Department of Physician Assistant Studies
Daniel Pavlik, DMS, PA-C, Interim Director
Degree Programs
Physician Assistant Program
Master of Medical Science (MMS)
Physician Assistant Program Mission
The mission of the Salus University Physician Assistant program is to graduate collaborative clinicians who will serve the healthcare needs of a global community with intelligence, compassion, and integrity.
Physician Assistant (PA) Program
Our competitive, full-time, 25-month Physician Assistant (PA) program prepares graduates to join one of the fastest-growing professions in the country and become integral members of today’s healthcare delivery team. The program consists of a 12-month didactic phase and a 13-month clinical phase. Upon successful completion of the program, students receive a Master of Medical Science degree (MMS).
The program is patient-centered with a primary care philosophy and holistic approach, so our students appreciate the need to care not only for the patient, but about the patient. Our outstanding faculty is accessible and committed to the personal and professional development of our students.
Early clinical experiences plus innovative teaching through small group and case-based learning are integral to the program. The Clinical Phase is dedicated to supervised clinical practice experiences that afford direct patient care in primary and specialty care disciplines.
Salus University Physician Assistant students receive:
- A strong basic science and pathophysiology foundation for clinical medicine
- Anatomy instruction with an onsite full cadaver dissection lab augmented with virtual anatomy
- Innovative, evidence-based instruction integral to the development of critical thinking skills
- Observational patient care introduced in the first year
Contact us at 800.824.6262 or admissions@salus.edu to explore the opportunities awaiting you at Salus University.
Admissions
The College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation Physician Assistant program accepts applications only through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). The processing of applications by CASPA begins in April, sixteen (16) months prior to the year of desired enrollment. Applications must be verified by CASPA on or before December 1 of the year prior to desired enrollment.
- Student application reviews begin when CASPA has verified an application.
- Interviews are scheduled and initiated, beginning July in the year prior to enrollment.
- Candidates are admitted by the Admissions Committee on a rolling basis with a maximum entering class size of 50 students.
See a profile of the most recent Entering Class (PDF).
It is to an applicant’s advantage to apply as early as possible to ensure priority consideration for admission.
Criteria & Prerequisites
The College of Health Science, Education and Rehabilitation Physician Assistant program actively seeks individuals with an undergraduate degree and diverse life experiences who desire to become physician assistants.
To Be Considered, An Applicant Must:
- Submit a properly completed application to CASPA. (www.caspaonline.org)
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended (or currently attending) directly to CASPA.
- Complete a bachelor's degree and admissions prerequisites prior to enrollment (see Prerequisites section below)
- Submit three letters of recommendation; one must be from a physician assistant. Arrange for required letters of recommendation to be sent directly to CASPA.
- Accrue a minimum of 300 hours of direct patient care experience. This may be a volunteer and/or employment position(s).
- Complete a minimum of 20 hours of PA shadowing to become familiar with the role of the physician assistant (PA) as a member of the health care team. Shadowing PAs in various medical disciplines is highly recommended.
- Complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) within three years of the desired entrance date to the Program. Official scores are to be sent directly to CASPA. Salus University's designated institution code is 0432.
Please note, all credentials submitted on behalf of an applicant becomes part of that applicant’s record with the University and cannot be returned.
International students, please review below any additional requirements needed.
If Accepted, An Applicant Must:
- Complete a criminal background check, child abuse clearance, annual health clearances, fingerprinting and drug screening. Immunization requirements are compliant with state regulations and CDC recommendations for healthcare providers.
- Information will be provided by the Office of Student Affairs regarding this process. Students are responsible for all fees associated with these clearance protocols. More information can be found in the Admissions Selection Process section below.
- Provide proof of health insurance prior to the start of the program.
- Meet the Technical Standards (see section below) with allowance for reasonable accommodations.
Prerequisites
A candidate must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited undergraduate institution with a minimum cumulative and science GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The following institutions have formed articulation agreements with Salus University:
3+2 Physician Assistant Program:
Western New England University
4+2 Physician Assistant Program:
Cedar Crest College
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Keystone College
Messiah College
Rosemont College
University of the Sciences
Please refer to the following link for additional information regarding the criteria for each articulation: salus.edu/pa-affiliate.
Prerequisite courses must be completed within ten years of the anticipated entrance date to the Program. An applicant may have prerequisites in progress at the time of application; however, all outstanding prerequisites must be successfully completed prior to enrollment. In order to fairly evaluate a candidate, it is recommended that no more than two prerequisites be outstanding at the time of interview.
Undergraduate credits must include the courses listed below, completed with a 2.0 (C) or better.
Four semester credits* are required in each of the following courses:
- Anatomy and Physiology I (or Anatomy) with laboratory
- Anatomy and Physiology II (or Physiology) with laboratory
- Biology I with laboratory
- Biology II with laboratory
- Chemistry I with laboratory
- Chemistry II with laboratory
*Three semester credit course/s will be reviewed on an individual basis.
Three semester credits are required in each of the following courses:
- Microbiology (laboratory recommended, but not required)
- Organic Chemistry (laboratory recommended, but not required)
- Psychology
- Statistics or Biostatistics
- English Composition
Recommended courses, but not required: medical terminology (strongly recommended), physics, genetics, immunology, embryology, histology, biochemistry, cell biology, public speaking, ethics, and developmental or abnormal psychology.
International Students & Practitioners
International Transcripts
For international applicants who have completed their college degree(s) outside of the U.S. or Canada, please provide the Office of Admissions with the following information:
- A course-by-course credential review from an accredited agency (such as World Education Services), which evidences all post-secondary studies completed. Please consult the agency’s website for requirements to complete the evaluation.
- An official evaluation may be sent from the agency directly to CASPA.
English Language Proficiency
Fluency in written and spoken English is essential for success in a Salus University academic program as well as to help ensure patient/client safety and/or effective communication with members of a healthcare team. Official results from the TOEFL (or IELTS) examination are required for all students for whom English is a second language (ESL).
Exceptions will be made for ESL applicants who hold degrees or diplomas from accredited post-secondary institutions in countries where English is the official language and in which English is the language of instruction (e.g. the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand).
The TOEFL (or IELTS) examination must be taken within two years prior to the start date of the entering class to which an applicant seeks admission.
For applicants to the Physician Assistant program, the minimum required score for the TOEFL iBT is 94.
- A minimum score of 26 is required for the speaking section; minimum of 24 for the writing section; minimum of 22 for the listening section; and minimum of 22 for the reading section.
- Official scores from the IELTS examination will be accepted in substitution for the TOEFL (minimum score requirements comparable to the TOEFL).
Admissions Selection Process
The Admissions Committee has established policies that include the selection of applicants best qualified to serve the public and the profession. The factors considered in selecting students for our program include.
- academic performance*
- motivation
- extracurricular activities and interests
- related and unrelated work experience
- personal achievements
- essay
- letters of recommendation
- communication skills, including a demonstrated command of the English language, both written and oral
*When evaluating academic performance, the applicant’s grade point averages, performance in prerequisite courses, number of college science credits completed each semester, major, degree status, and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are considered. Accrued hours of direct patient care experience are also considered.
Applicants from affiliated institutions who have met established minimum requirements are given priority consideration in the admissions selection process with invitation to interview. In addition, applicants who have taken three or more science courses per semester, maintain a Biology/Chemistry/Physics GPA of 3.5 or higher, or have shadowed licensed physician assistants across various disciplines are given priority consideration in the admissions selection process.
Applicants who have successfully completed the Salus Post-baccalaureate in Health Sciences Certificate Program and who have met all minimum prerequisites for admission will be afforded the opportunity to interview and be considered in the general applicant pool. Please note: To successfully complete the Post-baccalaureate certificate, students must complete 25 credits while maintaining good academic standing (a GPA of 3.0 or higher and no more than two 'C' grades).
Admissions Selection Process - Physician Assistant Program
Interview Process
Individuals successfully meeting the prerequisites may receive an invitation for an on-campus interview. This meeting provides further insight into the applicant’s character and motivation, and allows an applicant the opportunity to discuss their application with an Admissions staff member, tour the campus, and meet with faculty and students.
In addition, eligible students accepted into the Post-baccalaureate in Health Sciences program who successfully complete the certificate*, submit a complete CASPA application, and meet the program prerequisite requirements will be guaranteed an interview with the Salus program of their choice.
Contact the Office of Admissions for additional information.
Notification of Acceptance and Matriculation Fee
An applicant may be notified of their acceptance as early as August, prior to the desired year of enrollment. Upon receipt of acceptance, an applicant is required to pay a $1,000 matriculation fee to the University prior to the start of classes, payable as follows:
- Return the matriculation form along with a $500 deposit within 14 days of the date of the acceptance letter.
- The balance of the $500 matriculation fee is due by April 1.
- All monies received above are non-refundable and will be applied toward first term fees.
Compliance Requirements
All students admitted to the Salus University Physician Assistant Program are required to have a criminal background check, child abuse clearance, annual health clearances, fingerprinting and drug screening. Immunization requirements are compliant with state regulations and CDC recommendations for healthcare providers. Information will be provided by the Office of Student Affairs regarding this process. Students are responsible for all fees associated with these clearance protocols.
Students will be responsible for uploading their required documentation via CastleBranch, an online-tracking system, and monitoring their compliance records to ensure that all information remains current and accurate. Clinical sites that require such clearances may deny a student’s participation in a clinical experience based on the results of these clearances.
As participation in clinical experiences is a required component of the curriculum and a requirement for graduation, denial by a clinical site may result in a delay of graduation, or the inability to graduate from the Program, or obtain certification or licensure as a healthcare professional.
Advanced Placement or Transfer Credit
The Salus University Physician Assistant Program does not grant advanced placement based upon transfer of credits for academic work completed at other institutions of higher learning or prior experiential learning. All courses within the curriculum are required.
Matriculating students who have withdrawn or been dismissed from the Program may be awarded advanced placement depending upon the designed remediation plan related to their readmission.
Deferment of Admission
An accepted student to the Salus University Physician Assistant program with an unforeseen, extenuating circumstance prohibiting them from matriculating may request a deferment of admission in writing. The request must be directed to both the Dean of Student Affairs and the PA Program Director, and made via the Office of Admissions.
For deferment consideration, the following is required:
- A deferment request submitted in writing by May 15, before the August start of the academic year. Please note, submission of a deferral request by the deadline does not guarantee approval.
- Official documentation verifying the extenuating circumstance.
- All non-refundable deposit fees and the matriculation supplement must be received (as directed in the University’s official Letter of Acceptance.)
If deferment is approved:
- Admission will be extended to August matriculation of the next academic year.
- A deferment will not extend beyond one admission cycle.
- The student must contact the Office of Admissions, in writing, by April 1 of the deferred admission calendar year regarding their intention to resume enrollment.
- The student will be required to meet with a member of the Admissions Committee prior to matriculation.
If a deferral request is denied:
- A student has the option to withdraw acceptance from the Program, or reapply through CASPA for future admission.
For questions regarding this policy, please contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@salus.edu.
Technical Standards
Minimum Technical Standards for Admissions, Continuation and Graduation
Technical standards are defined as the attributes considered necessary for students to complete their education and training and subsequently enter clinical practice. These standards are prerequisites for entrance to, continuation within, and graduation from the Salus University Physician Assistant program. They are also prerequisites to licensure by various state professional boards. Reasonable accommodation will be offered for persons with disabilities in conjunction with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Students must possess aptitude, ability, and skills in the following five (5) areas:
- Observation
- Communication
- Sensory and motor coordination and function
- Conceptualization, integration and quantitation
- Behavioral and social skills, abilities, and aptitudes
The functions described below are critically important and must be autonomously performed by the student. It should be understood that these are standards for minimum competence in the program:
Observation
Students must be able to observe demonstrations and conduct experiments in the basic sciences including, but not limited to, chemical, biological, anatomic and physiologic sciences. Students must be able to observe details through a microscope, and observe demonstrations in the classroom, including films, projected overheads, slides or other forms of visual presentation.
Students must be able to accurately observe a patient near and at a distance, noting nonverbal, as well as verbal signs. Specific vision related criteria include, but are not limited to, detecting and identifying changes in color of fluids, skin, culture media, visualizing and discriminating findings on x-rays and other imaging tests, and reading written and illustrated materials.
Students must be able to observe and differentiate changes in body movement, observe anatomic structures, discriminate among numbers and patterns associated with diagnostic tests such as electrocardiogram, and competently use diagnostic instruments such as an otoscope, ophthalmoscope and microscope.
Communication
Students must be able to relate effectively to patients while conveying compassion and empathy. They must be able to clearly communicate with patients in order to elicit information, accurately describe changes in mood, activity and posture of patients, and understand verbal as well as nonverbal communication.
Communication includes not only speech, but reading and writing. Physician Assistant education presents exceptional challenges in the volume and breadth of reading required to master subject areas and impart the information to others. Students must be able to communicate quickly, effectively, and efficiently in oral and written English in the classroom and later with all members of the health care team. Specific requirements include, but are not limited to the following: rapidly and clearly communicating with the medical staff on rounds or elsewhere, eliciting an accurate history from patients, and communicating complex findings in appropriate terms to patients and to various members of the health care team. Students must learn to recognize and promptly respond to emotional cues, such as sadness and agitation.
Students must be able to accurately and legibly record observations and plans in legal documents, such as the patient record. Students must be able to prepare and communicate concise, complete summaries of both limited patient encounters and complex, prolonged encounters, including hospitalizations. Students must be able to complete forms, in a timely fashion, and according to directions.
Sensory and Motor Coordination and Function
Students must possess sufficient sensory and motor function to perform physical examinations using palpation, auscultation, percussion and other diagnostic maneuvers. This requires sufficient exteroceptive sense (visual, auditory, touch and temperature), coordination to manipulate patients and adequate motor and diagnostic instruments.
Students must be able to evaluate various components of the voice, such as pitch, intensity, and timbre. They must also be able to accurately differentiate percussive notes and auscultatory findings, including but not limited to, heart, lung, and abdominal sounds. Students must be able to accurately discern normal and abnormal findings, using instruments including, but not limited to, tuning forks, stethoscopes, and sphygmomanometers.
Students should be able to execute physical movements needed to provide general care and emergency treatments to patients. The student, therefore, must be able to respond promptly to emergencies within the hospital or practice setting, and must not hinder the ability of their co-workers to provide prompt care. Examples of emergency treatment reasonably required of a physician assistant include arriving quickly when called and assisting in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), administering intravenous medications, applying pressure to arrest bleeding, maintaining an airway, suturing wounds, and assisting with obstetrical maneuvers. As further illustration, CPR may require moving an adult patient, applying considerable chest pressure over a prolonged period of time, delivering artificial respiration and calling for help.
Students should be able to learn to perform basic laboratory tests such as wet mount, urinalysis, gram stain, etc., and diagnostic/therapeutic procedures such as venipuncture or placement of catheters and tubes. The administration of intravenous medications requires a certain level of dexterity, sensation, and visual acuity. Students must be able to measure angles and diameters of various body structures using a tape measure or other devices to measure blood pressure, respiration and pulse, and interpret graphs describing biologic relationships. Clinical rotations require the ability to transport oneself to a variety of settings in a timely manner.
Intellectual, Conceptualization, Integration and Quantitation
Problem-solving, a critical skill demanded of physician assistants, often requires rapid intellectual function, especially in emergency situations. These intellectual functions include numerical recognition, measurement, calculations, reasoning analysis, judgment, and synthesis. Students must be able to identify significant findings in the patient’s history, physical examination and laboratory data, provide a reasoned explanation for likely diagnoses, and choose appropriate medications and therapy.
It is essential the student is able to incorporate new information, from many sources, toward the formulation of a diagnosis and plan. Good judgment in patient assessment and diagnostic/therapeutic planning is also essential. When appropriate, students must be able to identify and communicate the extent of their knowledge to others.
Behavioral and Social Skills; Abilities and Aptitudes
Students must possess the emotional health required for full use of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities associated with the diagnosis and care of patients and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships in diagnosis and care of patients. Empathy, integrity, honesty, concern for others, good interpersonal skills, interest in people, and motivation are all required personal qualities. Students must be able to monitor and react appropriately to their own emotional needs. For example, students need to maintain balanced demeanor and good organization in the face of long hours, fatigued colleagues, and dissatisfied patients.
Students must be able to develop appropriate professional relationships with their colleagues and patients, provide comfort and reassurance to patients, and protect patients’ confidentiality. Students must possess the endurance to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. All students are, at times, required to work for extended periods of time, occasionally with rotating schedules. Students must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the practice of medicine. Students are expected to accept suggestions and criticisms, and if necessary, to respond by modifying their behavior.
Admission
Candidates accepted for admission to the Physician Assistant program will be required to verify that they understand and meet these technical standards. Admission decisions are made on the assumption that each candidate can meet the technical standards without consideration of disability. Letters of admission will be offered contingent on either a signed statement from the applicant that they can meet the program’s technical standards without accommodation, or a signed statement from the applicant that they believe they can meet the technical standards if reasonable accommodation is provided.
The University reserves the right of final determination for applicants requesting accommodations to meet the program’s technical standards. This includes a review of whether the accommodations requested are reasonable, taking into account whether the accommodation would jeopardize patient safety, or the educational process of the student or the institution, including all coursework and internships deemed essential to graduation.
The Office for Academic Success and the Physician Assistant program will jointly determine what accommodations are suitable or possible in terms of reasonable accommodation, and will render the person capable of performing all essential functions established by the program.
Course Schedule
First Year 2022-2023
Fall Semester (2S)
Spring Semester (4S)
First Year Total: 43.50 Credits.
Second Year 2023-2024
Summer Semester (1S)
| PAS-5008 | Acute and Invasive Medicine | 3 |
| PAS-5032 | Physiology and Pathophysiology 3 | 2 |
| PAS-5042 | Pharmacology & Clin Therapeutics 3 | 1.5 |
| PAS-5051 | Clinical Problem Solving 2 | 1.5 |
| PAS-5062 | Physical Diagnosis 3 | 1 |
| PAS-5132 | Clinical Medicine 3 | 6 |
| PAS-5142 | Advanced Clinical Skills 3 | 2.5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17.5 |
Fall Quarter (2Q)
PAS-62XX
| Rotation 1* | 4.5 |
PAS-62XX
| Rotation 2* | 4.5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Winter Quarter (3Q)
PAS-62XX
| Rotation 3* | 4.5 |
PAS-62XX
| Rotation 4* | 4.5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Spring Quarter (4Q)
| PAS-5930 | Capstone Project 1 | 0.5 |
PAS-62XX
| Rotation 5* | 4.5 |
PAS-62XX
| Rotation 6* | 4.5 |
PAS-62XX
| Rotation 7* | 4.5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Second Year Total: 49.50 Credits.
Third Year 2024-2025
Summer Quarter (1Q)
PAS-62XX
| Rotation 8* | 4.5 |
PAS-62XX
| Rotation 9* | 4.5 |
PAS-62XXA
| Rotation 10* | 2.5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 11.5 |
Fall Session I (2Q)
| PAS-5901 | Transition to Practice | 2 |
| PAS-5931 | Capstone Project 2 | 0.5 |
PAS-62XXB
| Rotation 10* | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 4.5 |
PAS-62XXB: Part 2.
Third Year Total: 16 Credits.
*Rotation Descriptions
PAS-6200
| | |
PAS-6201
| | |
PAS-6202
| | |
PAS-6203
| | |
PAS-6204
| | |
PAS-6206
| | |
PAS-6230
| | |
PAS-6231
| | |
PAS-6240
| | |
PAS-6241
| | |
Total Credit Hours: 109