Gaining admission to East Carolina University’s Physician Assistant (PA) Program is a highly competitive endeavor. Each cohort is carefully selected from a pool of talented applicants, with approximately 38 students matriculating into the program annually. Our thorough application review and interview process is designed to ensure a fair and comprehensive evaluation of each candidate, selecting individuals who demonstrate the aptitude and dedication necessary to excel in our rigorous program. We encourage all prospective applicants to carefully review the information provided below, as well as consult our Frequently Asked Questions page, where many common queries are addressed in detail.
Navigating the Admission Process
The Department of Physician Assistant Studies at ECU has specific requirements that all applicants must meet. It is crucial to carefully examine these departmental requirements, which are detailed in the sections below. Furthermore, all applicants are also expected to satisfy the general admission standards set forth by the ECU Graduate School.
To initiate the formal admissions process, all candidates must submit applications to both the CASPA (Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants) portal and the ECU Graduate School. The application cycle commences each year in April and concludes on September 1st. An application is deemed complete only when submitted to both CASPA and the ECU Graduate School. The admissions committee conducts reviews of completed applications on a rolling basis, meaning applications are assessed as they are received and finalized.
Begin your CASPA application here: CASPA Applicant
Begin your ECU Graduate School application here: Grad School Apply
Understanding Admission Requirements
Residency Status
At the time of application, applicants must hold permanent residency in one of the following states. It’s important to note that preference is given to residents of North Carolina. Residency status is officially verified through the Residency Determination Service when applying to the ECU Graduate School. The eligible states are:
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Virginia
- Tennessee
- Georgia
- Washington D.C.
For applicants or their spouses with established residency ties to North Carolina who are active military personnel stationed outside of the listed states, a residency waiver may be requested. These waiver requests are carefully reviewed by the Admissions team on a case-by-case basis.
Military waiver form (DOCX)
Educational Background
A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university is a mandatory requirement for admission. This undergraduate degree must be successfully completed no later than June 1st of the year in which the applicant intends to enroll in the PA program.
Degrees and prerequisite coursework must originate from institutions holding regional accreditation from bodies recognized by the ECU Graduate School. These include, but are not limited to, the accrediting organizations listed below, as well as international universities deemed to have equivalent credentials by ECU pre-approved foreign institutions:
- Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC)
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Prerequisite Course Requirements
- Applicants are required to submit official transcripts from every institution where coursework was attempted or completed. This includes all enrollments, regardless of the outcome (withdrawals, failures, pass/fail grades). CASPA is responsible for verifying all coursework, including prerequisite courses. The ECU Graduate School accesses verified transcripts via CASPA and will only request transcripts directly when necessary for documenting completed courses or degrees.
- All prerequisite courses must be completed by the time of initial application submission. No exceptions to this policy will be made. A comprehensive list of prerequisite courses is provided in the table below.
- Prerequisite courses can be completed at any regionally accredited institution, including community colleges. However, completing the majority of prerequisite coursework at a four-year institution is preferred.
- To check for course equivalencies at ECU, please utilize the Course Equivalency tool.
- A minimum overall GPA of 3.0 is required for consideration into the program.
- A grade of B or higher in each prerequisite course is strongly recommended to demonstrate academic preparedness.
- We will not accept applications with more than two C grades in prerequisite courses.
- While not a strict requirement, it is preferred that prerequisite courses be completed within five years of application submission. If your coursework falls outside this timeframe, we highly encourage retaking these courses, especially Anatomy and Physiology, to ensure knowledge currency.
- Online lab experiences are accepted. However, face-to-face lab experiences are strongly encouraged as better preparation for the hands-on nature of the PA curriculum.
- Coursework reported with letter grades is strongly preferred. While CASPA allows pass/fail reporting, pass/fail courses do not factor into GPA calculations.
- Biochemistry is not currently a prerequisite requirement for the current application cycle. However, applicants with a grade of B or better in upper-level Biochemistry coursework will be given preference during application review, as it demonstrates a strong foundation in a relevant scientific discipline.
- Starting with the 2026-2027 admissions cycle, one semester of Biochemistry (minimum of 3 semester credit hours) will become a mandatory prerequisite. Until the 2026 cycle, preference will continue to be given to applicants who have successfully completed Biochemistry with a B or better. Please note that survey or combined courses will not satisfy this requirement; a dedicated Biochemistry course is necessary.
- Advanced Placement (AP) credit is accepted only for Psychology and Statistics prerequisites. If AP credit was granted, a letter grade is not required. Statistics courses within the social sciences are also acceptable for meeting the statistics prerequisite.
- Comparative, Animal, or Mammalian Anatomy and Physiology courses are not accepted as fulfilling the Human Anatomy and Physiology prerequisite.
- Waivers for prerequisite courses are granted only to applicants who have served as a course instructor for the specific course for which they are requesting a waiver. To inquire about a waiver, please contact PA Admissions.
- Coursework completed prior to matriculation into the ECU PA program is not eligible for transfer credit or advanced standing within the PA curriculum.
| Prerequisite Requirement | Minimum Semester Credit Hour | ECU Course Name | ECU Course Number | NC Community College Course Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human Anatomy and Physiology with lab* | 8 (two semesters) | Human Physiology and Anatomy I & 2 | BIOL 2140/2141 and BIOL 2150/2151 | BIO 168 and BIO 169 |
| Genetics | 3 | Principles of Genetics | BIOL 2300 | BIO 250 |
| General Chemistry with lab (may substitute with Organic Chemistry) | 8 (two semesters) | General Chemistry 1 & 2 | CHEM 1150/1151 and CHEM 1160/1161 | CHM 151 & CHM 152 |
| Microbiology | 3 | Fundamentals of Microbiology or Microbiology | BIOL 2110 or BIOL 3220 | BIO 275 |
| Introductory Psychology or higher | 3 | Introductory Psychology | PSYC 1000 | PSY 150 |
| Statistics | 3 | Biostatistics, Mathematical Statistics, and Statistics in Social Sciences accepted | BIOS 1500, MATH 2228 or 2283, or PSYC 2101 | MAT 150 or 152 |
| Biochemistry (prerequisite requirement beginning 2026-2027 cycle) | 3 | Principles of Biochemistry | BIOL 4880 | No community college equivalent |
| *Completing one semester of Human Anatomy with lab and one semester of Human Physiology with lab for a total of 8 semester credit hours also meets the prerequisite requirement. |
The Fall 2025 entering class (ECU PA Class of 2026) presented impressive academic averages:
- Cumulative GPA: 3.83
- Science GPA: 3.78
- Prerequisite GPA: 3.80
Letters of Reference
Three letters of reference are a required component of the application and must be submitted directly to CASPA. Referees will submit their responses and supplemental letters directly through the CASPA platform. Priority consideration is given to letters authored by healthcare professionals such as PAs, MDs/DOs, NPs, and supervisors from paid employment. References from family members, family friends, neighbors, or relatives will not be reviewed. Please note that correspondence sent directly to the Admissions team or other ECU PA faculty/staff outside of the CASPA system will not be factored into admissions decisions.
Patient Care and Experience Hours
The ECU PA program places significant value on the clinical experiences that applicants have accumulated prior to commencing their PA education. Both the quantity and quality of these experiences are carefully considered during the application review process. Patient contact and/or clinical experiences may encompass a range of activities including health-related roles, patient care positions, research involvement, shadowing experiences, and volunteer work, as defined by CASPA. Experiences – Liaison (liaisonedu.com). While the ECU PA program does not mandate a minimum number of experience hours, preference is strongly given to applicants who demonstrate at least 1,000 hours of accrued health-related or patient contact experience. Furthermore, ECU PA values consistent leadership and service experiences. Only hours accrued up to the application deadline of September 1st are reviewed and considered for interview invitations. Applicants are responsible for updating their clinical hours directly in their CASPA application by the September 1st deadline. Detailed descriptions of roles and responsibilities for each reported experience are essential. Applicants are encouraged to maintain personal records of their accrued experiences, as the program may request verification of clinical hours at any point.
Positions held in medical settings that involve professional experience working alongside a provider with prescribing privileges are highly favored. High-quality patient care experiences often include roles such as medical scribe, EMT, paramedic, medical assistant, and surgical technician. Shadowing experiences with medical providers (MD, DO, PA, NP) are also considered valuable. For individuals with backgrounds as extended care paramedics or similar advanced pre-hospital care roles, the experience gained is highly relevant and beneficial to a PA program application.
Standardized Tests: GRE, MCAT, or PA-CAT
Completing standardized tests such as the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations), MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), or PA-CAT (Physician Assistant College Admission Test) is not mandatory for application review or admission to our program. Applicants have the option to report standardized test scores if they wish, but it is important to note that these scores are not factored into decisions regarding interview offers or admissions. The PA-CAT is specifically designed to assess an applicant’s foundational knowledge deemed necessary for success in demanding PA programs like ours. However, eligible applications will be thoroughly reviewed regardless of PA-CAT completion. Applicants who choose to take the PA-CAT should designate East Carolina University as a recipient of their scores. GRE scores can be submitted via the CASPA application using the ECU code 0421. MCAT scores can be released to CASPA through the AAMC’s MCAT score reporting tool.
If an exam is retaken, updated scores may be submitted through CASPA before the application deadline to ensure they are considered. Only official, verified scores will be reviewed by the admissions committee.
Application Review Process
Applications are reviewed comprehensively once they are complete, meaning submitted to both CASPA and the ECU Graduate School, and when they meet the outlined requirements (residency, GPA minimum, prerequisite completion, etc.). Applications are reviewed in the order of completion and according to meeting the initial requirements. Furthermore, ECU PA prioritizes the application review of candidates in the following categories: North Carolina residents, Military applicants, University graduates holding Master’s degrees in Science fields, Graduates and current students of the ECU Honors College, and Graduates and current students within the ECU College of Allied Health Sciences Department of Nutrition Science. Applications are assessed holistically, considering both completeness and areas of excellence. Academic achievements are recognized through the review of overall, science, and prerequisite GPAs, as well as the completion of graduate coursework in science disciplines, if applicable. Moreover, ECU PA is committed to matriculating a student body that reflects the diverse patient populations of eastern North Carolina. The admissions committee specifically seeks the following qualities in application review:
- Military service (veteran or active duty, including reserves, or military spouse)
- Bilingual proficiency
- First-generation college student status
- Disadvantaged socioeconomic background
- Residence in a geographically underserved area
- Extraordinary life and/or healthcare experiences
- Demonstrated commitment to service, aligning with the mission and goals of ECU PA
Interview and Acceptance Procedures
The most highly qualified applicants are invited to participate in an interview. Candidates who have been interviewed can expect to be notified of the Admissions Committee’s decision shortly after their interview, and no later than March 1st. All applicants to the program will receive notification of the Admissions Committee’s decision by March 1st. Successful candidates confirm their place in the incoming class by submitting a $750 non-refundable deposit, which is subsequently applied to their first semester’s tuition.
Key Admission Process Dates
The CASPA application portal opens on April 25th, and the completed application deadline is September 1st. Applicants are advised to submit their application to the ECU Graduate School concurrently with their CASPA application. Tentative interview dates for the 2025-2026 admissions cycle will be announced prior to the commencement of interviews in July.
Applicants selected for an interview will receive an email notification to the email address provided in their CASPA application. Interviews are conducted in person on the ECU Health Sciences campus. Detailed information regarding the interview process will be provided to applicants upon acceptance of their interview offer. Applications remain under review for interview invitation until the conclusion of interviews for the admissions cycle.
| Application Timeline |
|---|
| CASPA Application Deadline |
| ECU Graduate School Application |
| Applications reviewed by Admissions Committee |
| Interview offers made |
| Interviews conducted |
| Offers of admission extended |
| Immunizations and outstanding requirements due |
Admission Requirements Checklist
- CASPA application submitted by September 1
- ECU Graduate School application submitted by September 1
- North Carolina resident, or resident of one of the following: SC, VA, TN, GA, and Washington D.C.*
- Minimum overall GPA of 3.0
- Minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0
- All prerequisite courses completed and reported by application submission
- Bachelor’s degree completed by June 1
- Documented patient contact hours
- Review and meet our Technical Standards
*Check your residency status
For more comprehensive information, please consult our FAQs.
For further insights, we encourage you to explore our Closer Look resource: Closer Look | Physician Assistant Studies | ECU and consider attending an upcoming in-person or virtual information session.
For any remaining questions not addressed by the resources above, please feel free to contact the Admissions committee via email at [email protected].
