PA Fast Track Admission Pathway
The PA Fast Track is designed to allow high achieving UC students to enter the PA Program prior to receiving a bachelor’s degree.
It is only available to students who are currently enrolled full time at the University of Charleston who meet specific requirements. (See Requirements, below).
Applicants are encouraged to apply following their freshman or sophomore year but may apply at any time during their studies at the University of Charleston. Applications are processed through the UC PA Program online application system, and the application cycle runs from May 1st to September 1st. Applications will NOT be accepted after the application deadline.
Students applying through the PA Fast Track program must designate the year they plan to matriculate into the PA program.
When to Apply
Full time UC students are welcome to apply any year during the course of their undergraduate studies. As the PA Fast Track is designed to allow high achieving students to enter the PA Program prior to receiving a bachelor’s degree, the ideal time to apply would be during the summer following the spring semester of a student’s freshman or sophomore year.
NOTE: To complete the master’s requirements in five years, the applicant must matriculate into the master’s program no later than the spring semester of their junior year. Later matriculation would take longer than the five-year plan.
Prerequisite Completion
Prerequisite courses do not have to be completed prior to acceptance into the PA Fast Track. Prerequisites only need to be completed prior to matriculation into the PA Program.
How will my application be evaluated?
See the FAQs Section.
Acceptance into the Program
Students who are accepted by the PA Program through the PA Fast Track Admission Pathway must meet the following academic requirements prior to matriculation:
- Completion of Anatomy & Physiology prerequisites with a grade of “A” or higher
- Completion of all other prerequisite courses with a grade of “B” or higher
- Completion of at least 91 semester hours of undergraduate coursework
- Maintenance of a cumulative GPA of at least 3.75
- Maintenance of a science GPA of at least 3.50
If a Student is NOT Accepted
Students who are not accepted into the PA Fast Track but still wish to enter the UC Physician Assistant Program should:
- Continue to work toward a bachelor’s degree while earning the necessary prerequisites for the physician assistant program AND
- Continue to strengthen their application in anticipation of applying for the PA Fast Track during the next application cycle OR
- Complete their bachelor’s degree and prepare to apply through CASPA* through the Traditional Admission pathway into the UC PA Program
*CASPA (Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants) is an application service for graduate-level PA programs.
To apply for the Fast Track pathway, students must:
- Complete NO more than 30 hours of college credit from other institutions
- Have a 3.75 or higher cumulative undergraduate GPA
- Have a 3.50 or higher undergraduate science GPA
- Have a grade of “A” or better in anatomy and physiology courses
- Have a grade of “B” or better in all other prerequisite courses
- Take the GRE (no minimum score required)
To Apply to the UC PA Program Fast Track:
- Complete the Physician Assistant Fast Track Application
- The Application can be found at: https://econnections.ucwv.edu/PA/register.
- The Application will include:
- Personal Narrative
- Work and Health Care Experience History
- Social Engagement History
- Propensity to Practice in Underserved Areas Statement
- Supplemental questions
- Two (2) references are required (instructions for obtaining reference letters is available in the online UC application portal). It is strongly recommended that one be from a physician or physician assistant and the other must be from an instructor. Both letters must be received by the application deadline.
- Take the GRE (no minimum required)
- PA Fast Track candidates must provide official high school transcripts, college transcripts, and official SAT or ACT and GRE scores. The UC GRE code is “5419.”
Email transcripts and scores to jeanettebane@ucwv.edu or mail to:
University of Charleston
Physician Assistant Program
2300 MacCorkle Ave SE
Charleston, WV 25304
All PA Fast Track Admission Pathway applicants who apply to the program and meet minimum requirements (see above) will be offered an interview. Meeting minimum requirements and participating in an interview does not guarantee a UC student a seat in the UC PA program; however, applicants who are selected via the Fast Track Admission Pathway are afforded an opportunity to enter the PA Program prior to completion of their undergraduate degree and are spared the cost associated with applying to the program through the CASPA application service.
Fast Track applications are scored, and interviews are arranged only after receipt of the following: a completed application, 2 letters of reference, official transcripts, and official standardized test scores.
Applications will NOT be accepted after the September 1st application deadline.
Fast Track applications will be evaluated in the following areas:
See the FAQs section.
- What does it mean if you are offered a seat in the PA Program via the PA Fast Track Pathway? If you are offered a seat in the PA Program via the Fast Track Pathway, the program will hold a seat for you as long as you continue to meet minimum admissions requirements as set forth in your acceptance letter. Documentation will be required prior to matriculation.
- When is the $1,000 nonrefundable seat deposit due if selected for the PA Fast Track?
The timeline for seat deposits is the same for all admission pathways. See the FAQs section. - What is the timeline from the beginning of the undergraduate curriculum to the completion of the Master of PA Studies (MPAS) degree? Upon acceptance, you will register on the PA Program online portal and select when you plan to matriculate into the program. The typical PA Fast Track student will enter the PA program in the spring semester of his/her junior year. However, you may choose to enter the program at any January during your undergraduate studies as long as:
- You have completed at least 91 undergraduate credit hours and all prerequisite courses.
- You have completed A&P prerequisites with a grader of “A”.
- You have completed all other prerequisites with a grade of “B” or better.
- You have successfully completed a required criminal background check.
- You have submitted all health clearances, immunizations, and the provision of proof of health insurance.
- What is my undergraduate major as a PA Fast Track? You are designated as a PA Fast Track and placed in the Biology Program for advising and guidance as you complete your requirements to matriculate into the UCPAP. You technically do not have an undergraduate major since you are working toward entering the master level program prior to the completion of an undergraduate degree. Once you successfully complete the UC PA Program, you will earn a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree.
- Can I earn a bachelor’s degree in addition to the Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree? If so, does it have to be a Biology degree? Yes, if desired, you have an option to earn a bachelor’s degree. You can choose a later matriculation date (i.e., spring of senior year, or the spring following your senior year) and earn a traditional bachelor’s degree of your choice. The degree that aligns closest with the program’s prerequisites is a Biology degree. However, students can choose other majors, as long as they complete the required program prerequisite courses and other stated requirements, as well as the requirements of their chosen undergraduate major. The department you are assigned to for advising will match the traditional bachelor’s degree you choose to pursue.
- Do Fast Track applicants need a bachelor’s degree to matriculate into the UC PA Program? No, PA Fast Track Admission Pathway students are not required to earn a bachelor’s degree prior to matriculation.
- Is it possible to be a PA student and a Presidential Scholar? You cannot participate in both at the same time. When a student matriculates into the PA Program, they are in class Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The rigors of the program will not allow for any extra coursework. The student may choose a later matriculation date for the PA Program in order to complete the Presidential Scholarship program.
- What are the advantages of applying to the PA Program via the Transfer Admission Pathway? Earning a seat in any physician assistant program is extremely competitive. UC Fast Track students who are meeting minimum admission requirements are guaranteed an interview and have the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s master’s degree within 5 years of matriculating as a freshman. In addition, Fast Track students do not have to pay to apply to the program through CASPA. Fast Track students also have access to one-on-one counseling with the PA Program UCPAP Admissions Coordinator upon request.
- Do I need to submit GRE results? Yes, all applicants are required to take and submit official GRE scores.
- Where can I find other frequently asked questions (FAQs)? You can find answers to other frequently asked questions in the FAQs section.
Traditional Admissions Pathway:
USE GRE CODE “8830”
Fast Track Admissions Pathway:
USE GRE CODE “5419”
Transfer Admissions Pathway:
USE GRE CODE “5419”
