How do I submit my application?

All applications must be submitted through CASPA. The Notre Dame of Maryland University Physician Assistant Studies Program will adhere to a rolling-admission process. The admission cycle will open on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 and continue until all seats are filled. Please contact the CASPA application help center for any question concerning your PA School application. https://help.liaisonedu.com/CASPA_Applicant_Help_Center 

I have completed organic chemistry I and II. Am I still required to complete a biochemistry prerequisite?

No, you may complete either organic chemistry or biochemistry to meet this prerequisite.  

Am I required to complete a lab with the Microbiology prerequisite?

Yes, you must complete a lab with the Microbiology prerequisite course.

Will online courses be accepted for the prerequisite courses?

Lab courses cannot be taken online. However, lecture courses may be completed online.

(Please Note re Online Lab Courses:  Students who completed prerequisite lab courses through an online format during calendar years 2020 and 2021 may have any such lab course(s) evaluated by the NDMU Admissions Office, in consideration of their admission application to the NDMU PA Studies Program. No special consideration will be given to online lab courses that were completed before calendar year 2020 or after the 2021 calendar year.

How do I complete and submit DOCUMENTATION of DIRECT PATIENT CARE EXPERIENCE and PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT SHADOWING??

All patient care experience must be documented on an appropriate word document or spreadsheet, clearly identifying the applicant (by full name), dates of completion of direct patient care, types of patient care activities, number of hours completed in each activity, with the name of a supervising PA, physician, NP, or other licensed healthcare provider printed next to each activity listed. The supervising person must provide their personal signature (legibly) for each activity listed. Such documentation must be complete and uploaded through an applicant’s CASPA application portal to be considered as valid patient care experience or Physician Assistant Shadowing experience.(Do Not send Documentation of Direct Patient Care Experiences or Physician Assistant Shadowing directly to Notre Dame of Maryland University PA Studies Program or the Admission Office, unless you receive an e-mail request from an authorized Notre Dame of Maryland University PA Program faculty or staff member to do so. Any documents submitted without such a request will not be evaluated.)  

Physician Assistant Studies Direct Patient Care Hours Record or PA Shadowing Hours Record

Are shadowing experiences the same as Direct Patient Care experiences?

No, shadowing experience hours constitute time spent following and directly observing NCCPA certified, duly licensed Physician Assistants (or Physician Associates,) as they deliver healthcare services to patients. Any direct interactions with patients by an applicant, which requires a supervising healthcare provider, PA, MD, or otherwise, is considered Direct Patient Care Experience.

Note: Applicants must complete a minimum of 40 hours of PA shadowing and a minimum of 500 hours of Direct Patient Care Experiences. (Completing more than 500 Direct Patient Care Experience hours is desirable.)  

Is completion of an interview required for admission?

Yes, all applicants who successfully matriculate into the Notre Dame of Maryland University PA Studies Program must have successfully completed an interview.  Applicants are selected for interviews based upon an evaluation of all admission requirements that have been submitted through the CASPA Application portal.

Must I complete graduate admission testing to be eligible to apply to this PA program?

No, pre-graduate program entrance examinations are not required for admission into the Notre Dame of Maryland University PA Studies Program. You do not need to complete a GRE, GMAT, or MCAT examination to qualify for entry. The NDMU PA Studies program will not evaluate any of these examinations.

I have not completed a bachelor or higher-education degree within the United States. I did complete the equivalent of a bachelor degree (or higher-level degree) outside of the United States. How may I have my application considered?

You must have your higher education record, including all course work and completed degree(s), evaluated by World Education Services (WES.) The evaluation must result in the determination of the degree level being equivalent to at least a Bachelor degree, or higher, as compared to degrees completed and recognized within the United States. You must also be assigned a letter grade for each course and an overall GPA. 

I completed a medical degree from a United States or foreign medical school. Am I eligible for advanced standing? Will I be given credit for some of the PA program coursework for courses that I completed prior to entering PA school?

No, the Notre Dame of Maryland University PA Studies Program does not grant advanced placement to anyone. All students who enter the PA program must successfully complete all courses and required activities, and in the sequence required. 

I am a foreign medical graduate. Will I automatically be granted an interview or acceptance into the Notre Dame of Maryland University PA Studies Program?

No, the Notre Dame of Maryland University PA Studies Program does not grant advanced placement for anyone. Advanced standing or special consideration for previous coursework or degrees are not provided to anyone. All applicants will be evaluated and assessed through the same application and interview processes. 

Do I need to take the GRE?

You Do NOT need to complete a GRE, GMAT, or MCAT examination to qualify for entry. 

Is a “B-” an acceptable grade for a prerequisite course?

Yes.  Any grade of “B” includes a “B-”. 

Are shadowing experiences the same as Direct Patient Care experiences?

No, shadowing experience hours constitute time spent following and directly observing NCCPA certified, duly licensed Physician Assistants (or Physician Associates,) as they deliver healthcare services to patients. Any direct interactions with patients by an applicant, which requires a supervising healthcare provider, PA, MD, or otherwise, is considered Direct Patient Care Experience.

Note: Applicants must complete a minimum of 40 hours of PA shadowing and a minimum of 500 hours of Direct Patient Care Experiences. (Completing more than 500 Direct Patient Care Experience hours is desirable.)   

English is not my native language. Do I need to complete the TOEFL exam prior to submitting my CASPA application?

Yes. The TOFEL exam must be completed and submitted as part of the CASPA application. NDMU PA Studies applicants should indicate on the registration form that they want the test results to be sent directly to Notre Dame of Maryland University. The TOEFL code for Notre Dame of Maryland University is 5114. Please review the following web site for additional information regarding TOEFL. https://www.ets.org/toefl

As a Notre Dame of Maryland University Physician Assistant Student, will I be required to obtain my own clinical preceptors or clinical experience sites?

No, absolutely not! The Notre Dame of Maryland University Physician Assistant Studies Program has a policy that prohibits prospective and enrolled students from being required to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors. The PA Program faculty and staff are responsible for obtaining and securing clinical sites and preceptors sufficient in number and quality to meet the educational needs of all of its students.     

Will Notre Dame of Maryland University host its Physician Assistant Program in any geographically distant campus locations?

No, absolutely not. The Notre Dame of Maryland University Physician Assistant Program will not host a Physician Assistant Program at a geographically distant campus. As such, services and resources available to Physician Assistant Program students will be located on the main Notre Dame of Maryland University campus (4701 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21210.)