Prospective Students

The UToledo Physician Assistant Program matriculates 40 students in the Fall Semester (August). The application cycle opens on April 28 and closes on September 1 of the year before anticipated matriculation.

The program employs a holistic admissions process that considers academic achievement, personal attributes, service, leadership, and the potential to contribute to the physician assistant profession.

Admission Requirements:

CASPA application submitted by September 1
UToledo application fee submitted by September 1
Bachelor’s degree completed by June 15 of the year of anticipated matriculation
Completion of prerequisite courses. Applicants may have up to three pending courses that must be completed by June 15 of the year of anticipated matriculation.
Overall GPA of 3.20 (CASPA Calculated)
Prerequisite GPA of 3.20 (CASPA Calculated)
Applicants are recommended to take the PA-CAT.
Applicants are recommended to complete the Casper test. Casper is a situational judgment test from Acuity Insights. It's an open-response situational judgment test that measures aspects of social intelligence and professionalism, such as ethics, empathy, problem-solving, and collaboration. Unlike the PA-CAT, it assesses nothing academic.

Neither the PA-CAT nor Casper is required for admission consideration. Applicants will receive full consideration regardless of whether these assessments are completed.

Early submission of online CASPA and online UToledo Supplemental Application is encouraged. Interviews will be conducted virtually starting June/July and continue through December. The program may offer seats at any time during the application cycle.

The UToledo Physician Assistant Program does not grant advanced placement, advanced standing, or transfer credit for prior physician assistant coursework or prior experiential learning.

Healthcare experience is not required. However, the program does see the benefits of having some healthcare experiences.

Special Considerations:

Applicants meeting one or more of the criteria below may receive additional consideration during the holistic review process; however, meeting these criteria does not guarantee an interview invitation or admission.

Ohio residents
UToledo graduates
Military veterans
Non-traditional (≥25 years old)
First-generation college graduate
Economically disadvantaged
Rural area

Interview Process

After a thorough review of each completed CASPA application, the Admissions Committee will invite the most competitive applicants to interview with the University of Toledo Physician Assistant Program. Interviews are offered by invitation only, and completing an application does not guarantee an interview. To get a sense of the academic backgrounds and demographics of students who have recently joined the program, including GPAs, prospective applicants are encouraged to review our Class Profiles. All interviews are held virtually and follow a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format that includes both individual and group interview interviews. In the individual interviews, applicants rotate through a series of short, structured scenarios or questions, each with a different interviewer. In the group stations, applicants work with fellow candidates on a shared task or discussion. The MMI format is designed to assess qualities essential to the PA profession, such as communication, critical thinking, ethical reasoning, teamwork, and professionalism. Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted by email with scheduling details, technology requirements, and further instructions.

Prematriculation Requirements

Applicants who are offered admission must complete several pre-matriculation requirements before enrolling in the program. The requirements listed below are designed to ensure compliance with university, clinical, and professional standards prior to the start of classes.

Clean BCI and FBI background checks
Health requirements*:
- Physical Exam (yearly)
- 2-step PPD (or IGRA/QuantiFERON) at matriculation, with annual TB testing thereafter
- Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular (T-DAP) or Tetanus-diphtheria within the last 10 years
- Immunization records for Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella (chicken pox) or proof of immunity by titer
- Immunization records for Hepatitis B vaccination (2 or 3 dose series) and a positive Hepatitis B Surface Antibody
- Influenza vaccinations annually. COVID-19 vaccination is not required, however, it is strongly recommended.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) card

* Our health requirements conform to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recommendations and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) recommendations for health care providers.

International Applicants

The University of Toledo Physician Assistant Program accepts degrees earned outside the United States when they are determined to be equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree through an approved credential evaluation process. However, all prerequisite courses required for admission must be completed at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university. Prospective international applicants are encouraged to review the information available on the International Applicants page for additional requirements and guidance.

Technical Standards

All applicants are encouraged to review the Program Technical Standards before applying to ensure they can meet the requirements of the curriculum, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Educational Requirements for State Licensure

Completion of The University of Toledo ARC-PA accredited PA Program meets the educational degree requirements to apply for Physician Assistant licensure in all states. More information can be found on The University of Toledo State Authorization website.

Information is reviewed annually and updated as state licensure requirements change.

Information Session

Learn about our program by watching this informational video:

Frequently Asked Questions

The program has compiled a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs). If you have any additional questions, please email PhysicianAssistant@utoledo.edu for assistance.

Physician Assistant Studies