Physician Assistant Practice (MPAP)

Admission Requirements and Procedures

Application to the Physician Assistant Program requires completion of a bachelor’s degree (in any discipline) from a regionally accredited four-year institution and completion of academic prerequisite requirements.

Admission to the program is for the fall semester only. Admission is granted by the physician assistant selections committee after careful review of all eligible applications. Selections are made on the basis of a formal interview (for competitive applicants) and consideration of a variety of factors, which include: academic record, amount of clinical experience, multicultural sensitivity, community service experience and knowledge of the profession.

Applicants are required to submit an application through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) as well as a USC Supplemental Application by November 1 of each year. Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis. Further details regarding admission procedures including those for international student applicants are provided online at usc.edu/pa. The program will not waive any aspect of the application or deadline. Information on Admissions relating to COVID-19 can be found at keck.usc.edu/physician-assistant-program/admission/frequently-asked-questions/covid19.

Transfer Students or Advanced Placement

The Physician Assistant Program does not accept transfer students, nor do we allow advanced placement based on prior education or clinical experience. Each applicant who is admitted is required to complete the full Master of Physician Assistant Practice curriculum in residence at USC. No waivers or substitutions are permitted.

Registration

Students receive information regarding registration in the summer prior to enrollment.

Advisement

Virtual advisement appointments are available for prospective students who would like to receive more information regarding the program. For information, please call (626) 457-4240 or email uscpa@usc.edu.

Degree Prerequisites

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and completion of all prerequisite course work are required for admission to the Physician Assistant Program. 

Applicants are expected to have a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (on a scale in which A = 4.0). It is expected that all science prerequisites be completed by the end of the fall semester, in the year prior to matriculation, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. All prerequisite courses must be completed for a letter grade with at least a grade of C (2.0) earned.

Science Prerequisites

One (1) year sequential coursework for biological-based science majors in each of the following:

Biology

Option (1):

General Biology or Human Biology*: One year sequential course work (equivalent to two semesters or three quarters**)

*If your institution does not offer General Biology or Human Biology, then you must provide proof for the biology series of introductory biology for biological based science majors (i.e. Zoology, Cell Biology, Botany).

**Applicants from an institution on the quarter system: If your institution does not offer three (3) quarters of General Biology or Human Biology, you may elect to take two (2) quarters of General Biology and one (1) quarter of one of the following – Genetics, Molecular Biology, Immunology or Cell Biology.

- OR -

Option (2):

One (1) semester/quarter of General Biology or Human Biology and;

One (1) semester or two (2) quarters of an additional Biology course(s) from the list below:

• Cell Biology
• Endocrinology
• Histology
• Molecular Biology
• Pharmacology
• Embryology
• Genetics
• Immunology
• Neuroscience

Chemistry

Option (1):

General Chemistry with lab: One (1) year sequential course work (equivalent to two semesters or three quarters*)

*Applicants from an institution on the quarter system: If your institution does not offer three (3) quarters of General Chemistry (Inorganic) with lab, you may elect to take two (2) quarters of General Chemistry with lab and one (1) quarter of Biochemistry with lab or one (1) quarter of Organic Chemistry with lab.

- OR -

Option (2):

One (1) semester/quarter of General Chemistry with lab and;

One (1) semester or two (2) quarters of an additional Chemistry course(s) with a lab in the following:

• Organic Chemistry w/lab
• Biochemistry w/lab
• Quantitative Analysis w/lab
• Analytical Chemistry w/lab
• Inorganic Chemistry w/lab

Three (3) semester units or four (4) quarter units of each of the following:

Microbiology with Lab

May be in the following:

• Microbiology with lab
• General Microbiology w/lab
• Introductory Microbiology w/lab
• Medical Microbiology w/lab

Human Anatomy with lab*

Human Physiology*

*Human anatomy and physiology may be completed by taking a two-semester sequential course of human anatomy and physiology I and II or a quarter system equivalent sequential course.

Non-Sciences:

A minimum of one (1) semester/quarter unit at a regionally accredited institution or submit a medical terminology certificate of completion from a regionally accredited institution or vocational program:

• Medical Terminology

Three (3) semester units or four (4) quarter units of each of the following:

• Statistics

• Introduction/General Psychology

One (1) year for each of the following:

• Beginning Spanish language (Must be college-level credit earned either through coursework or by placement examination. There is no language substitution.)

• English – International applicants only

AP Credit

For applicants that received AP credit in prerequisites

*Note: Advanced Placement (AP) credit for science prerequisites will not be accepted. If an applicant has received one semester of AP credit (or equivalent) for one or more of the science prerequisites, the applicant may elect to complete the specific science prerequisite in one of two ways: 1) take the specific course work as outlined above (i.e., a complete two-semester or three-quarter course with lab), or 2) complete a minimum of six-semester (nine-quarter) units of upper-division course work for majors in that specific discipline. For example, if you received AP credit for one semester of general biology, you may satisfy our biology prerequisite in one of two ways: 1) complete a one-year sequential course for biology majors in general biology with laboratory, or 2) complete a minimum of six-semester (nine-quarter) units of upper-division course work for biology majors (e.g., cell, biology, genetics, histology, mammalian physiology, etc). Upper-division courses for non-majors will not be accepted for this purpose.

Students who intend to apply to the Physician Assistant Program should contact the admission office for evaluation of previous baccalaureate and/or post-baccalaureate course work.

10-Year Exemption

All science prerequisites should be completed within ten (10) years of application to the program. Exceptions to the ten-year science prerequisite time frame may be granted on an individual basis to those individuals who have completed one of the following: 1) at least eight (8) semester units of graduate credit in a medically related natural science discipline with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or better, completed within seven (7) years of the application deadline, or 2) received an advanced degree in the natural or clinical sciences (e.g., MS, DVM, PharmD, PhD, MD) within ten years of the application deadline. In either case, all course work completed and degrees conferred must be from institutions of higher education accredited by a regional accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. Requests for this ten-year exemption should be directed to the Chair of Admissions.

Distance Learning 

Distance learning courses are acceptable provided they are equivalent in all dimensions (including laboratory requirements) to courses taught in “traditional” educational settings (e.g., hybrid courses). All distance learning course credit must be provided by regionally accredited institutions of higher education.

Clinical Experience

Hands-on, paid, patient care clinical experience is preferred. Please refer to our list of common clinical experiences. Other health care experience is equally acceptable as long as the clinical experience is hands-on in nature. It is important that PA applicants are familiar with medical care environments and the role of a physician assistant, and have experience working with patients. Volunteer clinical experience is also considered in the application process and should be entered into the CASPA application, as well; the applicant is encouraged to describe their hands-on experience, whether it is paid or volunteer

Shadowing Opportunities

Shadowing a Physician Assistant (PA) is preferred in the admissions application process. The selections committee defines shadowing as observing a PA in the care of patients, working alongside a PA on a day-to-day basis or attending virtual shadowing opportunities. Examples of virtual shadowing include telehealth, provider platforms and websites that offer case studies provided by a PA. The goal of shadowing is to help an applicant articulate the role of a PA.

Community Service Activities

A demonstration of community service dedication is expected of all applicants. Service that benefits underserved or disadvantaged groups is highly encouraged as the program has a commitment to training its students as primary care providers with these populations. Examples include: Habitat for Humanity, Boys & Girls Club of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, soup kitchens, homeless shelters.

Curriculum Requirements

The completion of the 33-month professional curriculum is required to earn the Master of Physician Assistant Practice degree. Students do not have choices of courses to take nor are they permitted to drop any course or courses during the semester. Progress is permitted only when the prior semester is successfully completed. Students should view the curriculum outlined here as advisory only and subject to modification.

Summative Evaluation

A summative evaluation is conducted on each student during the sixth and final semester of the program to verify that each student is prepared to enter clinical practice.

Health Requirements and Technical Standards

All accepted candidates are required to meet the PA program’s technical standards (physical and psychological competencies of performance) prior to entering the program and throughout training. Upon acceptance, students will be required to submit and maintain evidence of current health status and immunizations. Students are also required to maintain university-approved health care insurance coverage while enrolled in the program. Specific details outlining these technical standards are located at usc.edu/pa.

Employment

The Primary Care Physician Assistant Program at USC is a full-time program. Students are strongly discouraged to accept or continue outside employment while enrolled in the program. Students are not permitted to work for the program.

Background Check

All USC Physician Assistant students are required to pass a background check prior to admission to the Master of Physician Assistant Practice (MPAP) Program.

Degree Requirements

All students in the Master of Physician Assistant Practice degree program must meet course and grade point average requirements. All students must complete each semester with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or greater. Failure to achieve a 3.0 cumulative grade point average will result in automatic academic probation and a subsequent semester below a 3.0 cumulative grade point average will result in academic dismissal. The degree will not be conferred until the student has successfully completed all degree requirements. Students are subject to the degree requirements in the catalogue current for the semester of their admission into the program.

Physician assistant students are enrolled in a standard curriculum during their 33 months in the program. The following courses must be successfully completed in order to earn the Master of Physician Assistant Practice degree. Only physician assistant students may enroll in these courses. Departmental clearance is required to enroll.