Admissions

Prerequisites
The Physician Assistant Program requires that applicants either have completed the following courses when they apply, or have a plan to complete these and other prerequisites prior to beginning program classes.

• Biology: At least 14 semester hours of biology in the following areas, including at least two lab courses.
  
  

  - Anatomy and Physiology: One semester of human anatomy and one semester of human physiology; or a two-semester sequence of combined human anatomy, which must be at the 200 (sophomore) level or above. Though vertebrate and mammalian anatomy and physiology are acceptable, human anatomy and physiology is strongly preferred.

  - Microbiology: One semester of microbiology at the 200 (sophomore) level or above.

  - Health-related upper-division biological science: One semester of any of the following courses at the 300 (junior) level or above: Genetics, immunology, vertebrate/mammalian embryology, endocrinology, histology, pathophysiology, neuroscience, parasitology, mycology, or biology of cancer.

• Chemistry: A minimum of 11 semester hours of chemistry, including the following courses, at least two of which must include a laboratory:
  
  - General Chemistry: One semester of general or introductory chemistry.
  
  - Organic Chemistry: One semester of organic chemistry at the 200 (sophomore) level or above.
  
  - Biochemistry: One semester of biochemistry at the 300 (junior) level or above. Molecular or cellular biology at the 300 level or above are acceptable alternatives.
  
• Mathematics: A minimum of two semesters of mathematics including:
  
  - Pre-calculus/calculus: One semester of college algebra with trigonometry or pre-calculus or calculus - Statistics: One semester of statistics.
  
• Psychology: A minimum of one semester of general, introductory, developmental or abnormal psychology.
  

In addition to completing the above prerequisite courses, applicants must have the following:

• Academic Aptitude: A minimum cumulative GPA on all post-high school courses of 3.00 calculated on a four-point scale.
  
  - A minimum science (as defined by CASPA) GPA of 3.00. Submission of GRE scores is required. GRE scores are used as another measure of academic aptitude along with GPA. Thus, there is no minimum required score.
• Degree: A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Health Care Experience: Prior direct patient care health experience is expected. Such experience provides evidence of a career commitment to health care as a physician assistant. In the program's competitive admission process, the length and depth of health-care experience is a selection factor.

Policies and Responsibilities
The following Mayo School of Health Sciences' policies affect applications and admissions to its programs:

English fluency
Fluency in written and spoken English is essential to succeed in the program and to ensure patient safety. If English is a second language, you must be able to demonstrate fluency. Satisfactory performance on the Test of English as a Foreign Language examination or the Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency must be documented as proof of fluency. Your test results must be less than two years old.

Immunization record
For the protection of patients, students and employees, and in compliance with state regulations, Mayo Clinic requires students to be properly immunized. You must show proof of the following immunizations before you begin a program at Mayo School of Health Sciences:

• Tuberculin test in the past six months
• Varicella, rubella and rubeola immunity
• Up-to-date diphtheria and tetanus shots
• Hepatitis B vaccination or signed declaration

Documentation of vaccinations must be provided to Mayo Employee Health Service prior to the start of class.

Health status
Prospective students will undergo a health review at Mayo Clinic and will have the opportunity to update or receive the required tests and immunizations cited above. More information about the review will be provided after you have been offered a program appointment. Appointment to the program depends upon successful completion of the health review.

Medical insurance
Students must have medical insurance coverage during their program. Evidence of medical coverage must be provided when your educational program begins.

Background check
Prospective students must pass a criminal background check and/or drug screening required by state laws, prior to enrollment to Mayo School of Health Sciences.

Student responsibilities
Mayo School of Health Sciences students are expected to attend all scheduled classes, examinations and assigned clinical rotations unless absence is approved.

Students are required to exhibit professional and ethical conduct at all times and adhere to MSHS and Mayo Clinic policies.

Equal opportunity
Mayo School of Health Sciences upholds all federal and state laws that preclude discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities or veteran's status.

Technical Standards
Mayo School of Health Sciences accepts students who are highly qualified for its programs. To be considered for admittance you should exhibit strong qualifications for the health profession you wish to pursue. Applicants to programs must possess the following qualities:

• Critical thinking skills
• Sound judgment
• Emotional stability and maturity
• Empathy for others
• Physical and mental stamina
• Ability to learn, integrate, analyze and synthesize data
• Ability to process information consistently, quickly and accurately
• Ability to function in a variety of settings

In addition to the qualities described above, you will be assessed for:

• Observation, communication and motor function
• Intellectual-conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities
• Behavioral and social attributes
• Tactical and somatic sensation
• Functional use of vision and hearing

Diagnostic equipment and tools may provide technological compensation for some disabilities, but the candidate should be able to perform in an independent manner.

Although PAs usually work in comfortable, well-lighted environments, those in surgery often stand for long periods, and others do considerable walking. Schedules vary according to practice setting, and often depend on the hours of the supervising physician. The workweek of PAs in physicians' offices may include weekends, night hours, or early morning hospital rounds to visit patients. PAs also may be on call. PAs in clinics often work a 40-hour week.

You must be able to perform the essential functions of the profession and meet the standards of the curriculum. Students seeking exceptions to these standards or reasonable accommodations should initiate their request with the program’s director.