Physician Assistant Studies FAQs

Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions about Ohio Dominican University's Physician Assistant Studies Program? Look below to see answers to some of the most commonly asked questions we receive. 

Application Questions

The program begins in August of each year.

Applications must be submitted electronically to CASPA by October 1 of each year.

ODU holds frequent Open Houses featuring the PA program. These are offered online and on campus to fit your schedule. The on-campus Open Houses include tours of the PA Studies facilities.

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Ohio Dominican accepts 50 qualified applicants per cohort.

The minimum grade point average (GPA) is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, especially the science GPA.

We also require recent (within 5 years) scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). We do accept the MCAT in lieu of the GRE. There is no minimum requirement for the GRE or MCAT. All test scores are examined on an individual basis in light of the applicant’s complete portfolio.

Please note a GPA of 3.0 or higher is no guarantee of admission. 

View Admission Requirements

No. You may have prerequisite courses still in progress prior to apply. They must be successfully completed with a grade of "C" or higher prior to matriculation if accepted into program.

Preference is given to applicants with the majority of academic work be completed prior to application.

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All applicants are held to the same admissions standards. However, preference for interview will be given to current Ohio residents, graduates of Ohio Dominican University, and those who have served in our nation's armed forces. For more information regarding admission and applicant details, see Admission & Prerequisites page.

Students may not waive any course within the PA Program curriculum, nor does it accept students for advanced standing. This includes graduates of foreign medical schools.

The program curriculum is subject to change in order to best meet the needs of the Physician Assistant profession and our students. 

Yes, AP credit is accepted for prerequisite coursework. The AP credit must be reflected on the official undergraduate transcript to be accepted to count towards prerequisite coursework.

General Program Questions

The program takes 27 months to complete. The first 15 months are spent on didactic and laboratory coursework and the following 12 months are spent in clinical rotations.

The majority of clinical rotations occur throughout the state of Ohio. However, there are opportunities for out-of-state rotations.  

No. Students are responsible for obtaining their own housing for the clinical year unless housing is provided by the clinical site.

ODU's PA Studies Program is housed in St. Albert Hall on Ohio Dominican's main campus in Columbus.

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ODU is located just 10 minutes from downtown Columbus, home to four national recognized health care systems.
View Life in Columbus

The minimum amount of patient care experience is 250 hours and is experience that involves contact with patients. It may be paid or volunteer work. Lab experience and work in a pharmacy is NOT considered patient care experience.

The PA program also likes to see applicants who have shadowed PAs; however, shadowing hours are not included in total patient care experience hours. These hours are self-reported and subject to audit at the program’s discretion.

Examples of patience experience include:

  • Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
  • Patient Care Associate
  • Phlebotomist
  • Nursing Assistant
  • Medical Assistant
  • Dietician/Nutritionist
  • EMT
  • Medical Mission Trips
  • Medical Scribe
  • Dental Assistant
  • Respiratory Therapist
  • Athletic Trainer
  • Other experiences that require taking vitals, evaluating/triaging patients, bed side care, drawing blood, obtaining EKGs, etc.

Yes. Students are provided Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules, and Bloodborne Pathogens training and certification.

ODU's Physician Assistant Studies Program is a full-time program and is academically rigorous and challenging. Students are strongly discouraged from working during the program.

Our inaugural class began July of 2012.