Current-cycle decision support
Turn confirmed information into a first practice
Why the physician assistant profession?
Practise explaining why the PA role fits your experiences and goals. Review whether you distinguish the profession clearly, use specific evidence, and connect your motivation to patient care; then record again with a sharper answer.
Quick facts
- Degree: Master of Science in Medicine, Physician Assistant.
- Duration: 28 months and 117 units.
- Location: Balboa Regional Center, San Diego.
- Entry: recurring fall start.
- Deadline: October 1.
- Interview: virtual or in person as conditions permit.
- Accreditation: ARC-PA Accreditation-Continued after July 2026 final provisional review; next comprehensive review July 2036.
- Accreditation follow-up: reports are due September 20, 2026 and September 7, 2027.
Admission requirements
Applicants need a bachelor's degree, minimum 3.0 overall and science GPAs, C-or-better prerequisites, at least 1,000 paid face-to-face patient-care hours, three recommendations and the PLNU supplemental. Official requirements
Important dates
- Late April: recurring CASPA opening.
- October 1: verified CASPA and supplemental deadline.
- Fall and winter: interviews.
- March 1: final result target.
- Fall: recurring cohort start.
The current admissions page retains an older cohort year, so confirm the next entry year directly. Official requirements
How selection works
Published pre-interview weighting is 45% academic record, 22% patient care, 22% service and 11% references, narrative and other factors. Interview performance then informs the final decision, but post-interview weights are not public. Official requirements
Interview details
Confirmed
The program describes virtual or in-person interviews as safety conditions permit.
Not published
Current-cycle modality, exact dates, number, duration, prompts, interviewer roles, file access, rubric and post-interview weights are not public. Official requirements
Who this program may suit
This program may suit applicants with substantial paid patient care and service evidence who value a face-to-face San Diego program and can explain their PA motivation clearly. Official program page
Practice and next step
Record a first response explaining why the PA profession fits your goals. Review whether your patient-care and service evidence is concrete. Record a second response and compare.
Frequently asked questions
How much patient care is required?
At least 1,000 paid face-to-face hours.
Is the interview virtual or in person?
The program allows either as conditions permit; current-cycle assignments are not public.
What is the current accreditation status?
ARC-PA granted Continued status in July 2026. The program has follow-up reports due in September 2026 and September 2027.
What is the next entry year?
The route recurs in fall, but the live admissions page retains an older cohort year.
Sources
Recommended preparation
Physician Assistant Interview Essentials
Build a credible PA interview foundation through four focused spoken responses: profession-specific motivation, interprofessional teamwork, fair clinical decision-making, and reflective use of feedback.
Page history
- Published