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
- Cycle: 2026 Application Cycle
- Degree: Master of Physician Assistant Sciences
- Route: two-year graduate program
- Location: Loretto, Pennsylvania
- CASPA window: April 2026 through August 1, 2026
- Interviews: October and November 2026
- Experience: 100 nonpaid healthcare hours, including 40 PA-shadowing hours
- Selection: about 80 applicants interviewed; interview scores are added to the application score
- Entry date: not asserted because the current page contains stale matriculation copy
Admission requirements
Graduate applicants need a bachelor’s degree, 3.2 overall and 3.0 prerequisite GPAs, listed prerequisites, 100 nonpaid healthcare hours including 40 PA-shadowing hours, three letters and applicable English testing. GRE is not required. Official program
Important dates
- April 2026: CASPA application period opens.
- August 1, 2026: application must be verified by CASPA.
- October-November 2026: published interview months.
- Matriculation date: not asserted because the current page retains stale entry copy.
How selection works
Initial scoring covers cumulative, major-collateral and anatomy and physiology GPAs, healthcare experience, essay and recommendations. Interview scores are added to the cumulative total for final ranking. Official program
Interview details
Confirmed
About 80 applicants are interviewed. Published domains include communication, critical thinking, collaboration, professionalism, PA-role insight and suitability.
Not published
The true matriculation date, interview modality, location, duration, interviewer structure, file access, prompts and quantitative weights are not public. Official program
Who this program may suit
Saint Francis may suit service-oriented applicants who can tolerate the current entry-date ambiguity and confirm timing directly before committing. Official program
Practice and next step
Record a first response explaining why the PA profession fits your goals. Review whether your example is specific and evidence-based. Record it again and compare.
Frequently asked questions
What cycle does this page cover?
The 2026 Application Cycle, from the published April-August application window through October-November interviews.
What is the entry date?
The current page contains stale matriculation copy, so this page does not assert an entry date.
What experience is required?
One hundred nonpaid healthcare hours, including 40 hours shadowing a PA.
What does the interview assess?
Communication, critical thinking, collaboration, professionalism, PA-role insight and suitability for the profession.
Sources
- Saint Francis graduate PA route, requirements and selection
- Shared PA program overview
- Reviewed 2026-08-22.
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