Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Must I apply through CASPA?
Yes. Applicants must submit all application materials through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistant Programs (CASPA).
Must I have a bachelor’s degree to enter the program?
Yes, a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited United States university or college is required. Entering a rigorous graduate medical education program, the Admissions Committee recommends prerequisite completion within the past ten years, and all science courses must be for science majors.
Does the MSU Physician Assistant Program give preference to any major?
No, the program does not give preference to any major. The program utilizes a holistic admissions process.
Are there any standardized tests required for admission?
Yes, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required.
Why do I have to undergo background screenings for misdemeanor and felonies?
The program aims to confirm all enrolled students will be eligible for board certification and licensure. Therefore, a criminal background check is required to identify any convictions which would interfere with the licensure process.
How many students are accepted?
The program will accept up to 30 students per cohort.
May I enroll in the Program on a part-time basis?
The MSU PA program is a full-time program, meeting 5 days per week.
Does the program accept transfer credit?
No. All students accepted into the program must participate in the complete admissions process. The program does not allow students to transfer credit from other graduate programs.
What are the personal technology requirements?
The program requires a laptop with specifications needed upon acceptance. Refer to the Student Handbook for technical specification requirements. Tablets and/or iPads do not meet this requirement.
Is a supplemental application required?
No supplemental application is required.
If accepted into the program, when do classes begin?
Orientation begins the first week of January each year. 100% participation is required in orientation to matriculate.
What is the wait list?
When the class is selected, an alternate group of applicants is also selected. Applicants from this list may be called upon to fill a vacancy if a selected applicant decides not to accept a position in the class.
What are the minimum overall GPA, minimum Science GPA and minimum GRE scores required of accepted students?
Minimum 3.0 Cumulative or last 60 hours GPA on a 4.0 scale as determined by CASPA. The GRE is required, but there is no established minimum score.
Can I work while I am in the PA Program?
Working while enrolled in PA program courses, including the clinical portion, is not recommended due to the rigorous academic demands of the program.
What is the length of the curriculum?
The program curriculum will begin in January of each year and complete in 29 months.
Academic and Experience Prerequisites
Must all prerequisite courses be completed before applying?
No. Up to two pre-requisites may be pending at the time of application. All pre-requisites must be complete prior to matriculation.
What is direct patient care experience?
Direct patient care is "hands-on" in nature. Examples of direct patient care experience include:
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Licensed Vocational Nurse
- Medical Assistant (Back Office)
- Medical Scribe
- Medical Technologist
- Military Medical Corpsman
- Nursing Assistant
- Paramedic
- Psychiatric Technician
- Radiologic Technician
- Respiratory Therapist
- Chiropractor
- Registered Nurse
- Etc.
Is volunteer experience required?
The program is dedicated to the advancement of PA education and emphasizes service to the medically underserved. Volunteering in both health-related and non-health related settings is highly recommended.
Must I shadow a PA?
Shadowing a PA is highly recommended, but all applicants are required to shadow a medical provider (MD, DO, or PA). A minimum of 20 hours of shadowing experience is required.
Can a single course meet more than one admissions pre-requisite?
No. A single course may only meet one admissions pre-requisite.
Which upper level science courses will meet the pre-requisite requirement?
The upper level science courses must be a 3000 or 4000 level course (equivalent to junior and senior coursework) that is related to the application.
Can I transfer into the program and/or transfer credits?
No. The program does not offer advanced standing or accept graduate transfer credits.
If I am accepted into the MSU Physician Assistant Program, may I defer my acceptance to the following year?
Deferral of acceptance is only permitted when active-duty military training or orders interfere with matriculation dates.
What does it mean, “Prerequisite courses must be for science majors?”
Although applicants are not required to have a science major or degree, prerequisite science courses must be from science curricula.
How is the Cumulative Grade Point Average calculated?
The MSU PA Program Admissions Committee uses the official GPA calculations by CASPA for all final application decisions.
Application Process
How does the Mississippi State University Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) admissions process work?
Applicants must submit all application materials through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistant Programs (CASPA). CASPA will receive, review, and verify all applications. These verified applications are screened by the faculty members of the program.
The application review process consists of three stages:
- Stage One: Eliminates from further consideration those applicants who fail to meet the stated minimum requirements.
- Stage Two: Involves principal faculty screening and ranking all eligible candidates against predetermined criteria.
- Stage Three: Involves the interview process.
The Admissions Committee will review all materials and recommend one of the following:
- Acceptance for those who have completed all prerequisites and are highly recommended for admission.
- Conditional Acceptance for those who need to complete prerequisites.
- Wait List applicants who meet the minimum requirement and who may be offered acceptance if the most qualified candidates do not fill all available seats.
- Declined for those applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements or who are not competitive within the applicant pool.
Each of the following qualities are viewed as essential to support the development of a physician assistant. When evaluating an applicant's readiness to matriculate in the MSU MPAS Program, members of the Admissions Committee consider all available information with particular attention to:
- Quality and degree of difficulty of completed course work in application to human medical science
- Science grade point average
- Graduate Record Examination scores
- Responses to questions contained in the application
- References from advisors, professors, and employers
- Commitment and leadership to community and service
- Communication skills (written and oral)
- Emotional intelligence
- Cultural competence
- Compassion
- Personal integrity
- Motivation for a career in health care
- Recommendations of interview panel members
- Depth and quality of personal statement
How competitive is the program?
How competitive is the program?
Admission is highly competitive. Meeting or exceeding the requirements does not guarantee admission.
What type of academic background and/or degree is likely to enhance potential for success in the program?
In a holistic admissions process, no specific degree is preferred in the application review process in consideration for admission. Students are encouraged to use coursework to showcase personal strengths and/or demonstrate growth in areas of perceived weakness.
Tuition, Financial Aid, and Housing
Is there financial aid available?
Yes. Please review this information here: https://www.sfa.msstate.edu.
How much does it cost to attend the MSU MPAS Program?
Tuition and fees can be found here.
Is there on-campus housing?
No.
International Medical Graduates
I am an International Medical Graduate (IMG). Do I still have to complete the requirements?
Yes. All applicants, including International Medical Graduates (IMGs), must meet all requirements.
Admission Requirements/Prerequisites
Please review the prerequisite section of the website for all admission requirements.
Prior to matriculation, applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited United States college or university.
Applicants must have:
- A minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale at the time of application.
- A minimum overall science GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale at the time of application.
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 credit hours, as determined by CASPA.
The GRE is required; however, there is no established minimum score.
I am an International Medical Graduate. Can I work as a PA in Mississippi without attending PA school?
No. An IMG cannot work as a PA in Mississippi without attending and graduating from an ARC-PA accredited PA program and without passing the national NCCPA/PANCE boards for PAs.
Accreditation
Is the MSU Physician Assistant Program accredited?
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Mississippi State University-Meridian Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program sponsored by Mississippi State University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be July 2035. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website. https://www.arc-pa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Accreditation-History-Mississippi-St-Meridian.pdf
What degree does the MSU Physician Assistant Program award?
The Program will award the Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree.
Clinical Rotations
Where will I do my clinical rotations?
The clinical coordinator determines clinical rotation sites.
If accepted in the MSU MPAS Program, can I select any of my own rotations during my clinical year?
The program's Clinical Coordinator schedules the core clinical curriculum. Students are not required to solicit rotations. Students have two elective rotations and may work with the clinical coordinator in selecting those.
Where do clinical rotations take place?
Many clinical rotations are located throughout Mississippi and neighboring states. Students are able to request rotations in other areas, but all clinical sites must be verified by the Physician Assistant Program. All students may be required to travel out of the Meridian area for clinical rotations and will be responsible for housing and/or related costs.