Application Process
Application Process for Master in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
In order to be considered for admission to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Physician Assistant Program, all applicants must complete the following steps by the application deadline of September 1st (annually):
- Submit a completed online application, with all required documents, including GRE scores (school code 6570), to the UTRGV Graduate College. The UTRGV online application opens annually in mid-April. Submit payment for your UTRGV Graduate College application at the payment site.This will be a separate account from your UTRGV Graduate College application and requires that you create a new account. Students who are admitted to the PA program will be required to have official transcripts sent to UTRGV after notification of admission.
- Altus Suite - Admissions Assessments of Non-Cognitive Skills
All applicants applying to the Department of Physician Assistant, at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are required to complete an online suite of assessments (Altus Suite), to assist with our selection process.
Altus Suite is a standardized, multi-part online assessment that measures different competencies and attributes that we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program. Altus Suite will complement the other tools that we use for applicant review and evaluation. In implementing Altus Suite, we are trying to further enhance fairness and objectivity in our selection process
Altus Suite consists of:
How to Complete Altus Suite
In order to take Altus Suite, you will be responsible for securing access to a laptop or desktop computer with webcam and audio capabilities and a reliable internet connection with an internet speed of at least 1.5 Mbps and upload speed of at least 2 Mbps. You will require the following for both account creation and completing Altus Suite:
-
- Government-issued photo ID (English/French) for account validation
- Valid email address (the same one you will use to submit your application)
- Desktop or laptop computer
- Working webcam
- Working microphone
- Reliable high-speed internet connection
-
- Please go to www.TakeAltus.com to sign up for Altus Suite for Physician Assistant (CSP-10101-U.S. Professional Health Sciences), under your specific country, and register using your CASPA ID and a piece of government-issued photo ID
- Select a Casper test date. You will be provided with a limited number of testing dates and times, which have been pre-arranged/approved by the DPA in accordance with our admissions timelines. Please note that these are the only testing dates available for your Casper test based on your program selection(s). There will be no additional tests scheduled. Please use an email address that you check regularly and that you have used for your application; there may be updates to the test schedule.
Important: To account for identity verification and payment processing timelines, ensure that you register for your test at least 3 days before your preferred test date and time. Last-minute bookings are not recommended. - Ensure you have selected The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley for distribution before the posted distribution deadline. Likely, there will be no additional tests scheduled, but the most up-to-date information can be found by browsing the Test Dates and Times on TakeAltus.com.
- It is recommended that you complete Snapshot within 14 days of taking Casper at TakeAltus.com. The final deadline however, is the same as the distribution deadline for your program(s) as shown on the Dates and Fees page.
- Please direct any inquiries on Altus Suite to support@altus.as. Alternatively, you may use the chat bubble in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen on the takeAltus.com website.
Accommodations: If you require testing accommodations for Altus Suite, you will need to submit the Accommodations Request Form signed by you and your qualified professional 3 weeks in advance of your desired test date. More information regarding accommodations can be found here.
- Submit completed online application to the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) https://caspa.liaisoncas.com. The following items are required to be submitted through CASPA:
- Official transcripts from each institution attended.
- Personal statement.
- Three letters of reference from professional or academic sources.
- Patient care and health related experience.
- Leadership experience.
- GRE test scores
- After acceptance into the DPA, students will be required to successfully complete a criminal background check and drug screen through the University designated vendor, prior to matriculation.
- Additional requirements for domestic applicants who attended foreign universities:
- Certified English translation of educational records,
- Students whose native language is not English will be expected to provide test scores for either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Scores are only valid for 2 years.
- TOEFL Minimum Scores - 550 paper-based or 79 internet-based
- IELTS Minimum Score - 6.5
- Additional information on exemptions can be found Graduate College
- Transcript Evaluation by World Education Services (WES) or Foreign Credentials Service of America (FCSA).
- Additional requirements for international applicants:
- English translation of educational records.
- Students whose native language is not English will be expected to provide test scores for either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Scores are only valid for 2 years.
- TOEFL Minimum Scores - 550 paper-based or 79 internet-based
- IELTS Minimum Score - 6.5
- Additional information on exemptions can be found Graduate College
- Transcript Evaluation by World Education Services (WES) or Foreign Credentials Service of America (FCSA).
- Financial Documentation showing sufficient funds to cover all expenses (living and academic) for the first year of study. For the required amounts, contact the International Admissions and Student Services Office at international@utrgv.edu.
- Immigration documents, including a current copy of your valid passport. For questions regarding this requirement, contact the International Admissions and Student Services Office at international@utrgv.edu.
Application Process for Master in Physician Assistant Studies Bridge Program (MPAS)
This program is only available for currently licensed, certified PAs who wish to convert their baccalaureate physician assistant degree to a graduate degree.
- Submit a completed online application, with all required documents, to the UTRGV Graduate College. Submit payment for your UTRGV Graduate College application at the payment site.This will be a separate account from your UTRGV Graduate College application and requires that you create a new account. Students who are admitted to the PA program will be required to have official transcripts sent to UTRGV after notification of admission.
- Bachelor's degree in Physician Assistant Studies from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or a recognized international equivalent.
- Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester credit hours.
- Official transcripts from each institution attended (must be submitted directly to UTRGV).
- Current license to practice as a PA.
- Current NCCPA certification.
- Be employed as a PA.
- Must have medical malpractice insurance.
- Letter of reference from their supervising physician agreeing to precept the PA.
- After acceptance into the DPA, students will be required to successfully complete a criminal background check and drug screen through the University designated vendor, prior to matriculation.
Deadlines:
To ensure all applications materials are received in a timely manner, applicants should complete the application two months prior to the start of the semester. Cohorts are admitted for the Fall, Spring, and Summer I semesters.
Once applications have been verified by the program staff administrator, a holistic review by the members of the Admissions Committee are performed to select candidates for interview using a screening tool developed by the Program. This committee is chaired by Admissions Coordinator and includes Medical Director, Principal Faculty, community PAs, community organization representatives, and UTRGV external department faculty members.
Selected candidates are invited for an interview during which they will undergo an interview session with a team of 2-3 faculty members of the PA department and/or Admissions Committee. Applicant performance during the interviews are then designated an interview score based on a rubric. The rubric rating tool was developed by the Program.
Candidates will be selected for admission to the Program utilizing a combination of the pre-interview score, the interview score, and a score provided by percentile rank designated from the CASPer evaluation.
The Admissions Committee and program Principal Faculty are responsible for participating in making admission decisions. Candidates selected are notified by the Admissions Coordinator, program admissions admin staff, and/or Program Director.