PA Program Admissions

Application Process 

  • Students interested in applying to the FDU PA Program should apply through CASPA. 
  •  The CASPA application opens on April 24, 2025. Applications must be completed and verified no later than August 1, 2025.  
  • The FDU PA Program operates on a rolling admissions basis, applicants are encouraged to apply early. 
  • There is no supplemental application for the FDU PA Program, however there are required custom questions within the FDU CASPA application. 

Academic Standards for Enrollment 

  • Overall GPA of 3.2 or better 
  • Science GPA of 3.0 or better 
  • Completion of all prerequisite courses

Admission Requirements and Education 

The educational requirements for admission include a bachelor’s or higher degree and completion of the following courses within the last ten years: 

  • Anatomy and Physiology I, or Anatomy with lab 
  • Anatomy and Physiology II, or Physiology with lab 
  • General Chemistry I with lab 
  • General Chemistry II with lab 
  • Genetics
  • Microbiology with lab 
  • Organic Chemistry I with lab 
  • Organic Chemistry II with lab, or Biochemistry with lab 
  • Psychology 
  • Statistics, Biostatistics, or Applied Statistics 

Each of the above courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C+ 

We encourage applicants to complete all prerequisites before applying but will review applications with no more than two courses in progress. All prerequisite courses in-progress must be satisfactorily completed with official transcripts submitted by September 1. 

Three letters of recommendation will be required which may be provided from employers, supervisors, professors, or others who may be able to reflect on the applicant’s professional and educational achievements and potential. These letters should be on formal letterhead and include the reference’s contact information (i.e., e-mail address, phone number, or both). These letters should be uploaded via the CASPA application. 

Work/Volunteer Experience 

  • The FDU PA Program requires a minimum of 400 hours of patient care and healthcare related experiences. A completed Patient Care Experience Form must be included in the CASPA application for each category of patient care, healthcare-related experience, and PA shadowing. Please complete form(s), have signed by the supervisor of the experience, and upload to the relevant category on the CASPA application.  
  • We strongly recommend that a minimum of 25 hours include PA shadowing to better familiarize oneself with the profession.  
  • The above hours can be obtained through work or volunteer commitments. The program accepts a wide range of patient care or healthcare related experiences including, but not limited to, certified athletic trainer, certified nursing assistant, ECG technician, emergency medicine technician/paramedic, medical assistant, medical scribe, patient care technician/assistant, pharmacy technician, phlebotomist, physical therapy aide, registered nurse, respiratory therapist, and ultrasound sonographer. These experiences do not have to be paid to count as patient care or healthcare related experiences but the greater the level of involvement, the better. 

Interview Process

The most qualified applicants will be invited for an interview with the Fairleigh Dickinson University School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and, from this group, a cohort of 40 students will be selected. The selection process will reflect on academic background and potential; healthcare, work, and volunteer experiences; leadership skills; and motivation, understanding of the PA profession and professional responsibilities, professional demeanor, and interpersonal/verbal skills.

Acceptance Notification

All candidates will be notified of the admission committee’s decision which may include acceptance to the program or placement on a wait list. A ranked wait list from candidates who have been interviewed will be maintained. Placement on a wait list does not guarantee admission into the program. Should an accepted candidate withdraw from the program prior to the start of classes, the position will be offered to candidates on the wait list.

Advanced Standing

The PA Program does not grant prospective or enrolled PA students a waiver of required coursework or advanced standing. Due to the sequential construction of the PA curriculum, PA students are required to attend all courses and rotations in the didactic and clinical phases and cannot advance in the curriculum without completing all curricular components.  While the program requires prerequisite courses (such as anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and genetics) prior to enrollment, those prerequisites do not substitute for more advanced medical science courses offered within the curriculum of the PA Program.