Program Overview

Admissions

The Weber State University (WSU) Physician Assistant (PA) Program accepts applications exclusively through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). The CASPA application cycle opens annually at the end of April. Once an application is verified by CASPA, it becomes eligible for screening and evaluation by the WSU PA Program Admissions Committee. Early submission is strongly recommended to ensure timely consideration.

Admission Process

Admission to the Weber State University (WSU) Physician Assistant (PA) Program is done through the following six steps:

1. Application Submission: Applicants to the Weber State University Physician Assistant Medicine Program must meet all of the program prerequisites and submit a formal application with all supporting documentation to the Central Application Service for the Physician Assistant (CASPA).
2. Screening and Review: Once applications are verified by CASPA, the director of enrollment will screen candidates to confirm eligibility; candidates are then assessed for competitive candidate criteria. Top candidates will move on to be reviewed and scored by the Admissions Committee.
3. Interviews: The program conducts a comprehensive and rigorous interview process designed to evaluate each applicant holistically. Beyond academic and professional qualifications, the admissions team assesses key attributes such as communication skills, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, professionalism, and the ability to perform under pressure.
4. Applicant Review: The program does not follow a rolling admissions process; all applications are reviewed only after the application deadline has passed, and all decisions are made after interviews are completed. This ensures a fair and equitable review of every applicant in the context of the full applicant pool.
5. Notification: Candidates will be notified of their admission status (i.e., acceptance, alternate list, or denial) no later than two weeks after the final interview session.
6. Admission: Candidates who are offered admission must submit the Program Acceptance Form and pay a non-refundable seat deposit of $1,000 within two weeks of receiving their acceptance notification.

Prerequisites

• Degree Requirements: Applicants must be awarded a bachelor's degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited US institution of higher education before enrollment.
• GPA Requirements: A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a science GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), as calculated by CASPA, are required.
• Coursework: Prerequisite coursework must be completed with a grade of B- or higher at a regionally accredited US institution of higher learning before applying to the program.
  • Chemistry: A minimum of 7 semester credit hours (12 quarter credits) with laboratory components.
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology: Complete one of the following options:
    1. Separate Human Anatomy and Human Physiology series, each with labs
    2. Combined Human Anatomy and Physiology series with labs
  • Microbiology with lab
  • Psychology
  • Statistics
  • Medical Terminology

Physician Assistant College Admission Test (PA-CAT)

All applicants are required to take the PA-CAT, a 240-question exam designed to assess academic readiness for the rigors of a Physician Assistant curriculum. There is no minimum score required to be considered for an interview, however, exam performance is an important factor in our holistic admissions review and provides additional insight into an applicant's academic readiness.

Clinical Healthcare Experience

A minimum of 500 hours of paid clinical healthcare experience must be accrued within seven years of the application deadline and recorded as part of the official CASPA application.

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants must submit at least three (3) letters of recommendation through the CASPA portal as part of their application. These letters should come from professional and reputable sources who can speak to your qualifications, character, and readiness for the rigors of a Physician Assistant program.

Competitive Candidate Criteria

The program aims to select candidates whose backgrounds and interests align with our mission, goals, and values. Competitive candidates will have a science GPA of 3.5 or higher (as calculated by CASPA) and two or more of the following:

• Being alumni, faculty, and/or staff from a Utah college and/or university
• Three or more of the recommended courses
• PA-CAT composite scores in the first decile
• Service in a clinical or university leadership role for more than 40 weeks
• More than 4,000 hours of clinical healthcare experience in an in-patient medicine setting
• More than 2,000 hours of clinical healthcare experience in positions requiring autonomous, high-level medical decision-making

International Applicants

International applicants can apply to the Weber State University (WSU) PA Program if they meet our admissions requirements. Applicants with international medical degrees are ineligible to apply unless they also hold a qualifying degree (bachelor's or higher) from a regionally accredited US institution of higher education prior to matriculation.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees are based on the academic cycle and are subject to change. The estimated total cost of tuition and fees for the six-semester program are:

• Utah Residents:
  • Tuition: $77,640
  • University fees: $2,640
  • Additional program costs: approximately $7,400.00
  • Total program costs: $87,680
• Non-Utah Residents:
  • Tuition: $112,640
  • University fees: $2,640
  • Additional program costs: approximately $7,400.00
  • Total program costs: $122,680

Additional Program Costs

Estimated costs for the following items are included to qualify these expenses for financial aid purposes:

• Books/Resources: $5,000
• Professional conference fees, travel, lodging, and meals: $500
• Eligibility and Compliance Requirements (immunizations, drug screens, background checks, BLS certification, etc.): $1,000
• Parking: $300
• Diagnostic equipment: $200
• Scrubs/Lab coats: $400

Students are also responsible for expenses associated with housing/living expenses, transportation, parking, health insurance, and professional expenses related to the National Certifying Examination for Physician Assistants. Costs will vary per student.