Physician Assistant - Admission

The application cycle for the PA cohort beginning May 2021 opened in April 2020 and closes November 1, 2020.

Candidates apply for admission to the MMS physician assistant program using the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Candidates apply online through the CASPA portal and submit official transcripts, GRE scores, recommendations and other related information directly to CASPA. This information is then shared with BW and other PA programs you have chosen during the application process.

The PA program selects candidates to interview between September and January. Admission decisions are made on a semi-rolling basis, with some offers being made soon after the interview or after all interview dates have been completed.

Official transcripts from each college/university attended must be mailed directly to:

CASPA
P.O. Box 9108
Watertown, MA 02471

Once received by CASPA, the transcript verification may take up to four weeks.

Candidates must submit three recommendations directly to CASPA. At least one of the recommendations must be from a physician assistant or physician. The other two should be from health care professionals, a university/college professor or advisor, or a work supervisor or manager.

CASPA applications received by the University without three qualifying recommendations will be considered incomplete on preliminary review and held until timely notification from the applicant that the requirement is fully met. CASPA does not notify the PA program when an application is updated after verification. It is in your best interest to avoid that delay in processing your application by giving your references ample time and following up on their progress.

The GRE general test is required of all applicants to the PA program and must be submitted to CASPA. The program GRE code is 0498 Baldwin Wallace U PA CASPA. The GRE must be taken within the last five years. Strong candidates have GRE scores at or above the 50th percentile in all categories. The MCAT is not used as a substitute for the GRE.

CASPA applications received by the University without the official GRE scores posted (versus self-reported scores) will be considered incomplete on preliminary review and held until timely notification from the applicant that the requirement is fully met. CASPA does not notify the PA program when an application is updated after verification. It is in your best interest to avoid that delay in processing your application. It takes approximately 7-10 business days for the official scores to post after your request is made to Educational Testing Service.

BW's physician assistant program does not require a set number of direct patient-care hours, but direct patient-care experience is considered when evaluating candidates. All patient-care related experience (paid or volunteer) should be included in your CASPA application.

Prerequisite Courses and PA Shadowing Hours

Candidates for the PA program must complete all prerequisite courses at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. Prerequisite courses may be no more than seven years old at the time the program begins. Clinical training and experience from another country brings depth to a candidate's application but does not satisfy or waive other prerequisite and application requirements. Likewise, all candidates must be able to present documentation that they have 40 hours of experience shadowing physician assistants.

Colleges and Universities Attended Outside the United States

Candidates who have attended foreign institutions must provide CASPA with English translated documents as well as an evaluation of courses from World Education Services.

English Proficiency Requirement

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam is required for all candidates who earned their undergraduate or advanced degree outside the United States and for whom English is a second language. Minimum TOEFL score of 550 on the paper-based exam, or 100 on the internet-based exam, must be achieved on a test taken within the last two years.

These score levels are recommended but not required. Students whose English language skills need development may be conditionally admitted and placed in BW’s ESL program provided by the LADO international institute.

Register to take the TOEFL >

International Student Certification of Financial Support

International students who will be enrolling at BW on an F-1 visa must submit a statement of financial support from the student's bank showing acceptable funds on account to support tuition and living expenses while studying at Baldwin Wallace University. Students must submit this completed form before Baldwin Wallace will issue an I-20.

Once completed applications are received from CASPA, PA faculty will select candidates they would like to interview as part of the admission process. If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted for this purpose. Interviews generally take place between September and January.

Students admitted to the nursing, physician assistant, public health or speech-language pathology program within the School of Health Sciences at Baldwin Wallace University must be able to meet the technical standards for health sciences. The highest priority is placed upon developing graduates who are competent, caring health-care professionals who possess the skills of life-long learning needed to incorporate new knowledge and methods into their practice settings and adapt to an ever-changing health-care environment. Therefore, the following specific attributes are essential for admission, progression and graduation from the programs in the School of Health Sciences.

• General
• Observational
• Communication
• Motor
• Intellectual and analytical
• Behavioral, emotional and social

The University endorses the Americans with Disabilities Act and will endeavor to provide reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities while ensuring the academic integrity of its programs. Students with disabilities who are seeking accommodations should contact the Baldwin Wallace University Office of Disability Services for Students, room 207 Ritter Library. Baldwin Wallace University does not discriminate in admission or treatment of students on the basis of disability.

General: The student is expected to possess functional use of the senses of vision, touch, hearing, taste and smell, so that data received by the senses may be integrated, analyzed and synthesized in a consistent and accurate manner in order to gather significant information needed to effectively evaluate the stakeholders, which include patients, clients and/or community members.

Observational: The student must have sufficient capacity to accurately observe and participate in the lecture hall, laboratory, clinical settings, field work, and with stakeholders at a distance and close at hand, including observing nonverbal and verbal signals to assess alterations in stakeholders in a variety of settings.

Communication: The student must able to communicate proficiently in both oral and written English language. The student must be able to use verbal and nonverbal communication to elicit, describe and perceive information from stakeholders and professionals across a variety of settings (i.e., classroom, clinical, medical, field work, etc.). Each student must have the ability to modify their communication style to meet the needs of stakeholders.

Motor: Based on the profession, the student must be able to perform gross and fine motor movements with sufficient coordination needed to assess and treat stakeholder populations. The student must develop the psychomotor skills reasonably needed to perform or assist with procedures, treatments, management and operation of diagnostic and therapeutic instrumentation/equipment utilized in the general and emergent care of stakeholders. The student must be able to maintain consciousness and equilibrium; have sufficient levels of postural control, neuromuscular control, and eye-to-hand coordination; and possess the physical and mental stamina to meet the demands associated with extended periods of sitting, standing, moving and physical exertion required for satisfactory performance in the classroom and field work settings.

Intellectual and Analytical: The student must be able to utilize problem-solving skills that are crucial to their area of practice within the health sciences. Problem solving involves the abilities to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of structures; to measure, calculate, reason, analyze and synthesize objective and subjective data; and to make decisions that reflect consistent and thoughtful deliberation and sound judgment. A student must have the capacity to read and comprehend research literature. Each student must demonstrate mastery of these skills and the ability to incorporate new information from peers, teachers and research literature to formulate sound judgment in stakeholder assessment and planning.

Behavioral, Emotional and Social: Flexibility, empathy, integrity, motivation, effective interpersonal skills and concern for others are personal attributes required of students in the health sciences. The student must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities; exercise of good judgment; prompt completion of all responsibilities in the classroom and field settings; and development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with stakeholders and professionals. Each student must be able to effectively self-regulate emotional status within professional contexts in order to exercise stable, sound judgment and to complete assessment and interventional activities. The ability to establish rapport and maintain sensitive, interpersonal relationships with stakeholders from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds is critical for practice within the fields. The student must be able to effectively manage stress, adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, graciously accept constructive criticism, and learn to function cooperatively and efficiently in the face of the uncertainties inherent within their area of practice.

When applying for admission to the physician assistant program, candidates are asked whether they have ever been found guilty of a misdemeanor or felony that was not expunged or sealed. Candidates with a criminal record that has not been expunged or sealed are not eligible for enrollment in the PA program at Baldwin Wallace University.

All students who enroll in the PA program are required to complete both a civilian and a federal background check through the Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation (BCI&I). Forms and details will be provided to all students who qualify for admission to the program. Students will also be required to complete both the civilian and federal background checks in preparation for the PANCE exam.

Although students with an expunged record may be eligible for enrollment and clinical placement in BW’s PA program, an expunged or sealed record may impact a student’s eligibility to qualify for a professional license following completion of the program. Eligibility for a professional license varies by state and may be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the professional licensing board.

The PA program at Baldwin Wallace University recognizes its responsibility to maintain a drug-free educational environment and to ensure that students provide safe, high quality health care services. All new students will be subject to substance abuse testing as part of the pre-enrollment health requirements. Because the drug testing is provided through the BW Health Center, the cost of this service is included in the comprehensive program cost.

As a guest in the health care facilities, students will be subject to the policies of the agency, which may include random urine testing. If drug or alcohol usage is detected in the clinical settings, students will be tested at the clinical agency, in accordance with agency policies. Detection of drug or alcohol usage while in the clinical setting will result in dismissal from the PA program.

Students enrolling in the PA program must provide their own personal health insurance while a student at Baldwin Wallace University. Proof of insurance will be required prior to participating in any clinical experience. Neither the University nor clinical affiliates cover student health-related incidents.

Employment while in the program is highly discouraged for all physician assistant students. The 24-month program comprised of lectures, laboratories and clinical rotations is a rigorous and demanding curriculum that requires a significant commitment to study and work within the program, leaving minimal opportunity for part-time employment.