Become a Physician Assistant

Welcome to the CUNY School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program. Take a tour of our program, learn about our mission, meet our faculty and staff, and find out what makes us unique in the field of physician assistant education.

The Physician Assistant Program is committed to preparing physician assistants who choose to practice in communities where there are healthcare provider shortages. It also encourages representation for individuals and families living in the communities in which they practice. As such, its mission and goals are consistent with those of the CUNY School of Medicine (former Sophie Davis Biomedical Education Program).

What are Physician Assistants (PAs)?

Physician Assistants are health professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. Physician Assistants work in a variety of medical settings, ranging from family medicine and primary care to all disciplines including OB/Gyn, Surgery, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine and various sub-specialties. PAs practice in-patient, out-patient, and emergency medicine. The CUNY School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program is a mission-driven program, attracting students with a commitment to providing excellent care to those in greatest need. One of the oldest PA Programs in the country, over 1400 physician assistants have graduated from the PA Program.

PA Program Requirements

In evaluating candidates for admission into graduate programs, CUNY will not penalize students who present P (pass) or CR (credit) grades on their transcripts for courses taken during Spring 2020—regardless of whether their institution applied a flexible grading policy to all students or allowed an opt-in choice.

Online hybrid courses, taken before Spring 2020, will be accepted towards the fulfillment of the core prerequisite science courses. The online laboratory components, taken before Spring 2020, will not be accepted. Due to COVID-19, 2020-2021-2022 online courses and laboratory components will be accepted. Spring 2023 and beyond lab components must be taken in-person.

Admissions Requirements

Please review the admissions criteria before submitting an application.

Prerequisite requirements will include a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution including the following prerequisite courses:

Applicants will submit applications through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). CASPA collects all elements of the application, verifies the validity of each transcript, and then forwards completed applications to the program.

International students whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Examination.  A minimum score of 550 (or 75 Internet Based Testing) must be achieved or IELST 6.5 score is required. 

The CUNY School of Medicine PA Program 2025-2026 CASPA application will open on July 1st, 2025. The deadline for applications is December 1, 2025. Applications must be complete and verified by CASPA by December 1, 2025. Applications must be verified by 11:59 PM ET on the deadline date. Applications can only be verified once all payments, transcripts, and letters of evaluation have been received. To ensure your application is verified on time, try to complete your application at least four weeks before the deadline.  For more information, please see CASPA user guide.

A CASPA cumulative undergraduate total GPA of 3.0 or above as well as a cumulative CUNY School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program prerequisite GPA of 3.0 or above.

• Three letters of recommendation.
• Personal Statement.
• CASPA Program Questions-Essay

It is MANDATORY that the following pre-requisite courses be completed no more than seven years prior to the date of application:

• Microbiology with Laboratory
• Statistics

And two of the following upper-level science courses:

• Cell & Molecular Biology
• Genetics
• Mammalian Physiology
• Anatomy & Physiology I and II with laboratory 
• Biochemistry

Pending Courses

Applicants may apply with no more than TWO outstanding prerequisite courses. Transcripts at the time of application must list all pending courses as “in progress” (or equivalent designation).

All prerequisite courses must be completed by December 31, 2025, for the class entering August 2026. Winter 2025 (December 2025 – January 2026) intersession prerequisite courses are not accepted. All pending courses at the time of submission must be successfully completed with a “B” grade by the end of Fall 2025. Pending courses will not be calculated towards the GPA once an application is submitted. Spring 2026 prerequisite courses will not be accepted toward the 2025-2026 Admissions cycle.

Pending Degree

The baccalaureate degree may be in progress, as long as conferral will occur by June 15th, 2026.  All pending, non-prerequisite, Spring 2026 courses must be successfully completed with a “B” grade. 

Shadowing and Patient Care Experience (PCE) Guidelines

The CUNY School of Medicine PA Program recognizes the value of both shadowing and hands-on patient care experience (PCE) in preparing applicants for a career as a physician assistant. It is important that applicants spend time with PAs to ensure an adequate understanding of the PA role in healthcare.  A competitive applicant will be able to demonstrate familiarity with the PA profession.

The PA Program places significant emphasis on hands-on patient care experience. Applicants are encouraged to obtain at least 1,000 hours of direct patient care experience in a setting where they are actively responsible for patient interaction and care. Examples of Direct Patient Care Experience for the PA Program

International Students

International students whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Examination. A minimum score of 550 (or 80 Internet Based Testing), IELTS Academic Level 6.5 must be achieved.

Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG)

Please note:

• Required coursework graded Pass/Fail or credit obtained by CLEP Examination will not be accepted for any of the prerequisite courses.
• FMG’s and graduates from foreign institutions must use the WES evaluation service.
• No groups or individuals are favored in admissions or enrollment practices.
• There is no advanced placement for curricular content within the program for any student regardless of degree or institution.

Interview

The CUNY School of Medicine PA Program conducts interviews on a rolling basis from late January through mid-March. Selected applicants will be notified via email. We kindly request that you refrain from contacting the Program if you have not received an interview invitation.

All interviews are conducted in-person at our campus. Applicants, including those residing outside of New York, are expected to make their own travel arrangements. Please note that the Program does not offer travel reimbursement or accommodation.

Decisions

Admission decisions are made by the PA Program Admissions Committee, which evaluates each applicant based on cumulative GPA and science GPA, letters of reference, personal statement, prior experience, demonstrated alignment with the mission of the Program, performance on an on-site written essay, and interview skills. Final admissions decisions are made by the Committee.

Acceptances will begin March 1, 2026 and continue through April 1, 2026. Please note the following key details during that timeframe:

• Interviews will continue as scheduled.
• Applicants who receive an acceptance, must confirm their acceptance and submit the required deposit of $250 within the specified timeframe to secure their seat.
• Applicants who do not receive an acceptance will remain under consideration until the final admission decisions, which will be released on April 1, 2026

Academic Criteria

• A CASPA cumulative undergraduate total GPA of 3.0 or above and CUNY School of Medicine prerequisite GPA of 3.0 or above is required.
• Grades below “C” are not accepted for the prerequisite courses.

2026-2027 Admissions Cycle updates

This information pertains to the 2026-2027 admissions cycle, which will open in July 2026.

There are important updates to the prerequisite course requirements. Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry I will now be required courses, ensuring that applicants have a strong foundation in essential scientific principles. Organic Chemistry I & II with lab will no longer be accepted as a substitute for Chemistry I & II with lab. Additionally, Mammalian Physiology will no longer be required as part of the admissions prerequisites.

2026-2027 Admissions Cycle Prerequisites:

• Biology I & II with lab 8 credits
• Chemistry I & II with lab 8 credits
• Organic Chemistry I with lab 4 credits

The prerequisites below cannot be more than 7 years old:

• Statistics: 3 credits
• Microbiology with lab: 3 credits
• Biochemistry 3: credits

Two out of the three courses:

• Cell & Molecular Biology: 3 credits
• Genetics: 3 credits
• Anatomy & Physiology I and II with lab: 8 credits, which will satisfy one of the courses.

Please keep these updates in mind as you prepare for the upcoming admissions cycle.

Physician Assistant Education Program Description

The program requires 28 continuous months of instruction divided into three phases and leads to a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.

Phase I, the Didactic Phase

Consists of 12 months of basic medical sciences, pre-clinical sciences, and professional studies course work. The basic medical and pre-clinical science courses introduce students to the fundamentals of scientific and clinical medicine. The professional studies courses are designed to provide an understanding of professionalism, legal aspects of practice, medical ethics, practice-based learning and improvement, and systems-based practice.

Phase II, the Research Phase

Consists of 4 months of required courses and completion of a capstone project.

Phase III, the Clinical Education Phase

Consists of 12 months of required clerkships and an elective clerkship. The required clerkships are in specific areas of clinical medicine, designed to provide a broad foundation for primary care clinical practice. The elective clerkship may be selected from specialty or primary care areas.