MSPAS – Admissions

Francis Marion University Physician Assistant Program (FMU-PAP) utilizes the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) for processing applications and the FMU Graduate application Process. The FMU-PAP application cycle opens at the end of April each year starting in 2025, and continues through September 1, of each year. The initial cohort of students will begin in August 2026, and each August thereafter. To apply to the FMU-PAP program, you must submit a CASPA application and complete the supplemental Francis Marion University graduate application. (https://www.fmarion.edu/admissions/applynow/)

Documents that must be submitted to CASPA and/or to the FMU Graduate Program:

• Official transcripts from all colleges attended
• Current Resume or Curriculum vitae (CV)
• 3 letters of recommendations

• Personal Statement of 400-750 words, explaining the student’s reason for applying to the FMU PA Program and describing his/her clinical experience.
• Current Resume or Curriculum vitae (CV)

CASPA:

(CASPA has a initial application fee and an additional fee for each PA Program the student desires submission)

FMU Graduate Application Fee:

• Non-refundable graduate application fee ($41)

Acceptance Requirements

For accepted applicants, the program requires a completed acceptance form and the $500 non-refundable seat reservation fee; this fee will be applied to the applicant’s first semester tuition. Information on payment will be provided with the acceptance letter.

Applicants offered a seat in the program will be required to complete the following, within four weeks of matriculation:

• Official Transcripts from all College and Universities
• Proof of Health Insurance
• Immunization Records
• Background Check
• Urine Drug Screen

Detailed instructions on how to complete the above requirement will be sent to the applicants, in their orientation packet.

(**Acceptance into the Physician Assistant Program is dependent on the results of the Drug Screen and Criminal Background Check)

Advanced Placement

The program does not grant advanced placement, accept transfer credit from a student previously enrolled in another PA program, nor does it accept experiential credit. All students accepted into the PA program must satisfy all requirements of the didactic and clinical years of study.

Application Assessment Criteria

All applications are screened once they are received from the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) and/or from FMU Graduate Admissions.  All applications that are verified and complete, including all required criteria, will have an Interview Qualification Score sheet completed in order to determine whether the candidate is invited for an interview.  There are no admission practices which favor individuals or groups.  (A3.13a)

Education requirements:  (A3.13b)

• Completed Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in the U.S. recognized by CHEA and  the USDE.
• Minimum 3.0 GPA on 4.0 scale requirement for both cumulative and prerequisite.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 250 hours of direct patient care experience* (A3.13b)

Required prerequisites (with labs where applicable):  (A3.13b)

• • Biology with lab (4 credits)
  • Anatomy and Physiology with lab (8 credits, may be taken as two combined anatomy and physiology courses with lab or one anatomy course with lab and one physiology course with lab)
  • Chemistry with lab (4 credits) and 1 additional chemistry with lab from choices on next line.
  • Organic chemistry  with lab (4 credits) or 1 from the alternate list with lab: (Biochemistry, Analytical, Inorganic, or Quantitative)
  • Statistics or biostatistics (3 credits)
  • Psychology (6 credits, one course needs to be upper level; recommend abnormal or lifespan development)
  • Microbiology with lab (4 credits)
  • Healthcare terminology (1 credit)

Application Materials: 

• • • 400-750 word personal statement, explaining the student’s reason for applying to the program and describing his/her clinical experience
    • Current Resume or Curriculum vitae (CV)
    • 3 letters of recommendation

• • • On-campus Interviews
    • Candidates are selected for interviews based on their Interview Qualification Score.  All applicants receive a score for GPAs, healthcare experience, personal statements , and letters of recommendation.  Invitations for interviews are extended to the most competitive applicants. These interviews will be conducted using a Multiple-Mini Interview (MMI) approach. The interviews will be held in the early spring, after the application deadline. Exact dates will be given to those applicants who are invited for interviews.

• • • Selection Process
    • During the selection process, the Admissions Committee will place applicants in one of three categories: Accept, Waitlist*, and Denied.  Accepted candidates will be notified by phone of their acceptance followed with a letter by mail.  Candidates placed on the Waitlist or Denied will be notified by mail.*Waitlist: If a place becomes available, waitlisted candidates will be contacted by phone for acceptance, in order of ranking. The program does not reveal waitlist rankings to candidates. Interviewees will be notified of the admissions decision within one month of the interview.

• (* Direct Healthcare experience = EMT, Paramedic, Nursing, Respiratory therapist, Athletic Trainer, Medical Assistant, Med Tech, Radiology Tech, ER Tech, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Military areas)

**Note: There is no time limit on age of required prerequisite courses. Students with Anatomy and Physiology courses older than 5 years are encouraged to audit or retake these courses to refresh their understanding of subject material.