Admission Information and Requirements

Applicants from all academic disciplines are welcome to apply, provided they meet the preparatory course prerequisites.

The Physician Assistant Program uses the CASPA Application portal. CASPA will open April 25, 2024 and close Aug. 1, 2024, for our next cohort beginning January 2025. Oklahoma City University does not have a supplemental application or supplemental application fee.

The PA Program does not require the GRE or other standardized tests. Clinical experience is not required prior to the application process.

All prerequisites must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. AP, IP, CLEP, or other test credits are not accepted for prerequisites. It is recommended that prerequisites were completed within the last seven years.

Students enrolled in the PA Program will be required to complete all courses.

Due to the challenges of the curriculum, students enrolled in the program are strongly discouraged from attempting to maintain outside employment.

Admissions decisions are based on evidence of academic preparation, letters of recommendation, your resume, and if selected for final consideration, an on-campus interview.

Admissions Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by the Commission on Colleges of Regional Accrediting Organization is required. Applicants must earn a bachelor’s degree prior to matriculation.
• A minimum undergraduate or graduate degree cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required.
• A minimum science GPA of a 3.0 is required.
• All prerequisite courses must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. For candidates holding foreign degrees, a total of 60 semester credits (approximately two years) at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university must be completed as well, prerequisite credit included. No exceptions.
• ALL PREREQUISITES must be completed by Aug. 15 of the year prior to the next cohort beginning. If you receive an interview, verification of completion of the prerequisites must be shown at the time of the interview in the form of an official transcript containing the course work.

Required Documents for Application

1. CASPA application
2. Three letters of recommendation
3. Personal Resume
4. Official Transcripts from every college or university attended
5. CASPA Application fee - determined by the amount of CASPA programs that you are applying to

All prerequisite courses must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. Prerequisites must be completed by Aug. 15 of the year prior to the next cohort beginning. The PA Program does not accept AP, IB, CLEP, or other test credits for prerequisites.

• 5 Biological Sciences Courses
  • Each course must be at least 3 semester credit hours. The PA Program recommends courses in anatomy, physiology, cell biology, molecular biology, embryology, immunology, and microbiology. Courses with labs are preferred but not required. While any one biological science course is not specifically required, completing several upper-level science courses provides a good foundation for the study of medicine and high achievement in the sciences contributes to success in PA education. Note the following courses or areas of study will not count towards the biological sciences prerequisite: kinesiology, nutrition, exercise science, and nursing.

• 1 Biochemistry Course
  • This course must be at least 3 semester credit hours. This course must be a Biochemistry course. Courses with labs are preferred but not required. This cannot be a survey course or be paired with any other course material. Course substitutions are not accepted.

• 2 Additional Chemistry Courses
  • Each course must be at least 3 semester credit hours. Courses with labs are preferred but not required.

• 2 Psychology Courses
  • Each course must be at least 3 semester credit hours. These courses must have a Psychology course prefix. Course substitutions are not accepted.

Interviews are held in person, on OCU's campus. Interview dates will be announced in summer 2024 for the January 2025 cohort.

Approximately 150 of the most qualified applicants will be invited for a personal interview conducted at Oklahoma City University. Maintaining a high standard of academic excellence, knowledge of the health care system, personal maturity, self-assurance, good interpersonal skills, volunteering in the community, shadowing a PA, and work experience will weigh strongly in the admission decision.

Graduates of Oklahoma City University who have an overall and science GPA greater than or equal to 3.50 will be guaranteed an interview for a position in the program.

Essential Applicant Qualities

Excellent interpersonal skills:

• Accurate use of conversational English
• Displays appropriate body language
• Ease of conversation

Maturity:

• High level of personal responsibility (external vs internal responsibility)
• Independently driven

Good life experiences:

• Positive or negative events or experiences that build character (illness, socioeconomic factors, sports participation, employment history)

Knowledge of profession:

• Discussions with physician assistants or supervising physicians about the profession
• Able to identify possible drawbacks to choosing the profession

Leadership Skills:

• Holding a position as an officer in an organization
• Coordinating a community event
• Supervisory role in the workplace

Strong Academics:

• Major or area of study
• GPA and science GPA
• Institution
• Elective course

Strong upper science:

• Sciences at 3000 level or above
• Accompanying lab course

Strong last 60 hours:

• Important to consider for students with poor early grades in irrelevant course studies
• Consideration should be given to the number of science courses taken in the last 60 hours

The PA Program follows the OCU Graduate Admissions Policy as stated below:

Admission to attend Oklahoma City University is considered to be a privilege rather than a right. The university does not discriminate against any individual because of age, sex, race, marital status, physical disability or religious affiliation.

Oklahoma City University is interested in graduate students who want to learn. The Admission staff will carefully consider each application. Important factors that will be considered are undergraduate records, recommendations from academic counselors or persons able to comment on your professional abilities, character and personality, as well as the interest and goals of the applicant in relation to the graduate programs offered by the university.

The Office of Admissions reserves the right to request any additional information before making a decision on admission. All transcripts, test scores, correspondence or other materials submitted in conjunction with an application for admission become the permanent property of the university and will not be returned. Providing false or incomplete information on this application may result in a denial of admission or a cancellation of registration.

In addition to this policy, the PA Program considers the following criteria in the selection of students for the PA Program. The Admissions Committee will evaluate the applicant’s academic record (overall GPA, science GPA, last 60 hours GPA, level of difficulty) as well as individual qualities that include interpersonal skills, maturity, life experiences, knowledge of the profession, community service and leadership skills.