Physician Assistant, Master of Science

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

Summer Semester

Total: 6 credits

Fall Semester

Total: 12 credits 

Spring Semester

Total: 12 credits

1. Medical Knowledge
   1. Demonstrate current knowledge about basic and clinical health sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care, disease prevention, diagnosis, and management.
   2. Demonstrate knowledge of the anatomy and physiology, disease etiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, differential diagnoses, management, and appropriate interventions for general medical and surgical conditions.
2. Interpersonal and Communication Skills
   1. Demonstrate organized and clear interpersonal, verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families, and health professionals.
3. Patient Care
   1. Integrate an appropriate contextual patient history, physical examination findings and appropriately order diagnostic tests for patient assessment to form a differential diagnosis.
   2. Provide individualized effective patient-centered assessment and care to diverse populations that is safe, evidence-based, culturally competent, and equitable.
   3. Counsel and educate a patient effectively.
   4. Explain the role of all members of the healthcare team and demonstrate collaboration to provide the highest quality of care.
4. Clinical Reasoning and Problem Solving
   1. Utilize investigative, problem-solving, evidence-based decision making, and critical analysis in clinical situations.
   2. Exhibit fundamental skills in self-directed learning and self-awareness to identify strengths, improvement goals, address deficiencies, and recognize limits in knowledge and expertise.
5. Clinical and Technical Skills
   1. Demonstrate ability to obtain a medical history and perform a physical examination.
   2. Safely and effectively perform medical, diagnostic, and surgical procedures considered essential for the practice specialty.
6. Professional Behaviors
   1. Adhere to ethical and legal principles and standards of care that govern the medical profession and the delivery of healthcare.
   2. Demonstrate compassion, empathy, integrity, and respect for others and accountability to patients, society, and the profession.

Can I meet with a PA program faculty member to review my application and transcripts?
Can I meet with a PA program faculty member to discuss why I wasn’t accepted into the program?
The program does not offer pre-review of applications, transcripts, or applicant competitiveness. Due to volume, the program cannot provide individualized course or transcript evaluations. 
Similarly, the program cannot confirm if your patient care experience qualifies in advance.

Where can I get information on how best to improve or enhance my application to the program?
The program offers Informational Sessions and Graduate Open House sessions which are purposed to offer prospective applicants the opportunity to learn more about the program admission requirements and have their admission-related questions answered. Informational and open house session dates and times will be posted on the University webpage. You may also contact the Office of Graduate Admission at [email protected] for updates regarding upcoming sessions.

What is a competitive applicant?
Competitive applicants typically exceed minimum GPA and patient care requirements and demonstrate strong academic and clinical preparation.

How do I apply to the St. John’s University PA program?
How do I submit my application to the St. John’s University PA program?

To apply to the Physician Assistant program at St. John’s University, you must fill out an application with CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistant Programs). Click here to apply

Applications sent directly to the College or PA program are not accepted.

Can I submit my application on the deadline?

No. Applications must be VERIFIED by CASPA by the deadline, not just submitted.

Do I need to pay an application fee to CASPA?

Yes, the CASPA application fee is paid to CASPA. CASPA fees are dependent on the number of programs you submit. For more information regarding CASPA fees, please visit the CASPA website.

Is there a supplemental fee? 
Are there other fees required before my application can be reviewed? 
Do I need to fill out a supplemental application?

There is an internal St. John's University supplemental application fee of $100 to be paid once your application is verified by CASPA and received by St. John's University. Applications are not able to be reviewed until the supplemental fee is paid.

There is no supplemental application required. 

What are the admission criteria for the St. John’s University PA program?
Which prerequisites do I need to enter the St. John’s University PA program?

To view the admission criteria and minimum prerequisite course requirements for our PA program, please see above "Program Admission Requirements"

Requirements listed are non-negotiable and apply to all applicants.

What type of degree is required to the eligible for program admission?
Can I apply without my degree completed?

A bachelor’s degree is required. A bachelor’s degree of any discipline is acceptable with the program required prerequisites. An associate degree does not meet the minimum degree requirement.

Applicants may apply with a degree in progress if completed prior to matriculation.

My grade point average (GPA) is below 3.0. What should I do?

A minimum overall GPA and cumulative science GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 is required for eligibility for application review and admission to the program. The program will not consider applications if the GPA does not meet the minimum requirements.

How are GPA’s calculated? Is graduate coursework evaluated by the program?
Overall and science GPA are reviewed by the program. The GPA calculation includes undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate coursework if applicable. 

Science GPA is calculated by CASPA based on designated science coursework. Applicants are advised to review the CASPA website for the course subject list 

Will my GPA be recalculated by the program once my application is submitted/reviewed?
Only accepted students who have courses in progress and/or a degree pending at the time of acceptance will have their GPA recalculated to confirm it meets the minimum requirements. The GPA will be recalculated after confirmation of seat deposit, completion of coursework, and receipt of final transcripts.

Is there a specific time frame in which prerequisite courses must be completed?
Is my pre-requisite too old?
All prerequisite courses must have been completed within 10 years of the date you submit your CASPA application. This requirement applies to each prerequisite individually.

The date you submit CASPA (not when you started it) is the reference point. If a prerequisite course was completed more than 10 years before your CASPA submission date, it will not be accepted and must be retaken. For example, for a CASPA submission date of June 1, 2026, the acceptable window for pre-requisite completion is June 2016-June 2026. 

Does the program accept repeated courses for prerequisites?
Repeated prerequisite courses are accepted; however, preference is given to applicants with no more than one repeat.

Does the program offer advanced standing?
The program does not grant advanced standing or accept transfer credits for prior experiential learning under any circumstances, including credits from courses in other PA programs.

Does the program accept transfer students?
The program does accept transfer students as newly matriculated students. All students admitted to the PA program must take all courses in the sequenced curriculum. The program does not grant advanced standing or accept transfer credits. All curricular components are required for graduation and must be completed at the St. John’s University PA program.

I have prerequisites and/or a graduation degree conferral that would be completed in the fall/spring semester after the deadline. Can I still apply?
Applicants with outstanding admissions requirements are eligible to apply under the following circumstances:

• All prerequisite courses in progress at time of application submission must be listed as in progress or planned in CASPA’s original verified application.
• Applicants may have no more than three (3) outstanding prerequisite courses at the time of CASPA application submission. All prerequisites must be completed by the end of the spring semester prior to matriculation.
• All transcripts demonstrating proof of completion for spring semester and/or proof of degree conferral must be received by July 1.

I am an international student/English is not my first language. What should I do?
International students must earn satisfactory TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Cambridge or Duolingo exam scores and supply official scores directly to the Office of Graduate Admission. The school’s official testing code is 2799.

Does the program consider applicants who have taken courses outside of the United States?
Students who have degrees or courses outside of the of the US will require National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) foreign transcript evaluation including World education Services (WES).

The link to NACES is included here: https://www.naces.org/ 

The link to WES is included here: https://www.wes.org/

Is the GRE, MCAT, or PA-CAT (Physician Assistant College Admission Test) required?
No, the PA program does not require or review GRE, MCAT, or PA-CAT for application to our program.

Does the program accept animal, comparative, or mammalian Anatomy and Physiology courses?
No, Human Anatomy & Physiology with lab is required.

Does the program accept separate Human Anatomy and Human Physiology courses? My school offers these as individual (separate) courses.
Yes, in cases where individual course instruction is the only option for Human Anatomy and Physiology courses, we do accept Anatomy (2 semesters with a lab) and Physiology 2 semesters (with or without a lab). In these cases, the minimum credit and/or semester equivalent must be satisfied.

Does the program accept online courses, including lab experiences?
We currently accept online courses and online lab experiences from regionally accredited institutions. However, the program strongly encourages face-to-face lab experiences in preparation for the curriculum.

Can I use a single course to satisfy multiple prerequisite requirements?
No, a single course may not be used to satisfy multiple prerequisite requirements.

Does the program accept Advanced Placement® (AP) credit?
Advanced Placement® (AP) credit is accepted for prerequisite courses.

Does the program accept CLEP (College-Level Examination Program®) credit?
The program does not consider CLEP credit to fulfill prerequisite courses.

Does the program accept community college courses?
The program accepts community college courses if completed at a regionally accredited institution.

Does the program accept Pass/Fail courses for prerequisites?
The program does not accept Pass/Fail courses for prerequisites except for those courses that transitioned to Pass/Fail status during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PREREQUISITE SUBSTITUTIONS:

I took a higher-level biology and/or chemistry course. Can this satisfy the general prerequisite?
The program will consider higher-level courses with a lab component to satisfy General Biology and/or Chemistry with lab prerequisite courses.

Can I substitute another mathematics course for the statistics pre-requisite? 
What form of statistics satisfies the pre-requisite? 
Which mathematics courses are acceptable to satisfy the prerequisite?
Statistics is a required course. Statistics must be a dedicated statistics course (e.g., Introduction to Statistics, Biostatistics, or Statistics for Behavioral Sciences) covering fundamental statistical concepts. It may not be substituted with another non-statistics mathematics course. 

In addition, students must complete three additional credits in mathematics which may be satisfied by college algebra, precalculus, calculus, or other applied mathematics courses. Remedial math, accounting, economics, and non-quantitative courses do not fulfill this requirement.

Is Patient Care Experience required? How many hours are required?
A minimum of 200 hours of documented patient care experience is required. Patient care experience must involve direct, hands-on patient care with responsibility for patient assessment, treatment, or monitoring.

What types of Patient Care Experience are acceptable?
Applicable volunteer or paid employment experiences include but are not limited to: scribe, paramedic/EMT, dietician/nutritionist, athletic trainer, MA/PCA/CNA, nurse, occupational therapist, respiratory therapist, EKG tech, ER tech, Ophthalmology tech, Radiology tech, psychologists/therapists, LCSW, Physical Therapy Aide, chiropractor, dental assistant, and pharmacy technician.

Do applicants need shadowing hours?
Shadowing hours are not required but may strengthen an application.

How do I verify my Patient Care Experience hours?
How will the program verify/confirm my Patient Care Experience?
The program requires three letters of recommendation with CASPA application submission.

One (of the three required) letters of recommendation in the CASPA application must be from a healthcare professional/supervisor which will be used as supporting documentation and verification of the applicant’s minimum 200 hours of patient care experience. This letter must clearly state the applicant’s role, timeframe (dates of employment) and total hours of patient care experience. CASPA allows up to five letters of recommendation; as such more than one letter can be used to verify the minimum 200 hours. 

Additional verification of patient care experience hours may be required prior to matriculation.

Is the minimum 200 hours of Patient Care Experience required at the time of application submission? 
Can I submit additional work experience/direct patient contact hours after my application is submitted?
A minimum 200 hours of Patient Care Experience is required and verified at the time of CASPA application submission. Applicants without 200 verified hours of Patient Care Experience via CASPA application letters of recommendation risk not receiving an interview invitation for the cycle.

Applicants may provide updates to their Patient Care Experience hours through their portal account. Applicants can be assisted by St. John’s University Graduate Admissions by emailing [email protected].

What happens to my application once St. John’s University receives it?
Once your application is verified, the St. John’s University Office of Graduate Admission will send you a welcome message to activate your portal and to pay your supplemental fee. 

What is the Portal? How do I create an account?
The Portal is the main hub of communication between the applicant and the program. You can activate your Portal account using the credentials sent to you via the welcome email. Access to this account allows you to view interview invitations and to schedule and confirm an interview. The portal is also where you are notified of the admission decision and the status of your application.

How do I receive information about the status of my application?
To review the status of your application, please sign into your portal for an update on your admission decision. Any additional inquiries related to application status can be sent via email to [email protected].

How long will it take for me to get a response after my application is submitted?
Admission to the St. John’s University PA program is competitive. Each application cycle, the program receives more than 2,000 applications. The program has a seat capacity of 75 students per cohort. Response times may vary per application cycle.

The annual application cycle opens in May, and interviews begin late summer or early fall. Applicants are notified of an interview invitation through the portal. The annual application window closes in October.

How do I submit updates to courses in progress? Where should I send an official updated transcript?
CASPA does not transmit updates after verification. Applicants cannot upload/update coursework or any other documents in CASPA once their application has been verified.

However, applicants may submit updates directly to St. John’s University through the applicant portal. Applicants must send official, sealed transcripts for any coursework or degree in progress at the time of CASPA e‐submission through their portal account. Applicants can be assisted by St. John’s University Graduate Admissions by emailing [email protected].

How will I be notified whether I am invited to be interviewed by the program?
The Portal is the main hub of communication between the applicant and the program. You can activate your Portal account using the credentials sent to you via the welcome email.

Applicants will be sent a notification for an interview invitation through their portal account. They will receive the same notification directly to the email address used to create the portal account. Please ensure this email address is updated and correct. Applicants will select an interview time and date from the program interview schedule availability. If the dates and times posted do not align with the candidates’ schedule, alternate interview dates and times may be available at [email protected].

The program offers an option of in-person or virtual interviews. The interview type (in-person vs. virtual) has no impact on the admission decision. In-person interviews offer the opportunity for a brief St. Vincent Health Sciences Center tour and self-guided campus tour.

What happens if I do not receive an interview invitation?
Am I guaranteed an interview if I meet the minimum requirements?
Am I guaranteed a seat in the program if I meet all admission criteria and complete an interview?
Admission to the St. John’s University PA program is competitive. Each application cycle, the program receives more than 2,000 applications. The program has a seat capacity of 75 students per cohort. 

Applicants who do not receive an interview invitation can reapply to the program in upcoming cycles. 

Applicants are not guaranteed an interview based on meeting the minimum admission requirements. Applicants are not guaranteed a seat in the program by meeting the minimum admission requirements.  Applicants are not guaranteed a seat in the program by completing an interview. The chance of being invited to interview and/or being offered program admission increases depending on applicant competitiveness in comparison to the cycle’s applicant pool. 

Response times may vary per application cycle. You may email [email protected] to receive updates on the status of your application.

All applicants who apply to the St. John’s University PA program will be notified of the admission committee’s decision by May 1.

I received an acceptance letter. What do I do next?
Applicants confirm their place in the class by submitting a $1,500 nonrefundable deposit over the phone by calling 718-990-2000. This deposit is ultimately applied to the first semester of tuition. (Amounts are subject to change.) The program sends out a communication in early August to inform of the upcoming Didactic Orientation and other program instructions.

If I am accepted into St. John’s University’s PA program, can I defer?
No. The St. John’s University PA program does not allow accepted students to defer their admission seat.

I received an acceptance letter with contingencies. What do I do next?
For applicants with prerequisite courses in progress or those pending degree conferral, admission to the program is contingent upon:

• All prerequisite course final grades must be "C" or better to fulfill requirements

• All transcripts demonstrating proof of completion must be received by July 1

• GPA will be recalculated upon receipt of official transcripts and must meet the minimum overall GPA and cumulative science GPA of 3.0 for admission to the program

Applicants cannot upload/update coursework or any other documents in CASPA once their application has been verified. Any updates provided to CASPA after the initial application submission will not be sent to the program following verification. Applicants must send official sealed transcripts for any coursework or degree in progress at the time of CASPA e‐submission through their portal account or to [email protected] to register for classes.

I accepted a seat on the waitlist. When can I get a status update?
Applicants who accept a seat on the waitlist may get limited status updates. Candidates on the waitlist may be offered seats through the first week of classes. All status updates may be obtained at [email protected].

Do you have part-time status?
The program is full-time and does not allow part-time status for students.

Are classes face-to-face, remote/online, or both?
The PA program curriculum is delivered face-to-face. There are no online courses in the curriculum.

Are students/applicants responsible for securing their own clinical rotations?
Students are not required to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors. The PA program Clinical Coordinator is solely responsible for choosing, scheduling, and coordinating all clinical student site rotation schedules, including monitoring and evaluation of clinical sites. Students are scheduled for clinical rotation sites based on availability. There are no guarantees clinical rotation sites will be close to where a student lives.

What degree is awarded upon completion of the St. John’s University PA program?
Students who complete all requirements of the program will earn a Master of Science degree. Completion of the program and conferral of the MS degree is required to be eligible for the PA board certification examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

Am I eligible to reapply to the program if I meet all program admission criteria and am not invited for an interview?
Applicants can reapply to the program in upcoming cycles. The seats in the PA program are limited. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview invitation for the PA program.