Admissions/CASPA

Do you accept on a rolling admissions basis?

Yes

Do you accept any courses in lieu of the courses offered in your program?

No, every student who enters the program must complete all courses and supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) to graduate and be eligible for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).

Do you offer advanced placement for students (including those who previously completed medical school training)?

No, every student who enters the program must complete all courses and supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) to graduate and be eligible for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).

Is a baccalaureate degree required to apply?

Yes, applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution by December 31 of the application year.

When does the program start?

A new class of students begins annually in September.

My overall and/or science GPA is less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Will my application be considered?

No, all applicants must have an overall and science grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale as calculated by CASPA in order to be considered.

My current overall and/or science GPA is less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. However, I am taking coursework which will increase my GPA. Can the program and/or CASPA recalculate my GPA once this coursework is complete for further consideration?

No, all applicants must have an overall and science grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale as calculated by CASPA at the time of application in order to be considered. Both our program and CASPA do not recalculate GPA for outstanding coursework.

How is GPA calculated by CASPA?

GPA is calculated by CASPA using an applicant’s cumulative college performance. This includes applicants with post-professional, post-baccalaureate, and/or post-graduate studies.

For repeat coursework, CASPA calculates GPA using both original and new grades, which may not bring the overall and/or science GPA above 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, despite how this may have been reported or calculated by your institution. For more information on this process, please visit the CASPA website.

If I have met all program requirements and prerequisites, am I guaranteed an interview and/or a seat in the program?

No, although an applicant must complete all program requirements and prerequisites to apply, it does not guarantee that the applicant will be invited for interview. Please note, the interview is a required step in our admissions process.

If I have completed medical school training in either the United States or internationally, am I required to graduate from an accredited Physician Assistant program in order to apply for PA certification and licensure?

Yes, every student who enters the program must complete all courses and supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) to graduate and be eligible for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). Successful passage of this exam is required to obtain PA certification and licensure.

Once I submit my application through CASPA service, what happens?

CASPA completes the initial verification process. After the application is verified through CASPA, all applicants are provided a link to the Loma Linda University supplemental application.

Once the supplemental application has been submitted, the application is reviewed by the program to determine if an applicant is granted interview.

Interviews are conducted October through February. Every applicant will know their status by the end of March.

Is there a supplemental application?

Yes, all CASPA verified applicants will receive a link via email to the Loma Linda University supplemental application. This must be completed before your application is evaluated by the program. Completion of a supplemental application does not guarantee interview.

I am a reapplicant. Can I use the same application from a previous year?

No, each year applicants must complete a new CASPA application. This includes completion of all currently published program requirements, coursework, and updated letters of recommendation. Applicants can log on to the CASPA website using their personal PIN to see if any personal data or transcripts are eligible to be carried over to their new application.

Prerequisites/Requirements

Do I have to submit official transcripts to Loma Linda University?

We accept all CASPA verified official transcripts. Official transcripts are only to be submitted to Loma Linda University upon request from the admissions committee.   

Do I have to take the GRE or PA-CAT?

We do not require GRE or PA-CAT scores for admission.

Do you accept advanced placement (AP) credit for prerequisites?

AP credit is acceptable as meeting the College Algebra and English requirements, contingent on successful passage of the AP examination. An official transcript from the College Board must be submitted to the University if accepted into the program.

Is there a time limit on prerequisite courses?

All prerequisite science courses must be taken within the last 10 years. There is no time limit for prerequisite non-science courses.

Do you accept community college courses for prerequisites?

Yes, if the course was taken at an accredited institution.

Do you accept online courses for prerequisites?

The program is currently not accepting any science courses with online labs. The only exceptions are for courses completed between Spring 2020 and Fall 2021.

Do you accept alternative credit for prerequisite coursework?

All prerequisite courses must contain a letter grade. Pass/Fail, Credit/No Credit, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grades will not be accepted. "C minus” grades and below are not accepted for prerequisite courses

What if I have not completed all the required coursework when it comes time to apply?

The program will allow for two total outstanding prerequisite courses at the time of application, with a maximum of one science course outstanding at the time of application. An outstanding course is defined as any course listed as being in progress when the CASPA application is submitted by the applicant, even if the course will be completed prior to the applicant submitting his or her supplemental application. All outstanding prerequisites must be completed by the end of Spring quarter of the year of matriculation.

Do I have to complete 2,000 hours of documented, paid patient care experience before I apply?

At the time of application, it is not required to have the 2,000 hours of documented, paid patient care experience completed. However, it is strongly recommended that the 2,000 hours are completed before you apply. All paid patient care experience hours must be completed by August 1 of the year of matriculation.

General

Do I have to be a Seventh‐day Adventist to apply to your program?

No, students from all faiths and religions are welcome to apply to Loma Linda University. We respect and value diversity among our students. While enrolled in our program, all students are expected to abide by the mission, values and behavioral standards of Loma Linda University.

Can I schedule an appointment to discuss the PA program and/or my application?

Unfortunately, faculty members are not currently available for appointments with individual applicants. We invite you to review our Program Events page for more dates and details.

The Loma Linda University School of Allied Health Professions provides personal advising appointments, where applicants or interested parties can meet with a recruiter. Appointments are available through July and can be scheduled here.

Financial Information

Estimated Expenses are highlighted on our explore site.

Program Accreditation

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Loma Linda University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Loma Linda University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.

Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be March 2027. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

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