Pre-Physician Assistant Path

We have articulation agreement with Clarkson University’s Physician Assistant program to help you gain acceptance In this agreement we have two reserved interview slots per year. This gives you a significant advantage in that the program receives between 800 and 1000 applications per year. This affiliation will give you an important foot in the door.

To be a part of this program, tell the chairperson of the PHPAC that you are interested. During the spring of your sophomore year you will meet with the admissions people at Clarkson to become known to them. Applications will start in the fall of your junior year.

Two (2) interview seats will be reserved in each cohort of the Clarkson University Physician Assistant Studies Master’s Program for two (2) designated SUNY Plattsburgh students. If more than two SUNY Plattsburgh students apply to the Physician Assistant program in the same year, the two students with the strongest application (based on the application and recommendations from the SUNY Plattsburgh PHPAC) will be recommended by the SUNY Plattsburgh PHPAC for the two reserved interviews in the program. Other applicants beyond two from SUNY Plattsburgh will be considered for admission in the same way as other applicants.

1. A bachelor’s degree including the following prerequisite courses:

• A grade less than 2.0 (C) is not acceptable for any pre-requisite course
• Overall GPA for all required pre-requisite courses must be at least a 3.2
• Overall SUNY Plattsburgh undergraduate GPA must be no less than 3.2

If granted acceptance to the PA Program prior to graduation, that acceptance will be conditional upon completing all pre-requisites, maintaining the required minimum GPA and graduating in good standing (this includes disciplinary action and legal action on or off campus) with a Bachelor’s degree from SUNY Plattsburgh.

2. GRE

The applicant will take the GRE exam and report official scores to Clarkson University.

3. Application

Applicants must complete the CASPA (Central Application System for Physician Assistants) application, meeting all deadlines and requirements. To be considered for the fall semester start, the applicant must apply with a verified application by September 20th of their senior year.

4. Interview

The candidate will meet with Clarkson University PA faculty/staff at least twice prior to their interview with the SUNY Plattsburgh Health Science Committee. This may be completed through tele-communication services. A Clarkson University PA representative will be invited to sit with the SUNY Plattsburgh Pre- Health Professions Advisory Committee when they interview a perspective candidate during the candidate’s junior year. Finally, the candidate must have a successful on-campus interview at Clarkson University.

5. Letters of Recommendation

At least one letter of recommendation from a clinician such as (PA, MD, NP, or DO) and a letter of recommendation from the SUNY Plattsburgh Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee, along with a third letter of reference.

6. Experience

All applicants must have a minimum of 500 hours of related health care experience to be completed by the time of admission, with a minimum of 300 hours completed at the time of application. It is required that applicants spend at least one day shadowing/observing a clinically practicing Physician Assistant. A separate Clarkson PA program form must be completed by the PA validating the experience.

SUNY Plattsburgh students who have met all the standards must complete the application process by September 20 of the year prior to potential admission to the program to be offered a reserved interview in the graduate physician assistant studies program.

The Clarkson University PA Studies Program reserves the right of final decision.

The PA program at Marywood is committed to excellence in the training of students to provide both primary care and specialized health care in a variety of health care settings. The program provides students the foundation for professional growth through personalized attention, diverse clinical experience and a commitment to excellence. Their students are encouraged to incorporate Marywood University’s goal of learning to live and practice medicine responsibly in an interdependent world. Earning a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree from Marywood University prepares you for a medical career that’s in demand and growing to meet expanding health care needs.

Unique to the program is their non-competitive team approach and our specialized clinical tracks. Please take some time to explore their site and to learn more about pursuing a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree at Marywood University.

Learn More about Marywood University

We have articulation agreement with Marywood University’s Physician Assistant program to help you gain acceptance In this agreement we have two reserved interview slots per year. This gives you a significant advantage in that the program receives between 800 and 1000 applications per year. This affiliation will give you an important foot in the door.

To be a part of this program, tell the chairperson of the PHPAC that you are interested. During the spring of your sophomore year you will meet with the admissions people at Marywood to become known to them. Applications will start in the fall of your junior year.

Admission to Marywood

1. A bachelor’s degree including the following:

All prerequisite courses must be a minimum of 3 credits, including labs, and are to be completed at SUNY Plattsburgh prior to graduating from SUNY Plattsburgh. If granted acceptance to the Marywood University PA Program prior to graduation, that acceptance will be conditional upon completing all prerequisites, maintaining the required minimum cumulative and prerequisite GPA, and graduating with a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Plattsburgh. 

At all times students must remain in good standing with SUNY Plattsburgh. This includes the following as well as disciplinary action and legal action on or off campus:

• A grade less than 2.0 (C) is not acceptable for any prerequisite course.
• Overall GPA for all required prerequisite courses must be at least a 3.0.
• Overall SUNY Plattsburgh undergraduate GPA must be no less than 3.2.

Graduate in good standing with a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Plattsburgh.

2. GRE

Take the general GRE exam and report official scores to Marywood University.

3. Application

Applicants must complete the CASPA (Central Application System for Physician Assistants) application, meeting all deadlines and requirements. To be considered for the summer semester start, the applicant must apply with a verified application by September 1st of their senior year. (NOTE: Marywood University PA Program only interviews in August, September, and November so it would be advisable to apply through CASPA as early as possible. Interviews are scheduled beginning in June so interview slots fill up quickly.)

4. Interview

The SUNY Plattsburgh Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee will interview a prospective candidate in the fall of the candidate’s junior year. A decision to put forward the student’s name will be made based on the student’s academic record, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities, relative to other students applying that year.

The candidate must have a successful on-campus interview at Marywood University 

5. Letters of Recommendation

At least one letter of recommendation from a clinician such as (PA, MD, NP, DO), a letter of recommendation from the SUNY Plattsburgh Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee, along with a third letter of reference. The third letter can be from a professor, instructor, or coworker.

6. Experience

All applicants must have a minimum of 500 hours of related health care experience to be completed by the time of admission. (There is no minimum number of hours needed by time of application or interview but it would be advisable to have as many completed as early as possible.)

It is required that applicants shadow/observe a clinically practicing Physician Assistant for a minimum of 50 hours. 

Applicants must complete the CASPA (Central Application System for Physician Assistants) application, meeting all deadlines and requirements. To be considered for the summer semester start, the applicant must apply with a verified application by September 1 of their senior year. (NOTE: Marywood University PA Program only interviews in August, September, and November so it would be advisable to apply through CASPA as early as possible. Interviews are scheduled beginning in June so interview slots fill up quickly.)

The Marywood University PA Program reserves the right of final decision.

We have an affiliation with Albany Medical College (AMC) for a Joint Bachelor’s — Master’s Admission Program. Highly qualified high school students have the opportunity to apply to SUNY Plattsburgh and Albany Medical College’s Center for Physician Assistant Studies (CPAS) concurrently. If accepted, each student will be assured of admission to the Center’s program upon completion of the prerequisite courses, experience, and their SUNY Plattsburgh undergraduate degree. Accepted students will be able to focus on achieving a strong knowledge base in the sciences, completion of prerequisite courses, and obtaining the required health related experience.

Under this agreement, highly qualified high school students will have the opportunity to apply to SUNY Plattsburgh and Albany Medical College’s Center for Physician Assistant Studies (CPAS) concurrently. If accepted, and subject to compliance with the requirements set forth, each student will be assured of admission to the center’s program upon completion of the prerequisite courses, experience, and their SUNY Plattsburgh undergraduate degree. Accepted students will be able to focus on achieving a strong knowledge base in the sciences, completion of prerequisite courses, and obtaining the required health related experience.

To permit subsequent matriculation into the CPAS, the student must carry a full course load as defined by SUNY Plattsburgh during the student’s undergraduate program (which will include prerequisite classes for the CPAS program, see Appendix) while maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.2 each term. A minimum 3.2 is expected overall and in all science related course work. Grades in prerequisite courses must be a “C” or better. All CPAS-required prerequisites and health-related experience must be completed prior to matriculation at AMC. The Graduate Record Examination is waived for students accepted through this joint admission.

Students will apply directly to this program, with the expectation of this being a highly selective process. Standardized testing and an interview will be required pieces of the application review. A score in excess of 1300 on the SAT or 27 on the ACT is likely necessary for consideration. In addition, an essay will be required with prospective students indicating plans for course work and extracurricular activities, indicating how this will enhance their capabilities as a future physician assistant. Each accepted student is committed to continuing vigorous intellectual activity as demonstrated by breadth of education as well as depth in their field of concentration.

Applicants will be initially screened by SUNY Plattsburgh. Qualified applications will be directed to apply to AMC CPAS for review. Applicants who meet requirements will be invited for an interview with a team from both SUNY Plattsburgh and AMC. AMC will have the final choice in selection of candidates. The expectation is that this will be a competitive process with the hope to enroll a few exceptional students each year that will see the program through to completion. Due to the competitive admissions and limited size, all qualified applicants may not be accepted.

Students will accelerate their course schedules to satisfy graduation requirements at SUNY Plattsburgh by December of their senior year, allowing them to begin their studies at AMC in January of that academic year. The M.S. portion of the program will take 28 months for completion, thus a total commitment of six years. Each institution will assign an advisor, with whom the student will communicate at least once a term while at that institution to ensure both schools’ requirements and individual student objectives are being met.

Upon completion of the third year at SUNY Plattsburgh and appropriate progress towards graduation, the student will submit a Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistant Programs (CASPA) application by June 15 before their senior year and both a non-refundable tuition deposit of $500 and completed contract by August 1 before the senior year. Acceptance in the program is made with the understanding that students will not apply to other physician assistant programs. It is also understood that the student will be required to grant AMC CPAS full access to the student’s complete undergraduate record at SUNY Plattsburgh and to execute all appropriate FERPA consents, as conditions to continuation in the program. In return, the Albany College of Medicine will reserve a place in the class to be admitted in January following completion of the student’s undergraduate degree.

Admission to AMC CPAS can be denied or revoked by AMC at any time should events occur that would cause AMC to question the student’s suitability to pursue a career in medicine. Such events may include but are not limited to the student’s engagement in criminal activity, academic dishonesty, or unprofessional conduct. Provided an appropriate FERPA consent has been executed by the student and not withdrawn, SUNY Plattsburgh shall notify AMC CPAS immediately upon learning or suspecting the occurrence of any events, and shall cooperate fully with the AMC in efforts by CPAS and the AMC to determine any appropriate course of action to be taken with respect to any such student, whether or not such events or efforts shall have occurred prior to, during, or subsequent to such student’s undergraduate education.

If a student chooses to voluntarily withdraw from the B.S./M.S. program for any reason, they must notify both CPAS and the Pre-Health Advisor at SUNY Plattsburgh in writing. Their seat will be released immediately and may not be reclaimed. These students are still permitted to apply to CPAS via the regular admission pathway.

We have an affiliation with Albany Medical College (AMC) for an Early Assurance Program. In this program, the applicant applies to AMC after completing the first semester of their junior year. If accepted, they are assured of admission to the program upon completion of the other program requirements at SUNY Plattsburgh. Students applying through this program do not have the take the GRE.

The Albany Medical College Center for Physician Assistant Studies will offer highly qualified students of SUNY Plattsburgh the opportunity to apply to the Center upon completing the first semester of their junior year. If accepted, they are assured of admission to the program upon completion of the prerequisite courses, healthcare experience, and their undergraduate degree (with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.20). Early assurance admission will allow accepted students to focus on achieving a strong knowledge base in the sciences, completion of prerequisite courses, and obtaining the required health related experience.

To be eligible to apply for acceptance into this program, a student must have achieved a GPA of 3.20 or above and have completed the following courses at SUNY Plattsburgh; two semesters each of general biology (BIO101 & 102), and general chemistry (CHE111 & 112), one semester of advanced chemistry (CHE371), as well as anatomy and physiology I and II (BIO326 & 327). Accepted students must carry a full course load (as defined by SUNY Plattsburgh) during their remaining semesters and fulfill all other prerequisite Graduate Record Examination is waived for students accepted through the Early Assurance Program, but SAT scores must be reported on the CPAS Supplemental Application

Students who wish to investigate this opportunity should express their interest to the SUNY Plattsburgh Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee (PHPAC) chair. This advisor will discuss with the student the expectations of the EAP and the process for application. Applicants should be confident of their interest in pursuing a career in medicine as a Physician Assistant and that admission to the Albany Medical College is the path they would choose toward that goal.

Each January, the SUNY Plattsburgh PHPAC chair will forward the names and addresses of applicants to the Center for Physician Assistant Studies. A letter of instruction and application materials will be sent directly to the applicants by the Center and are due back by May 1 of the junior year. Completed applications (including the centralized application service profile) are due to the Center for Physician Assistant Studies by June 15 of each year and the selection and commitment process will be completed by September 15.

As part of the application process applicants must articulate in writing the personal advantage they see to their participation in this program. In addition, they must outline their goals and objectives for the remaining undergraduate year. A plan for meeting these goals through specific academic and extracurricular activities must be included. Specifically, they must indicate how the proposed activities for the senior year might enhance their capabilities as a future physician assistant. Each accepted student is committed to continuing vigorous intellectual activity as demonstrated by breadth of education as well as depth in some field of concentrated study.

Acceptance and Continuation in the Program

An offer of admission by the Center for Physician Assistant Studies requires a reciprocal commitment by the student that is binding unless there is a compelling reason to withdraw from the EAP. It is understood that the student will not apply to other physician assistant programs. In return, the CPAS will reserve a place in the class to be admitted in January following completion of the student’s undergraduate degree.

A tuition deposit of $500 will be required. This deposit will be returned to the student if continuation in the EAP is denied by the CPAS except on the grounds of failure to comply with admissions requirements. It will be forfeited if the student subsequently declines to enroll..

Continuation in the EAP will require evidence of general academic progress consistent with past performance, and of significant progress toward achievement of individually specified goals. Students are expected to maintain a minimum grade point average each term of 3.20 both in overall course work and in the sciences. Grades in prerequisite courses must be “C” or better. Failure to meet academic standards will result in dismissal. Students remain eligible to apply to CPAS through the general admissions process.

A Center advisor will communicate with the students at least once each semester to discuss their progress and any problems that may develop. Students are required to submit their grades to CPAS at this time. Ongoing communication between SUNY Plattsburgh and Center representatives will ensure that both schools’ requirements and individual student objectives are being met.

Admission to the Center can be denied should events occur that would cause the Admissions Committee to question a student’s suitability to pursue a career in medicine. These include, but are not limited to, felony conviction, academic dishonesty, or unprofessional conduct in a health care setting.

• Supplemental Application to AMC CPA — May 1 (Junior year)
• CASPA application, credentials, and supporting documents received by Center — June 15 of the junior year
• Interview — By August 31 (by individual arrangement)
• Notification to applicant of Admissions Committee decision — September 15 of senior year
• Commitment from accepted applicant (contract) — November 1 of senior year
• Tuition Deposit — May 15 of senior year