Master of Science Physician Assistants

• You may have 2 outstanding prerequisites at the time of application submission/completion but must successfully complete all by June 15, 2024 with a course grade of B- or higher
• Required minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (either original or last 60; whichever is better*)
• Required minimum prerequisite course GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Recommended minimum science GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• All degrees and prerequisites conferred in the U.S. must be from regionally accredited institutions and completed by June 15, 2024.
• A grade of "B-" or higher is required with all prerequisite coursework.
• Prerequisite courses (Except Anatomy and Physiology courses) must be completed within 10 years of matriculation . (taken before Summer 2014 = expired, may need to be repeated unless higher level coursework in same course subjects - contact pa-admissions@ltu.edu for questions on this matter).
• *Anatomy & *Physiology prerequisites must be completed within *5 years of matriculation (taken before Summer 2019 = expired)
• CLEP credits, AP credits, and P/F credits will not be considered for prerequisites.  Credit/No Credit will be reviewed on a case by case basis but must have a calculated grade determined by the course director/instructor.
• *  Last 60 credits of coursework will be calculated in an attempt to improve your cumulative GPA; LTU will consider whichever GPA is higher for your application. This is calculated automatically
  • Anatomy + Lab – one full course in human anatomy with lab is required (or may complete a 2-semester series of anatomy and physiology with a minimum of one lab to meet both the anatomy and physiology prerequisites)
  • Physiology + Lab – one full course with lab in human physiology is required (see above)
  • Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry – one course is required
  • Microbiology + Lab – one course with lab is required
  • Statistics or Biostatistics – one course is required
  • Developmental Psychology - one course in required
• You are strongly encouraged to verify your prerequisite equivalencies (those you have already taken and those you plan to take) by going to our " Transfer Equivalency System " and searching for your school.
• If you are unable to verify your courses or still have additional questions about course equivalencies please contact our admissions office at  pa-admissions@ltu.edu .

Other Encouraged Courses:

Medical terminology is not required but strongly encouraged as you will be testing on your medical terminology knowledge the first week of classes. This course is available in a variety of settings including online courses that would prepare you for the exam.

Genetics is strongly encouraged as a foundational class for the PA curriculum and the understanding of new treatments targeted at the genetics of individuals.

Ethics or Medical Ethics  – The LTU PA program is committed to the ethical considerations of medicine and a foundation in ethics is invaluable in providing a framework from which to build and integrate this approach.

Waivers

1.   If the applicant has been continuously employed in a field that demonstrates ongoing knowledge and application of the materials covered then a waiver may be considered for one specific prerequisite course. (Example - a professor in Microbiology could apply a waiver towards the Microbiology prerequisite)

2.   The applicant has completed a higher-level course(s) in the subject of the prerequisite requirement with a minimum of a B average within the past three years.

Direct Patient Care Experience  – As an applicant, you must have completed at least 750 hours of direct patient care experience* as an employee in a medical office, hospital, or extended-care facility. Acceptable roles include CNA (certified nursing assistant), medical assistant, EMT (emergency medical technician) or paramedic, radiology technician, ECG technician, LPN or RN,  phlebotomist, medical scribe**, physical therapy assistant, surgical tech, respiratory therapist, chiropractor, athletic trainer and others. Patient care experiences obtained through the military (combat medic, field medical tech, etc.) are also competitive. Please contact the program with any questions regarding qualifying patient care experience.  You must have a minimum of 500 hours completed in order for your application to be reviewed and a plan to reach the required 750 by June 15, 2024 .  Please make timely updates in your CASPA application. 

*This is defined as direct, hands on care of patients and the most competitive candidates will have 1000+ hours of direct patient care experience with the required hours completed at the time of application.

**Medical scribe experience can account for up to 500 hours of the total hours required but must be combined with actual hands on experience of at least 250 hours.

PA Shadowing

• Shadow a physician assistant (must include name, title, address, email, and phone number of each provider listed)
• Minimum of 20 hours, in person shadowing strongly preferred, maximum virtual shadowing of 10 hrs allowed

Lawrence Technological University PA program strongly encourages all applicants to take the PA-CAT (Physician Assistant College Admission Test). The PA-CAT is a specialized test designed to measure applicant knowledge in key prerequisite science subjects typically required for PA school. The PA-CAT will highlight an applicant’s areas of weakness and provide materials prior to matriculation to assist the applicants to be better prepared to start LTUs PA program.

For information about the PA-CAT and to schedule your exam, visit their website at  www.PA-CAT.com .
For PA-CAT Fee Assistance Program information visit their website at   exammaster.aweb.page/feeassistance .

PA-CAT OR GRE Test (Only one is needed to Apply, However, the PA-CAT is STRONGLY recommended)

Deadline to complete exam(s):  December 1, 2023

Register early to ensure site availability & receipt of results, which can take up to 6 weeks.

LTU's GRE Designated Code: 2863

For the GRE link, click here!

LTU's PA-CAT Designated Institution Code: MI2205

Step 1: Go to PA-CAT, click here! to register, pay and schedule your exam date for the PA-CAT.
Step 2: Study for the PA-CAT with resources provided on their website: www.PA-CAT.com . Instructions on how to access the resources are included in your registration confirmation email.

PA-CAT format:

• 240 multiple-choice test items
• 9 prerequisite science subjects presented randomly
• 4.5-hour total exam window
• Electronically administered by Prometric

Deadline to take test: November 14, 2023 (by 5pm EST)

ACUITY INSIGHTS - CASPER (supports the holistic approach of applicants, going beyond GPA's and test scores)

• Provides a standardized evaluation of social intelligence and professionalism
• Is an open-response format that elicits authentic answers, with less chance of “gaming” the system
• Gives a single score which is easily integrated into your admissions process
• Video and word-based scenarios, each with open-ended questions that need timed response
• Applicants respond to questions using video and written formats
• Each applicant is scored by multiple human raters, who go through extensive training
• Single z-score provided to programs, applicants receive quartile score
• 90-110 minutes for applicants to complete

To take the Casper test, click here!  (create an account and register to complete the following assessment):   

You will register for Acuity Insights (Casper) for the US Professional Health Sciences test (CSP-10101).

NOTE: Snapshot & Duet (part of Acuity Insights) are NOT required to apply.

Technical Standards for Admission, Academic Promotion and Graduation

The purpose of this document is to specify the technical standards the University deems necessary for a student to matriculate, remain in good standing and ultimately achieve all the competencies/outcomes necessary for graduation within the PA program. The University, therefore, requires candidates to confirm their ability to comply with these standards, with or without accommodation, as a condition of admission and on an annual basis thereafter.

Fulfillment of the technical standards for graduation does not guarantee that a graduate will be able to fulfill the technical requirements of any specific residency program or employment settings.

Read the document

Accepted students must complete a criminal background check, which may include a drug screen, through the LTU preferred vendor. Results must be released to LTU prior to matriculation. Students are required to disclose all past or present charges, convictions, dismissals, deferred judgments and expunged records as related to a misdemeanor or felony. They are also obligated to disclose any additional charges and convictions which occur following completion of the initial criminal background check. Admission to the program may be revoked if misrepresentations or omissions from the application are noted in the background check. LTU students may be required to complete annual criminal background checks,  which may include drug screening, while enrolled in the LTU PA Program.

Three (3) letters of reference are required. Additional letters will not be considered by the program. Reference letters should not be from personal friends or family members. Letters of reference must be submitted directly to CASPA and postmarked prior to the application deadline. Letters of reference will only be accepted through CASPA. No exceptions. Examples include physician assistant, science professor, physician, nurse, previous employer (preferred in healthcare) and mentors.

The program does not accept transfer credits or advanced placement into the program.

The LTU PA Program requires all incoming students to demonstrate a history of all required vaccinations and immunizations being up to date. Students are not permitted to register for classes or begin clinical rotations until all required immunizations and vaccinations are complete. This policy is based on the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for health professionals found at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/  

Vaccine Requirements

Tuberculosis Requirement

A tuberculin skin test OR Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) blood test must be completed no more than three months prior to matriculation. Students with latent TB please follow CDC guidelines:  www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/testing/

Because of the academic demands of the program, the program strongly discourages students from working while enrolled in the program.

Students are not required to obtain clinical sites or preceptors for their clinical rotations. If a student wants to be placed at a specific clinical site, a request may be made to the Clinical Coordinator. Not all requests will be granted because the program must appropriately vet each clinical site and preceptor before student placement is allowed.

Permanent Residents

Applicants who are legal permanent residents of the U.S. will be required to provide a copy of their permanent resident card ("green card") prior to admission. Permanent residents will apply through the standard application process. If admitted to LTU, a notarized copy of your permanent resident card (green card) will be required as part of your conditions of enrollment. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide appropriate documentation with valid expiration date which covers the duration of your degree program.

NOTE: Applicants with permanent residency status “pending” are not eligible for admission.

Transcripts for degrees earned outside of the U.S.

Applicants with degrees earned outside the U.S. should plan to fulfill all standard application requirements, and additionally are required to submit a course-by-course Foreign Transcript Evaluation per one of the services listed below:

• World Education Services  (WES)
• Josef Silny and Associates, Inc.
• Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.  (ECE)
• SpanTran

Coursework taken at foreign institutions must be evaluated for U.S. equivalence by one of these evaluation services and an official copy must be sent from the service directly to CASPA and LTU. Your application will not be complete and cannot be verified without an official course-by-course evaluation. ECFMG certification does not waive this requirement. In addition, please follow the instructions provided by CASPA regarding transcript or evaluation submission.

TOEFL iBT Score

TOEFL iBT is required of all international applicants unless the applicant has earned all credits from courses needed to earn their bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited University within the United States. Results from the IELTS or USMLE are not accepted in lieu of TOEFL iBT. There is no waiver for this requirement. The minimum TOEFL iBT score is 95.

LTU school code is 1399

Take the Test

When you have completed the requirements listed above, and are ready to build your future with LTU as a Physician Assistant, please use the  CASPA portal to apply. The  Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA)  application opens June 1, 2023.

The program will give preference to applicants who have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or greater and are:

• LTU graduates
• Current full-time LTU students
• Employees of LTU
• Children or spouse of LTU employees
• Employees of Ascension Health
• Children or spouse of Ascension Health employees

The program will give preference to applicants who have:

• Students that have taken the PA-CAT prior to application review
• Higher number of direct patient care hours
• First-generation college student
• Economically disadvantaged student
• Underserved area (urban or rural)
• Underrepresented (in the PA profession)
• Veterans or active military
• Volunteer service
• Leadership/Research experience
• Advanced Healthcare Training (PT, OT, Paramedic, Rad Tech, Exercise Physiologist, etc.)

Factors that our admissions committee value include:

Traits desirable in a future physician assistant such as empathy, compassion advocacy, previous accomplishments, diverse life experiences, a comprehensive knowledge of the PA profession and significant knowledge of how to deliver health care. Additional experiences not listed above which demonstrate these traits may include: mission work, unique life experiences and unique leadership positions.

1. To achieve first-time PANCE pass rates that are at or above the national average and student confidence in their ability to succeed.

Criteria #1 PANCE Performance

Measures/Benchmark

1. PANCE Performance 1 ^st   time test takers at or above national average

Success

Criteria #2 – Student Confidence

Measures/Benchmarks

1. Preceptor Evaluation of Student (Student Confidence)/   > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average

Success

2. To prepare students to actively and effectively participate in interprofessional healthcare teams and the care of diverse patient populations across the lifespan.

Criteria #1 Interprofessional Healthcare

Measures/Benchmarks

1. Preceptor Evaluation of Student (Interprofessional Healthcare)/ >3.5 out of 5 for cohort average
2. Student End of Didactic Phase evaluation (Preparation in Interprofessional Healthcare)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average
3. Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Student Preparation in Interprofessional Healthcare)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average

Criteria #2 Care for Diverse Patients

Measures/Benchmarks

1. Preceptor Evaluation of Student (Care for Diverse Patients)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average
2. Student End of Didactic Phase evaluation (Preparation in Care for Diverse Patients)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average
3. Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Student Preparation in Care for Diverse Patients)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average

3. To prepare students to provide compassionate, ethical and patient centered care to patients across the lifespan.

Criteria #1 Compassionate care

Measures/Benchmarks

1. Preceptor Evaluation of Student (Compassionate care)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average
2. Student End of Didactic Phase evaluation (Preparation in Compassionate care)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average
3. Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Student Preparation in Compassionate care)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average

Success

Criteria #2 Patient-centered Care

Measures/Benchmarks

1. Preceptor Evaluation of Student (Patient-centered Care)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average
2. Student End of Didactic Phase evaluation (Preparation in Patient-centered Care)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average
3. Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Student Preparation in Patient-centered Care)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average

4. To create a culture of advocacy for the PA profession.

Criteria #1 Advocacy for PA Profession

Measures/Benchmarks

1. Membership in the AAPA/ 100% of cohort
2. Membership in the MAPA/ 100% of cohort
3. Attendance at the state conference - MAPA/ >50% of cohort

5. To promote service to the university and surrounding community on behalf of faculty and students.

Criteria #1 Advocacy for Community

Measures/Benchmarks

1. PA student community service in PA Program/ >30 hrs ave per cohort
2. PA faculty service to university and or community/ 80% of principal  faculty

Success

6. To prepare students to effectively utilize available healthcare technology in order to enhance patient care and better prepare them for future practice.

Criteria #1 Use of healthcare technology

Measures/Benchmarks

1. Preceptor Evaluation of Student (Use of healthcare technology)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average
2. Student End of Didactic Phase evaluation (Preparation in healthcare technology)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average
3. Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Student Preparation in healthcare technology)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average

Success

1. Utilize   medical knowledge   of acute and chronic medical/behavioral health conditions including etiology, anatomy, pathophysiology, incidence, risk factors, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and treatment strategies to effectively manage a patient across the life span.
2. Elicit a   patient-centered   problem-focused and comprehensive   history   taking into account   cultural awareness .
3. Perform a problem focused and comprehensive   physical examination   recognizing   normal and abnormal health states .
4. Order and interpret appropriate lab and diagnostic studies   taking into account the   financial implications   for patients.
5. Using the history and physical exam findings,   develop a differential diagnosis   for both   acute and chronic   medical conditions of a patient.
6. Possess   knowledge of   commonly used   pharmaceutical agents   including indications, contraindications, dosing, side effects, drug interactions and costs to patients.
7. Formulate a diagnosis   which integrates clinical presentation, results of diagnostic tests and cultural and environmental aspects.
8. Perform   clinical procedures   common for a practicing PA and educate patients regarding procedure, side effects, follow-up care, and informed consent.
9. Communicate effectively   with patients and families by utilizing patient centered interpersonal skills that incorporate mutual respect with the patient.
10. Accurately   document SOAP notes, orders   and   referrals   to other specialty care providers using the   Electronic Medical Record .
11. Effectively   present patient information   to supervising physicians and other health care providers.
12. Embrace   professionalism   in all aspects of clinical practice incorporating accountability, altruism, and patient confidentiality.
13. Develop management strategies   for acute & chronic conditions for   patients across the life span   while   encouraging goal setting.
14. Embrace cultural diversity including   gender identity   while providing   compassionate   medical care.
15. Appropriately   coordinate patient care   while fostering   patient advocacy .
16. Embrace the   role of a physician assistant   and   recognize personal limitations and personal bias   while practicing.
17. Recognize the   signs of abuse and neglect   in patients across the life span.
18. Practice   interprofessional team care   and embrace the value of a   collaborative physician/PA   relationship.
19. Apply   critical thinking and medical decision-making   strategies to all aspects of patient care.
20. Practice   evidence-based medicine   which incorporates   life-long learning   and   current clinical guidelines.
21. Incorporate   patient safety strategies , reduce medical errors and practice quality improvement in medical care.
22. Foster   preventive care   including age-appropriate screening, immunization recommendations, patient education, behavioral modifications
23. Perform   patient education   which considers   health literacy and other social determinants   and encourages   treatment adherence and lifestyle modification.
24. Recognize   emergent medical/surgical conditions versus non-emergent   medical conditions by appropriately triaging patients.
25. Possess a thorough understanding of   medical ethics and the legal aspects of health   care.

LTU PA student attrition and graduation rates

*Attrition rate calculation: Number of students who attritted from cohort divided by the entering class size
**Graduation rate: Number of cohort graduates divided by the entering class size
This inaugural cohort will begin on August 29th, 2022. Information on attrition will be updated to this table if any changes occur. Information on graduation rate will not be available until after graduation, September 2024

Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination Exam Performance Summary Report

Definitions of the report headings are provided at the end of the report. All information is current as of the date the report was generated unless otherwise specified.

**Report update date: 06.16.2021

**All data will be reported prior to April 1 ^st of each year as required by ARC-PA standard A3.12c

Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination Exam Performance Summary Report

As a part of the NC-Sara Reciprocity agreement, Lawrence Technological University is required to disclose publicly, the educational requirements for professions that require a license or certification to practice in that field*. This disclosure is not affected by the method of delivery of the program: online, on ground or hybrid. The full list of programs and certificates and their satisfaction of requirements can be found in the table listed below and on each individual college website.

Current and prospective students are encouraged to contact the licensing board of the state or territory in which they wish to practice post-graduation for further information and possible additional requirements. State board links may be accessed through the link provided in the table to the various professional associations. The table below is a good faith effort to provide the most current information on Lawrence Technological University programs and their status with regards to individual state requirements. This table should not be viewed as a guarantee of licensure in a particular state as requirements subject to change by each individual state and territory.

*“Professional Licensure” or “Licensure” means: A process of state or other governmental entities that establishes standards of practice and gives legal permission to practice a profession by providing licenses or certifications to individuals who meet those standards. “NC-Sara Policy Manual, June 27, 2022. Volume 22.1

NC-Sara Professional Licensure - Physician Assistant [PDF]