A. West Liberty University is a four-year state-assisted institution.

A. Yes. – WLU residence life.

A. The estimated total cost of the program including tuition, books, fees, etc.

A. Assistance with tuition funding may be obtained through the Financial Aid Office.

A. Yes. We recommend that if you have not completed a FASFA, that you do this right away, FASFA application.  Once you complete the FASFA, please contact the Tuition Assistance Office .

A.  At this time, no grants or scholarships are provided by the program.

A. One class will be admitted each July.

A. The following are preferences and not prerequisites:

• A background in a health-related field
• Community service
• West Virginia residency
• West Liberty University graduate

A. Your chances of getting into the program are influenced by the characteristics of the applicant pool and include factors such as GPA, references, interview performance and number of applicants.

A.  Our program begins the first week of July each year.

A. The physician assistant program is a 24-month long program and consists of 12 months of didactic course work and 12 months of clinical experience.

A. For the class beginning in July, 2024, early interview sessions will begin September, 2023.

A. Students are only permitted to have 2 prerequisite courses in progress at the time of application.  All prerequisite requirements must be completed and verified before matriculation by submission of an official transcript.  Prerequisites may NOT be waived.

A. The prerequisites for applying to the program.

A.  AP credit will be accepted for those applicants receiving grade of 4 or better in the following courses:

1.  Humanities/Social Science prerequisite (3 credits)
2.  Psychology (3 credits)
3.  English and/or Writing (6 credits)

**Please note** 

If the applicant enters their undergraduate University receiving AP credit for any of the other prerequisite courses, those courses will not meet the requirements for the P.A. program.  An applicant will meet the prerequisites by either:

1. Taking the same number of credits of advanced classes in the subject area at the major’s level (preferred) -or-
2. By retaking the prerequisite courses at the collegiate level.

A.  No.

A. No.

A. No, however, it is preferable for the “science specific” course prerequisites to have been completed within the past 10 years.

A. The applicant must have a total overall GPA of 3.0, as well as a total overall Science GPA of 3.0.  Applications received with either GPA’s falling below a 3.0 will NOT meet the GPA prerequisites and therefore, will not be reviewed by our faculty review committee.

A.   Yes, All applicants must take, report and submit results for the GRE  (Graduate Records Examination)  to CASPA using our PA “PROGRAM SPECIFIC”  GRE code: 4027.  Note: the “GRE test at home” option is acceptable due to Coronavirus.

The MCAT is not required to apply to the program.

A. On-line laboratories for any of the “science specific” prerequisite courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis, due to COVID-19.

A. All candidates must be able to pass a background check and a drug test before being admitted to the program. Students must also pass subsequent background checks and drug tests once admitted to the program. Students must also meet the Technical Requirements.

A. Applications will be gathered through CASPA, a central applications agency for physician assistant programs.   Application procedures are found on the Admissions page.

A. There is a $25.00 application fee which should be submitted on-line.

A.  It is mandatory for any applicant who would like to be considered for an EARLY interview spot to have all of the following items submitted into our program & CASPA:

1.  CAPSA application with a “verified” status
2.  WLU supplemental application with $25.00 application fee
3.  Graduate Records Examination Score (GRE):  submit directly to CASPA using GRE code #4027.  GRE status must also be coded “Official” by CASPA

Once again, all of the above items must be done by the early interview deadline of August 1st to be considered for an early interview spot.

To be considered for a seat in any one of our interview sessions, it is mandatory that the following items be completed and received by our program on or before the cycle’s deadline date of October 1, 2023, otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete:

1.  CAPSA application with a “verified” status
2.  WLU supplemental application with $25.00 application fee
3.  General GRE examination

There will be no exceptions.   Applications received after the deadline will not be reviewed by our faculty review committee.

A. Whether you are invited for an interview depends on the make-up of the applicant pool. The most qualified candidates will be invited for an interview. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview.

A. Our program offers seats & accepts interviewees on a rolling basis.  All applicants will have been notified of their statuses, no later than mid-June each year.

A. Upon successful completion of the program, candidates will be awarded the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) degree.

A. Yes, WLU has a Career Services Office.  Services include interviewing strategies, resume preparation, networking, and job leads.