Preparing for the Program
You should satisfy the following educational and experiential requirements to set a foundation for success in the program.
NOTE: meeting the minimum requirements included on this page does not guarantee an interview.
Questions?
If you have questions about the PA program's admission requirements, reach out to Gayle Wilken, Director of Graduate Recruitment for Residential Healthcare Programs.
Academic Preparation
Bachelor’s Degree (or higher): Must be completed prior to matriculation in the program and from an accredited US institution. Review the International Applicants section if you have earned a degree from an institution located outside of the United States.
Science Degree: Although there is no specific required degree necessary to apply to the program, we prefer science and health-related degrees.
Qualifying GPA: You must have a qualifying GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher at the time of submitting the CASPA application and to matriculate in the program. Although a 3.0 is the minimum GPA required, higher GPAs are more competitive.
The qualifying GPA is the higher of three possible GPAs:
- Overall baccalaureate GPA (from your CASPA application)
- Replacement GPA calculated from the last 40 credit hours on your transcript (calculated when your application is processed by Cedarville University)
- Graduate GPA from a completed graduate degree (from your CASPA application)
Prerequisite GPA: The admissions office computes a GPA from your best completion of the prerequisite courses outlined below. Higher grades and prerequisite GPA are more competitive.
Cohort Highlights
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40% come from outside our region
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3.71 average qualifying GPA
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2400 average reported hours of direct patient care
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30% are non-white
Prerequisite Courses: Students must complete the following courses with a B- or better in the course/lecture portion at a regionally accredited or otherwise approved US institution of higher learning prior to December 31 of the year prior to matriculation:
Course | Credit Minimum | Completion |
---|---|---|
Human Anatomy (or Anatomy & Physiology 1) | 3 semester credits | Within 7 years of matriculation |
Human Physiology (or Anatomy & Physiology 2) | 3 semester credits | Within 7 years of matriculation |
General Chemistry | 6 semester credits | Anytime |
Organic Chemistry (or Biochemistry) | 3 semester credits | Within 7 years of matriculation |
Microbiology | 3 semester credits | Within 7 years of matriculation |
Psychology (combination of general/intro, abnormal or lifespan) | 6 semester credits | Within 7 years of matriculation (except general psychology) |
Math or Statistics | 3 semester credits | Anytime |
Medical Terminology | 1 credit | Anytime |
Note: applications are accepted and processed for review with up to nine outstanding credits provided there is a plan for completion by the December 31st deadline included in the CASPA Application. Unofficial transcripts showing completion of any outstanding prerequisites must be submitted to Grad Admissions by February 1st. Applicants who fail to complete the outstanding courses by December 31st will have their application/acceptance withdrawn from consideration.
Up to two prerequisites may be completed with a non-grade (e.g., Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, CLEP test, or "Pass") if they meet institutional standards.
The PA Program prefers that upper-level science prerequisites (i.e., anatomy, physiology, organic chemistry, and microbiology) be taken in a traditional semester long course, either in an in-person or online format. Alternative non-traditional learning options are acceptable for other prerequisites.
Science courses labeled as "survey" or "introductory" are not sufficient preparation for PA prerequisites.
Questions related to these policies or acceptability of courses taken or planned should be directed to gradadmissions@cedarville.edu.
Experiential Preparation
Healthcare Experience: Due to the compressed nature of PA education, prior healthcare experience prepares students for success.
Applicants should have some clinical patient care experience at the time they apply. We recommend 750 hours of paid (or 1,000 volunteer hours) clinical patient care experience to establish a good foundation, however this is not an established prerequisite to apply. Experience is preferred and rewarded by the review committee. Healthcare experience that is not directly involving patient care is also considered if included on the CASPA application.
Licenses and Certifications: Obtaining a certification in a healthcare field is often helpful in securing paid healthcare experience and is rewarded in the application review process.
Community Service Experience: Our program desires to foster and equip students to serve those in need. Applicants are given the opportunity on the CASPA application to show their commitment to serving by including experience in the local church and community accrued since starting college. International experience is also considered.
No assumptions are made about experiences, certifications, or licensures that only appear on the applicant’s CV or resume. All relevant healthcare experience, community service, and volunteering MUST be included in the appropriate sections of the CASPA application for review and to be scored. Supporting evidence of active licensures and certifications must also be included.
Non-Cognitive Attributes
Reference Letters: Cedarville accepts up to five letters of reference and a minimum of three are required to complete the application. The three required letters should come from:
- A professional colleague/supervisor who can speak to your work ethic and performance (submitted through the CASPA application)
- An academic professor/mentor who can speak to your academic capabilities (submitted through the CASPA application)
- A Christian leader/mentor who has known you for 6 months or more and can speak to your spiritual development (submitted through the Cedarville Graduate Application)
References should not come from family members.
Personal Statement and Program Specific Essays: Included in the CASPA application are your personal statement on motivation for pursuing a PA career, as well as additional program-specific essays (including your personal testimony of faith, utilizing a PA career as ministry, and impact of prior healthcare and life experiences) that are reviewed by the admissions committee.
Program Diversifying Qualities: The program reviews for and rewards attributes and backgrounds/experiences that we feel will help diversify our classroom and add depth and richness to the educational experience of the students in the program. See Selection Process for details.
Repeat Applicants: The program reviews for and rewards applicants who reapply to our program after demonstrating improvement in their application.
International Applicants
The following requirements apply to international applicants:
U.S. Citizenship: Due to the lack of parity and reciprocity of the PA model outside the U.S. at this time, applicants must be a US citizen or permanent resident (Green Card).
Non-US Degrees: Degrees obtained from institutions outside of the United States will be considered once translated for degree and performance equivalency (i.e., comparable U.S. degree, grade equivalency, and GPA). Applicants with foreign degrees should contact Graduate Admissions for additional information.
English Proficiency: due to the speed and depth of material we will be covering in the program, students must have a good command of the English language and ability to communicate clearly (written, spoken) at a level appropriate for graduate healthcare programs. International Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency by one of the following objective measures:
- TOEFL (iBT): 87 or greater (with at least a 24 in the speaking component)
- Duolingo: 120 or greater
- IETLS band: 6.5 or greater
The program reserves the right to require an objective assessment of English proficiency at any time during the admissions process.
Prerequisite Completion: To establish a track record of performance in the U.S. educational system, all prerequisite courses must be completed at an accredited U.S. educational institution.
Healthcare Experience: Healthcare experience outside of the U.S. will be considered in the community service evaluation of an applicant but does not count toward the healthcare experience requirements listed above.