CASPA
improving the quality and access to primary care
Educating physician assistants to evaluate, diagnose, and manage acute and chronic conditions in patients of all ages.
The CUNY Med Physician Assistant Program will prepare entry level medical professionals to augment physician care by providing medical and patient care responsibilities within the health care community.
CASPA / Physician Assistant Admissions Process
The CUNY School of Medicine PA Program uses the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) for our application process. CASPA is a centralized application service that allows applicants to apply to multiple physician assistant programs with one application. The CSOM PA Program application will be open in CASPA from July 1st to January 15th, 11:59PM.
To be eligible for our program, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree: All applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Official transcripts must be submitted directly to CASPA.
- Prerequisite coursework: Applicants must have completed specific prerequisite coursework.
- Healthcare experience: We highly recommend that applicants have healthcare experience, which includes direct patient care experience.
- Letters of recommendation: Applicants must provide three letters of recommendation, which should come from individuals who can speak to the applicant’s academic or professional abilities.
Once you have submitted your application through CASPA, our admissions committee will review your application and determine if you meet our eligibility requirements. If you are selected for an interview, we will contact you directly to schedule the interview.
The physician assistant education admissions process includes the following steps:
- Submission of complete and verified application through CASPA.
- Verification of complete applications by the Admissions Committee. Incomplete applications and those not meeting all requirements will not be considered for further evaluation.
- Evaluation of Application by the Admissions Committee and selection of applicants for interview.
- Interview.
- Final selection process by the Admissions Committee.
- Admission decision E-Mails sent to all applicants.
The selection process will occur throughout the months of April, May, and possibly June until the class is filled.
Interview
An interview with the Admissions Committee is required for admission. However, only the most qualified applicants will be invited for an interview based on the Admissions Committee’s assessment of the application materials. Competitive applicants who have or will have met all requirements and will complete all required course work by the deadline.
THE CENTRAL APPLICATION SERVICE FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS (CASPA)
Applicants must register with CASPA and create a profile before applying to programs of their choice. Please visit CASPA’s website for instructions on how to get started with your PA Program application.
Important Information
Academic Update: CASPA applicants can update “planned” or “in-progress” coursework on their application after verification through a process called Academic Update. This allows you to change coursework to “complete” and self-report the grades received for these courses. This coursework is not verified or calculated into GPA’s.
*Applicants will not have access to edit their coursework that was not listed as “planned” or “in-progress”. All supporting documents must be submitted by the deadline January 15, 2024. The program will not accept documents or transcripts via mail or email. Applicants can update their transcripts on CASPA until April 8, 2024 at 5 PM ET, however, GPA’s will not be recalculated.
Transcripts for Applicants Offered Admission
If you are offered a seat in the program, you may be required to submit official transcripts directly to the PA Program prior to matriculation.
Photos for Applicants Offered an Interview
Applicants contacted for an interview will be asked to provide a passport size photo at the time of the interview.
Foreign Transcripts
International transcripts (exception: English-speaking Canadian) are not accepted by CASPA. CASPA requires a translated version of any foreign transcript. FMG’s and graduates of foreign institutions must use WES evaluation service. Please visit WES for evaluation assistance.
For more information about CASPA, please review their guidelines here.
Need help or have a question about your CASPA application?
Admission to the P.A. Program continues to be highly competitive. Only one class of approximately 35 – 38 applicants is selected each year for admission. The most qualified applicants are selected for admission to the program. Selection of applicants will be based on the Admission Committee’s assessment of the application materials and the interview with the Committee. Applicants not selected for admission in a given year may reapply in subsequent years.
If you have any questions about our program or the admissions process, please do not hesitate to contact us or check out the P.A. Program’s student handbook. We look forward to receiving your application and getting to know you better.