Admissions

The Centralized Application Service for PAs (CASPA) will open in late April and close on April 1st of the following year (applications must be completed and verified by CASPA by 11:59 PM EST on April 1st). The PA Program will follow a rolling admissions process with on-site* interviews beginning each September through Spring for upcoming August matriculation. For more information, please see the Berry PA Program information available in CASPA.

A rubric, to be applied to all applicants, has been developed for the below requirements and invitation-only on-campus interviews. Likert scales will be used as well as both quantitative and qualitative data. Prescreening for minimum requirements will be completed before invitations for interviews, then top applicants from rolling admissions will be invited for a required all-day interview. 

Please carefully review the below information and the Frequently Asked Questions as many of your questions may be answered here. For further information, please contact our Program Manager, Polly Evans-Thomas, at pevansthomas@berry.edu.

NOTE: Meeting the minimum admissions requirements and/or preferences does not guarantee an interview or admission to the Berry PA Program. The Berry PA Program admissions committee will review applications holistically through a rolling admissions process. 

*Virtual interviews will not be offered. All interviews will be conducted on the Berry Campus in Mt. Berry, Ga.

Begin your CASPA application


Admission Process Timeline

ITEM TIMELINE
CASPA Application Open April (See CASPA website)
Applications reviewed by Admissions Committee As received/rolling admissions
Interview offers made Rolling, starting in August and ending in mid-spring
Interviews conducted September through late spring
Offers of admissions extended Rolling basis, starting in September
Seat deposit Due within 14 days following offer
Immunizations and outstanding requirements August 1st prior to start of program

 

Admission Requirements

Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. legal permanent resident to qualify for admission to the program.

The PA Program does not offer or permit advanced placement or waive any program prerequisite or course requirement.

  • A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution will be required prior to matriculation. This degree can be from any field and does not need to be a specific science degree or pre-professional degree.
  • Applicants who completed coursework from a college or university outside of the U.S. must submit a transcript evaluation from the World Education Services (WES) to the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).

  • All courses must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university.
  • To ensure standardization and fairness among applicants, we are unable to waive any prerequisite course requirement for any applicant.
  • Prerequisite courses must be completed within five years of application with a minimum grade of C per course.
  • At the time of application, only two prerequisites may be outstanding.
  • If admitted to the program on a conditional basis, the student must earn a minimum of C in the outstanding prerequisites and earn the minimum GPA requirements for entry into the program. If both requirements are not met, the conditional applicant will forfeit their acceptance and not be permitted to matriculate. The student may reapply during the next cycle.
  • NOTE: Higher individual course grades will result in higher weighting on the Berry PA Program admissions rubric. Meaning As are weighted higher than Bs, and Bs are weighted higher than Cs.
Prerequisite Coursework Berry Equivalent Notes
Human Anatomy- 4 credits BIO 206 & 207 8 credits total Lab required
Human Physiology- 4 credits Lab required
General Chemistry-8 credits CHM 108 & 109 8 credits Lab required
Microbiology- 3 credits BIO 301 or 201  
Biochemistry- 3 credits CHM 341  
Organic Chemistry- 4 credits CHM 221 or 223 Lab required
Genetics-4 credits BIO 304 Lab required
Psychology- 3 credits Any  
Statistics- 3 credits MAT111  
English composition/writing RHW 102 3 credits  

  • Prerequisite Course Grade and GPA requirement
    All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of 'C' or higher, and all applicants must have a cumulative Prerequisite Course Grade Point Average (as calculated by CASPA) of 3.0 or higher.
  • Cumulative Science GPA Requirement (Biology, Chemistry, Physics or BCP courses)
    All applicants must have a cumulative overall BCP Course Grade Point Average (as calculated by CASPA) of 3.2 or higher.
  • Cumulative Overall GPA Requirement
    All applicants must have a cumulative overall Grade Point Average (calculated by CASPA) of 3.0 or higher for all undergraduate and graduate courses.
  • NOTE: Higher GPA will result in higher weighting on the Berry PA Program admissions rubric.

  • All candidates must submit unofficial GRE scores to CASPA at time of their application and official scores by time of interview.
  • MCAT and PCAT scores are not accepted in place of GRE scores.
  • There is no minimum score requirement. Scores will be reviewed holistically with the candidate's application and compared to the applicant pool.
  • GRE must be taken within five years of date of application.
  • Berry PA Program GRE Designated Institution (DI) Code 1269

  • Applicants must be fully proficient in the use of the English language.
  • If English is not your primary (i.e., native) language, the Program may require you to complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language Test (TOEFL). If required, the minimum total score needed is 90.
  • Please submit at the time of application.

Healthcare-related experience is required.

Patient contact and/or clinical experiences may include health-related, patient care, research, shadowing, and volunteer experiences as defined by CASPA. Experiences – Liaison (liaisonedu.com).

There is no minimum number of hours required. Generally, competitive applicants should have at least 500 accrued patient contact and/or clinical experience hours at the time of application submission. This requirement will be reviewed holistically with the candidate's application and compared to the applicant pool at the time of application.

  • Applicants must provide three letters of reference at the time of their application, with valid contact information for the reference.
  • It is important that the letters of reference be completed by individuals who have first-hand knowledge of your skills, strengths, and weaknesses.
  • References from friends, family members, relatives, and personal healthcare providers are not appropriate and will not be accepted.
  • One letter must be from a nationally certified and state-licensed Physician Assistant.
  • One letter must be from a professor with whom the student completed one or more college-level courses.
  • One letter must be from a healthcare professional (i.e., physician, nurse, healthcare supervisor).
  • NOTE: References without reservations will receive a point on the Berry PA Program admissions rubric. References with reservations will receive no point.

The following preferences are in keeping with the mission and values of the Berry PA program. Meeting any/all of the preferences does not guarantee an invitation for an interview or acceptance to the program.

  • Berry student in good standing and graduates: confirmed with transcripts. 
  • Veterans with honorable discharge: confirmed with DD214 discharge papers. 
  • Applicants from a medically underserved area: confirm with the applicant's home address and compare to the posted federal website link https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/shortage-area/mua-find.  
  • Applicants from Appalachia:  confirm with the applicant's home address and compare to the posted federal website link https://www.arc.gov/appalachian-counties-served-by-arc/.  
  • NOTE: For each confirmed preference (applicants are required to submit proof to the PA program through CASPA), applicants will receive one additional point on the Berry PA Program admissions rubric.

Applicants are required to submit a personal statement in CASPA at the time of application. Personal statements will be reviewed holistically and compared to the applicant pool. AI-generated personal statements will not be accepted, whether in part or whole. Please know that if invited for an in-person interview, a handwritten essay will be required on-site. For more information, please contact the PA Program Manager.

  • Prior to matriculation, students must hold current certification in American Heart Association Basic Life Support (AHA BLS).
  • Students must maintain continuous certification throughout the Program.

It is strongly recommended, but not required, that applicants successfully complete a medical terminology course or certification.

Interviews

An interview is required for acceptance into the program and is by invitation only. Applicants are selected for interviews based on a holistic evaluation of their application and supporting materials.

The interview day will consist of an introduction to the program and the faculty and staff. Students will complete individual interviews (two each) with faculty/staff, a group discussion, and a handwritten essay. We hope to engage prospective applicants to mindfully review our program curriculum, campus, faculty and staff while considering their personal goals for a PA education.

Required Seat Deposit

Upon receiving an offer of admission, candidates will have 14 days to accept the position and conditions of acceptance and to pay the $1000 security deposit to secure their position. If the student matriculates, the security deposit will be applied to the student’s tuition.

Matriculation Requirements

All conditionally accepted students must complete all outstanding requirements and provide official documentation as required to the PA Program prior to matriculation, or the conditional acceptance will be forfeited. The student may reapply during the next cycle.

  • Health insurance is required of all students in the PA program and must be secured prior to the first day of class and must be continued throughout the program.
  • Students are required to maintain proof of insurance in EXXAT.
  • Students are encouraged to check for competitive insurance policies and rates via the federal government's official ACA website - healthcare.gov (you may be eligible to enroll out of the typical enrollment period) and the healthcare.org general health insurance marketplace website, as well as local healthcare insurance vendors. Additionally, students are encouraged to check with the local medical practices and urgent care facilities to see which insurance is accepted by those facilities.

The PA program adheres to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Recommended Vaccines for Healthcare Workers. All students must provide documentation that these immunizations and TB testing has been completed prior to matriculation and must maintain immunizations and annual TB testing documentation throughout their training.

Additionally, students must complete and provide documentation of a health examination clearance to participate in the PA program. The PA Program Health Examination Clearance Form will be shared with deposited students by the Program Manager.

Exceptions to the above will be considered on a case-by-case basis, only with documentation from a medical provider, and must be discussed prior to matriculation. Personal/religious reasons for declining immunizations will not be considered due to requirements for clinical rotation placements. The PA Program is not in control, nor does it have input into policies, procedures, and protocols at clinical institutions. It is important to understand that participating in some clinical experiences may be prohibited without completion of immunization requirements, even for valid medical and/or personal/religious reasons, resulting in the program’s inability to place students at clinical sites and potentially resulting in a significant delay in graduation. The PA program cannot guarantee timely placement under these circumstances. It is for this reason that the program requires students to discuss such issues prior to matriculation.

  • Regular drug testing at many organizations is a requirement of individual institutions, state laws and regulations, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Individuals working in health care facilities often must consent to and be cleared to work through drug testing. Furthermore, facility privileges, licenses, and/or certifications for health care providers may be revoked, limited, suspended, or denied for habituation or addiction to alcohol or drugs or being impaired by alcohol or drugs in clinical practice.
  • Criminal background checks at many organizations are a requirement of individual institutions, state laws and regulations, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Individuals working in health care facilities often must consent to and be cleared to work through criminal background investigations.
  • Prior to matriculation, students must successfully pass a national background check and a comprehensive drug screening. Berry College PA Program will provide specific information regarding the company, deadlines, and instructions on how to complete.
  • All background checks, medical screening exams, and drug screens are completed at the student’s expense.
  • Students should notify the Program Director if they are convicted or may be convicted of a felony or misdemeanor while in the program or have a pending criminal case.

A PC (not Macintosh/Apple) laptop computer (not a tablet/Chromebook, etc.) with reliable internet access is required for the program. Additional medical applications may be recommended as part of individual courses. Recommendations for minimum computer requirements are provided to students prior to matriculation.


Technical Standards (A3.13e)

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) defines technical standards as “nonacademic requirements for participation in an educational program or activity. They include physical, cognitive, and behavioral abilities required for satisfactory completion of all curriculum aspects and entry into the profession.” They are designed to ensure that students have the necessary knowledge, skills, and attributes to meet the demands of medical practice and provide safe and effective patient care. These standards are prerequisites for entrance to, continuation within, and graduation from the Berry College Physician Associate (PA) Program. Importantly, they may also be prerequisites to licensure by state professional boards. Reasonable accommodation will be offered for persons with disabilities in conjunction with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The Accessibility Resources Office in the Academic Success Center evaluates all requests for academic accommodation at Berry College. Fulfilling the technical standards with reasonable accommodation does not guarantee that a program graduate can fulfill the technical standards for employment, residency/fellowship, or certifying board. Candidates with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Accessibility Resources Office in the Academic Success Center early to discuss accommodation needs.  

Compliance with technical standards will be assessed regularly throughout the program. By accepting the admissions offer, the student verifies they meet these technical standards. They must maintain them during their time as a Berry PA student. Students are obligated to alert the PA Program promptly of any change in their ability to meet the technical standards. Students are subject to dismissal if they do not remain in compliance with the minimum technical standards of the Berry PA Program during the entire course of study if they do not participate fully in all aspects of PA training, or if they do not meet minimum competencies for entry-level practice (with or without reasonable accommodation). The following are the Berry PA Program technical standards: 

  1. Observation and Sensory Functions: Students must demonstrate the ability to observe and assess patients accurately, including visual, auditory and tactile observations. This involves but is not limited to differentiating color changes, interpreting diagnostic images and perceiving non-verbal cues. 
  2. Communication: Effective communication skills, including speaking, writing and listening, are crucial for PAs. Students must be able to communicate clearly and sensitively. 
  3. Motor and Sensory Functions: Students must demonstrate the motor skills required to perform basic clinical procedures, such as physical examinations, diagnostic tests and therapeutic interventions. They must demonstrate the necessary coordination, dexterity and tactile sensitivity.  
  4. Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities: Students must demonstrate strong intellectual and conceptual abilities to assimilate, analyze and synthesize information quickly and accurately.  
  5. Behavioral and Social Attributes: Students must demonstrate appropriate behavioral and social attributes as typically expected in the profession and as specifically outlined in course learning objectives throughout the program, including but not limited to emotional stability, empathy and professionalism, which are necessary for professional practice.  
  6. Ethical and Legal Standards: Students must adhere to high ethical principles and legal regulations governing healthcare practice.
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