Physician Associate Program FAQs

Contact Info

Physician Associate Program

Teresa Preston

• teresa.preston@alvernia.edu
• alvernia.edu/academics/grad/PA-post-bacc

Graduate Education

• gradandadult@alvernia.edu
• alvernia.edu/academics/graduate-programs/graduate-request-information

FAQs

What are the pathways into Alvernia University’s PA Program?

There are two pathways for admission:

• The traditional Post-Baccalaureate pathway is designed for students who have obtained a baccalaureate degree in a related healthcare science field.
• The Bio-PA (3+2) accelerated track pathway is designed for students seeking an undergraduate degree and progressing to the graduate degree. 

At which locations will the PA program be offered?

The PA program is only offered at the Reading, PA, site.

What is the benefit of the program being located in Reading, PA?

Pennsylvania has several Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), with 35 primary care and 35 mental health HPSAs in Berks County alone. The city of Reading also has a >30% poverty rate and >10% of uninsured individuals. Alvernia University’s Physician Associate Program is the only PA program in Berks County. The program was established to help meet the healthcare shortage needs of the community.

Alvernia University is committed to establishing strong ties to the Reading community and has fostered multiple partnerships in Berks County. The local community supports both the program and the university.

Where are clinical rotations located?

Our clinical rotations sites are nationwide. Student placement varies depending on preceptor and site availability and is subject to change. 

What makes Alvernia University’s PA program special?

Our curriculum is a modular systems-based design to promote critical thinking. We do not separate task areas, such as physical diagnosis, pharmacology, anatomy, physiology, etc. into separate courses but rather they are integrated in the system module, i.e. cardiovascular, pulmonology, neurology, etc.

Our state-of-the art facility houses a medical simulation lab, an Anatomage lab, OSCE assessment center, patient simulation rooms, clinical skills labs, and small group learning rooms, and several large lecture halls.

Our faculty are experienced PA educators, both in the classroom and as preceptors, that also continue to practice clinically or are participating in research and can bring real-world experiences to the classroom. 

Does the program offer rolling admissions?

Yes. The program utilizes a rolling admission policy. 

When will I receive an admission decision after applying to the program?

The goal is for an admission decision to be made within 2-4 weeks after initial application via CASPA. The application cycle opens the last week in April and closes April 1 of the following year. 

What is the program looking for in a candidate?

The program utilizes a holistic approach when reviewing candidates. There is no one ideal candidate. Applicants should be well prepared academically, meet all admissions criteria, and have resilience. The program also looks for applicants who resonate with the university and program’s mission statement and Franciscan values. 

Is the PA-CAT required for admission?

Currently, the PA-CAT is not required for admission. 

How do I apply to Alvernia University’s PA program?

All students must apply to the program via CASPA. 

When does the program’s application cycle close?

The program will accept applications through March each year, with matriculation into the program in August. 

Are students who reside outside of the preferred Pennsylvania counties considered for admission into the program?

Yes. The program accepts applicants nationwide. However, preference is given to applicants local to Berks County and the immediate surrounding counties of Chester, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery and Schuylkill.

I struggled in some of the basic science courses as an undergraduate. Does the program incorporate any foundational coursework to ensure success in the program?

The program’s curriculum offers a Fundamentals of Disease States course, which is the first course in the didactic phase. This course provides introductory instruction to include core knowledge about established and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care and will expose students to the principles of disease states. Students will begin with the fundamentals of the basic sciences, including the approach to organ systems through the study of the genetic and molecular mechanisms of health and disease. Introductory anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, epidemiology, and etiology will also be presented throughout the course. Students will develop the fundamental knowledge needed to progress to the organ systems-based modules throughout the remainder of the didactic phase.

What is the program’s Advanced Placement Policy?

Advanced placement is not granted for any student entering the Alvernia University Physician Associate Program. Per our policy:

• All students must complete the full Physician Associate Program.
• No external course work will satisfy Physician Associate Program requirements.
• Applicants who have graduated from or attended foreign or U.S. medical schools or who have advanced degrees in biological sciences or similar programs will not be granted automatic acceptance into the Physician Associate Program. Nor will transfer credits from graduate or postgraduate programs be accepted.
• No transfer credit is accepted. No courses will be waived.
• No credit is granted for pre-admission experiential learning.

Is advanced placement (AP) credit accepted for prerequisite courses?

AP credit will not be accepted for prerequisite courses.

If a student received AP credit for chemistry, another higher-level chemistry course must be completed. The higher-level course cannot be used to satisfy any other prerequisite course required for admission.

If a student received AP credit for biology, another higher-level biology course must be completed. The higher-level course cannot be used to satisfy any other prerequisite course required for admission.

Does the program accept online lab credits?

Yes. In-person labs are preferred, but credits from online labs will be accepted.

Does the program accept community college credits and/or online coursework credits?

Yes. Credits earned from online coursework and/or from a community college will be accepted.

Does the program accept online coursework credits completed during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The program does not accept any coursework completed as Pass/Fail during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How is the curriculum taught?

The curriculum is systems-based. Each of the systems-based courses embed the following: gross anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, clinical medicine, pharmacology, physical diagnosis, and clinical skills. Each systems-based course includes pediatrics, geriatrics, and other special patient populations when appropriate.

Will I need to travel for clinical rotations?

Some rotations will require distant travel and housing.

How long is each clinical rotation?

Each clinical rotation is four weeks in length.

What is the “elective” clinical rotation?

The elective clinical rotation can be completed in any subspeciality of medicine or surgery. This may include specialties such as cardiology, rheumatology, orthopedic surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, urgent care, wound care, urology, etc.

Does the program require an interview?

• The program requires an interview for applicants applying through CASPA. Applicants entering through the Bio-PA (3+2) accelerated track are not required to interview.
• There is a required Accepted Student Day on campus for those applicants who seek acceptance through the Bio-PA (3+2) accelerated track pathway.

Does the program offer any financial scholarships?

No. The PA program is not able to offer financial scholarships at this time. For more information, please visit our Financial Aid webpage.

I graduated from a Canadian institution. Does the program require WES to verify my transcripts?

No. The program does not require WES to verify transcripts from English-speaking countries.

Will the program waive the GRE?

The GRE is not required for the 2026-2027 application cycle. 

If my GPA is just slightly lower than the minimum requirement, will the program make an exception?

The program adheres to the established and published minimum GPA requirements and exceptions to admission criteria are not able to be made.

Does the program have on-campus housing?

Please refer to our Residence Halls webpage for information regarding housing. You may also email Residence Life & Housing at reslife@alvernia.edu.

What is the cost of attending Alvernia University’s PA Program?

• Please refer to the Post-Bacc Program webpage. Please note that tuition and fees are updated annually.
• Please reach out to the Office of Student Financial Services for more specific information.

Does the Alvernia University PA program have a supplemental application?

No, the program does not require a supplemental application. However, the program has supplemental questions that are part of the CASPA application.

Can you provide a list of clinical sites?

We are unable to provide a comprehensive list of clinical sites; however, Alvernia has several clinical partners in Berks and surrounding counties. We also have clinical partnerships across the nation. Please note that clinical sites/preceptors are subject to change based on availability.