FAQs | Physician Assistant

The coursework taught in physician assistant programs across the United States has always been graduate level coursework, even when a certificate or a bachelor's degree may have been awarded at the completion of a program. With this in mind and to most accurately reflect the level of training received by physician assistants, the profession has rapidly moved to the master's level as the minimum degree awarded virtually everywhere. Furthermore, a master's level program afford candidates the opportunity to become more involved in research both during their education and afterwards, patients frequently express a higher level of confidence in those with graduate level degrees, and it is an increasingly common requirement in practice settings to require graduate level degrees as a condition of employment. Currently, graduates from accredited master's, bachelor's, or certificate physician assistant programs are all qualified to sit for the certification examination and may subsequently to practice as physician assistants, but not necessarily in every state or every setting. This trend restricting practice of new graduates without a graduate degree is very likely to increase.

What type of academic background and/or degree is likely to optimize my potential for success in your program?

We want you to be successful in this Physician Assistant program. For applicants to our graduate program, we look for a bachelor's degree with a strong emphasis in the sciences, along with demonstrated strong performances in multiple math and science courses in the same semester. We have found that this is the best predictor of success.

Can I meet with a counselor to have my transcript evaluated and to ensure that I have the necessary prerequisites to apply?

All prerequisites are detailed on our admissions page. The program seeks strong candidates who demonstrate a great degree of maturity and self-sufficiency. By providing this website as a resource, the program expects candidates to be able to use the available information to evaluate their own transcripts and ensure that they have the required pre-requisites. While we attempt to accommodate reasonable requests, due to the high volume of applicants to the program it is simply impossible to evaluate prospective applicants' transcripts on an individual and line-by-line basis. We especially encourage anyone with questions to attend our information sessions, held periodically throughout the fall months. At these sessions, prospective applicants will get a chance to meet members of the department faculty and administration and learn more about the program. Please see our list of upcoming information session dates.

I have a bachelor's degree from a 4-year college, but I need to take additional courses to meet the prerequisites. Will you accept prerequisite courses completed at a 2-year community college?

Yes. The program accepts prerequisite courses completed at accredited 2-year colleges, as long as they are completed with a C+ or better within the last 10 years from the program start date.

What is the typical interview and admissions timeline for the Physician Assistant program?

Applications are reviewed constantly beginning in the summer of each year for priority applications and in the fall for the balance of applications. Candidates are ranked based upon their cohort of applicants, and starting in August we begin to invite candidates for interviews. Interviews are scheduled on selected dates from August, September and October for priority applications and through January for non-priority applications. Candidates will usually be notified of admission decisions within two weeks of interviewing in most instances.

I meet your minimum requirements, but have not been invited for an interview. Why?

Our applicant pool is extremely competitive. From the pool, the highest scoring applicants are invited to interview. Therefore, the completion of minimum requirements does not guarantee admission or an interview.

I'm a senior completing my Bachelor's degree this year with a couple of prerequisites still outstanding. Can I apply with some outstanding courses and/or health care experience?

Yes, but please insure that all coursework in progress or planned is explicitly listed on your CASPA application. A maximum of two prerequisite courses may be in progress, one in the fall and one in the spring of your senior year of college. While a candidate can be interviewed, admission to the Physician Assistant program cannot be offered to a prospective applicant until all prerequisites -- including GRE and healthcare experience -- are completed.

I have an advanced degree and my prior coursework includes courses to be given within the program. Can I obtain advanced standing or challenge out of some courses?

No advanced standing or challenges to courses are allowed. Medicine changes rapidly and, as such, prior coursework or medical experience cannot be counted toward our master's degree program.

Can you give me advance standing in your program based on my credentials as a physician?

While we certainly acknowledge all graduate-level degrees, we cannot offer advanced standing to applicants, even for physicians. This is for many reasons, but primarily because medicine changes so rapidly; we need to insure that all graduates have received the most up-to-date training. This guarantees that our graduates have the highest possible chance of passing the certifying exam and, more importantly, of fully protecting patients.

I have taken all the required courses in my home country and have been working full time as a medical doctor prior to moving to the United States. Why do I have to do all the prerequisites again here in the United States?

There is tremendous variability from institution to institution and country to country in educational standards. We can fully assess prerequisites only from institutions regionally accredited within the United States and Canada, which will give candidates the greatest likelihood of successfully completing our intensive program.

Once an application is completed, CASPA refuses to recalculate the GPA and advises the applicants to contact the program directly. I believe the grades I received recently will enhance my GPA considerably. If I send my most recent transcript to you, will you recalculate my GPA to reflect my new grades?

While we simply do not have the staff and resources to recalculate every GPA for the numerous applications received each year, rest assured that we do take into consideration all courses taken and transcripts submitted, including those submitted after CASPA has calculated your GPA.

Do you offer a part-time program?

Currently we have no part-time option available.

Why does the department require that applicants have a minimum of 100 hours of direct patient health care experience?

This requirement exists to insure that becoming a physician assistant is the correct career choice for you. The program requires all applicants to have had an opportunity to experience the unique medical environment in the United States and be exposed to individuals with health problems. Direct patient health care experience can be in many forms, including, but not limited to, a paid or unpaid position as a health care provider in another profession, a paramedic or an EMT, a medical assistant, shadowing a Physician Assistant, a hospital volunteer, or any other circumstance where there is direct face-to-face contact in a patient care environment. Please note that positions that do not have regular and direct patient contact (e.g., clerical positions as well as work completed in a pharmacy or a lab) will not meet this requirement. The minimal amount of time to satisfy this requirement can be obtained in less than a month but still provides candidates with view of the United States healthcare system today. It is not required that you have worked in the healthcare field or that you hold any licenses or certifications.

What kind of experience would be accepted for completion of the 100 hours direct patient contact requirement? Where can I obtain that experience?

Direct patient care contact may be paid or volunteer and can be obtained through a number of avenues. This specifically requires direct personal contact with a patient while being treated in a healthcare setting within the United States. This is most commonly in a hospital or a private office setting (i.e., a private Family Practice), but may also be in other settings such as a Paramedic. Examples of what can be accepted are a volunteer EMT on an ambulance, a phlebotomist in a hospital, a medical assistant in a private office, a nurse in a hospital, a physical therapist in a private office, a hospital transporter, or a hospital volunteer or candy striper. Shadowing a physician assistant or physician in a practice or a hospital also qualifies. What cannot be accepted are things such as a receptionist in a private office, a pharmacy technician or a laboratory medical technician.

Do you give preference to specific applicants, as an example, residents of New York State?

All applicants are evaluated equally and without preference to any group.

When I graduate, what credentials do I have and where can I practice?

NYIT Physician Assistant program students who successfully complete the program graduate with a Master of Science (M.S.) in Physician Assistant Studies. Graduates are eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE) and after successfully completing the PANCE are eligible to apply for licensure and/or registration in all 50 states, the United States military, the federal government both domestically and internationally, some United States Territories, and some foreign countries that utilize physician assistants. Graduates may also be eligible to prescribe in all settings and be eligible to apply through the United States Department of Justice for a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) permit to prescribe controlled substances.

I am already enrolled in another Physician Assistant program. Can I transfer into your program?

No. Regardless of prior education or experience, every student must complete the entire program after applying through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).

Will I be able to work while going through your Physician Assistant program?

To give you the best possible chance of success, we urge you in the strongest possible terms not to work, except for the summer sessions when classes are not in session. It is almost impossible to work while classes are in session and even more difficult during the clinical clerkship year.

ETS will not be able to submit my GRE scores until after your December 1 application deadline. Will my application be disqualified?

No, your application will still be reviewed pending the arrival of your GRE scores. However, if your application is tentatively marked for acceptance, a final decision cannot be rendered until the scores are on file. Therefore, as soon as possible, please provide ETS (the GRE administrators) with our college code: 2561 (leave the department code blank to ensure proper delivery).

I have not taken the GRE. Can I send you my MCAT scores instead?
No, MCAT and other examination scores cannot be accepted as substitutes for the GRE.