Physician Assistant Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lab with all the classes that have labs listed as a requirement?
What is Harding's institution code for the GRE?
Can I substitute the MCAT or GMAT for the GRE?
Is the GRE still required if I already have a master's degree?
Do we offer credit for academic or experiential learning or advanced standing?
What is Harding's policy on transfer students from other Physician Assistant schools?
What will be the expected class size?
Are students allowed to work while in the Physician Assistant Program?
Can I apply before my prerequisites are complete?
Where should I obtain references?
If I am accepted into the Physician Assistant Program, may I defer my acceptance to the following year?
Are you using CASPA for your applications?
What will it cost?
Where can I find information about obtaining financial aid?
Where can I find out more about the PA profession?
What is needed to remain in good academic standing to meet graduation requirements?
How have your students performed on the PANCE?
What was the average GPA, medical experience, and age of your students?

Do I need a lab with all the classes that have labs listed as a requirement?
Yes. The labs that are required are important hands on learning experiences in preparing you for professional training. Lab classes can often be taken alone if you have already had the associated course.

What is Harding’s institution code for the GRE?
Harding's institution code is 6267. The departmental code is 0601 (allied health). You need to use both the institution and departmental codes to ensure that we receive your scores.

Can I substitute the MCAT or GMAT for the GRE?
No. Other measures of aptitude through testing may not be substituted for the GRE. The Graduate Record Examination General Test comprised of verbal, quantitative and analytical (writing) sections are required as part of the application process. You are not required to take any of the GRE subject exams.

Is the GRE still required if I already have a master's degree?
No. The GRE requirement is waived for those who have completed a graduate degree by December 30, 2008.

Do you offer credit for academic or experiential learning or advanced standing?
The Harding Physician Assistant Program highly values academic preparation and previous health care experience in its evaluation of applicants to the Program. However, it is the policy of the Program that advanced placement or credit for academic or other experiential learning will not be awarded. All matriculated students are required to participate in and complete the entire curriculum of the Program in order to meet the requirements of graduation.

What is Harding's policy on transfer students from other Physician Assistant schools?
The Physician Assistant Program does not admit transfer students from other Physician Assistant schools. All applicants must participate in a competitive admissions process.

What will be the expected class size?
We expect future classes to be 32 students.

Are students allowed to work while in the Physician Assistant Program?
The Harding Physician Assistant Program curriculum is fast-paced and rigorous, with a heavy study load. Successful completion will require the full attention of each student. Students are strongly discouraged from working while enrolled in the Program. Some clinical rotations will involve travel, varying shift work and being on-call. No accommodations will be made in the didactic schedule or in clinical rotations for students who choose to work.

Can I apply before my prerequisites are complete?
Yes. When completing your CASPA application, include courses in progress and coursework planned in the appropriate fields to alert us to your plans. If you are accepted into the Program before you complete the required coursework, your acceptance will be on provisional status until records of your coursework and/or graduation are received. No student will be allowed to matriculate into the Program if all prerequisite requirements are not met. Because of the various factors considered in selecting applicants, you are encouraged to complete the majority of prerequisites before applying. Only 1 prerequisite course may be left for completion the spring semester prior to matriculation into the program.

Where should I obtain references?
It is recommended that applicants seek references from individuals who are well acquainted with them academically and/or professionally. A professional reference would be from persons who have supervised you in work or volunteer clinical experiences. Applicants should obtain references from both areas. The person writing the reference should be acquainted with the applicant for a significant period of time (e.g. not just one course in the case of a college professor). A reference from a personal friend is usually not considered a good choice.

If I am accepted into the Physician Assistant Program, may I defer my acceptance to the following year?
No. The Physician Assistant Program is unable to defer admissions.

Are you using CASPA for your application process?
Yes. Our CASPA application cycle runs from April 17 through November 1, 2008. Please read over all of our admissions requirements and mission statement prior to completing the CASPA application. Our e-submission deadline for 2008 is November 1 and early application is encouraged. You do not need to file an undergraduate application to Harding University in order to apply or be admitted to our program.

What will it cost?
We are instituting a new levelized tuition plan with the incoming class of 2010. The cost of tuition will be spread over the 7 semesters of the program. Every fall there is an anticipated tuition increase by the University and program tuition cost will be adjusted accordingly and set for that academic year. The program will pay for lab fees, malpractice insurance, professional dues and ACLS costs. Students will still be responsible for the technology and graduation fee. There will be additional costs of books, equipment, laptop, class dues, living expenses, and travel that are the students' responsibility.  Refer to the admissions page on the website for an example using last years costs. These numbers will be updated as new tuition costs become available during the summer of 2008. 

Where can I find information about obtaining financial aid?
Prior to acceptance, you may begin your financial planning by going to: www.harding.edu/finaid/. Once accepted into the Program, you will be given a PIN number to have direct access to financial aid pages which will help you in your individual financing options.
Each student will need to complete a FAFSA (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/) to determine eligibility for Stafford loans. This can be done prior to acceptance into the program.
Federal and non-federal aid programs are available to qualified applicants. However, federal and non-federal financial aid will not cover the entire cost associated with attendance in the Physician Assistant Program. Applicants are encouraged to seek assistance from other sources (scholarships, grants, etc.). Information and application forms should be requested from clubs, organizations, foundations and agencies as soon as possible after applying for admission to the Program. Many libraries have resource information on other kinds of financial aid. Also, there are Internet sites that provide free scholarship searches (e.g.,http://www.fastweb.com/, http://www.wiredscholar.com/ and http://www.finaid.org/)
You may also conduct Web searches for medical/health/and allied health professional education scholarships. The Physician Assistant national organization offers some scholarships – http://www.aapa.org/.

Where can I find out more about the PA profession?
The American Academy of Physician Assistants has a wealth of information online at their Web site, http://www.aapa.org/. For a good place to start, they have posted a list of general FAQ's there that are very informative – the link is www.aapa.org/geninfo1.html.

What is needed to remain in good academic standing to meet graduation requirements?
Academic Standings/Graduation Requirements:
In order to complete the Physician Assistant Program, a student must register for and pass each course set forth in the Program's curriculum outline including satisfactory completion of the Master's Project. In addition, a student must be in good academic standing after completing the prescribed program. Normal program progression is sequential enrollment in all program classes each semester beginning in Summer I and successfully meeting all course and program objectives each semester. The following guidelines will be used by the Program Director in arriving at a recommendation.

1. To remain in good academic standing in the Physician Assistant Program, a student must accomplish the following:
    a. A current and cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 during the didactic phase.
    b. A minimum of a "C" grade in all of the PA didactic phase courses.
    c. Satisfactory evaluation on each preceptor evaluation.
    d. Overall "B" grade for each clinical rotation.
    e. A grade of "C" or better in all didactic courses taken during the clinical year (PAS 663,664, and 671)
    f. Receiving of a minimum of a "C" on the Master's Project
    g. Total cumulative GPA for graduation is 2.73
    h. Satisfactory evidence of good interpersonal relations and professional conduct.
2. Students satisfactorily meeting all the requirements for passing the didactic phase courses, including any required remediation, will be promoted to the clinical phase. Senior students satisfactorily meeting all the requirements for the clinical phase will be recommended for graduation and to receive the degree of Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.

How have your students performed on the PANCE?
PANCE Results

What was the average GPA, medical experience, and age of your students?

Updated 12/21/07, 2/11/08