The admissions committee will base all decisions upon the applicant's overall and science grade point averages (GPAs), the personal interview, personal and professional references, knowledge of the profession, and the applicant's written personal statements.
Consistent with the College's mission, applicants from the Appalachian region (TN, KY, VA, NC, GA, AL, WV) are given preference in the admissions process. Also, students enrolled in LMU's GPA program who apply to the PA Program through CASPA are guaranteed an interview if they meet the Program's criteria for application and admission. Completion of an interview does not guarantee an offer for admission.
In addition to applicants from the Appalachia region and LMU's GPA students, preference is given to the following applicants.
- LMU students
- Student-athletes
- Certified pharmacy technicians
- RNs, PTs and Paramedics
- LMU MLS students
- Students with higher cumulative and science GPAs
- Students who have taken one or more of our preferred courses: biochemistry, biostatistics, advanced psychology, cell biology, embryology, epidemiology, genetics, histology, immunology, parasitology, pathogenic bacteriology, abnormal psychology, human sexuality, physics, technical writing, advanced chemistry, pharmacology, and quantitative analysis.
- *Universities/Colleges with an articulation agreement: Centre College, Hampton University, Transylvania University, Tusculum University, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Union College. The PA program has up to three seats reserved for each year participants who meet the defined criteria and are admitted into the program under applicable admissions standards and procedures for each of the programs. If the College/University does not have qualified applicants, those seats are available through the CASPA application process.
Candidates must meet all the technical standards for admission to the PA program. Please use the application checklist to ensure you have included everything required for your application.
It should be noted that the application process is very competitive and that completion of all prerequisites does not guarantee an interview for or acceptance to the program.
Basic Admissions Requirements and Prerequisites
Candidates for admission to the LMU-SMS PA program must meet the following requirements:
Note: Individuals may apply to the LMU-SMS PA Program even though prerequisite courses or Bachelor's degrees have not been completed; however, all prerequisite courses and Bachelor's degrees must be completed prior to matriculation.
A bachelor's degree must be earned prior to matriculation from a regionally accredited university or college. Applicants must have official transcripts submitted directly to the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) at https://portal.caspaonline.org/
Prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of "C" (we do not accept prerequisite courses with a grade of "C-," "D," or "F") or better from a regionally accredited college or university. Applicants who have taken prerequisite courses at different regionally accredited colleges or universities must have all official transcripts submitted directly from those colleges or universities to CASPA.
Because of the rapid evolution of the basic sciences and the rigor of the program, it is highly recommended that applicants who have completed the pre-professional basic science prerequisite coursework greater than five years prior to application may want to review materials if accepted into the program.
Strongly recommended additional courses that will strengthen an application include biochemistry, biostatistics, advanced psychology, cell biology, embryology, epidemiology, genetics, histology, immunology, parasitology, pathogenic bacteriology, abnormal psychology, human sexuality, physics, technical writing, advanced chemistry, pharmacology, and quantitative analysis. Applicants who have taken these courses will be given preference.
It is required that the applicant has an overall and science grade point average of at least 2.8. In order to be competitive, most students will have cumulative and science GPAs of at least 3.2.