Admissions FAQs

All application materials (transcripts, letters of recommendation, supporting documents) will be sent through the CASPA application system , which opened April 24, 2025. Nothing should be sent separately to the PA program. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure all application materials are completed and verified by the appropriate deadline of September 1, 2025. Materials submitted directly to the program will not be accepted unless specifically requested by the admissions committee.

Each admission cycle’s application submissions vary year to year. On average we receive approximately 700-800 completed applications.

We admit 20 students each year in January.

For the January 2026 admissions cycle, we expect to finalize decisions in October 2025.
Accepted applicants will receive a phone call invitation with a follow-up formal email letter of invitation.

Yes. A $1,000 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your seat in the program. Your deposit will be used towards your first semester tuition bill.

Yes, waitlisted applicants will be notified by the program. We do not give specific waitlist positions as we utilize a holistic admissions process for waitlisted applicants. We cannot guarantee or estimate probability of acceptance based on an applicant’s position on the waitlist. Acceptance offers extended to applicants on the waitlist are distributed according to holistic review by the Admissions Committee and may be extended up until the first day of classes in January.

No.

No, the cycle of admission runs annually. Anyone wishing to defer acceptance will have to reapply to the program.

No. The PA program does not waive curriculum requirements or accept transfer of credit from other PA programs or other graduate degree programs. Admitted students, regardless of level of education, are required to complete all curriculum requirements. All relevant coursework required for graduation must be completed in the UNC-Chapel Hill PA program.

The UNC PA program admits only full-time students. The program strongly discourages employment while enrolled. It is very difficult to maintain even part-time employment while enrolled in the PA program. Students must comply with the program’s academic schedule, and employment responsibilities are not a justification to miss scheduled learning activities or an explanation for poor performance.

All applicants, including graduates from foreign institutions, must hold either U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status at the time of application. Candidates with pending citizenship or permanent residency will not be considered. All applicants for whom English is not their first language must submit test scores to demonstrate their English proficiency. We accept TOEFL. Our TOEFL code is C182. Strong applicants typically score 100 or higher.

Applicants are required to self-disclose any misdemeanors or felony convictions, other than minor traffic violations, including deferred adjudications, with the understanding that non-disclosure/falsification may lead to dismissal and disclosure may prevent enrollment. Additionally, in response to requirements in the professional practice environment stating that facilities providing care to patients must minimize the risk to patients that may be presented by persons with prior criminal activity, a criminal background check will be completed on all accepted applicants prior to matriculation and again prior to clinical rotations.

No; however, a baccalaureate or graduate degree earned at a regionally accredited U.S. institution is required (regardless of major), as well as the required prerequisites.

Regional accreditation means courses approved by one of the six regional accreditation organizations. Be aware that many for-profit institutions do not have regional accreditation, but only national accreditation.

If you have a baccalaureate or graduate degree from a non-U.S. regionally accredited institution you can apply for admission if your prerequisite courses were completed at a regionally accredited U.S. institution. There are no waivers of this policy.

No, we do not accept substitutions for our required prerequisites, no matter your work experience or education level. We do not waive them for students who are already working in health care or who have already completed graduate education. There is a general level of knowledge that we want all students to have when starting our program.

No. Courses taken at a community college are accepted and are considered equally. Taking them at a four-year college does not help or hinder your application. The institution should be regionally accredited. Online courses taken at regionally accredited institutions will also be accepted.

Courses can be taken at regionally accredited four-year institutions or community colleges (online or in-person) and are considered equally.

No. We do not require labs for our prerequisite courses.

If you retake a prerequisite course, we will use the higher of the two grades to calculate your prerequisite GPA. For example, if you originally earned a “D” in a prerequisite course and retake it and earn a “B”, we will use the “B” grade in your prerequisite GPA calculation. You can retake the course at a different educational institution. Please note, however, that all of your courses (including courses that are retaken) will be used to calculate your overall cumulative GPA.

No. Pass/Fail courses will only be accepted for the Spring and Summer sessions of 2020 due to the impacts of COVID-19.

Due to the impacts of COVID-19, prerequisite coursework submitted during the Spring, Summer and Fall sessions of 2020 receiving Pass/Fail (if for COVID-19 reasons), Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading are eligible for prerequisite fulfillment. Pass/Fail and Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grades will not be included within your GPA calculations. Additionally, the program reserves the right to request a letter be submitted from the Dean verifying your completion of the course and numeric/letter grade traditionally received for credit.

No, we do not accept survey level coursework (i.e. Survey of Organic Chemistry) towards the fulfilment of our prerequisite requirements.

Applicants should be able to reasonably match most of the required courses with ones that they have taken or plan to take as posted on our website.  For example, a “General Statistics” course may be also named “Introductory to Statistics”. Additionally, applicants can review the list of previously accepted coursework for course equivalencies from other NC institutions.

We look for patient care experiences where applicants are directly responsible and paid for assessing a patient’s condition or providing a form of treatment. We do not accept shadowing hours, experience received during training, for academic credit, or administrative/clerical positions.

Examples of acceptable hands-on patient care experience include:

• Clinical nutritionist/dietitian
• Clinical research assistant
• Emergency medical technician/paramedic
• Military medic, including Special Forces Medics
• Radiological or laboratory technologist (with patient involvement)
• Certified nursing assistant
• Licensed practical nurse; registered nurse
• Physical therapist
• Physical therapy assistant
• Respiratory therapist
• Ophthalmic technician
• Hospital pharmacy technician
• Radiology technician
• Surgery technician
• Scribe

Examples that do NOT qualify as hands-on patient care experience include:

• Clerical positions
• Medical transcriptionist
• Medical translator
• Patient transporter
• Ski patroller
• Lifeguard
• Aerobics instructor
• Unit clerk
• Insurance clerk
• Medical secretary, or other clerical/administrative positions

Seek a job in a setting that provides direct clinical patient contact. Check with local practices in your area and through personal connections for opportunities.

Yes. We will continue to accept experience hours until the CASPA application deadline.

Human Resource personnel may substitute for a manager/supervisor to verify your experience. Applicants are required to provide verification forms for at least 1,000 hours. It is in the best interest of the applicant to provide as many verified hours as possible.

No. The GRE is no longer required for any upcoming admissions cycles.

We do not require nor recommend submission of any standardized testing. The Admissions Committee will not utilize standardize testing scores in the CASPA application review process. If you wish to submit standardize testing scores, the scores must be officially verified prior to CASPA application closure.

Official GRE scores must be reported to UNC CASPA code 6945. Scores sent to other UNC codes or categorical designations are non-transferable.