Touro University’s hybrid Physician Assistant (PA) program makes it possible to earn your Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree without putting your life on hold. Find the path to starting your PA career with support at every step.
Admissions Process and Requirements
The hybrid PA program’s mission is to empower motivated, capable learners who are prepared to serve and advance the care of their communities. There are no specific policies or practices that favor specific groups of applicants. Each application is reviewed, and the merits are considered individually.
Applicants to the master’s degree program apply online through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).
We have rolling admissions for limited space, so we encourage you to apply early.
How to Apply
Step 1: Check Admission Requirements
As an applicant, you must meet the following criteria:
- Bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institutionally accredited college or university
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Science GPA of 3.0 or higher*
- 200 hours of patient care experience (the program prefers higher level of patient care experiences and contact hours)
- 55 credits of completed prerequisite coursework with a grade of C or better
*Your science GPA includes all science coursework, not just our pre-requisite courses, including each time a class was repeated. Additionally, the science GPA is cumulative of undergraduate and post-baccalaureate science courses.
We do not accept previous experience or medical training for advanced placement in the PA program. All students are expected to complete all didactic and clinical elements of the training.
Patient Care Experience Requirements
Verification of a minimum of 200 hours of direct patient contact health care experience, either volunteer or paid, must be documented on the Patient Contact Form and uploaded through CASPA. We recommend retaining a copy of this completed form for your records, as it may be used if you are applying for a separate Touro location or a future admissions cycle.
Direct patient contact hours must involve interaction with patients and can be obtained in a number of ways and may include either paid or volunteer positions. These include, but are not limited to:
- EMT or Paramedic
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- Medical assistant
- Nurse's aide
- Phlebotomist
- Respiratory Therapist
- Volunteer in an emergency department or doctor’s office (transporting patients or taking vital signs and measurements)
See the list of roles in which you can obtain your direct patient contact hours.
Prerequisite Coursework Requirements
Complete 55 credits of the specified coursework with a grade of C or better. The PA program does not award academic credit for experiential learning.
Prerequisite courses:
- General Biology I and II, with labs (8 credits)
- Chemistry I and II, with labs (8 credits)
- Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry (4 credits)
- Anatomy and Physiology I and II* (8 credits)
- Microbiology (3 credits)
- Behavioral Sciences (6 credits)
- English Composition/Literature** (6 credits)
- Humanities (6 credits)
- Mathematics, pre-calculus or above, (3 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
*Applicants who completed two Anatomy & Physiology courses for less than a total of 8 credits must satisfy the credit requirement by completing an additional elective in Biology or Chemistry.
**Applicants must provide catalog descriptions for English courses not taught by an English department (e.g. through a core curriculum or honors program).
Note: Applicants whose sciences prerequisites are more than 10 years old will be required to take refresher courses unless exempted by the Admissions Committee. All prerequisite science courses must be designed for science majors. Transfer of science courses designed for non-science majors, e.g., liberal arts, nursing, respiratory therapy, is at the discretion of the Admissions Committee.
Residency Requirement
The program requires full-time residency within the 50 United States or the District of Columbia. Candidates for this program must be US citizens or Permanent Residents to be eligible to apply.
Step 2: Review Technical Requirements
As an applicant to the hybrid PA master’s program, you should also meet all technical standards as outlined by the program and be prepared to undergo a background check if admitted.
Step 3: Submit Application Materials
Apply to the hybrid PA program online via CASPA. Be sure to submit all application components. CASPA recommends ensuring all materials are submitted at least four weeks in advance of the application deadline.
Application Components
Your completed online CASPA application will include:
- Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions
- Proof of at least 200 hours of volunteer or paid direct patient care experience
- Personal statement
- Three (3) letters of recommendation. One of the letters of recommendation must be from a physician assistant. In order to confirm applicants have a clear understanding of the working relationship between physicians and physician assistants, the letter of recommendation from a PA cannot be substituted with a letter from another health care provider (i.e. RN, NP, paramedic). We encourage applicants to submit at least one academic letter of reference.
Step 4: Track Your Application
After submitting your application through CASPA, you may be asked to complete a supplemental application from Touro. You’ll receive updates via email from Touro Hybrid PA Admissions about your application status.
Step 5: Complete Interview
Qualified applicants will be invited to participate in a virtual interview with faculty. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your readiness, communication skills, and motivation for a career as a physician assistant.
You will need to have a laptop for daily instructional and testing purposes (required for all incoming students).
Evaluation and Selection Process
Decisions on admission are made by a committee of PA program faculty, and are based on an assessment of the applicant's past academic performance, potential for success in the program, and his/her understanding of and commitment to the PA profession. The program Admissions Committee evaluates an applicant's completed application and considers the following factors:
- Quality and content of the personal statement
- Strength of recommendations (minimum of three letters)
- Strength of academic history
- Cumulative GPA
- Science GPA
- Nature and extent of health care experiences
- Nature and extent of PA shadowing (if done)
- Leadership skills/experiences
Based on this evaluation, selected applicants are invited for a personal interview where they are assessed with regard to their understanding of the PA role, their motivation, maturity, intellectual qualities, insights, and interpersonal skills.
The Admissions Committee and Committee Chair make the final decisions on admission to the program.
Admissions Appeals
Students who do not meet established grade point standards or other established admission requirements detailed above may petition the PA Admissions Committee in writing for consideration. The petition must accompany the application. It should clearly explain extenuating circumstances that have prevented the student from meeting existing grade point standards or other requirements and describe elements of the applicant's background that would indicate the potential for success in the program. The Admissions Committee may choose to admit students who have not met established admission requirements, based on the student's petition, application, interview and other supporting documents required as part of the application process. Our PA Programs are highly competitive and applying with an Admissions Appeal does not guarantee further advancement in the admissions process, nor does it guarantee admission into the program.
Contact
Adam Fiocca
Assistant Director of Admissions
P: (631) 665-1600 ext 66327
adam.fiocca@touro.edu
Seeking Accreditation: What Happens if We Are Not Accredited
The Touro Hybrid Physician Assistant Program is currently seeking accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
If the program does not receive accreditation from the ARC-PA, it will not be permitted to matriculate or enroll students. In such an event, all accepted applicants will be notified promptly, and any tuition or fees will be refunded. CASPA application fee and program application fee are not refundable.
Add A Doctor of Physician Assistant (DPA) in One Year
Touro offers a one-year online Doctor of Physician Assistant (DPA) degree program that you can add to your degree plan. Talk with admissions advisors about your plans to pursue the DPA program in the year after your master’s degree. A DPA enhances your research experience if you want to work in clinical research or advance in the profession.
Funding Your Education
Touro University is dedicated to helping you access financial resources for your Physician Assistant (PA) education. If you're eligible, you can benefit from federal direct unsubsidized loans, external scholarships, and grants. Our team is here to assist you in exploring tuition costs and financial aid options.
Financial Aid Options
Tuition & Fees
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact a member of our admissions team if you have more questions. Application help, prerequisite questions—we’re here to support you.
What do you look for in admissions candidates?
We anticipate that candidates will come from diverse educational, cultural and professional backgrounds, and all candidates will exhibit essential characteristics such as leadership, maturity and motivation to advance in this profession. We are confident that the students we select will make strong contributions to the future of the physician assistant profession.
Do I need to shadow a Physician Assistant?
PA shadowing is recommended but not required (documentation forms can be obtained from the Admissions office). If you choose to shadow a PA, the best way to acquire shadowing hours is to find a hospital that employs PAs that also has a volunteer program and sign up as a volunteer. While working as a volunteer, it is then often possible to shadow a PA in the facility. Many private offices that employ PAs will also allow a student to shadow the PA.
Can I apply if my bachelor’s degree is still in progress?
You must have a completed degree and completed prerequisite courses before matriculation. You may apply with prerequisite courses in progress.
Can I work while completing the program?
This is a full-time course load. While the format is flexible, we encourage students to limit outside work and other commitments due to the academic and clinical intensity of robust physician assistant training. Clinical rotation hours may vary and your schedule will need to accommodate your placement’s hours.
Are there specific conditions for newly admitted students?
Yes. All newly admitted students must submit a non-refundable seat deposit by the specified deadline, consent to a background check and meet the current CDC health professionals’ recommendations, for the minimum immunization and health screening of students.
I am a history major at a local university. Do I need to get a second degree in the sciences to apply to your program?
No. We do not have a specified list of majors required for admission. However, we do have specific prerequisites that should be carefully reviewed prior to application to the program.
Do you accept undergraduate degrees from a foreign institution?
If you completed your undergraduate coursework at a university outside the United States you must submit your transcripts and credentials to the World Education Service for an official course-by-course evaluation and degree conferral authentication.
If your credentials have been deemed comparable to an undergraduate degree by World Education Service, we do accept the coursework. International students must complete one year of education in the United States, Great Britain or Canada prior to application.
Applicants whose native language is not English, or who did not attend college in the U.S. or other English-speaking country will need to submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination with a score of at least 560 (paper-based), 220 (computer-based), or 83 (Internet-based) (Note: the TOEFL exam does not fulfill or substitute for the 6-credit English prerequisite requirement). Touro's Hybrid PA TOEFL code is 2902.
Is there Advanced Placement? I completed one year of medical school and would like to apply to your program. Am I eligible for matriculation?
While we do not accept applications from physicians who have completed their medical school training, we do accept applications from individuals who started medical school but, for a variety of reasons, did not complete their training. There is no advanced placement, everyone takes the same coursework.
Explore the Innovative Hybrid PA Program at Touro
The Touro University hybrid PA program offers a flexible master’s degree in physician assistant studies through online coursework, local clinical rotations, and in-person immersions.
