Mission

The mission of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) Physician Assistant (PA) program is to promote high-quality, accessible, patient-centered health care for the people of North Carolina and the nation through excellence in education, scholarship, and clinical service. The UNC PA program is committed to the health care and workforce needs of North Carolinians and will use an inter-professional approach to prepare skilled and compassionate health care practitioners across the continuum of life.

First year veteran students practicing the HEENT exam.

Goals

1. Recruit and enroll non-traditional students with special attention to veterans and North Carolina residents
2. Provide an inter-professional learning environment that prepares student to work collaboratively in interprofessional teams
3. Graduate medical learners who possess the knowledge and skills required to practice as physician assistants.
4. Prepare students for practice in rural and urban medically underserved populations.

Student Outcomes

• PANCE Pass Rates
• Program Goals and Initiatives

Admission & Curriculum

Admissions

The UNC Master of Health Science in Physician Assistant Studies will be recruiting for two academic cycles this application season. Applicants will need to determine their desired year of entrance into the program and follow the instructions available for specific application requirements.

Applicants interested in starting the program in January 2023

IMPORTANT DATES

• Application Deadline: Verified Status in CASPA by September 1, 2022
• UNC Supplement Application: September 5, 2022

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• GPA > 3.0 (Last 60 credit hours may substitute for overall GPA if greater than 3.0)
• Bachelor Degree conferred by June 1, 2022
• Prerequisite GPA > 3.2
• 1,000 Hours of patient care experience
• GRE
• 3 Letters of recommendation

Prerequisite Coursework

3 semester hours (5 quarter hours) are required for the following courses:

• Anatomy (Human-based strongly preferred)
• Physiology
• Microbiology
• Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry
• Statistics or Biostatistics
• Psychology or Sociology
• Medical Terminology (Academic course or online certificate is acceptable)

Coursework must have a final course grade of "C" (not C minus). It is strongly recommended all prerequisite course be completed within the last 7 years. Up to 2 prerequisite courses may be in progress at the time of application, but must be completed with a final course grade available by August 31, 2022.

Please visit our website for further details.

Applicants interested in starting the program in January 2024

IMPORTANT DATES

• Application Deadline: Verified Status in CASPA by January 15, 2023
• UNC Supplemental Application: February 1, 2023

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• GPA > 3.0 (Last 60 credit hours may substitute for overall GPA if greater than 3.0)
• Bachelor Degree conferred by December 31, 2022
• Prerequisite GPA > 3.2
• 1,000 Hours of patient care experience
• GRE
• 3 Letters of recommendation

Prerequisite Coursework

3 semester hours (5 quarter hours) are required for the following courses:

• Anatomy (Human-based strongly preferred)
• Physiology
• Microbiology
• Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry
• Statistics or Biostatistics
• Psychology or Sociology
• Medical Terminology (Academic course or online certificate is acceptable)

Coursework must have a final course grade of "C" (not C minus). It is strongly recommended all prerequisite course be completed within the last 7 years.

Please visit our website for further details.

Virtual Tour

Take a Virtual Tour with us. Check out the 360 degree video of our classroom and explore our campus. 

Accreditation Information

The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Physician Assistant Program sponsored by University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Accreditation – Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students. Accreditation – Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. Accreditation – Provisional is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class. Accreditation-provisional remains in effect until the program achieves accreditation-continued after its third review, closes or withdraws from the accreditation process, or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards.