PA Program Admissions

Please refer to the "2026-2027 PA Admission Brochure" located at the top of this page for more details on our admission requirements, policies, and processes.

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• 8 Science Prerequisite Courses with a GPA of 3.0 or higher (please refer to the Admission Brochure for repeat course policies)
• 1 year of General Biology W/Lab - (2) Science Prerequisites
• 1 year of General Chemistry W/Lab - (2) Science Prerequisites
• 1 semester of Biochemistry - (1) Science Prerequisite (no lab required)
• 1 year of Human Anatomy and Physiology W/Lab - (2) Science Prerequisites
• 1 semester of Microbiology- Clinical Micro Preferred  - (1) Science Prerequisite (no lab required)
• 1 semester of Statistics
• 1 year of behavioral sciences  
  - Must include 1 semester of Psychology
  - The other semester could be Psychology, Sociology, or Anthropology
• 750 hours of documented patientcare experience (volunteer or paid). Completion of 500 hours at the time of application submission.
• Submit an application to CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistants)
• Supporting documents
  - Personal statement
  - Patientcare experience verification letter
  - 3 references 
  - Current resume 
• Personal Interview 
• Standardized examinations, such as the GRE, MCAT, or PA-CAT, are not factored into the admission decision process and are therefore not required for application
• The application deadline is December 1st, 11:59 pm 
  *To ensure an application is verified on time, the application should be completed at least four weeks before the deadline*
• Apply to CUNY: Applicants must apply to York College ONLY if invited for an interview.

For course description review Only please email the course description to pacoursereview@york.cuny.edu.

• The Human Anatomy & Physiology and Microbiology courses must have been taken within the previous 5 years.
• For the Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II courses and Microbiology courses, earned grades of C+ and below will not be accepted. In the event these courses are repeated, the average of both attempts must be at least a “B -” (or GPA of 2.7).
• One (1) semester of Organic Chemistry (may be required as a prerequisite for Biochemistry)
• As an alternative to repeating the General Biology or General Chemistry courses, applicants may demonstrate adequate content knowledge by successful completion of the CLEP (College Level Equivalency Placement) Exam.
• Science prerequisites and the statistics course completed more than 10 years ago will not be used in the prerequisite GPA calculations. However, for any repeated prerequisite course completed within the last 10-years, both the original and the repeated grades will be used, and the average of both grades will be taken when determining the final GPA for that course.
• Each prerequisite can only be repeated once. Courses with grades of “W” (withdrawal) will not be counted as a repeated attempt and, therefore, will not be included in the GPA calculation.
• Upon applying to CASPA, you can have up to 3 PA program prerequisite courses pending. Pending courses may include one (1) science course or the Statistics course, not both, along with one or both behavioral science courses and any other courses needed for a baccalaureate degree.
• All pending courses must be completed by July 31st before the fall semester in which you will enroll in the program.
• This program does NOT grant advanced placement.

The York College Physician Assistant (MS) Program utilizes a holistic review process to select candidates who demonstrate the potential for academic excellence and a strong alignment with our mission to serve underserved urban areas. While the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) manages document collection and GPA calculations, our Admissions Committee evaluates every applicant who meets our minimum requirements through a standardized process. CASPA allows students to apply to multiple PA programs with a single submission of documents.

To ensure that our admission practices are consistently applied in accordance with ARC-PA Standard A3.13a, the program utilizes a weighted point system that recognizes mission-aligned attributes. Preference is given to candidates who are first-generation college students, veterans, NYC Metro area residents, CUNY students/alumni, or those from financially disadvantaged backgrounds (as defined by CASPA Economically Disadvantaged Indicator). Following this consistent preliminary review, selected applicants are invited for a formal interview to assess suitability for the profession and the program.

In accordance with ARC-PA Standard A3.13b, all students are notified that criminal background checks and drug screenings are required for participation in clinical rotations. Be advised that a prior felony conviction or positive drug screen may impact a student’s ability to be placed at clinical sites, graduate from the program, or obtain professional licensure.

The York College PA Program is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and assigning all clinical sites and preceptors used for clinical practice. In accordance with ARC-PA Standard A3.03, the program does not require students or prospective students to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors. To ensure educational equity and compliance, students are not permitted to independently solicit or negotiate for clinical placements.

The following technical standards for admission and retention establish the essential mental and physical abilities required for the successful completion of the York College Physician Assistant Program and for entry into professional PA practice.

All students admitted to the York College Physician Assistant Program are expected to be able to perform the tasks listed, with or without reasonable accommodation. York College offers a variety of services, activities, and accommodations to students with disabilities, mainly through the Centers for Students with Disabilities.

Required Skills and Attributes

Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities: PA students must be able to sustain attention, reason, analyze, and learn a large amount of complex information. Information from various disciplines and sources must be correlated, and concepts must be applied to develop therapeutic plans and solve clinical problems in a timely fashion. The ability to extract valid, useful, and relevant information from medical literature is also required.

Observation and Sensory Functions: Students must be able to observe accurately in lecture, laboratory, and clinical patient care settings. They must have adequate sensory skills (including vision, hearing, and tactile sensation) to elicit medical histories and perform complete physical examinations utilizing inspection, percussion, palpation, and auscultation.

Communication Skills: Students must be able to communicate with patients in a sensitive manner and record and communicate patient information in a timely and effective manner to all members of the healthcare team. This includes the ability to perceive nonverbal communications and describe changes in mood, activity, and posture.

Motor and Neuromuscular Control: Students must have adequate neuromuscular control to perform therapeutic and diagnostic procedures (such as blood drawing, suturing, and casting), respond to emergency situations, and move about various healthcare environments. The didactic phase requires extended sitting, while the clinical phase requires extended standing and physical movement within clinical facilities.

Behavioral and Social Attributes: Students must maintain the emotional health required for the full utilization of their intellectual abilities and the exercise of good judgment. They must be able to relate to patients and colleagues professionally, maintain composure during periods of high stress, and respond appropriately to emergencies.

Inquiries and Accommodations

Requests for Accommodation: All accommodation requests are voluntary and must be made in writing prior to beginning coursework. Every effort is made to provide reasonable accommodation to students with documented disabilities.

Confidentiality: All information regarding disabilities is handled with strict confidentiality.

Contact Information: Questions regarding these standards or the process of seeking accommodations may be directed to the Program Director or the Coordinator of Disability Services (Room 1G02; Tel: 718-262-2272).

Consistency: These standards are consistently applied to all applicants and enrolled students and are maintained in the Physician Assistant Program Didactic Student Handbook.