Physician Assistant Frequently Asked Questions

 

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Physician Assistant Frequently Asked Questions

Physician Assistant Studies Master of Science – physician assistant FAQ at WLU

FAQs

Program

• Q. What type of institution is West Liberty University?
  A. West Liberty University is a four-year state-assisted institution.
• Q. Is housing available on campus?
  A. Yes. – WLU residence life.
• Q. How much will the program cost?
  A. The estimated total cost of the program including tuition, books, fees, etc.
• Q. Does the institution provide assistance with tuition funding?
  A. Assistance with tuition funding may be obtained through the Financial Aid Office.
• Q. Can I apply for Tuition Assistance?
  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 .
• Q . Does the physician assistant program provide grants or scholarships?
  A.  At this time, no grants or scholarships are provided by the program.
• Q. How many classes are admitted each year?
  A. One class will be admitted each July.
• Q. Are there preferences in the selection process?
  A. The following are preferences and not prerequisites:
  • A background in a health-related field
  • Community service
  • West Virginia residency
  • West Liberty University graduate
• Q. What are my chances of getting into the program?
  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.
• Q. When does the Physician Assistant program at West Liberty University begin?
  A.  Our program begins the first week of July each year.
• Q. How long is the course of study?
  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.
• Q. When will interviews begin?
  A. For the class beginning in July, 2024, early interview sessions will begin September, 2023.
• Q. Can I be admitted to the program while still completing prerequisites for my undergraduate degree?
  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.
• Q. What are the prerequisites for applying to the physician assistant program?
  A. The prerequisites for applying to the program.
• Q. Will AP Credit/Courses be acceptable to satisfy prerequisites?
  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.
• Q. Can prerequisites be completed outside of the United States?
  A.  No.
• Q. Can prerequisites be waived?
  A. No.
• Q. Is there a time-limit on courses taken previously?
  A. No, however, it is preferable for the “science specific” course prerequisites to have been completed within the past 10 years.
• Q. What GPA must I have to apply to the program?
  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.
• Q. Does your program accept on-line laboratories?
  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.
• Q. Are there additional requirements for the program?
  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.
• Q. How do I apply to the program?
  A. Applications will be gathered through CASPA, a central applications agency for physician assistant programs.   Application procedures are found on the Admissions page.
• Q. Is there a fee associated with applying to the program?
  A. There is a $25.00 application fee which should be submitted on-line.
• Q. What requirements are there to be considered for an early interview?
  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
• Q. What is the application cycle’s deadline?
  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
• Q. If I meet the minimum requirements, will I be invited for an interview?
  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.
• Q. When will I be notified if I am accepted into the program?
  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.
• Q. What degree will be given upon successful completion of the program?
  A. Upon successful completion of the program, candidates will be awarded the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) degree.
• Q. After program completion, is job search assistance provided?
  A. Yes, WLU has a Career Services Office.  Services include interviewing strategies, resume preparation, networking, and job leads.