Master of Physician Assistant

The physician assistant, working with physicians and other health professionals, performs many clinical functions that enable the physician to devote more time to duties requiring their particular knowledge and skill. The physician assistant performs duties based on guidelines established by the state granting licensure. In most settings the physician assistant obtains medical histories, performs physical examinations, orders and interprets laboratory results and other information and assesses and treats common illnesses, including writing prescriptions. Disease prevention and health promotion activities, counseling and patient education are other important services provided by the physician assistant. Successful completion of the National Certifying Examination is required to practice as a physician assistant in Georgia. The Georgia Health Sciences University grants a masters degree in physician assistant. The program emphasizes classroom and clinical practice experience, with heaviest emphasis on clinical work with patients.

 


Application Deadline

SUMMER entry - October 15

 

Preference is given to GA residents.

 

 

Admission Requirements

                                                              

  • Completed Online Application for Graduate Programs 
 
  • Application Fee: $50, non-refundable, must be submitted online at time of application             
  • Minimum GPA Requirement:  A 3.0 overall grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale is required for consideration, as is a 2.8 GPA on math/science courses.
  • Official Transcripts: Official transcripts are required from all universities and colleges ever attended.  Only in the case of transcripts from international colleges/universities will an official course-by-course transcript evaluation be accepted in lieu of an official transcript.

Official transcripts should be sent to GHSU's Office of Academic Admission.  To remain official, all transcripts must remain in the original, unopened, sealed and stamped/signed envelope from the Registrar's office of the issuing institution.                                  

  • Transcript/Credential Evaluation of Foreign Transcripts: An official, professional course-by-course evaluation based on official transcripts and documents is required for all foreign educational transcripts and documents from one of the following three credentials evaluation services: Josef Silny & Associates, Inc., World Education Services (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE). Official transcript evaluations based on unofficial transcripts, documents or copies will not fulfill this requirement.

  • References - Recommendations from three individuals are required:  Three recommendations that focus on the applicant’s aptitude for clinical work rather than just their academic ability - one of which is recommended to be from a physician assistant that indicates PA contact.  Having at least one reference from a physician assistant from each of the clinical settings observed by the applicant is highly recommended.

Graduate reference forms and letters can be submitted online only.  Applicants list names and provide contact information for three individuals as references during the on line application process.  Once the application is submitted, each referee will receive an email directing them to complete the online reference form.  The completed reference form will then be forwarded to the Office of Academic Admissions via the online application system, CollegeNet.  An applicant wishing to change a reference after the application has been submitted must log into his/her CollegeNet account and change the name and contact information for the reference.  For detailed instructions, go to http://www.georgiahealth.edu/Admissions/program-pages/AcademicAdmissionsFAQs.html#Question27.

 

  • GRE Requirement*: Minimum combined Verbal and Quantitative score of 900.  Official GRE scores are required. The results of all three components, including the analytical/written section of the general GRE exam must be provided.

All official GRE scores must be submitted to GHSU's OAA directly from the Education Testing Service (ETS) and must be less than five years old.  The institution code for submission of GRE scores to GHSU is 5406.  Please do not select a department code.      

*The GRE revised General Test will feature a new scale for Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning scores, therefore, current minimum required or recommended score information is valid only for the GRE general test taken prior to August 1, 2011. If you are an applicant to a program that needs test scores reported before October 15th, you are advised to take the current GRE General Test before the revised test is launched. Visit www.ets.org/gre for additional and important information regarding the revised GRE test. 

  • TOEFL Exam Scores: Minimum score of 600 paper-based, 213 computer based or 80 internet based.  Applicants must take the TOEFL by October 15 to be considered for admission for the following year. 

Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test scores are required for applicants whose first language is not English.  The institution code for submission of TOEFL scores to GHSU is 5406.  Please do not select a department code.

Exemption from the TOEFL requirement is allowed for graduate students who submit proof of earning a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college/university where English is the language of instruction.

 

Program Specific Requirements

 

If you would like information on the program listed above, please visit the College of Allied Health Sciences website at www.georgiahealth.edu/alliedhealth.

Click here to go to Physician Assistant, M.P.A. catalog information.  

Application Process

Applicant must first submit an online application through the Office of Academic Admissions website which will take you to https://www.applyweb.com/apply/mcg/menu.html. Carefully read the application information and provide thorough answers to each question. You may begin the application and save it for completion at another time within the same application cycle. Applications are entered into GHSU’s information system the following business day (within 72 hours during peak periods). An email will be sent to the applicant when the application is received by GHSU. Please check your email settings to allow incoming emails from the @georgiahealth.edu domain. After your application has been processed in our database, you will be able to check your application status for receipt of your supporting documentation. However, processing this documentation takes 5-10 business days so please allow time for processing.The online status check provides this information in real time; you will see it as soon as it is processed. The time-line for application decisions varies. Please be patient as we will send this information to you within two business days of receipt in our office.

A bachelor’s degree is not required to be accepted into the program. Students must complete a total of 90 semester hours of prerequisites. Official transcripts are required from all colleges ever attended. Transcripts should be mailed to GHSU’s OAA directly from the Registrar’s office of the institution. Applicants may also deliver or mail official transcripts to GHSU’s OAA if the transcript remains in the original, unopened, sealed and stamped/signed envelope from the Registrar’s office at the institution.

The PA department will extend the date for the receipt of the remaining components of submitted applications to October 31st, 2011. This only applies to applications received on or before the October 15th, 2011 deadline. NO NEW APPLICATIONS WILL BE RECEIVED AFTER THE OCTOBER 15TH, 2011 DEADLINE.

Term Campus Accepting Applications Availability 
Summer 2012 Augusta July 1, 2011 - October 15, 2011 CLOSED

Note:  A person who is not lawfully present in the United States shall not be eligible for admission to any University System institution which, for the two most recent academic years, did not admit all academically qualified applicants (except for cases in which applicants were rejected for non-academic reasons). 

In accordance with Board of Regents Policy 4.1.6, all applicants for admission to Georgia Health Sciences University for Fall 2011 or any academic semester thereafter will be required to provide validation of lawful presence in the United States. Acceptance to the Georgia Health Sciences University is conditional until lawful presence is verified.  ALL applicants who are U.S. Citizens must submit documentation that verifies his/her lawful presence in the United States at time of application to Admissions@georgiahealth.edu.

The physician assistant, working with physicians and other health professionals, performs many clinical functions that enable the physician to devote more time to duties requiring his particular knowledge and skill. The physician assistant performs duties based on guidelines established by the state granting licensure. In most settings the physician assistant obtains medical histories, performs physical examinations, orders and interprets laboratory results and other information and assesses and treats common illnesses, including writing prescriptions. Disease prevention and health promotion activities, counseling and patient education are other important services provided by the physician assistant. Successful completion of the National Certifying Examination is required to practice as a physician assistant in Georgia. The Georgia Health Sciences University grants a masters degree in physician assistant. The program emphasizes classroom and clinical practice experience, with heaviest emphasis on clinical work with patients.

 

Revised: 3/22/12