program’s mission and goals.
- All applications must be submitted through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).
- Applications for the cohort beginning in January 2026 will open on April 24, 2025, and close at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on August 1, 2026.
- To be considered for admission, all application materials must be submitted to CASPA and verified by CASPA no later than August 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all materials early to ensure sufficient time for the CASPA verification process.
Application Process and Requirements
The following outlines all requirements to apply for the Master of Physician Assistant Sciences (MPAS) program.
Admissions Requirements
- Baccalaureate Degree from a U.S. regionally accredited College or University prior to submission of the application
- International Applicants
- TOEFL score of 100 or better on the Internet-based test or secure a TORFL waiver by the application deadline
- Grade Point Average
- No minimum overall undergraduate GPA
- A minimum “C” for all prerequisite courses
- No standardized testing
- The MMC PAS Program does not award Advanced Placement, regardless of prior experience or coursework
- Course Requirements
- All coursework must be completed by the date of the application being submitted
- All coursework must be completed at a regionally accredited institution
- Anatomy and Physiology must be completed within five (5) calendar years of the date of the application
- Standalone Anatomy or Physiology courses may not be combined or paired with integrated Anatomy and Physiology I and II courses to meet the admission requirements
- Medical terminology must be taken for college credit. Certificates are not accepted
- The Program does not award Advanced Placement, regardless of prior experiences or coursework
- Prerequisite Courses
- Medical Terminology, 1 credit hour
- Human Anatomy or Anatomy and Physiology I, with lab, 4 credit hours
- Human Anatomy or Anatomy and Physiology II, with lab, 4 credit hours
- General Biology I, 3 credit hours
- General Biology II, 3 credit hours
- General (Inorganic) Chemistry I, with lab, 4 credit hours
- General (Inorganic) Chemistry II, with lab, 4 credit hours
- General Psychology, 3 credit hours
- Abnormal or Developmental Psychology will be accepted
- Letters of Recommendation
- Letters of recommendation should be from individuals who have directly supervised or worked with the applicant within the last three (3) years, such as: Licensed healthcare providers (MDs, DOs, PAs, APRNs), academic faculty, work supervisors, or volunteer coordinators.
- Letters from family members will not be accepted
- Letters should be no older than one (1) year at the time of CASPA submission
- Personal Statement
- Program Specific Supplemental Questions
- Satisfactory performance during the interview
Admissions Preferences
The Program gives preference to applicants whose life experiences and academic career align with the mission of the MMC PAS Program. Applicant preferences do not guarantee an interview or admission to the program. The preferences are as follows:
- Graduate from a Historically Black College and University (HBCU)
- Attended public high school >30% free / reduced lunch
- Military veteran with an honorable discharge (must produce a DD214/DD256)
- Shadowed a PA (No minimum number of hours required)
- Direct Patient Care (No minimum number of hours required)
- Community service / volunteer experience in underserved communities
- First generation college student
- Recipient of the Federal Pell Grant Program
- Resided in a federally designated Medically Underserved Area / Population during high school
- Completion of any of the following strongly recommended coursework:
- Microbiology, 3 credit hours
- Immunology, 3 credit hours
- Genetics, 3 credit hours
- Biochemistry, 3 credit hours
- Organic chemistry I, with lab, 4 credit hours
- Organic chemistry II, with lab, 4 credit hours
- Statistics, 3 credit hours
Can be taken in math, business or psychology departments
Applicant Review
Initial Review
- All verified CASPA applications undergo an initial screening to ensure completion of the undergraduate degree, all required prerequisites, the personal statement, program specific supplemental questions, and receipt of three letters of recommendatio
Faculty Review
- Each applicant that meets the minimum requirements will be evaluated by 2 (two) faculty members using a structured rubric that assigns numerical scores across the following:
- Strength of the personal statement
- Responses to the Program specific supplemental questions
- Quality and relevance of letters of recommendation
- Reviewers independently score each category, and the resulting rubric scores are used to calculate a composite mission fit score. This score, in combination with consideration of applicant background and lived experiences, informs the decision to extend an interview invitation.
Interview
The Meharry Medical College Physician Assistant Sciences Program reviews applications on a rolling basis as they are received and verified by CASPA. Interview invitations are extended throughout the admissions cycle, and offers of admission are made during the interview cycle based on a holistic review that considers interview performance, preference points, and the applicants holistic review scores.
Applicants are evaluated for an interview based on their ability to meet or exceed the program’s requirements relative to the applicant pool. The admissions process is highly competitive, and being selected for an interview does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
Interviews for the 2025-2026 application cycle will be conducted in person. The MMC PAS Program will conduct interviews mid-August through September.
The Program Director, Medical Director, principal and institutional faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the program may participate in the interviews.
Selection Process
The MMC PAS Program seeks applicants who demonstrate a clear understanding of the PA’s role in healthcare and alignment with the Program’s mission. Ideal candidates exhibit a strong foundation in basic science and medical terminology concepts, strong teamwork and collaboration, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, personal insight and self-awareness, as well as empathy and compassion.
The above attributes are assessed during the interview process using standardized rubrics, which allows evaluators to rate each candidate consistently across these domains.
The rubric contributes to a composite interview score, which is considered alongside the holistic review when determining final admissions decisions.
The final admissions committee is comprised of the Program Director, Medical Director, and all principal faculty.
Acceptance
A conditional offer of admission to the MMC PAS Program requires a non-refundable deposit of $1, 200 within 7 calendar days of the applicant being notified of acceptance. The deposit is required to secure the applicant’s seat in the program and will be applied toward their tuition and fees upon enrollment. Failure to submit the deposit within the 7-day timeframe forfeits acceptance into the program.
International Applicants
All applicants born outside the United States must provide a TOEFL score of 100 or better on the Internet-based test or secure a TOEFL waiver by the application deadline (TOEFL Code 1458).
- Waivers are automatically granted to applicants with a high school diploma, bachelor’s degree, or graduate degree from a U.S. institution.
- International applicants are required to submit official transcripts, reviewed by the following: