Tarleton Physician Assistant Admissions FAQs

An applicant will not be considered if their Overall or Prerequisite GPA does not meet minimum standards, regardless of their U60 GPA. All GPA calculations are based on how CASPA calculates them.

You may list a commanding officer who is familiar with your experience and is willing to attest to it.

• Interviews will begin once we receive provisional accreditation. Pending approval, we plan to start interviews in October 2025 for the cohort beginning in April 2026.

• Once an application has been reviewed by the admissions committee, applicants selected for an interview will be notified through CASPA.

• Beginning with the 2026–2027 application cycle, interviews and admissions decisions will occur on a rolling basis and will not be delayed until October. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as seats will be offered continuously as interviews are conducted.

• For the 2025–2026 application cycle, all interviews will be conducted virtually.

• The interview will include both a panel interview and a one-on-one session.

• Interviews will be conducted during the week, and applicants will be notified by the end of the following week if they have been offered a seat or placed on the waitlist.
• Please note: To ensure fairness and allow for a holistic review of all applicants, those placed on the waitlist will be re-evaluated on a weekly basis until all seats are filled. This process may extend up to two weeks before the cohort start date.

No. Organic Chemistry is not accepted as a substitute for Biochemistry. We specifically require Biochemistry as a prerequisite because it better prepares students for Pharmacology and other coursework in PA school compared to Organic Chemistry.

• Ideally, PCE hours are completed at the time of application. Applications must be submitted by December 1, 2025, and updates (including additional hours) may be made until December 31, 2025.

• Please note: Interview seats will be very limited at the end of the cycle. Submitting a complete application as early as possible maximizes your chances of consideration.

• For the 2025–2026 cycle (cohort entering April 2026), applicants may submit an application with one prerequisite still in progress. However:
  • The application must be submitted by December 1, 2025.
  • The prerequisite must be fully completed with a grade of C or higher by December 31, 2025
• Again, early completion increases the likelihood of securing an interview seat.

• Once submitted, CASPA will not automatically re-verify new information. You must:
  • Submit updated transcripts to CASPA and ensure your electronic transcript on CASPA reflect completed courses, grades, and credit hours.
  • Once CASPA confirms receipt of transcripts, email pamadmissions@tarleton.edu so our admissions team can review your updates.
• For a bachelor’s degree in progress: Updated transcripts must clearly state that the degree has been awarded.
• For PCE hours: Add a new PCE entry that begins the day after your last recorded date and runs to the current date. Submit the update in CASPA. Email pamadmissions@tarleton.edu so we can re-check your file.

• No. Hours completed as part of credit-bearing coursework, such as clinical rotations, clerkships, or certification programs (e.g., Nursing school, EMT training), do not count toward the 500 required PCE hours.

• No. Scribing and shadowing are valuable experiences but are not considered direct, hands-on patient care and therefore do not count toward the 500 required hours.

• Yes. Medical mission experiences are accepted and encouraged as they provide invaluable healthcare exposure. Examples of organizations that offer opportunities include:
  • Community Healthcare Network Nigeria
  • Village Mountain Missions Project
  • Doctors Without Borders
• Note: These organizations are not affiliated with Tarleton’s PA Medicine Program

• Please contact the Division of Health Sciences Academic Resource Hub at Tarleton State University for assistance. Be prepared to provide your course name and catalog description.

• Yes. Prerequisites may be completed at either a junior college or a four-year university, as long as the institution is regionally accredited. Courses are accepted both online and in person.

• Yes. If you request the program to re-evaluate your prerequisite GPA and inform us that you have retaken a prerequisite class, the admissions committee will re-evaluate your application and replace the lower grade with your higher grade for that prerequisite.
• Please make this request by email to pamadmissions@tarleton.edu

• No. At this time, the program is not considering applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement of 3.0 for overall GPA, prerequisite GPA, and U60 GPA (last 60 hours of academic credit at any level).
• All three GPA categories must meet or exceed 3.0.

• Applicants should notify the program of:
  • Completion of prerequisites or a bachelor’s degree
  • Increases in PCE hours
  • Any other changes related to minimum admission requirements

• Applications must be submitted by December 1, 2025. Updates (e.g., new transcripts or PCE hours) may be submitted until December 31, 2025.

• Yes, applicants may submit an application with one prerequisite or a bachelor’s degree in progress, provided that:
  • The application is submitted by December 1, 2025.
  • The course or degree is fully completed by December 31, 2025.
• For the 2025–2026 cohort, applications will not be fully reviewed until all requirements are complete. The program operates on a rolling admissions basis once provisional accreditation is granted (anticipated October 2025), meaning late applicants may have limited opportunities for interview consideration.

• Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Therefore, interview invitations may be sent at any time during the cycle.
  • Interviews will be scheduled once official confirmation of provisional accreditation is received from ARC-PA.
  • For the 2025–2026 cycle, interviews will occur from late October through early February.