Policies
*For more information on PA admission documents, please contact the PA office.
Advanced Placement/Waiver/Transfer Policy
The Department of Physician Assistant does not offer waivers for any pre-requisite coursework. Additionally, the Department does not offer waivers, advanced placement, or proficiency exams for any coursework. All students must complete the entire professional curriculum while enrolled at UTRGV.
The Department of Physician Assistant does not admit students from other physician assistant programs. All currently or formerly enrolled physician assistant students at other physician assistant programs must participate in a competitive admissions process along with all other applicants.
Criminal record background checks (CBC) and drug screens are a standard part of the physician assistant profession. Successful completion of a criminal background check is required for admission to and continuation in the DPA. Because many local hospitals affiliated with the university require a criminal background check and drug screen on all employees and anyone interacting with their patients, these are mandatory requirements of all students that must be updated annually. All students must comply with these requirements without regard to clinical assignments. Failure to successfully complete both the CBC and drug screen will affect your position in the DPA.
The DPA does not offer deceleration for academic, professionalism, or behavioral conduct issues. Students are expected to maintain the academic pace of their cohort. This does not allow students to drop classes or decelerate once matriculated. Dropping classes results in dismissal from the DPA. Students with an approved non-academic leave of absence may be required to meet the proficiencies for consideration of reinstatement and may join the next cohort, depending on the length of the leave.
The DPA curriculum has been designed to be a full-time program for the student. It consists of a very demanding course load with a great deal of time spent in class and in clinical experiences. There are also special seminars, guest lecturers, and community service-learning projects that may be scheduled on relatively short notice.
We encourage you to seek outside sources of support (scholarships, loans, grants, etc.) and to devote as much time as possible to your professional education. Employment while enrolled in the program is strongly discouraged. A3.15.e
Physician assistant students are not allowed/required to work for the DPA. A3.04 Students may not serve as an instructional faculty and will not be substituted for regular staff. Students are prohibited from substituting for clerical and/or clinical personnel during first year clinical experiences and clinical rotations. A3.05a-b
Students are not required to solicit or provide clinical rotation sites/preceptors.A3.03