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Physician Assistant (PA) School Details

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Alvernia University

Reading,
PA
Information Last Reviewed by PreHealthAdmit: May 2024
400 Saint Bernardine St.
Reading,
PA
19607

Program Website:

Admissions Office Email:

physicianassociate@alvernia.edu
610-685-3253

Located in Reading, PA, Alvernia is guided by Franciscan values and the ideal of “knowledge joined with love,” and rooted in the Catholic and liberal arts traditions, Alvernia is a rigorous, caring, and inclusive learning community committed to academic excellence and to being and fostering: broadly educated, life-long learners; reflective professionals and engaged citizens; eEthical leaders with moral courage.

The PA program became provisionally accredited in March of 2024 and shortly thereafter began accepting applications for their first class – matriculating in August 2025.

Alvernia will offer two pathways to obtain a Master of Medical Science in Physician Associate Studies: a Bio-PA (3+2) accelerated track and a traditional post-baccalaureate track. Alvernia’s traditional post-baccalaureate program is designed for students who have obtained a baccalaureate degree.

Program Information

Length of Program:

2 Years

Part-Time Option Available:  

No

Starting Semester: 

Fall

Accreditation:

Provisional

Students per Class:

PANCE First-Time Pass Rate: 

Not Available

Cost of Attendance (Resident / Non-Resident): 

$180,000 / $180,000   Does not include living expenses.

Combined Degree Program(s) Offered: 

Bachelor's/Master's

Degree Program Notes:

In addition to the traditional post-baccalaureate masters program, the Bio-PA (3+2) accelerated track is a fast-paced course of study which allows focused students to obtain both a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Master of Medical Science degree within five years. At this time, the Bio-PA (3+2) accelerated track is only available for first-year students.

Admissions Information

Application:

Participates in CASPA:

Yes

Application Deadline:

Not yet released.
(Rolling Admissions not Stated)

GPA:

Minimum GPA:   

2.80

Minimum Science GPA:

3.0

Average GPA: 

Not Reported by Program

Average Science GPA:   

Not Reported by Program

Other GPA Requirements: 

3.0 GPA minimum for prerequisites, no less than C in any prerequisite course, and no pass/fail grades for any prerequisite course.

Shadowing and Experience:

PA Shadowing Required or Recommended:

Required

Minimum PA Shadowing: 

8

Patient Care Experience Required:

200 Hours

Patient Care Experience Recommended: 

No Specific Recommendation

Additional Information Regarding Patient Care:

Any hours credited as part of education or training will not count. Direct patient care hours may be paid or volunteer.

Testing

Test(s) Required:

GRE Required

GRE Deadline:

Check with School

GRE Expiration:

Check with School

PA-CAT Deadline:

Not Applicable

CASPer Required:

No

CASPer Deadline:

Not Applicable

Coursework Policies

Coursework Expiration:

10 Years

Online Coursework Accepted:

Not Stated on School Website

Community College Coursework Accepted:

Not Stated on School Website

Pending Prerequisite Coursework Allowed:

Yes
2 pending course(s) maximum.
Applicants may have two outstanding prerequisites at the time of CASPA application submission, but these must be completed and verified prior to matriculation.

Prerequisites

Course
Semesters
Required or Recommended
Notes
General Chemistry
2 Semesters with Lab
Required
Organic Chemistry
Not Required
Biochemistry
Not Required
Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry Options
1 Semester with Lab
Required
Introductory Biology
2 Semesters with Lab
Required
Microbiology
1 Semester with Lab
Required
Upper-Level Biology
Not Required
Genetics
Not Required
Anatomy and Physiology
2 Semesters: 1 Each of Anatomy and Physiology, OR 2 Semesters of Combined Anatomy/Physiology, Each with Lab
Required
Physics
Not Required
Medical Terminology
Not Required
English / Writing
Not Required
Psychology
1 Semester
Required
Social Sciences
Not Required
Statistics
1 Semester
Required
Other Math
Not Required
Foreign Language
Not Required
Other Requirements

None.

Other Recommendations

None.

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