The following deadlines refer to the year prior to matriculation:
- April: CASPA opens
- August 1: Last day to take the GRE
- August 1 (11:59 PM EST): Last day to e-submit the CASPA Application
- August 7 (11:59 PM CST): Deadline to submit the UAB PA Supplemental Application
- October 1 (11:59 PM EST): Deadline for application to be reviewed and verified by CASPA
Application Instructions
The UAB PA program participates in the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Please consult CASPA for more information regarding specific CASPA application requirements, procedures, and fees. The CASPA application needs to be completed by August 1 of the year prior to matriculation. Applicants should send all application materials directly to CASPA. Applicants should use GRE Code 0570 when sending GRE scores to CASPA. CASPA will verify the application information and send completed applications to the program.
After completing the CASPA application, the applicant should complete the UAB PA Supplemental Application.
Taking a break from, and returning to, your PA Supplemental Application submission:
- To take a break while completing your submission; you will need to revisit the application on the same computer/browser as you did initially. The program automatically stores a cookie in your browser, and you should be able to pick up where you left off.
- If you revisit the applications over two weeks after your last activity, on a different computer or browser, or after clearing your cache, you will be sent to the beginning of the application.
Following the program’s receipt of the CASPA application, official GRE scores, and UAB PA Supplemental Application, the UAB PA Program will review the packet.
Completed applications are reviewed by members of the admissions committee. Interviews are held in October and November. Admissions decisions are finalized in December. Students who are accepted to the Physician Assistant program will need to complete the UAB Graduate School Application.
Application Fees
- There is a CASPA application fee of $177 for first designation and a fee of $51 for each additional designation.
- The UAB PA Supplemental Application fee is $75. This may be paid electronically. Payment must be made in order to process the Supplemental Application. This is a non-refundable fee.
- There is a UAB Graduate School Application fee of $50 for domestic students and $60 for international students. This fee only applies to students accepted into the program.
- There is a UAB PA deposit of $1,000 that is applied towards tuition in the first semester of the program. The deposit only applies to students accepted into the program. The deposit is non-refundable and will be forfeited by the applicant in the event that he/she does not enroll and attend the UAB PA program.
- Other expenses to anticipate:
- GRE preparation and examination
- The cost of sending transcripts to CASPA
Requirements
-
Prerequisite Requirements
The following prerequisites: All prerequisite courses must be completed at a regionally accredited institution in the United States:
- 8 semester hours of biology for science majors
- 3-4 semester hours of microbiology (lab preferred)
- 3-4 semester hours of human anatomy
- 3-4 semester hours human physiology
- 8-9 semester hours of general chemistry (labs preferred)
- 3-4 semester hours of statistics
- 6 semester hours of psychology (general AND developmental or abnormal psychology)
- 2-3 semester hours of medical terminology
To confirm your prerequisite equivalencies, you can use the UAB Transfer Credit Equivalency Database.
Prerequisites UAB Equivalency Biology for majors BY123 and BY124 Statistics Any statistics will satisfy this prerequisite Psychology - You must have a General Psychology
- You have either a Developmental or Abnormal Psychology
General: PY101
Developmental: PY212
Abnormal: PY218
General Chemistry CH105/106, CH107/108, CH115/116, CH117/118 Human Anatomy and Physiology or A&P I and II Sequence BY115 and BY116 Microbiology BY261, BY271 Medical Terminology Any medical terminology will satisfy this prerequisite -
Admission Requirements
- Baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited college/university.
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores from the verbal, quantitative and analytic sections. Applicants with advanced degrees whose GRE scores are older than 5 years (i.e. the time limit that ETS will send scores) can request the PA program to consider dated scores if the applicant can provide documentation of their GRE scores directly from the institution they attended. The documentation should be sent directly from the student's graduate degree institution to the
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. prior to the August 1st deadline for application evaluation. Please note that recent GRE scores often make applicants with an advanced degree more competitive than applicants with an advanced degree that do not have recent GRE scores. Furthermore, as with all applicants, the UAB admissions review committee could still determine that the applicant should retake the GRE and reapply the next application cycle. - A minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0).
- A minimum overall science grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0).
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the program prerequisite courses, with a minimum grade of C in each.
- All applicants with 9 or fewer semester hours of prerequisite courses to complete on Jan 1st of the year of admission will be considered for admission. All prerequisite courses must be completed before the program begins in the fall semester.
- Technical ability to complete the program (see PAEA Required Competencies and Minimum Technical (Performance) Standards).
- Interview with faculty.
- Medical clearance: UAB physician assistant students must be medically cleared for enrollment if accepted to program. Detailed information is available via UAB Student Health Services.
- Undergo a criminal background check and consent to drug testing if accepted into the program.
-
International Requirements
International Students must submit a transcript evaluation from World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc.
The Graduate School now monitors English proficiency to make sure applicants meet our minimum scores which are listed below.
- IELTS – 6.5
- TOEFL – 80
- PTEA – 53
Other requirements include a financial affidavit of support and immigration documentation (if currently residing in the United States).
Credit for Prior Learning or Experience
Credit is not offered for prior experiential learning or prior course work (the Program does not offer advanced placement). Furthermore, credit is not offered for courses provided by another physician assistant program. No student may omit or waive any of the required clinical year rotations.
Evaluation Criteria
Program-specific rubrics are utilized to assess students during an initial review of the CASPA and Supplemental Applications, as well as during the interview. Initial review of applicants includes an evaluation of the student’s academic record, clinical experience, personal statement, letters of reference, and attributes that align with the program’s mission. Upon completion of the initial review, cumulative performance of all applicants is utilized to identify students selected for an interview.
Program-specific measures that are evaluated on each rubric are categorized below. To assess competitiveness of the program from a historical perspective, students are encouraged to review the admission data summaries below.
Academics
- Cumulative GPA, overall science GPA, prerequisite GPA, final course grades of “D,” “F,” and “W,” completion of all prerequisite course at time of application submission, and GRE percentage scores.
- Credit hour demand, outside commitments while enrolled in courses, and course work completed in a graduate-level program in a health-related field of study are considered in the application score.
Clinical Experience
- Although not required for admission, experience in a healthcare setting (providing direct or indirect patient care) is preferred.
- Applicants are evaluated on the extent (hours completed), duration of experience (months, years), and scope of clinical experience.
- Leadership experience and exposure to the PA profession, in the form of shadowing or working alongside a PA, are considered in the application score.
Personal Statement
- Applicants are evaluated on the content and quality of their personal statement.
- Also utilized to perform a second review of applicants prior to finalizing invitations for interview.
Reference Letters
- Three letters of reference are evaluated and considered in the application score.
Supplemental Application
- Applicants are evaluated on the content and quality of responses to the supplemental questions.
- Utilized to identify attributes and characteristics that meet the program’s mission, and to perform a second review of applicants prior to finalizing invitations for interview.
Favored Applicants
The PA program is committed to recruiting native Alabama residents and students who completed their undergraduate or graduate studies at UAB. The program is also committed to admitting a diverse group of students who exemplify attributes that align with our program mission. This includes minority and underrepresented in medicine students, those from diverse or disadvantaged backgrounds, veterans, first-generation scholars, multilingual students, and applicants who have shown a commitment to service and practicing in an underserved or rural area.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.
Admissions Process Timeline
- May – October: Application review.
- October – November: Interviews.
- December – Admissions decisions finalized.
- January – March: Admitted students complete the UAB Graduate School Application.
- April – August: Complete orientation requirements.
Admission Data Summary
Veteran Applicant Data Summary
Summary of Patient Care and Shadowing Hours
Self-Identified Race and Ethnicity Data Summary
Additional Information
In order to ensure patients receive the best medical care possible, faculty of the program have identified certain skills and professional behaviors that are required for successful completion of the program. These skills and behaviors are required to perform a variety of activities within the curriculum and also to function clinically as a physician assistant. Therefore, all students in the PA program must be able to demonstrate these skills and professional behaviors, including students with disabilities when reasonable accommodations are made by the program.