Is the Mississippi College PA Program accredited?
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Mississippi College. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
Accreditation remains in effect until the Program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with ARC-PA Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the Program by the ARC-PA will be March 2024. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
What degree is offered by the Mississippi College Physician Assistant Program?
The Mississippi College PA Program will award graduates the Master of Science in Medicine (MSM) degree. Graduates will be eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) offered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Graduates of our Physician Assistant Program, who are certified by the NCCPA, will be eligible to practice in all 50 states.
How many students are accepted into each class?
The Program will accept a maximum of 36 students in each class.
Is the Mississippi College PA Program a CASPA participating school?
Yes! Applicants may apply to the Program through the CASPA website at https://caspa.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login
What is the deadline to apply to the Program?
Applications must be verified through the CASPA system by no later than January 15th of the application cycle year. Please note that CASPA recommends atleast 2-4 weeks for the verification process to be completed after submission.
When does the Program start each year?
The Program begins each year in late May. A three-day orientation precedes the formal start of classes.
Do you have more than one start date?
No. The Program only matriculates one class per year in May.
Does the Mississippi College PA Program require students to have a Bachelor’s degree?
When applying to the Program students may not have more than two outstanding prerequisite courses. Students must have earned their Bachelor’s degree from a US-accredited university or college prior to matriculation at the Program.
What undergraduate courses and/or majors best prepare an applicant for the Physician Assistant Program?
The Physician Assistant Program does not require that applicants major in any specific academic subject. The Program accepts applicants from a wide range of undergraduate majors. Regardless of the major, a heavy concentration in science-based courses that are highly correlated with medicine is recommended. Additional chemistry, biology, and social science courses beyond the minimum will strengthen an application.
While most incoming students have earned their Bachelor’s degrees in a science or healthcare field, it is not required. Strong preparation in natural sciences is highly valued. The number of courses, the level of those courses, and performance are important considerations. Applicants should demonstrate their ability to handle social science and humanities as well. If an applicant does not possess a science or healthcare related degree, it is strongly encouraged that they attempt to get as much clinical experience as possible.
What are the prerequisites required by the Mississippi College PA Program?
The following courses are required to be completed at a US-accredited institution prior to matriculation in the Program:
Applicants for the Physician Assistant Program must have the following prerequisites for admission into the Program:
- Human Anatomy & Physiology, a complete sequence (including labs; 8 semester hours)
- Microbiology, at the pre-med level/appropriate as a first-level requirement for a Microbiology major (including lab; 4 semester hours)
- General Chemistry, a complete sequence geared toward science majors/appropriate as a first-level course for a Chemistry major (including labs; 8 semester hours)
- Organic Chemistry, (including labs; 4 semester hours)
- Statistics, including statistical tests and analysis (3 semester hours)*
*Statistics is the only prerequisite that may be taken online.
†Basic science courses should be those for science majors. Only courses with an associated lab will be given credit for fulfilling prerequisite requirements.
Are there any “flags” that might suggest potential academic difficulties in the Program?
Applicants’ transcripts are carefully reviewed to identify concerns such as numerous withdrawals from courses, light course loads particularly in the “heavy” sciences, science courses taken more than five years ago, and inconsistencies in academic performance.
Can I still apply if I have outstanding prerequisite courses?
Yes. However, students must have no more than two outstanding prerequisite courses during the Spring semester prior to matriculation.
Can I matriculate at the Mississippi College PA Program if I have outstanding prerequisites?
No. All prerequisites must be completed prior to matriculation.
Do you accept other prerequisites besides those specified?
In general, prerequisites cannot be substituted. Exceptions to the prerequisite requirements must be requested in writing. These will be considered only in very rare instances and must be approved by petition to the Admissions Committee.
Does the PA Program accept CLEP credit?
The PA Program does not accept College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit or credit by examination for any prerequisite requirements.
Should I send official transcripts to the PA Program offices?
Official transcripts should be sent to the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) at the time of application. If there are outstanding prerequisite courses at the time of application, official transcripts of that coursework must be received by the Program prior to matriculation.
Do you require a certain amount of healthcare experience?
No. Mississippi College recommends that all applicants complete the equivalent of at least six months (1000 hours) of direct (“hands-on”) patient care experience before entering the Program. Applicants must provide information on both direct (“hands-on”) and indirect (“related”) healthcare experience, including role or job title, name of institution, name of supervisor, description of tasks, number of hours worked per week, and number of weeks worked at that institution. Clinical experience can be on a paid or volunteer basis.
Examples of direct patient care may include drawing blood, taking vital signs, providing personal hygiene care, serving as a technician in Radiography, etc. For applicants who are already health professionals, such as nurses, paramedics, or respiratory therapists, the practice of your profession for the recommended length of time would constitute such clinical experience.
Do you have any suggestions on how I can obtain patient care experience?
Applicants without previous healthcare experience are often able to acquire good direct patient care experience working as a medical or nursing assistant or aide in settings such as hospitals, clinics, or physicians’ private practices where a wide range of patients is seen and there is an opportunity for exposure to numerous types of health care providers. Patient care experience in settings such as nursing homes and private homes utilizing the services of home health aides, offer limited exposure to a wide range of patients and providers and are therefore not as favorably regarded by the Admissions Committee as settings such as hospitals, clinics, and physicians’ private practices.
Applicants often complete a short nursing assistant or EMT program in order to secure paid employment while gaining clinical experience. Patient care experience can be acquired on a paid or volunteer basis, as long as the recommended amount of time is met in an acceptable health care setting.
Do you require applicants to take the GRE?
Yes. Applicants are required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test.
Can I apply to the Program if I have not yet taken the GRE?
Applicants can submit their CASPA application with outstanding GRE scores. However, the application will not be reviewed until all required admissions criteria are met - which includes the GRE scores. Applicants have until January 15th to submit all required admissions materials in order to be considered for the program.
What are competitive GRE scores for applicants?
The GRE scores are assessed in conjunction with the applicant’s complete profile. The Mississippi College PA Program does set a minimum acceptable score of Verbal: 146, Quantitative: 141, and Analytical: 2.5, but looks at scores of Verbal: 150, Quantitative: 150, and Analytical: 4.0 as more competitive. For additional explanation on the meaning of the GRE scores, click on the following link: www.ets.org.
What is the GRE code for Mississippi College?
The Mississippi College PA Program code is 0598.
What kind of references should I request for my application?
Professional references are recommended by the Admissions Committee. The Program recommends at least one reference from a physician who has supervised the applicant in a clinical setting and one reference from another health professional who has worked alongside the applicant and is familiar with the applicant’s clinical skills.
References written by academic instructors and advisors are acceptable, but will not carry as much weight as references provided by professionals who are familiar with the applicant’s clinical skills.
The Program does not accept references written by relatives, personal friends, or friends of the applicant’s family. “Character references” (from pastors, teachers, counselors, family doctors, etc.) are also not acceptable.
Does the PA Program conduct interviews for applicants?
The Program conducts on-campus interviews for students whose applications are deemed by the Office of Admissions to be competitive using the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) System. Following evaluation of candidate data and MMI scores and a decision being made by the Admissions Committee, applicants are informed by the Program Director (or designee) of the Committee’s decision. Interviews are followed up by formal correspondence that delineates admission decisions and instructions detailing the admission process.
How will I know that all my application paperwork has been received by the PA Program?
The Admissions Office will inform the applicant that the application has been received by the Program. If an application is incomplete (missing items such as GRE scores, references, etc.), the Program will notify the applicant. Following receipt of any missing items, the applicant will again be notified that the application is complete.
When are applicants invited for an interview?
The Program begins conducting interviews in September and continues until all seats are filled. As soon as the Program receives an application, the Admissions Committee reviews the application and determines whether an applicant is to be invited for an interview. If so, the Program will invite the applicant for an interview.
When is the final selection for an entering class made?
Following their interview, applicants will be assigned to one of three categories: Accept, Deny, or Alternate List. Applicants will be notified of their status within 3 weeks of their interview. Applicants on the alternate list may be offered a seat in the class at any time between their interview and the first day of class.
If accepted, do I have to have a criminal background check prior to matriculation?
Yes. Upon acceptance, each student is required to purchase a criminal background check. The background checks are at the expense of the student and are performed by a third party agency. Discovery of any prior criminal activity may terminate the student’s acceptance into the Mississippi College PA Program.
Does Mississippi College PA Program offer a part-time option or online courses?
Our Program does not offer a part-time option or online courses.
Can I transfer to your Program?
No. Every student accepted to our Program must apply for admission.
What are your guidelines on TOEFL?
Students for whom English is a second language must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum paper-based score of 600, computer-based score of 250 or internet based score of 79.
Where do students do their clinical rotations?
Clinical rotations occur in a variety of locations that includes, but is not limited to, busy clinics, private physician’s offices, teaching hospitals, large institutions, and military hospitals and clinics. Rotations exist in small Mississippi towns and large metropolitan cities. Many students have had the opportunity to rotate in underserved areas of the Mississippi Delta, small communities across Northern Mississippi, The Gulf Coast, and underserved urban clinics here in Jackson. Our students will be provided with a wide variety of experiences and locations for their clinical rotations, thus rounding out the application of knowledge and skills to actual patient care. It should also be noted that students are NOT required to solicit or procure their own clinical rotations.
How are the clinical rotations set up/assigned?
The Clincal Team is responsible for assigning students to their various rotations. Student's input is taken into consideration when selecting a clinical assignment. Academic and professional performance while in the Program and prior clinical experience are taken into consideration in all placements.
What financial aid is available at Mississippi College?
Federal Student Loans are available, you must complete the FAFSA and have the results directed to Mississippi College. For more information check with the contact the Graduate Office or visit our Financial Aid Web Site.
What do I have to do to apply for financial aid?
1. Complete FAFSA forms at https://fafsa.gov. The federal school code for Mississippi College is 002415.
2. Enroll as a degree-seeking student (or certificate program/licensure programs) in at least 6 semester hours.
Will I be able to work during the time I am a student?
Due to the intensive nature of the PA Program curriculum and study hours involved in the first year, students are not allowed to work. During clinical rotations, students find that their patient management responsibilities and time required preparing for rounds and attending conferences do not allow them to work and attend the Program.
