Applicants must apply through the centralized application process (CASPA). Applications must be completed and verified by October 1 to be considered for admission.
Applications are reviewed, and those applicants considered most competitive, will be invited to visit Iowa City for an in-person interview. Interviews will be conducted from July through December. All applicants will be notified before February 1 about their admission status.
Under present College of Medicine regulations, applications will only be accepted from U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Admissions Requirements Updates
Change for the 2025-2026 Application Cycle:
All of our admissions requirements, except for our baccalaureate degree requirement, must be completed and received by our application deadline of 10/01/2025.
Changes for the 2026-2027 Application Cycle:
All of our admissions requirements, except for our baccalaureate degree requirement, must be completed and received by June 1st of the year applicants are applying to our program.
Physician Assistant Interview Process and Selection Criteria
The University of Iowa PA Program uses a comprehensive approach in selecting its candidates. After a review of CASPA submitted materials, applicants are invited for an interview. Selection of interviewees by the Admissions Committee is based on several criteria including academic achievement (particularly in the sciences), type and extent of health related experience, 3 letters of recommendation (1 must be a collegiate academic reference and 1 must be a direct patient healthcare supervisor), and the candidate's personal narrative.
Candidates selected for an interview will be invited to participate in the University of Iowa PA Program Interview Process. Evidence of academic potential, knowledge of the PA role in the health care system, maturity, self-assurance, strong intrapersonal and interpersonal communication skills, and motivation will be assessed during the interview process. From this group, a class of 25 students will be selected for admission.
Interview Session Information
Applying and interviewing for a graduate program is a very stressful process, so the University of Iowa tries to make sure the interview experience is informative, relaxed and fun. The Interview Process will consist of the following aspects:
- Pre-Interview Orientation Session/Student Panels/Alumni Panel/CCOM Tour
- MMI Interview Session and Candidate Debrief Session
Admission Interview Dates
- Session #1
- July 11 and 12, 2025
- Session #2
- August 15 and 16, 2025
- Session #3
- September 19 and 20, 2025
- Session #4
- October 31 and November 1, 2025
- Session #5
- December 12 and 13, 2025
Admission Selection Process
The University of Iowa PA Program offers admission on a rolling basis. Please remember that candidates selected for an interview are not automatically admitted into the program. Candidates who meet admission selection criteria will be offered admission, traditionally, within two weeks of an interview. The rolling admission process will continue until the end of the interview cycle. At this point, all candidates who interviewed will be reviewed and offers will be sent out to fill the remaining open 25 seats in the program. Additional candidates from the interview cycle will be placed on our Alternate List. If a spot becomes available from the time of admission through the start of classes, the PA Program Admission Committee will review all candidates on the Alternate List and select the candidate they feel best fits with the other students in the admitted class. All notifications of admission (offer, alternate list, or denial) will be communicated no later than March 1st.
Admitted Applicant Profile
For our class matriculated in August 2024, the successful applicant averaged a cumulative GPA of 3.78 on 143 semester hours of college credit, a science GPA of 3.79 on 79 semester hours, and an average of 4,586 hours of health care and 308 hours of research experience. The class average age was 26 years.