PA Transfer Admission Pathway

The PA Transfer Admission Pathway is for applicants who:

• Have been awarded a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited institution of higher education.
• Were enrolled in a Master’s of Physician Assistant Studies program recognized by the ARC-PA.
• Were in good academic standing when enrolled in another PA program.

Applying to the PA Transfer Admission Pathway

To apply to the University of Charleston (UC) Physician Assistant Program, applicants should submit the following from May 1st to September 1st to be considered for the following year’s start date.

• A completed graduate application submitted to the University of Charleston Admissions Office.
• Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions, including an in-progress PA transcript, if applicable.
• A copy of the CASPA application that was submitted to the enrolled PA program emailed to Jeanette Bane at jeanettebane@ucwv.edu , which can be found by logging into the CASPA account.
• An updated official transcript at the end of any in-progress semester to reflect final grades in PA or other coursework.
  Have official transcripts mailed to:

  The University of Charleston
  Physician Assistant Program
  2300 MacCorkle Ave SE
  Charleston, WV 25304
  OR
  Have official transcripts emailed to:
  Jeanette Bane, Admissions Coordinator
  jeanettebane@ucwv.edu

• Official GRE test scores sent to The University of Charleston, unless official GRE test scores were submitted to CASPA. Our UC GRE code is 5419. No minimum GRE score required to apply to our program.
• References: It is strongly recommended that at least one be from a physician or physician assistant and the other be from an instructor. If you wish to use the references you already submitted to CASPA, there is no need to send additional references. If you wish to update your
  references, please email Jeanette Bane (jeanettebane@ucwv.edu) the following for each reference you wish us to consider:
  • Name of the reference
  • Email
  • Phone number

  Submitted references will be contacted by the program. They will be asked to evaluate you per the same criteria used by CASPA.

• A copy of course descriptions and syllabi of the PA courses completed or enrolled in emailed to Jeanette Bane at jeanettebane@ucwv.edu.
• A letter from the student’s prior university, detailing if any claims were filed against or paid on behalf of the student, accompanied by a copy of the certificate of insurance (COI) confirming liability coverage while enrolled in the prior PA Program.

Note: Applications, transcripts, GRE scores, and references included in a student file sent to us from another institution can satisfy the above requirements. If additional supporting documentation is needed after a file is reviewed, the applicant will be notified.

PA Transfer Admission Pathway Requirements

To be eligible to apply to the UC PA Transfer Admission Pathway, the applicant must meet the following conditions:

• Submission of the required materials.
• A bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited institution of higher education.
• In good standing at the applicant’s prior PA Program per official transcript.
• A minimum cumulative CASPA-defined overall GPA of 3.0 prior to the start of PA studies.
• Have a grade of “C” or better in all UC PA Program required prerequisite courses OR evidence of meeting the prior PA Program admission requirements.
• Demonstrate competencies, as applicable.

Note: Additional information or documentation may be requested to confirm an applicant satisfies all
admission requirements. The UC PA Program may consider upper-level or equivalent courses to
satisfy prerequisite requirements.

PA Transfer Admission Pathway Interview

Transfer applicants may be required to participate in a Zoom interview.

PA Transfer Admission Pathway Acceptance

Acceptance is based on seat availability and meeting the above criteria. If there are more applicants than seats available, the strength of each PA Transfer Admission applicant will be reviewed as per the program’s Application Review Process to determine seat offers.

The UC PA Program may request a temporary one-time cohort size increase to accommodate incoming students from another PA Program that is shutting down.

PA Transfer Admission Pathway Supplemental Application Fee

Currently, there is no application fee. This is subject to change.

PA Transfer Admission Pathway Advanced Placement

Transfer applicants accepted into the UC PA Program may be granted advanced placement for courses taken and completed at another PA program.
Advanced placement will be considered on a case-by-case basis if the following conditions are met:

• A grade of B or better was earned at the prior PA Program for the course being considered for advanced placement.
• The number of credits earned at the prior PA Program was equal to or higher than the number of credits of the UC PA Program course being considered for advanced placement.
• The course taken at the prior PA Program is determined to be equivalent to the course being considered for advanced placement (determined by the UC PA Program).
• The UC PA Program course being considered for advanced placement is not a course the program considers to be a foundational course that helps to set the foundation for progression in the program (e.g., H&P lab, PCC courses).

If a student is granted advanced placement, the student will be required to audit courses for which advanced placement was granted. Auditing includes attending all classes, completing all assigned coursework, and taking all assessments.

Only courses taken at a PA Program will be considered for advanced placement. Medical school, health science courses, or other types of medical education, training, or experiences will not be considered.

PA Transfer Admission Pathway Competency Evaluations

Accepted transfer applicants must be in good standing at the prior university prior to entering the UC PA Program. Students will be required to take a competency exam before advanced placement will be granted for a clinical medicine course. A grade of 75% or higher on an exam reflects competency. For all other didactic courses, earning a grade of B or better at the prior PA Program reflects competency for advanced placement. For clinical rotations, the minimum UC PA clinical-year requirements must have been met (e.g., grades, setting types, patient populations, EOR exams, elective presentation) to reflect competency for advanced placement. Students transferring into the clinical phase of the program must pass the UC PA Program Pre-Clinical Seminar course evaluation prior to being accepted as a transfer student to confirm competency. Transfer students will be expected to demonstrate competency across all UC PA Program Core Competencies to graduate. Competency will be assessed during audited courses.

PA Transfer Admission Pathway Course Review and Credit Transfer Process

Upon review of the submitted course descriptions and syllabi, the student will receive an individualized plan outlining the courses that can be transferred and applied to our curriculum. Transfer students must fulfill all remaining admission and program requirements. Transfer students must either take or audit all didactic courses in the UC PA Program curriculum, unless the student transfers during the clinical phase of the program. Students transferring during the clinical phase of the program must demonstrate competency before being accepted. In the event submitted coursework from the student’s prior PA program does not match our curriculum and cannot be applied, the transfer student entering the program will need to complete all program requirements.

Note: Applying transfer credit for predetermined in-progress coursework is contingent upon an updated official transcript at the end of the semester which reflects a passing grade of a B or better. Transfer credit will be revoked in the event final grades are not satisfactory. Transfer students are required to complete all program requirements that do not meet the course transfer requirements.

PA Transfer Admission Pathway Student Policies

Transfer students will be subject to all policies as outlined on our webpage.

PA Transfer Admission Pathway Estimated Cost (subject to change)

Visit our Program Costs Webpage to find current tuition, fee, and related costs for a non-transfer student to attend the UC PA Program.

Transfer students will be presented with an estimated cost sheet if considered for a seat in the program. Transfer students will be charged a $100 per credit hour audit fee for advanced placement courses. For any semester with audited courses, the tuition per credit hour for courses being taken for a grade will be based on the current tuition rate for the UC PA Program, calculated by dividing the program tuition by the number of program credits. The university will determine if discounts are available based on tuition paid to the student’s prior program. Fees will be the same for all students for all semesters. PA Program tuition and fees per semester for a transfer student will not be higher than the tuition and fees paid by other UC PA Program students.

PA Transfer Admission Pathway Financial Aid

A student must be enrolled part-time (6 credit hours) to be considered eligible for federal aid during a semester. A student cannot receive federal aid assistance for auditing courses.

PA Transfer Admission Pathway *Seat Deposit:

A $1,000 non-refundable seat deposit is required if offered a seat in the program. All of it will be applied toward the student’s first semester tuition.

Due dates for the seat deposit are as follows:

• Accepted prior to November 1st: Due within two weeks of acceptance.
• Accepted from November 1st to December 1st: Due within 1 week of acceptance.
• Accepted from December 1st to January 1st: Due within 3 days of acceptance.

Note: At the discretion of the Program Director, the seat deposit may be waived if extenuating
circumstances exist. This will not change the cost of tuition.

PA Transfer Admission Pathway Seat Offer Revocation

A seat offer can be revoked if:

• An applicant does not respond to an email within 2 weeks.
• An applicant provides inaccurate information.
• An applicant does not fully disclose reasons for the requested transfer.
• The program observes unprofessional behaviors prior to the start of the program.
• An applicant misses the seat deposit deadline.
• An applicant cannot meet financial obligations to the university.

 

PA Transfer Admission Pathway Start Date and Seats Available

A new cohort starts every January. Thirty-three seats are available for each matriculating class, unless the program receives permission from the accrediting body, ARC-PA, for a one-time temporary cohort size increase. Incoming students from all pathways will be notified if the cohort size changes prior to the start date. If a cohort size is approved by the accrediting body, the university will supply the program with the fiscal, human, and physical resources needed to offer the same educational experience afforded to a smaller size cohort.

PA Transfer Admission Pathway Degree Awarded

All students are required to meet the program’s Academic Performance and Progression Standards once in the program. Upon successful completion of the Physician Assistant Program, students will be awarded a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree.