Physician Assistant Application Requirements

Application checklist

The deadline for application to our program is September 1st. Any application that is incomplete or received after that date will not be considered. The Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) launches the new admissions cycle in April. A complete application to our PA program consists of the following:

  • Verified CASPA application including three letters of recommendation. Apply via CASPA.
  • Documented minimum of 500 hours of qualified paid direct patient care. Review the list of qualified direct patient care hours.
  • Paid supplemental fee of $50.  Our supplemental fee is separate from the CASPA fee that is used to verify your application.

Contact the College of Health Professions Graduate Admissions with any questions or concerns at chpgradadm@cmich.edu.

CASPA application

All applicants must apply using CASPA, an online application service. The CASPA student portal launched April 2024. Please reference the CASPA Program Directory to access each school's requirements. It will help ensure your application is complete and all application, admissions, and program requirements have been met. It will also assist in having your application processed in a timely manner.

Letters of recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required. We suggest they be from previous employers or coworkers, and preferably medical professionals. We will accept no more than one letter from a professor or advisor. All three letters must be submitted through CASPA, in accordance with CASPA guidelines, and be received by our application deadline

Direct patient care experience

A minimum of 500 hours of paid experience involving direct patient care hours is required. It is recommended that you obtain direct patient care hours in different medical settings, e.g., hospice, assisted living facility, hospital, underserved areas/countries. Review the list of qualified direct patient care hours.

Supplemental fee

Applicants must submit our supplemental $50 fee.  Our supplemental fee is separate from the CASPA fee that is used to verify your application.

For international students only

International students must complete the following requirements. 

  • Course-by-course foreign evaluation
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores.
  • I-20 requirements.

Contact the College of Health Professions Graduate Admissions with any questions or concerns at chpgradadm@cmich.edu.

Foreign evaluation

Coursework taken at international institutions must be evaluated by one of the following organizations and sent to CMU and CASPA. Canadian students are exempt from the foreign evaluation requirement and should simply send their official transcripts to CASPA.

  • Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE)
  • World Education Services (WES)
  • Josef Silney & Associates
  • Spantran

Canadian students are exempt from the foreign evaluation requirement and should simply send their official transcripts to CASPA.

TOEFL scores

All prospective students who are not citizens of a TOEFL-exempt country must submit a satisfactory test score on the TOEFL or IELTS. Score requirements: 79 or 6.5 on the TOEFL/IELTS for regular admission, 61-78 or 5.5 and 6.0 for conditional admissions. Visit the TOEFL website for more information.

Please send your official TOEFL scores to CASPA using code #3709. Exception: If you completed your bachelor's degree or equivalent at a school where classes were conducted in English, you do not need to submit TOEFL scores.

I-20 affidavit/statement of support

International students who are accepted into our PA Program must submit an I-20 Affidavit/Statement of Support form, along with evidence of financial support. For more information, please contact grad@cmich.edu.