FAQ - Physician Assistant Program

Does the program have a deceleration option?

Deceleration is the process of allowing students to reduce the number of courses taken per semester. Deceleration for the purpose of decreasing the academic workload is not allowed at the NSU program. Students being recycled are required to take all courses in the curriculum, even if the course was successfully completed during its first attempt. The Student Progress Committee will determine on a case-by-case basis if a student having taken a leave of absence will be required to repeat courses.

Do I have to take the GRE?

No. NSU Physician Assistant Studies program no longer requires the GRE.

Does the NSU Physician Assistant Studies Program require a supplemental application?

No. The program does not require a supplemental application, but there is an application fee ($50). The link to pay the fee will be provided once your application has been verified by CASPA.

I want to know the result of the various GPA calculations that will be performed by CASPA.

Please contact CASPA concerning the GPA calculations that are performed.

Does the NSU PA program offer a part-time option/distance learning courses?

Our program does not offer a part-time option or distance learning courses.

Can I transfer into your program?

No. Every student accepted to our program must apply for admission through CASPA.

What are Technical Standards ?

In order to study as a physician assistant student as well as to practice as a certified physician assistant, it is vital that individuals meet certain minimum capabilities for observation, communication, sensory and motor function and coordination, intellectual capabilities and behavioral attributes. These minimum capabilities are described in the program's Technical Standards link on the website.

Will the program require drug screening?

Drug screening will be performed prior to matriculation and will need to be repeated prior to the onset of supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPE). Students may be subject to random drug screenings any time during the didactic and supervised clinical practice experience phases.

Do you require a criminal background check?

All students offered a position in the program must clear a criminal background check prior to matriculation. Information regarding how to complete the background check will be provided in the summer prior to the start of the program. Failure to complete or clear a criminal background check will result in the program rescinding the offer of admission.

Why is a background investigation required?

Supervised clinical practice experience sites require background investigations for employees and students.

What credentials will I have upon graduation from your program? Where can I practice?

Students are granted a Master of Science (MS-PA) degree upon graduation and are eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) offered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Graduates of the NSU Physician Assistant Program who are certified by the NCCPA, i.e., pass the PANCE, are eligible to practice in all 50 states and other national or international jurisdictions that license/utilize PAs.

Will I be able to work during the time I am a student?

Due to the challenging nature of the curriculum, employment while enrolled in the program is discouraged.

Where can I get information about financial aid?

The Office of Student Financial Services at Northeastern State University home page can be reached at https://offices.nsuok.edu/financialaid/default.aspx.

What is the deadline to apply to the program?

The deadline for the program to receive your verified application from CASPA is October 20. Please note: this is not an e-submit deadline! Your completed application should be submitted to CASPA no later than October 1. The NSU PA program allows until October 20 to receive the verified application from CASPA. CASPA can take up to four additional weeks to verify your application after you e-submit it.

How many classes does the program accept each year? How many students?

Each year there is one entering class comprised of 20 students, which will start classes in October of the year of admission. The exact starting date will be published in the packet sent to the applicants selected for the upcoming class.

What will happen if I am unable to matriculate in the NSU PAS program in the year for which I was accepted?

You will relinquish your seat and must reapply in the next application cycle

I took A&P I and A&P II at my former institution. Do I have to take Anatomy and Physiology separately before I apply?

You may take either a stand-alone Anatomy with a lab course and a stand-alone Physiology with a lab course, or you may pair an Anatomy & Physiology I with a lab and Anatomy & Physiology II with a lab to meet the Anatomy and Physiology requirement.

I am a foreign graduate or foreign medical graduate. How may I apply to the NSU PAS program?

The program does not offer advanced placement to foreign medical graduates. If accepted into the NSU Program, students must complete all the courses in the curriculum, as well as all of the prerequisite courses for admissions which must be completed in the United States from a regionally accredited institution.

A bachelor’s degree is required which must be completed from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S.

For additional information for international applicants to Northeastern State University, please review NSU's International Admission Graduate College page.

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 experience. Potential entry-level positions (paid and unpaid) include EMT, phlebotomist, nursing aide, home health care aide, professional hospice volunteer and volunteers for community mental health agencies.

Can you connect me with a PA I can shadow?

If you need help finding a provider to shadow and are interested in participating in a prospective PA student mentorship program, please click here.

You might also consider utilizing this resource: pashadowonline.com. Note, these are not online shadowing hours. This is an online platform that may help you find someone in your area that is willing to allow students to shadow in person.

Tips when shadowing:

Be engaged during your clinical observation and an active participant in your shadowing experiences by paying close attention, asking questions, and taking notes.

Keep a shadowing/clinical experience journal (take notes regarding your observation experiences).

During your clinical observation experiences, ask a lot of questions about the profession, the work routine, and so on. The notes you keep can serve as a launch pad or brainstorming tool for your personal statement.

After each observation, spend fifteen or twenty minutes reflecting on the experience and writing down your thoughts. Assess and name the variety of skills and attributes the person you shadowed exhibited.

Record your hours. You may prefer an excel spreadsheet, journal, calendar. Keep a consistent database of your hours for easy input in your application.

You may want your record or log to include the name and title of the person with whom you spent time.

Is there any way I can receive credit for previous medical course work or receive advanced standing?

Unfortunately, our program does not offer any advanced placement or standing. There is no credit given for medical courses completed outside of the U.S.

 

 

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