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 2027 will open on April 30, 2026, 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 p.m ET.
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all materials early to ensure sufficient time for the CASPA verification process.

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The following outlines all requirements to apply for the Master of Physician Assistant Sciences (MPAS) program.

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 TOEFL waiver by the application deadline.
• Grade Point Average
  • A minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale).
  • A minimum “B” for all prerequisite courses.
  • Applicants to the Meharry Medical College Physician Assistant Sciences program must have a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.5. In limited circumstances, applicants who do not meet this minimum requirement may still be considered for admission through the Graduate GPA Exception. To be eligible, an applicant’s overall undergraduate GPA cannot be lower than 3.3 (on a 4.0 scale). Applicants with a graduate science degree and an overall undergraduate GPA below 3.3 are not eligible for consideration under the Graduate GPA Exception. See the Admissions Policy for more information.
  • The MMC PAS Program does not award Advanced Placement, regardless of prior experience or coursework.
• Assessment Requirements
  • All applicants are required to complete Casper as part of their application for the 2026/27 admissions cycle. Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test that takes 65–85 minutes to complete. The final test date accepted for the 2026–2027 application cycle is July 19, 2026.
  • You will register for CSP-20100 – United States Casper 2.
  • Casper measures different personal and professional skills that we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program. It will complement the other tools we use for applicant review and evaluation, and we require Casper as part of our efforts to enhance fairness in our selection process.
  • Visit takecasper.com to create an account, register to complete Casper, and learn more about this assessment, including important dates and technical requirements.
• 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.
  • For courses that have been repeated, the program will consider and accept the higher of the two grades when evaluating the applicant’s academic record.
  • 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 II, with lab, 4 credit hours
  • General Biology I, 3 credit hours
  • General Biology II, 3 credit hours
  • Microbiology, 3 credit hours
  • Genetics, 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.

The MMC PAS Program considers applicant characteristics, experiences, and academic preparation that align with the program’s mission as part of its clearly defined, published, and consistently applied holistic admissions review process. Program preferences are one component of the overall evaluation and do not guarantee an interview, acceptance, or admission to the program. The preferences are as follows:

• Graduated 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:
  • Immunology, 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

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 recommendation.

Faculty Review

• Each applicant who meets the minimum requirements will be evaluated by 2 (two) faculty members using a structured rubric that assigns numerical scores across the following:
  • Academic performance (GPA)
  • CASPER assessment
  • 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.

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 applicant’s 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 2026–2027 application cycle will be conducted in person. The MMC PAS program will begin interviews in mid-June and continue through August. Applicants who are selected for an interview should plan to attend on campus during this timeframe.

The Program Director, Medical Director, principal and institutional faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the program may participate in the interviews.

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.

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.

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:
  • World Education Services (WES)
  • Global Credential Evaluators (GCE)
  • Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)

The Meharry Medical College PA Program requires that all students demonstrate the technical skills needed to complete the program’s didactic and clinical phases. The following skills are necessary to effectively evaluate and treat patients: critical thinking, effective communication, using computerized information technology, and visual, auditory, and motor skills.

Students who are unable to demonstrate the required technical standards needed to complete the PA curriculum may be dismissed from the program. As required by the Federal Disabilities Act, the PA program will make every attempt to provide students with the necessary accommodations.

Minimum Technical Standards

Critical Thinking: Students must possess the intellectual capabilities required to complete both the didactic and clinical curriculum and achieve competency. Critical thinking requires the intellectual ability to measure, calculate, synthesize, and analyze a large and complex volume of medical and surgical information. Students in the program must also be able to perform applicable demonstrations and experiments in the medical sciences.

Computer Technology Skills: Students must be able to utilize computerized information technology to access and manage on-line medical information, participate in computerized testing as required by the curriculum, conduct research, prepare multimedia presentations, and participate in the management of computerized patient records and assessments.

Communication Skills: Students must be able to speak clearly and effectively in order to elicit and relay medical information. They must also be able to communicate effectively and legibly in writing.

Visual Ability: Students must have the visual acuity needed to evaluate a patient during a physical exam and perform a wide range of technical procedures involved in the practice of medicine and surgery.

Hearing and Tactile Ability: Students must have the motor and sensory functions needed to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation and percussion, as well as perform a wide range of technical procedures involved in the practice of medicine and surgery.

Motor and Fine Skills: Students must be able to execute the physical movements required to maneuver in small places, calibrate and use equipment, position and move patients, and perform the technical procedures involved in the practice of medicine and surgery.

Interpersonal Ability: Students must possess a wide range of interpersonal skills, including but not limited to: the emotional health required for the management of high-stress situations while maintaining their full intellectual abilities, the ability to exercise sound judgment, the ability to complete all assigned patient care responsibilities; the ability to manage time (show up on time, begin and complete tasks on time); the ability to develop a mature, sensitive and effective relationship with medical colleagues, clinical and administrative staff, patients and families; the ability to identify, use, understand, and manage emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and diffuse conflict; and the ability to recognize your own emotional state and the emotional states of others, and engage with people in a way that draws them to you.

Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Council (EIBC)

The mission of the Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Council (EIBC) is to foster a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment that promotes a sense of belonging among students, faculty, and staff. Guided by the values of respect, cultural humility, and collaboration, the EIBC is committed to:

1. Reducing instances of implicit bias in faculty, staff, and student interactions and assessments
2. Increasing cultural competence among faculty, staff, and students through targeted education.
3. Addressing healthcare disparities in underserved communities by increasing faculty, staff, and student engagement in initiatives aimed at addressing and mitigating healthcare disparities

Through these efforts, the EIBC aims to empower individuals, cultivate diverse perspectives, and prepare future healthcare leaders to advocate for and serve all communities equitably.

Prior to matriculation, all students entering Meharry Medical College must provide proof of prior immunization, tuberculosis screening, and urine drug screening relative to the requirements listed below. Clinical sites may have additional requirements. Students are responsible for all costs associated with obtaining the required immunizations and screenings, as well as any additional requirements of clinical sites providing supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) for the student.

Students must submit their immunization records, tuberculosis screening results, and urine drug screen results to the office of Student and Employee Health by the date designated by the Program. Student and Employee Health Services will review all submitted documentation to determine its adequacy.

• Influenza: required annually
• Hepatitis B vaccinations: documented series of 3 vaccines and Hepatitis B surface antibody quantitative serologic titer.
• MMR (measles, mumps, rubella): documented series of two doses or quantitative serologic titers.
• Varicella: documented series of two doses or quantitative serologic titer or documented date of disease and quantitative serologic titer.
• Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis: documentation of Tdap vaccine within the last 10 years.
• Meningococcal vaccination: documented proof of vaccination against meningococcal disease.
• Polio: documentation of last immunization
• Tuberculosis Screening: within the last 12 months: PPD result or documentation of previous positive PPD, subsequent treatment, and most recent chest x-ray report.
• Tuberculin skin testing: required annually
• COVID-19: Two doses of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna), or recovery from COVID-19, followed by a single shot of any of the available vaccines prior to matriculation (exceptions only for medical reasons).
• Urine drug screen: A copy of the urine drug screen results, including the list of substances tested, is required. A copy of the related prescription is required for any positive findings.