• Comply with all policies and procedures published by CUAA and those of the Physician Assistant Program.
• Achieve a grade of 79% or higher at the end of each didactic course.
• Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher at the end of each term.
• Submit timely documentation of immunization and physical exam requirements.
• Maintain BLS certification (on your own) throughout the program and obtain or maintain ACLS certification (provided by the PA program) prior to entering clinical rotations. ACLS certification must remain valid through graduation from the program.
• Comply with professionalism expectations.

The program will monitor student progress in a timely and ongoing fashion, and will provide remediation options for the student to improve performance. It is the student’s responsibility to make significant efforts at remediation to prove competency. Processes for remediation is outlined in both the Didactic and Clinical Student Handbooks.

• Comply with all CUAA and PA Program policies and procedures
• Comply with professionalism expectations
• Achieve a total grade for each EOR at 79% or higher
• Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher at the end of each term
• Successfully complete all written, practical and oral summative evaluations with a grade of 73% or higher
• Successfully complete the summative evaluation as designated by program requirements

• Successful completion of all components of the program with demonstrated competency (didactic, clinical and Capstone)
• Compliance with all CUAA and PA program policies and procedures demonstrated professional behavior throughout the program
• Fulfillment of all financial obligations to Concordia University Ann Arbor

The CUA A’s PA Program reserves the right to dismiss any PA student at any time prior to graduation. Circumstances warranting such action may be of an academic, legal or professional nature.Additional information is available in the student handbooks on appeal of dismissal and withdrawal from the program.

Deceleration in the didactic program is not allowed for academic or professionalism deficiencies. In the case of a Leave of Absence due to medical illness or pregnancy, deceleration may require that the student repeat the entire didactic year, taking all courses again that they had passed previously, which would require additional tuition. The program will make decisions related to LOA on a case-by-case basis.

Admission Requirements

Candidates for admission must meet the following requirements:

• January 15, 2023 is the deadline for submission of verified applications.
• Please note, the deadline for application is for Verified applications. Submit your applications at least 4-6 weeks prior to the deadline to allow time for verification of information in your application.
• First day of class is August 28, 2023
• Baccalaureate Degree (must be earned prior to matriculation from a regionally accredited university or college in the U.S.)
• GPA
  • Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher, AND
  • Minimum 3.0 prerequisite science GPA or higher
• Prerequisite Coursework
  • Note: Each prerequisite course must be successfully completed with a grade of “C” or higher from a regionally U.S. accredited college or university. For applicants who have taken their prerequisite coursework outside the U.S., please see Admissions tab for more information.
  • All prerequisite science coursework must be completed at the time of application.
  • One non-science prerequisite course may be pending at the time of application, but must be completed prior to matriculation in the program.
  • Online labs for science prerequisites will be considered if related to COVID issues and only if occurring between spring 2020 and spring 2022 terms. 
  • Audited coursework is not accepted for prerequisite courses, nor are grades of PASS/FAIL.
• PA-CAT/  The Concordia University Ann Arbor PA Program is recommending that their applicants take the PA-CAT (Physician Assistant College Admission Test). The PA-CAT is a specialized test designed to measure applicant knowledge in key prerequisite science subjects typically required for PA school. For information about the PA-CAT and to schedule your exam, visit their website.
• •  
• There must be documentation of 1000 hours of hands-on patient care experience.
  • Examples of hands-on patient care may include but is not limited to: nursing, CNA, ER tech, EMT/paramedic, lab technician, dietician, exercise stress test technician, mental health therapist, military medical/clinical specialist, occupational/physical therapist, pharmacist, pharmacy technician, phlebotomist, respiratory therapist, surgical technician.
  • Medical scribe experience as a scribe is invaluable to documentation and observational learning, but hands-on patient care experience is not part of the scribe’s responsibility. As such, a scribe may use max 500 hours of scribe work as part of the health care requirement, but the remainder must be in some capacity in which you have direct patient interaction.
  • The following are NOT considered hands-on experience: PA or MD shadowing; non-clinical research assistant; candy striper; CPR instructor; patient transporter, pharmaceutical rep; ski patrol (unless EMT certified), lifeguard, aerobics instructor, therapeutic horse observers, unit clerk, medical insurance clerk, medical secretary.
  • If you have additional questions regarding whether your particular experience suffices, please contact the program office directly to discuss.
• Completion of 16 hour minimum shadowing of a Physician Assistant.
  • Shadowing must be completed and documented to the program via CASPA in order for the application to be considered ready for review.
  • The program is not able to find or suggest sites for applicants to complete the shadowing requirement.
• Three letters of reference are required to be submitted: (PLEASE NOTE)
  • One letter of reference must be from a PA with whom you have shadowed, and should speak to your understanding of the role of a PA and aptitude for the vocation of a Physician Assistant specifically.
  • One letter of reference must be from an employer/supervisor of your patient health care experience, and should speak to your interaction and care of patients and aptitude for a profession as a health care provider.
  • One letter must be from someone who can speak to your aptitude for successfully navigating the strenuous workloads and rigor that the curriculum will require.
• Technical Standards are physical, behavioral and cognitive abilities that must be met in order for a PA to complete the educational curriculum, and competently perform all duties required as a PA upon graduation. Please see Technical Standards for Physician Assistants on the (cuaa.edu/pa) website, that each student must be able to meet in order to be admitted to the PA program and function effectively in the PA profession.

• Chemistry:
  • One or two semesters of general (inorganic) chemistry with lab (4 cr each) (two preferred)
  • One semester of organic chemistry with lab
  • One semester of biochemistry with or without lab) (3 cr course minimum)
  • If Organic chemistry or Biochemistry are taken at a community college, pre-req for that course must have been a college level general chemistry course)
• Biology:
  • One or two semesters of general biology with lab (3-4 cr. each) (two are preferred)
  • Botany, or survey course does not fill this requirement
• Genetics:
  • One semester of genetics is preferred, but not required.
• Human Anatomy & Physiology:
  • May be completed as A & P 1 and A & P 2; both must include lab and must require a college level biology course as a prerequisite for taking A & P.  The applicant may be asked to provide the course description to the program. This requirement may also be met as individual Human Anatomy and separate Physiology course, again with on-campus lab component. A & P is the cornerstone for all understanding in clinical medicine, and as such, the course must be rigorous, related to HUMAN anatomy & physiology, and should have been completed within 5 years of application, although more distant coursework of an applicant currently working in a medical field utilizing A & P may be acceptable. Pathophysiology will not replace the requirement for a physiology course in those who have taken only Anatomy.
• Microbiology: One semester with lab is required
• Psychology: One semester (lifespan, developmental or abnormal preferred)
• Statistics: One semester
• College algebra or higher: One semester (will accept high school AP credit)
• Medical Terminology: One semester (recommended within 5 years of application)
• English Composition: One semester minimum (will accept high school AP credit)

Highly recommended courses though not required:

• Pharmacology
• Immunology
• Additional Psychology classes
• Additional medical terminology study is recommended

No advanced placement or transfer credit is granted if transferring from another PA or graduate program nor for foreign medical graduates or foreign physicians. No course credit is given for experiential learning.

NOTE: high school AP coursework for the basic sciences courses (Biology 1 and Chemistry 1) may be used for pre-requisite requirements. The statement above refers to AP in coursework taken at a previous PA program.