UNR Med website updates:
The UNR Med website is currently undergoing an exciting redesign to enhance your experience. During this transition, you may encounter some pages that still reflect the old design while we work to fully update the site. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we complete this process. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your support.
Learn more about the new UNR Med website
Physician Assistant Studies Admissions
Application submission
Next application cycle (April 25, 2025 - September 1, 2025)
The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) Physician Assistant Studies Program 2025-2026 CASPA application cycle opens April 25, 2025. Matriculation for this next cohort will begin summer of 2026 (Class of 2028).
Applications and supporting documents will only be accepted through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). The application fee is based upon the number of programs to which an applicant applies. Please refer to CASPA for information on fees and waivers.
All application prerequisites and requirements must be complete and verified by the application deadline of September 1, 2025. No exceptions will be made for late materials.
**Please note, CASPA closes their portal at 12 a.m. Eastern Standard Time and any application received after that time will not be considered.
Information sessions
These information session are for prospective applicants who are interested in learning more about the Physician Assistant Studies Program at UNR Med.
During these one-hour sessions, you will have the opportunity to:
Hear from the Physician Assistant Studies Program faculty
Learn about the admissions process, requirements and prerequisites
Applications submitted through CASPA are screened and reviewed for compliance with published program requirements and prerequisites. Applications are reviewed by two separate reviewers who evaluate applications utilizing the program's defined Selection Factors. The admissions committee will select candidates for an interview in the fall of each year.
The program's admissions cycle begins the final week of April and ends mid-December of each year. All applicants who applied to the program and verified in CASPA will receive an email from the program by the end of the admission cycle.
Applicants who complete interviews are ranked by preference points and considered by the admissions committee. The admissions committee will select candidates based on preference points, selection factors, cumulative reviewer ratings and interview results. Candidates are notified in writing if selected for admission.
To secure your seat in the class, selected applicants are required to respond, in writing, to the program and include a non-refundable deposit of one thousand dollars ($1000). If enrolled, this deposit is applied toward the applicant's first-semester tuition.
Basic Life Support Certification - All entering students are required to have current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification designed for Health Care Providers. The student is responsible for maintaining a valid certification for the entire duration of the program.
Background Check
Immunizations
Admissions requirements
(ARC-PA Standard 5th A3.13b, A3.13c, A3.13d)
* Please note, these are the minimum requirements. To be a competitive applicant, please review the Selection Factors and Preferences page.
Non-U.S. citizens must have permanent resident visas
Must have earned a baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. (Currently, foreign degrees, including equivalency evaluations, do not satisfy the academic prerequisites.)
Overall qualifying GPA 2.75
Paid hands-on direct patient care experiences may come from various roles. The focus is on the duties performed, not the job title, with emphasis on patient contact and interaction with health care providers. Acceptable roles include EMT, paramedic, medical assistant, scribe, patient care tech, nurse, surgical tech, athletic trainer, physical therapy aide and similar positions.
Recommended (not required)
Official college transcripts from every university or college attended
Three (3) current letters of recommendation
Updated CV/Resume
Required courses
The program strongly recommends completing prerequisite courses within the last seven years to ensure success. Given the technical nature of basic science courses, students should be current in anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry and statistics. Without a solid background, it may be difficult to keep pace. Both upper and lower division credits from regionally accredited U.S. institutions are accepted, with a minimum grade of B- required for each course.
*Please note Advanced Placement (AP) courses will not be accepted. View the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) course equivalencies. *To convert semester credits to quarter credits, multiply semester credits by 1.5 *To convert quarter credits to semester credits, divide quarter credits by 1.5
Human Anatomy & Human Physiology I & II, or 1 semester of Human Anatomy and 1 semester of Human Physiology
Minimum 6 semester credits or 9 quarter credits
In-person lab highly recommended (will be required for the application cycle of 2025-2026)
Minimum 8 semester credits or 12 quarter credits by the 2025-2026 application cycle
Minimum 3 semester credits or 4.5 quarter credits
Microbiology with lab highly recommended
Minimum 4 semester credits or 6 quarter credits by the 2025-2026 application cycle
Minimum 3 semester credits or 4.5 quarter credits
Minimum 3 semester credits or 4 quarter credits
Genetics
Immunology
Medical Terminology
Spanish
Abnormal Psychology
Public Health
Biochemistry
Class trends
UNR Med's Physician Assistant Studies students bring diverse academic backgrounds to the program, with degrees ranging from biology, neuroscience and nursing to anthropology, business administration and even journalism, reflecting a broad spectrum of expertise and interests. Additionally, prior to admission, students have a wide range of health care experiences; for example, we have students that were army medics, athletic trainers, emergency medical technicians, physical therapy aides, registered nurses, rehab therapy technicians and more.
Applicants received: 1,764
Interviewed: 98
Selected: 24
Class characteristics:
Average age: 28
Nevada resident/Nevada heritage: 92%
Non-Nevada resident: 8%
Male/Female: 7/17
Underrepresented minority: 17%
Veteran: 0%
Average GPA: 3.56
Average science GPA: 3.53
Average paid patient care hours: 5,183
Applicants received: 1,611
Interviewed: 91
Selected: 24
Class characteristics:
Average age: 27
Nevada resident/Nevada heritage: 83%
Non-Nevada resident: 17%
Rural: 29%
Male/Female: 6/18
Underrepresented minority: 29%
Veteran: 17%
Average GPA: 3.61
Average science GPA: 3.55
Average paid patient care hours: 5,309
Applicants received: 1,517
Interviewed: 82
Selected: 25
Class characteristics:
Average age: 28
Nevada resident/Nevada heritage: 88%
Non-Nevada resident: 12%
Rural: 32%
Male/Female: 7/18
Underrepresented minority: 22%
Veteran: 8%
Average GPA: 3.65
Average science GPA: 3.57
Average paid patient care hours: 5,852
Licensure requirements
Our program meets the educational requirements for licensure in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Each state requires passing the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE).
Candidates for the UNR Med PA Studies Program are evaluated based on their academic background, clinical experience, interest in primary care, rural health, or underserved areas, and preference points that align with the program's mission.
The UNR Med PA Studies Program is dedicated to training skilled, compassionate PAs through a comprehensive evaluation of academic and non-academic factors. Candidates must demonstrate key skills and professionalism to ensure successful practice.