FAQ| Physician Assistant

ARE THERE CLINICAL EXPERIENCES DURING THE FIRST YEAR?

There are targeted opportunities to shadow clinicians during the first year to provide students with early experiences in the healthcare field. This will also help strengthen didactic learning.

CAN FOREIGN GRADUATES APPLY TO THE PROGRAM?

All students must have received a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States with a 3.0 GPA or better on a 4.0 scale. Due to federal regulations, all international students entering the United States on an F-1 Visa are required to prepay their tuition before registering for classes. International students are not eligible for time-payment plans.

CAN I DEFER MY ACCEPTANCE INTO THE PROGRAM FOR A FUTURE CLASS?

Offers of acceptance are valid for the current entering class only. However, deferrals are considered only for military reasons, and each request will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

CAN I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND SEE THE CAMPUS?

Yes. There are several ways to visit the campus. Students may schedule a site visit through our website herehere.

CAN I TRANSFER CREDITS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF COURSES I MUST TAKE?

No. Classes are taken as a single cohort and there are no advanced standing or transfer credits permitted for the program.

CAN I WORK WHILE ATTENDING THE PROGRAM?

This is a very intense program, and students are strongly discouraged from working while enrolled. There are a number of evening and weekend activities as well as the demands of the program that will not permit time for employment.

CAN I ENROLL IN THE PROGRAM AS A PART-TIME STUDENT?

No. This is a full-time program only.

DO I NEED TO HAVE ALL OF THE PREREQUISITES COMPLETE IN ORDER TO APPLY?

No. Each prerequisite course must, however, be successfully completed with a grade of "B-" or higher prior to May 15th of the matriculation year if accepted into the graduate program. The only exception is that organic chemistry needs a "C-" or higher. You must indicate on the CASPA application which courses you still need to complete and the terms in which you plan to complete them.

DO I NEED TO PURCHASE A LAPTOP FOR THE PROGRAM, AND IS ANY OTHER TECHNOLOGY REQUIRED?

Yes. Students will need to provide their own laptops. Students will be expected to also purchase a smartphone or PDA with capabilities to download various medical applications.

DO YOU OFFER AN ACCELERATED BACHELOR'S/BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAM?

Not at this time. However, we will re-evaluate this for future classes. We do however, have a very strong undergraduate biology and pre-med bachelor's degrees that will prepare students for the rigors of the PA program. We also offer an accelerated chemistry degree that may fulfill most of the PA program prerequisites. 

HOW ARE CLINICAL ROTATIONS SCHEDULED?

A clinical coordinator will schedule rotations for our students. Students can help determine their preferences for geography and clinical settings; however, students are not permitted to schedule their own clinical rotations.

HOW MANY APPLICANTS DOES LAKE ERIE COLLEGE HAVE FOR THIS PROGRAM AND HOW MANY SEATS ARE AVAILABLE?

The number of applicants will vary from year to year. However, there will be 26 seats available to the incoming class in for future cohorts.

IF I HAVE RETAKEN A CLASS, DOES LAKE ERIE COLLEGE AND CASPA LOOK AT THE NEW GRADE OR THE AVERAGE OF BOTH?

CASPA does their overall GPA calculation based on every course taken, including repeated courses. Lake Erie College uses the overall and science GPAs as calculated by CASPA. Lake Erie College takes the newer or better grade for your prerequisite coursework.

IS HEALTHCARE EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM?

No, prior healthcare experience is not required. If students do not have healthcare experience they can shadow all 250 required hours. All applicants must shadow a PA for a documented 24 hours. The shadow form is here. As part of the holistic review process for new applicants, healthcare experience is considered along with other work and volunteer experiences.

IS THERE A SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION FOR LAKE ERIE COLLEGE IN ADDITION TO THE CASPA APPLICATION?

No.

MAY I TAKE PREREQUISITE COURSES AT ANOTHER COLLEGE OR AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE?

Absolutely, as long as the college is accredited. You are also permitted to take non-lab prerequisite courses through online classes if the college/university is accredited.

WHAT CAN I DO TO PREPARE FOR PA SCHOOL AFTER I HAVE BEEN ADMITTED?

Once you have the prerequisites complete, consider doing additional clinical observation beyond the minimum required for the program. In addition, you are strongly encouraged to continue to review medical terminology as well as anatomy and physiology.

WHAT IF I HAVE NOT COMPLETED MY PREREQUISITES AT THE TIME OF MATRICULATION?

If the prerequisites are not complete at time of matriculation, you will not be permitted to enter the program. All admission requirements must be completed by May 15th of the year in which you are planning to enter the program. You must provide evidence of completion (official transcript) of any coursework.

ARE ANY GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS FAVORED FOR ADMISSION?

All Lake Erie College students and graduates who meet the minimum requirements will be granted an interview. Lake Erie College students and graduates will be given some preference in admission.  In the event that a Lake Erie College student is not admitted through either the guaranteed interview or Early Acceptance Opportunity, that individual may apply again in future years, but may not take advantage of the guaranteed interview (and is not eligible for the Early Acceptance Opportunity).  Instead, repeat applicants will be reviewed in accordance with the standard admissions policies.   Lake Erie College Physician Assistant Program encourages all applicants with diverse life experiences to apply. Attributes beyond the minimum requirements will be considered during the interview process. Please see the "Disclosure of Admission Practices" section of the admissions page for further details. 

IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE ACCEPTED IF I HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD?

All prospective students must be honest about their criminal record. Background checks will be performed including Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCII) report and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) report. Lake Erie College PA Program has the right to deny enrollment based on previous convictions or false information. Appeals to any information found during the background check or drug screen must be made directly through CastleBranch according to their listed policies and procedures. All cases will be reviewed individually.

WHEN CAN I EXPECT TO RECEIVE AN ADMISSION DECISION?

Applicants are notified of an admission decision as early as August following interviews. Upon acceptance, the candidate has two weeks to submit a non-refundable matriculation deposit to secure his or her spot in the program. If the deposit is not received in the required time, the individual will lose his or her position in the program. Deposit, tuition, and fees are subject to change without notice.

WHEN IS THE APPLICATION DEADLINE?

Application deadline is November 1st. Application, payments, transcripts, and at least two letters of evaluation must be received by 11:59 PM ET on the deadline date. To ensure items arrive on time, try to send all documents by September 1st. It is strongly encouraged to submit all materials early because there will be a rolling admission (the first interview session may be before the deadline) and it may take 4-6 weeks for CASPA to verify your application. Applications will be reviewed once complete.

WHEN SHOULD I HAVE MY MATERIALS IN TO CASPA IN ORDER TO MEET THE DEADLINES?

CASPA recommends having your application completed 4-6 weeks prior to the November 1st deadline. You may complete your application later but you risk further delays in processing and this could jeopardize your admissions status. Rolling admissions will be used and it is beneficial to apply early.

WHERE DO STUDENTS DO THEIR CLINICAL ROTATIONS? WHAT DO THE CLINICAL ROTATIONS INVOLVE?

Students will perform many of these clinical rotations at University Hospitals. In addition, we have signed agreements with many excellent clinical facilities such as Cleveland Clinic. Students will perform ten clinical rotations in a variety of areas. Three of the ten rotations are an elective.

WILL YOU REVIEW MY APPLICATION BEFORE IT IS COMPLETE?

No. An application will not be reviewed until it is made available to us as a complete, verified application by CASPA. It is the applicant's responsibility to contact CASPA directly to verify the receipt of all application materials by CASPA and the current status of his/her application.

WHAT IF I AM INTERESTED IN PRACTICING MEDICINE IN ANOTHER STATE?

Students interested in practicing in other states should consult with the resource provided herehere to determine if the state of interest has additional requirements to become licensed.