Undergraduate Degree

The PA Program at CMU is designed for students who have already received their baccalaureate degree (B.A. or B.S.) from an accredited institution, or are in their final year of undergraduate studies. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is required.

Prerequisite Courses & Equivalencies

At the time you apply for admission to the PA Program, you must have completed (or be no more than two classes from completing) the following prerequisite courses and earned a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average in each. Prerequisites must be completed within six years of when the program matriculates.

The following exams are not accepted in lieu of grades/required credit hours:  AP, CLEP, and PEP.  Credit/no credit is not an option for any prerequisite course requirement.

See course equivalencies for equivalencies from other institutions.

Direct Patient Care Experience

A minimum of 100 "paid for" direct patient care hours are required.  To obtain strong direct patient care experience, students need to become certified, for example, as a paramedic, nurse's aide, phlebotomist, medical assistant, radiologic technologist, EKG tech, EMT (I or Basic), LPN, etc.  All direct patient care hours must be completed by the application deadline, which is September 1.

The following experiences are NOT accepted toward the 100 hours of direct patient care experience: Scribe hours, pharmacy technician, home health aide, dental assistant, lab tech, job shadowing a PA or physician, camp counselors, clerical experience in a health care setting, transporting patients, charting, observing procedures, greeting patients, volunteer hours.

The Listening Ear in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan is a resource for direct patient care experience opportunities; they frequently seek CNA applicants.

Interview

The CMU PA Core Faculty Committee extensively evaluates each applicant's credentials and selects candidates for a formal interview. Interviews may take place from August through December. Admission into the PA Program will not be awarded without a formal interview.

Technical Standards

All candidates interviewing for admission and students admitted into the PA Program at CMU are expected to demonstrate the attributes and meet the expectations listed in the Technical Standards. These Technical Standards are required for admission and must be maintained throughout a student's participation in the program. Click on Technical Standards​ for more information.