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Notification of CASPA Application Portal Opening for the 2026–2027 Admissions Cycle (UPDATED 5/28/2026)

The ³Ô¹ÏÍø Physician Associate Program is pleased to announce that its Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants/Associates (CASPA) application portal is now open for the 2026–2027 admissions cycle.

Applicants interested in joining the cohort matriculating in Fall 2027 may now begin submitting their applications through CASPA.

Prospective students are encouraged to review all admission requirements, prerequisite coursework, application materials, and important deadlines prior to submission. Early preparation and timely completion of application materials are strongly recommended.

The ³Ô¹ÏÍø PA Program is committed to preparing compassionate, highly skilled physician associates dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of ³Ô¹ÏÍø and beyond.

For detailed admissions information and access to the CASPA application portal, please visit: 

For application questions or clarification, please contact the UM PA Program Admissions Office at:
PAAdmissions@umontana.edu

We look forward to reviewing your application. 

MPAS Admission Requirements

Applications are reviewed on a rolling admissions basis; however, all applications submitted before Oct. 1 will be reviewed. Although some seats will fill early in the admissions process, there will be seats available until the application deadline. GRE, PA-CAT, and CASPer are not required.

Our admission cycle opens annually in late April, with the deadline to submit all admissions materials directly to CASPA no later than Oct. 1.

For an applicant to the MPAS program to be considered, they must meet all of the following requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree prior to matriculation (see below for prerequisite coursework). 
• Cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 3.0.
• Prerequisite GPA greater than or equal to 3.0.  

For both the cumulative GPA and the prerequisite GPA, the following point system is used on the applicant scoring rubric:

• .
  • Three (3) letters of recommendation are required.
  • References with substantial knowledge of the applicant will score higher on the applicant scoring rubric. Recommendations with excellent ratings and minimal "not observed" ratings will score higher on the rubric.
  • One letter must be written by a provider (PA, MD, DO, NP).
  • Letters must be submitted directly to CASPA.
  • Candidates will be required to submit a personal statement regarding their desire to be a PA. Statements with an engaging narrative and writing style, excellent grammar, and that demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the PA profession will score higher on the applicant scoring rubric.
  • Include official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended, including prerequisite coursework.
  • All materials must be submitted to CASPA by 11:59 PM ET October 1. DO NOT SEND any application materials to the ³Ô¹ÏÍø admissions or MPAS program.

While all candidates will be considered, additional points on the applicant scoring rubric will be garnered for:

• ³Ô¹ÏÍø residents (permanent address in MT)
• Registered members of federal/state-recognized Native American tribes
• First-generation college graduate 
• Honorable military service or honorable veteran status
• Research experience
• Possession of a master's, doctoral, or other graduate degree
• Repeat applicants who have improved their application
• Nonresident applicants with significant ties to the state of ³Ô¹ÏÍø
• Graduates of the ³Ô¹ÏÍø University System
• Minimum of 20 hours of in-person PA Shadowing
• Patient care experience hours (see rubric below). Patient care experience includes, but is not limited to: EMT, paramedic, medical assistant, certified nursing assistant, phlebotomist, corpsman, RT, and physical therapy aide. When logging direct patient care experience hours in CASPA, please be sure to record hours under ‘Patient Care Experience’ and not under ‘Health Related Experience’ (use this for any health experience that does not involve direct patient care)

Prerequisite Courses

Prerequisite courses must be passed with a "C" or better letter grade. Prerequisite coursework must be completed at the postsecondary level within the past 10 years at the time of matriculation. Prerequisite courses may be completed at any accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university, including online or distance courses. Advanced placement within the program will not be granted. Credit by exam or pass/fail courses will not be accepted. You may have up to two outstanding prerequisite courses to complete at the time of application. Be sure to identify that the required courses are “planned” or “in progress” in the CASPA application. Prerequisite credits and receipt of the bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university must be completed no later than the end of the spring semester of the year of matriculation.

Completion of the following prerequisite courses is required for applicants:

• Human Anatomy & Physiology I with lab (4 credits)
• Human Anatomy & Physiology II with lab (4 credits)
• Microbiology with lab (4 credits)
• Genetics (3 credits)
• General Chemistry I with lab (4 credits)
• General Chemistry II with lab (4 credits)
• Organic Chemistry with lab (4 credits)
• Biochemistry (3 credits)
• Psychology (3 credits)
• Statistics (3 credits)
• Medical Terminology (1 credit)

Please note: Prerequisite credit requirements are listed in semester credits. Applicants with coursework completed on the quarter system should multiply quarter credits by 0.667 to determine semester-credit equivalency, consistent with CASPA calculations.

Technical Standards

The UM PA Program considers it essential for all candidates, students, and graduates to have the knowledge and skills to function in a variety of clinical settings and to provide a wide spectrum of patient care as required by the curriculum. This requires sufficient capacities and abilities in: Observation and Sensation, Communication, Motor Function, Intellectual Capability, and Behavioral/Social Proficiency. Candidates and students must possess these technical standards to achieve the required level of competency stipulated for program advancement and graduation. Candidates must demonstrate these standards upon admission and continue to present them throughout their participation in the UM PA Program. Failure to do so is grounds for dismissal from the program. 

Candidates, students, and graduates must be able to:

•  Observation and Sensation
  • Possess sufficient visual, auditory, and tactile sensation to participate in the classroom, laboratory, and other educational or clinical settings. 
  • Receive verbal and nonverbal communication while interviewing patients and others, and perform a complete patient physical exam that includes inspection, auscultation, and palpation techniques.
• Communication
  • Speak, hear, and observe patients, family members, and other clinicians.
  • Communicate clearly and effectively in English through verbal, non-verbal, and written communication.
  • Receive and process communication from the healthcare team to respond in a timely manner and make appropriate decisions.
  • Communicate attentively and sensitively to others while honoring the HIPPA policy.
• Motor Function
  • Exhibit sufficient strength, coordination, dexterity, and equilibrium to perform the activities required of a physician associate, including but not limited to performing a physical examination utilizing diagnostic instruments and techniques required in auscultation, palpation, percussion, and diagnostic maneuvers.
  • Manipulate medical equipment for basic laboratory tests and procedures such as airway management, suturing, needle placement and IV, stethoscope and ophthalmoscope, tongue blades, gynecologic speculum, and scalpel. 
  • Demonstrate physical stamina to sit, stand, and move within the classroom, laboratory, examination rooms, treatment rooms, and operating rooms for extended periods of time. 
• Intellectual Capability
  • Demonstrate clinical problem-solving and reasoning skills to think critically with sound judgment, emotional stability, maturity, and empathy. 
  • Collect, measure, organize, prioritize, calculate, reason, analyze, and integrate data accurately to make decisions in a timely manner.
  • Comprehend medical literature to use this knowledge in problem-solving and patient care.
  • Synthesize significant findings from history, physical exam, and laboratory data.
  • Understand and interpret diagnostic testing and treatment regimens. 
• Behavioral and Social Proficiency
  • Establish and maintain professional relationships.
  • Work cooperatively with other members of the healthcare team. 
  • Prioritize competing demands and exercise good clinical judgment.
  • Respond to emergencies in a calm and reasonable manner and handle physical, mental, and emotional stress while functioning effectively.
  • Develop rapport with patients and their families as well as colleagues.
  • Demonstrate compassion, empathy, motivation, integrity, and flexibility while interacting with a diverse population. 
  • Accept criticism and modify behavior and practice as needed.
  • Understand and apply ethical standards and responsibility in their daily practice.
  • Demonstrate emotional stability to deliver appropriate patient care in all settings.

Candidates must be able to satisfy the above requirements with or without reasonable accommodations.

International Applicant Information

Only college work completed at a U.S. or Canadian college or university, fully accredited by the regional accrediting agency or its equivalent, is acceptable, and no waivers of this condition will be granted.

Admissions Timeline

APRIL  

• CASPA application portal opens for applicants.
• Data begins to be sent electronically to the UM PA Program.
• Applicants are encouraged to apply early.

OCTOBER (Submission Deadline)

• All application materials (including transcripts and letters of recommendation) must be submitted to CASPA by 11:59 PM ET October 1.

FALL/WINTER

• Applicant interviews are conducted.
• An in-person multiple mini interview (MMI) format will be used, and the following domains will be assessed: professionalism, communication, cultural competency, ethics, empathy, resilience/adaptability, critical thinking, teamwork, and writing ability (grammar, content). Each interviewer will complete a standardized rubric for each station/candidate. 
• The Admissions Committee selects candidates for admission.
• Applicants selected for interviews will be notified on a rolling timeline by email of their admission status.

MARCH

• Cohort selection is complete.

AUGUST

• Orientation for the incoming cohort and classes begin.

Deposit Required

If accepted into the program, a nonrefundable $1,000 deposit is required to secure a position in the class and is payable at the time of acceptance. Instructions for this process will be included in the acceptance letter. The deposit will be applied to the accepted student's first-semester tuition.