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Physician Assistant

Physician Assistant Requirements

Is South University accredited?
Yes.
South University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s, and associate’s degrees. (www.sacs.org). The South University Physician Assistant Studies Program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA), 12000 Findley Rd., Suite 240, Duluth, GA 30097; 770-476-1224.

What degree is offered by the South University Physician Assistant program?
The South University PA program awards graduates the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) degree. Graduates are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) offered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Graduates of our Physician Assistant Program, who are certified by the NCCPA, are eligible to practice in all 50 states.

How many students are accepted into each class?
The program accepts approximately 65 students in each class.

Is the South University PA program a CASPA participating school?
Yes.
To apply to the South University PA Program go to: https://portal.caspaonline.org/

What is the deadline to apply to the program?
September 1st is the deadline for applicants to submit their applications to Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).

When does the program start each year?
The program begins each year in early January. A one-week orientation precedes the formal start of classes.

Do you have more than one start date?
No.
The program only matriculates one class per year in January.

What is the cost of attending the South University PA program?
Current tuition and fees estimates can be viewed on the PA programs website at the following link:
http://www.southuniversity.edu/campus/
PhysicianAssistant/tuitionAndFees.asp

Is there a supplemental application?
No.
HOWEVER students must submit a “Prerequisite GPA Calculation Form”. The form can be downloaded from the link below. Students should save this form to their home computer and fill in the required fields. Then e-mail the form back to the PA program at paprogram@southuniversity.edu Pre-requisite GPA Calculation Form can be obtained at the following link: http://www.southuniversity.edu/campus/
PhysicianAssistant/prerequisiteGPAform.xls.
Failure to submit this form may substantially delay processing of your application.

Does the South University PA program require students to have a bachelor’s degree?
Yes.
Students must have earned their bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution prior to matriculation at the program.

Does the PA program have a preference as to what my undergraduate major is?
While most incoming students have earned their bachelor’s degrees in a science or health care field, it is not required. Strong preparation in natural sciences is highly valued. The number of courses, the level of those courses, and performance are important considerations. Applicants should demonstrate their ability to handle social science and humanities as well. If an applicant does not possess a science or health care related degree, it is strongly encouraged that they attempt to get as much clinical experience as possible.

What are the prerequisites required by the South University PA program?
The following courses are required to be completed at a regionally accredited U.S. institution prior to matriculation in the program:

Human Anatomy* 1 semester or quarter
Human Physiology* 1 semester or quarter
General Biology† 2 semesters or quarters
General Chemistry† 2 semesters or quarters
Organic Chemistry† 1 semester or quarter
Microbiology† 1 semester or quarter

*Human Anatomy and Physiology may be taken as stand alone courses or as part of a sequence. In the event that the courses are taken as part of a sequence, only a completed sequence of A&P I and II will be accepted.

†Basic science courses should be those for science majors. Only courses with an associated lab will be given credit for fulfilling prerequisite requirements.

Can I still apply if I have outstanding pre-requisite courses?
Yes.
However, students submitting an application with greater than two outstanding pre-requisite courses will not be considered for admission.

Can I matriculate at the South University PA program if I have outstanding pre-requisites?
No.
No other prerequisites for admission are waived on the basis of prior health care/life experience.

Do you accept other prerequisites besides those specified?
In general, prerequisites cannot be substituted. Exceptions to the prerequisite requirements will be considered only in very rare instances and must be approved by the admissions committee.

Does the PA program accept AP or CLEP credit?
The South University PA program accepts credit for Advanced Placement (AP) courses. AP courses taken and successfully completed will be counted as one course credit toward completion of the respective prerequisite subject. Grades earned in AP courses are not used in calculation of the applicants overall or prerequisite GPA. The South University PA program does not accept College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit for any prerequisite requirements.

Should I send official transcripts to the PA program offices?
No.
The South University PA program is a CASPA participating program. Official transcripts should be sent to CASPA at the time of application. HOWEVER, if there are outstanding prerequisite courses at the time of application, official transcripts of that coursework should be sent to the program upon completion.

Do you require a certain amount of health care experience?
South University strongly encourages applicants to participate in patient centered clinical experience prior to application and matriculation. The experience of working with patients is valuable to anyone considering a career as a PA. While it is advantageous that entering students have some direct patient contact, it is the policy of the South University PA program not to prescribe a minimum number of patient contact hours or fields in which the experience must be gained. Experience is considered in the application review process of each individual applicant. Significant health care experience is valued in considering the admission qualifications of any given applicant.

Do you have any suggestions on how I can obtain patient care experience?
Many applicants begin working in the health care field in the summer between high school and college. By working in health care each summer through their undergraduate education they accrue the necessary hours. Potential entry-level positions (paid and unpaid) include Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), paramedic, phlebotomist, nursing aide, home health care aide, and volunteers for community mental health or family planning agencies.

Do you require applicants to take the GRE?
Yes.
Applicants are required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test.

Can I apply to the program if I have not yet taken the GRE?
Yes.
Applications will be reviewed if GRE scores are not yet received by CASPA and/or the South University PA program. However, admissions decisions cannot be made until all application materials are received including GRE scores.

What are competitive GRE scores for applicants?
The GRE scores are assessed in conjunction with the applicant’s complete profile. The South University PA program does not set a minimum acceptable score for the GRE but looks at scores at or above the 50th percentile as more competitive. For additional explanation on the meaning of the GRE scores, click on the following link: http://www.ets.org .

Should I send my official GRE scores to the PA program office?
YES.
The program office must receive an official GRE score report for each student prior to admissions decisions or matriculation.

What is the GRE code for South University?
The South University GRE code is 5157. There is no specific program code for the GRE.

Does the South University PA Program conduct interviews for applicants?
Yes.
After review of applications, those applicants deemed competitive are invited for an on-campus interview. The PA program conducts “behavioral” interviews on each candidate. (For information on this style of interview you can do a web search for “Behavioral Interviews.”) Each applicant will have two general interviews and one interview with the program director. The general interviews generally include one applicant and one to two program representatives.

Do you give preference to Georgia state residents?
Admission preference is not given to residents of Georgia. Tuition for all students is the same.

If accepted, do I have to have a criminal background check prior to matriculation?
Yes.
Upon acceptance, each student is required to purchase a criminal background check. The background checks are at the expense of the student and are performed by a third party agency. Finding of any prior criminal activity may terminate the student’s acceptance into the South University PA program.

Does South University’s PA program offer a part-time option or online courses?
Our program does not offer a part-time option or online courses.

Can I transfer into your program?
No.
Every student accepted to our program must apply for admission through CASPA.

What are your guidelines on TOEFL?
Students for whom English is a second language must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum paper-based score of 600, computer-based score of 250 or internet based score of 80.

What are the South University PA program’s pass rates for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE)?

Year	South University*	National Average*
2003	94%	89%
2004	87%	90%
2005	98%	91%
2006	100%	92%
2007	96%	94%

*Above scores reflect the averages for first time test takers.

What is the average GPA for entering students?

Yes. The following are the minimum GPA requirements for acceptance to the South University PA program:
Overall (Cumulative): 2.6/4.0 Required
Prerequisite Courses: 3.0/4.0 Strongly Recommended

Where do students do their clinical rotations?
Our students rotate in busy clinics, private physician’s offices, teaching hospitals, large institutions, and military hospitals and clinics. Rotations exist in small Georgia towns and huge metropolitan cities. We send our students out to underserved areas in the heights of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia and in the most rural areas of Southwest Georgia and Middle Georgia, and into our own underserved urban clinics here in Savannah. Our students are offered a wide variety of experiences and locations for their clinical rotations, thus rounding out the application of knowledge and skills to actual patient care.

How are the clinical rotations set up/assigned?
Students are offered a choice in selecting their clinical rotations. Academic and professional performance while in the program and prior clinical experience are taken into consideration in all placements.

Can you provide me with information about on-campus and off-campus housing opportunities?
The campus has limited off site apartment living. The Director of Housing’s office has more detailed information on that and available housing in the surrounding area. The Director of Student Activities and Housing can be reached at (912) 201-8079.

Where can I get information about financial aid?
Our Financial Aid officers, who are vey knowledgeable in this area make every attempt to assist students seeking financial aid, can be reached at (912) 201-8010. http://www.southuniversity.edu/campus/TuitionFinancialAid/

What is the South University school code when filling out the FAFSA forms?
The South University school code for filling out the FAFSA is 013039.

Will I be able to work during the time I am a student?
Due to the intensive nature of the PA program curriculum and study hours involved in the first year most students do not work. During clinical rotations, students find that their patient management responsibilities and time required preparing for rounds and attending conferences do not allow them to work and attend the program

Apply to the Program

       The South University
       PA Program is now
       accepting applications
       for the class beginning
       January 2009.

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Physician Assistant

Physician Assistant Requirements

Apply to the Program

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