Admissions and aid – Master of Health Services — Physician Assistant Studies Program

Please note, some requirements and prerequisites were changed for applicants seeking admission for 2024 and beyond. Those specific requirements are noted.

Online applications for summer incoming classes in the Master of Health Services — Physician Assistant Studies Degree Program are available through Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Applications open each year in late April and close at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern time) Aug. 1.

• A completed bachelor's degree
• A minimum bachelor's-degree GPA of 3.0
• A minimum 3.0 GPA in all science prerequisite coursework is required (for those seeking 2024 enrollment and beyond)
• A minimum of 1,000 hours of paid or volunteer experience in a clinical environment with direct patient exposure. Hands-on, paid, patient-care clinical experience is preferred. The most competitive applicants demonstrate paid experiences (for those seeking 2024 enrollment and beyond).
• Statement of purpose submitted through CASPA, additional essays required for the UC Davis Graduate Studies Application
• The application process may require an interview
• The GRE is not required
• TOEFL or IELTS (international graduates only)
• Three letters of recommendation - refer to CASPA website - for more information
• Official transcripts from each institution attended (submitted online through CASPA website)
• International graduate requirements
• FAQs

Students applying for the physician assistant program must complete a Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) application and meet selection criteria. Following that process, a select pool of qualified applicants will receive an invitation to apply to the UC Davis Graduate Studies application. All invited applicants must meet UC Davis graduate admissions requirements.

Admissions is competitive and decisions are made on an individual basis. Meeting some or all of the admission criteria does not guarantee admission into the program.

As described in the school’s Admissions Statement, the admissions committee is dedicated to a holistic admission process to consider the experiences, attributes and academic metrics of each applicant and to recognize their unique potential as a future clinician. The ultimate goal is to admit a culturally and cognitively diverse cohort of students for each program, whose interests are compatible with the Vision and Mission of the school in order to leverage the university’s strengths in interdisciplinary learning, innovative technology, state-of-the-art, evidence-based practice and transformative leadership. 

The most competitive applicants possess unique backgrounds and attributes that align with the school’s values and experiences that help advance our mission and vision. Examples include students who:

• are the first in their family to attend college
• speak more than one language
• are from a health shortage area
• graduated from a high school with low graduation rates
• come from a military background (including veterans, active duty or reserves)

Because a key target is to graduate highly qualified students that reflect the rich, diverse population of California, additional consideration is given to those who received childhood federal or state assistance, whose childhood was in an isolated county or rural area, and finally, those from Northern and Central California.

All prerequisites are required at the college level from an accredited school and must be included on the submitted transcript as part of the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) application process. Prerequisites may not be in progress at the time of application submission. Each prerequisite is expected to be one full course, either a quarter or a semester, and a minimum of three units. Completion of prerequisite coursework from an accredited, online academic institution is acceptable. Advanced Placement scores awarded in high school do NOT fulfill prerequisites. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better:

• One course in human anatomy with lab*
• One course in human physiology with lab*
• Or human anatomy and physiology series: Part I and Part II with lab**
  (NOTE: Mammalian, vertebrate or animal anatomy or physiology do not fulfill this requirement.)
• One semester or quarter in organic chemistry or biochemistry with lab
  (NOTE: Introduction to Organic Chemistry does not fulfill this requirement)
• One course in microbiology or bacteriology with lab
• One course in English composition
• Two courses in social sciences. Ideal courses provide exposure to human or organizational behavior — such as psychology, sociology, ethnic studies, women's studies or cultural anthropology. 
  (NOTE: Social science courses may be completed in two different subject areas or within the same subject area.)

*It is required that human anatomy and physiology are completed within five years of submitting an application (for those seeking 2024 enrollment and beyond).

**Physician assistant program applicants may complete a combined Human Anatomy and Human Physiology series course: Part I and Part II with labs. Series courses are offered in two parts and are completed over the course of two quarters or two semesters. Series courses must be completed in full and must include a lab component. If an applicant only completes one part of the series course, the student must additionally complete a course in either Human Anatomy or Human Physiology to fulfill the requirement. Mammalian or animal does not fulfill this requirement.

Visit the P.A. FAQ page for additional details about the physician assistant program requirements and prerequisites. 

View sample P.A. prerequisites.

Information about financial support and aid for this program can be found on our central Financial Support page