CASPA opens: Late April (each cycle)
CASPA verified deadline: Jan. 15 (matriculation year)

The University of Tampa PA Program uses a structured, non-rolling admissions process. All applications must be completed and CASPA-verified by the published deadline to be considered. CASPA verification can take several weeks during peak periods, so applicants are encouraged to submit materials early to allow time for verification prior to the deadline.

Application review and ranking: January
Interviews: February
Initial offers released: By March 1
Program start: Late August (matriculation year)

Application

• Apply through CASPA and ensure your application reaches verified status by the published deadline.
• All applicants must meet the program’s published minimum eligibility requirements to be considered.
• The program’s supplemental questions are included within the CASPA application (no separate supplemental fee).
• Required assessments (including Casper) are completed outside of CASPA. Applicants must complete required assessments and release results to the program by the published deadline.

Interviews

• Interview invitations are extended to applicants based on the program’s pre-interview review and rank order.
• Interviews are held in February.
• Admission decisions are made using a final rank-ordered list following completion of interviews.
• Applicants offered admission will receive instructions for next steps, including deposit and onboarding requirements.

Tours

For the latest information on campus tours, visit www.ut.edu/gradvisit

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet all minimum eligibility requirements by the published deadline unless otherwise stated. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview.

CASPA application status

• Submit an application through CASPA and ensure the application reaches verified status by Jan. 15 (matriculation year).

Degree requirement

• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution must be completed prior to matriculation.

Minimum GPA (CASPA-calculated)

• Overall GPA: 3.0 minimum
• Science GPA: 3.0 minimum

Prerequisite completion and grades

• Prerequisite coursework must be completed by the time of application (an extension/permission process may be available for documented circumstances).
• Prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher (C- not accepted).
• Pass/Fail prerequisite science courses are not accepted unless the course was only offered Pass/Fail by the institution (documentation may be required).

Required assessment

• Casper: Applicants must complete Casper and release results to the program by the published deadline. Applicants must meet the program’s minimum Casper threshold to remain eligible for ranking.

Academic and conduct requirements

• Applicants with a dismissal from a graduate or professional program are not eligible for admission.

Citizenship/authorization

• Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

International coursework

• Applicants with coursework completed outside the United States may be required to submit a credential evaluation through a NACES-member organization.

Additional program policies

• The program does not offer advanced placement or transfer credit, including credit for prior graduate coursework, experiential learning or prior health care work experience.

Technical Standards

• Applicants who accept an offer of admission must be able to meet the program’s Technical Standards, with or without approved accommodations. Technical Standards and the accommodation request process are published in the PA Student Handbook. 

All prerequisite coursework must be completed at a regionally accredited institution and reported through CASPA. Prerequisites must be completed by the time of application unless an approved extension/permission process is granted for documented circumstances.

Minimum grades

• All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher (C- not accepted).
• If a prerequisite course is repeated, the program will consider the applicant’s academic preparation using CASPA-reported coursework and CASPA-calculated GPA values.

Time limit and test credit

• The program does not apply a time limit to prerequisite coursework (there is no expiration of prerequisite credits).
• AP and CLEP credit are not accepted to satisfy prerequisite requirements.

Pass/Fail coursework

• Pass/Fail prerequisite science courses are not accepted unless the course was only offered Pass/Fail by the institution. Documentation may be required.

Required Courses

Applicants must complete the following prerequisite courses with associated labs where indicated:

• Two semesters of General Biology with labs
  • The biology requirements may also be satisfied by the following (with lab if applicable): Cell Biology, Genetics, Immunology or Biochemistry.
• One semester of Microbiology with lab
• Two semesters of Human Anatomy and Physiology with labs
  • May be completed as separate Anatomy and Physiology courses, combined A&P sequences or an approved equivalent sequence that includes both anatomy and physiology content with labs
• Two semesters of General Chemistry with labs
  • The chemistry requirements may also be satisfied by organic chemistry or biochemistry
• One Statistics course (not a lab science)
  • May include statistics within biology, health sciences, psychology/education, sociology, criminal justice or mathematics, depending on institutional course designation
• Medical Terminology: one course

Important notes

• A single course may not be used to satisfy more than one prerequisite requirement (for example, Biochemistry cannot be used to satisfy both Biology II and Chemistry II).
• Applicants are encouraged to complete prerequisites that include rigorous science content and labs to support readiness for the PA curriculum.

UTampa Course Equivalencies (for reference)

UTampa students may use the table below as a guide for courses that meet prerequisites. Applicants are not required to complete prerequisites at UTampa.

Recommended Coursework (not required)

The following courses may assist students in preparing for graduate-level medical sciences. These courses are recommended and are not used as separate requirements:

• Biochemistry
• Genetics
• Organic Chemistry
• Educational/Psychology Statistics or Biostatistics

Tips for CASPA course entry

• Enter prerequisite courses accurately in CASPA and ensure official transcripts are submitted early enough for verification by the published deadline.
• Listing courses clearly helps avoid delays in review.

Applicants must complete all required application components by the published deadline. Some requirements are completed within CASPA, and others are completed outside of CASPA.

CASPA Application Components

Supplemental questions

• The program’s supplemental questions are included within the CASPA application (no separate supplemental fee).

Letters of recommendation

• Submit three letters of recommendation through CASPA.
• Letters may come from faculty, coaches, employers, patients or health care providers with whom the applicant has a shadowing or work history.
• If more than three letters are submitted, the program will review the first three received in CASPA.
• Letters from immediate family members or friends are not accepted.
• Letters from a PA or physician are not required.

Required Assessment Completed Outside CASPA

Casper
Casper is a required online situational judgment assessment used as part of the program’s holistic admissions review. Applicants must register for Casper through Acuity Insights, complete the assessment, and select the University of Tampa Physician Assistant Program as a score recipient. Applicants must ensure results are released to the program by the published deadline. (Available test dates and instructions will be posted each cycle.)

Casper information and how to register (PDF)

Exams Not Required

• The PA-CAT is not required.
• The GRE is not required.
• The MCAT is not required.

English Proficiency (if applicable)

Official TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo test scores are required for applicants who have not earned a baccalaureate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States, or an approved institution located in the Commonwealth Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Australia or New Zealand.

• Scores must be official, valid, and received by the published deadline.
• Scores are valid for two years and must be current at the time of application.
• Minimum scores: TOEFL 90, IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 120. The requirement may not be waived.

The University of Tampa PA Program uses a structured, non-rolling admissions process.
 

Eligible applicants are reviewed using the program’s published admissions process, which includes an academic component (Adjusted GPA), a required assessment (Casper), a holistic faculty evaluation, and an interview component (MMI). Applicants are invited to interview based on rank order, and final offers are made from a final rank-ordered list.

Phase 1: Pre-Interview Review and Ranking

Eligible applicants receive a pre-interview score based on:

• Adjusted GPA (overall and science GPA, CASPA-calculated)
• Casper
• Holistic faculty evaluation

Applicants are invited to interview in the order of their rank.

To promote fairness and consistency, the program uses standardized scoring guides and internal thresholds; detailed scoring rubrics and cut scores are not publicly released.

Holistic Faculty Evaluation: Domains

Holistic review is conducted using a standardized rubric aligned to the program’s mission and core values. Faculty reviewers evaluate the CASPA application and supplemental responses using the following domains:

1. Academic readiness in context
2. Sustained load management and resilience
3. Service orientation and community engagement
4. Teamwork, communication, and leadership behaviors
5. Professionalism and integrity indicators

Phase 2: Interview

Interview format (MMI): Selected applicants complete an on-campus Multiple Mini Interview (MMI). The MMI consists of several short stations designed to assess attributes aligned with the program’s core values: Integrity, Compassion, Excellence, Collaboration, Accountability and Leadership.

Applicants are evaluated using standardized rating tools to promote fairness and consistency. The program does not publish station prompts or internal scoring thresholds.

Interview performance contributes to the applicant’s overall evaluation and final rank order.

Final Ranking and Offers of Admission
Final offers of admission are made based on the final rank-ordered list.

Interview (MMI)

Selected applicants are invited to campus to complete a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI). The MMI includes several short stations designed to assess attributes aligned with the program’s core values: integrity, compassion, excellence, collaboration, accountability and leadership. Professional dress is expected.

During the interview process, applicants will be provided with program policies related to professionalism and may be asked to acknowledge expectations for professional conduct. Applicants will also be provided the program’s technical standards and must be able to meet these standards with or without approved accommodations upon admission.

Offers of Admission and Waitlist

Following completion of interviews, the admissions committee reviews applicant materials and interview performance to determine a final rank-ordered list. Offers of admission are made based on rank order. Applicants not initially offered admission may be placed on an alternate list (waitlist). Waitlist offers, when made, are also extended based on rank order as seats become available.

Confirming Enrollment and Deposit

Applicants offered admission must:

• Accept or decline the offer within 1 week of the offer date.
• After accepting the offer, submit a non-refundable enrollment deposit of $1,500 within 2 weeks. The deposit is applied toward tuition.

Post-Offer Requirements

Acceptance into the program is conditional upon completion of required onboarding steps, which may include:

• Submission of final official transcripts and confirmation of degree completion prior to matriculation
• Criminal background check
• Urine drug screen
• Required immunizations (updated annually based on clinical site requirements and current recommendations)
• Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Physical examination and verification of ability to meet technical standards
• Completion of any additional University requirements for incoming graduate students

Details and program policies related to onboarding requirements are published in the PA Student Handbook.

Failure to complete onboarding requirements by published deadlines may result in rescission of an offer of admission.

Travel and Logistics

Applicants are responsible for travel-related expenses. Interview-day logistics (schedule, parking and local accommodations) will be provided to invited applicants.

Technical Standards for Enrollment, Progression and Graduation

Technical standards describe the essential nonacademic abilities and functional requirements necessary for a student to participate in and complete the Physician Assistant Medicine Program safely and effectively. They do not replace the Program’s competencies or milestone expectations.

The examples listed within each technical standard are illustrative and are not intended to be exhaustive. The essential requirement is the student’s ability to perform the functions necessary to participate safely and effectively in the curriculum and demonstrate the Program’s competencies, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Purpose and Relationship to Program Competencies

The University of Tampa Physician Assistant Medicine Program is committed to educating qualified students who can develop the knowledge, clinical skills, professional behaviors and judgment required for entry-level PA practice.

Technical standards identify the functional abilities students need to demonstrate the Program competencies at the required developmental levels. Students must be able to meet these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, throughout enrollment. At graduation, students are expected to meet the Program’s Level 3 competency expectations for entry-level practice.

Applicants who are accepted into the Program must attest to their ability to meet the technical standards or request reasonable accommodation through the University’s designated accessibility process. Enrolled students must continue to meet these standards throughout the didactic, clinical and summative phases of the curriculum.

Observation and Information Acquisition

Students must be able to obtain, interpret and use information presented through educational, laboratory, simulation and clinical experiences.

This includes, but is not limited to, the ability, with or without reasonable accommodation, to:

• observe demonstrations, procedures, physical findings, patient behaviors and changes in patient condition;
• obtain clinically relevant information from patients, families, healthcare professionals, medical records, diagnostic studies and monitoring equipment;
• distinguish and interpret information needed to perform patient assessments and provide safe clinical care; and
• integrate information obtained through appropriate sensory, technological or assistive methods.

The essential requirement is the ability to acquire and interpret clinically relevant information safely and accurately, rather than reliance on any single sensory method.

Communication

Students must be able to communicate effectively, respectfully, accurately and efficiently in academic and clinical settings.

This includes, but is not limited to, the ability, with or without reasonable accommodation, to:

• receive, interpret, and respond to verbal, nonverbal, written and electronic communication;
• communicate effectively with patients, families, peers, faculty, staff, preceptors and members of the healthcare team;
• elicit and convey information in a manner that supports patient understanding, shared decision-making and patient-centered care;
• communicate effectively during urgent, emotionally sensitive or rapidly changing situations;
• create accurate, timely, organized and professional written documentation; and
• use English sufficiently to complete the curriculum, communicate safely in clinical settings and maintain appropriate clinical records.

Motor and Procedural Functions

Students must possess the functional abilities necessary to participate safely in physical examination, laboratory, simulation, procedural and clinical activities.

This includes, but is not limited to, the ability, with or without reasonable accommodation, to:

• perform focused and comprehensive physical examinations;
• use appropriate examination instruments, clinical equipment and safety devices;
• perform or assist with program-defined diagnostic tests, procedures and interventions;
• complete tasks requiring appropriate fine-motor and gross-motor coordination;
• apply aseptic, sterile, infection-prevention and risk-reduction practices;
• respond appropriately during urgent and emergency situations; and
• complete clinical and procedural activities within the safety and performance parameters established for the activity.

Students must be able to provide or direct appropriate assistance during emergencies, including initiating basic life support and participating in program-required emergency-response training.

Cognitive, Integrative and Clinical Reasoning Abilities

Students must possess the cognitive and integrative abilities necessary to acquire, retain, analyze, synthesize and apply information in academic and clinical settings.

This includes, but is not limited to, the ability, with or without reasonable accommodation, to:

• comprehend and apply knowledge in the biomedical, behavioral and clinical sciences;
• recognize and distinguish normal from abnormal findings;
• interpret histories, physical findings, diagnostic studies and other clinical information;
• formulate prioritized differential diagnoses and accurate problem representations;
• select and justify diagnostic and therapeutic interventions;
• develop, implement, evaluate and revise patient-management plans;
• understand spatial, anatomical, physiologic and three-dimensional relationships;
• identify clinically important information in a timely manner;
• solve problems and make decisions in routine, complex, urgent and uncertain situations; and
• recognize limitations, identify learning needs and seek assistance when appropriate.

Behavioral, Interpersonal and Professional Attributes

Students must demonstrate the behavioral self-regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, judgment, reliability and professionalism necessary to function safely and effectively in demanding academic and clinical environments.

This includes, but is not limited to, the ability, with or without reasonable accommodation, to:

• demonstrate integrity, accountability, empathy, compassion and respect;
• interact effectively with individuals from varied backgrounds, identities, experiences and perspectives;
• establish and maintain appropriate professional relationships and boundaries;
• work collaboratively with peers, faculty, staff, patients, families, preceptors and healthcare teams;
• receive, reflect upon and respond constructively to feedback;
• adapt to changing circumstances, uncertainty, unexpected outcomes and competing demands;
• manage stress and maintain professional behavior during physically and mentally demanding situations;
• exercise sound judgment and recognize circumstances requiring assistance or supervision;
• protect patient privacy, confidentiality, and autonomy;
• comply with ethical, legal, academic and professional standards; and
• maintain behavior consistent with patient safety and the responsibilities of the PA profession.

A diagnosis, health condition or disability does not in itself determine whether a student meets this standard. The relevant consideration is whether the student can perform the essential functions of the Program safely and effectively, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Technology, Documentation and Information Management

Students must be able to use the technology and information systems necessary to participate in the curriculum and clinical education.

This includes, but is not limited to, the ability, with or without reasonable accommodation, to:

• access and use the University’s learning-management, communication, testing and educational systems;
• use electronic health records, clinical documentation tools and healthcare information systems;
• access, evaluate and apply medical information and evidence-based resources;
• maintain accurate, timely, secure and professional academic and clinical records;
• comply with information-security, confidentiality and privacy requirements; and
• adapt to new technologies used in education and healthcare.

In-Person Participation

The Physician Assistant Medicine Program is an in-person professional curriculum and cannot be completed entirely through remote participation.

Students must be able to participate in required on-campus, laboratory, simulation, clinical and assessment activities. Limited remote instruction or participation may be authorized by the Program in specific circumstances, but such authorization does not create an option or entitlement to complete the curriculum remotely.

Attendance and participation requirements remain subject to approved reasonable accommodations and University policy.

Certification and Emergency-Response Requirements

Students must meet the knowledge and performance requirements necessary to obtain and maintain Program-required certification in:

• Basic Life Support (BLS);
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS); and
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).

Students must also successfully complete Program-defined physical examination, procedural, simulation and emergency-response assessments within established safety and performance expectations, with approved accommodations when applicable.

Reasonable Accommodation

The University of Tampa and the Physician Assistant Medicine Program are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified students with disabilities in accordance with applicable law and University policy.

Students seeking accommodation must initiate the request through the University’s designated accessibility office. The PA Program does not independently diagnose disabilities or approve accommodations.

Approved accommodations are implemented through collaboration among the student, the accessibility office, the Program and, when applicable, clinical education sites. Accommodations must not fundamentally alter the essential requirements of the curriculum, compromise patient safety, eliminate essential competencies or impose an undue burden.

Students are encouraged to request accommodations as early as possible because some academic, laboratory, simulation and clinical accommodations may require advance planning.

Ongoing Responsibility to Meet the Standards

Technical standards apply throughout the entire Program, including the didactic, clinical and summative phases.

Students must notify the appropriate University office if a change in health, function or circumstances may affect their ability to meet the technical standards or may require a new or modified accommodation.

The Program may require review of a student’s continued ability to meet the technical standards when there is an objective concern related to safety, participation, progression, clinical performance or the ability to demonstrate required competencies. Such review will be conducted in accordance with University policy and applicable disability law.

Questions regarding the PA Program’s technical standards or program-specific requirements may be directed to the Department of Physician Assistant Medicine. Questions or requests concerning disability accommodations should be directed to the University’s designated accessibility office.