UTMB PA Program: Admissions Guide 2027-2028

UTMB’s Galveston Physician Assistant Studies program awards an MPAS through the John Sealy School of Medicine. Applicants apply through CASPA, complete a supplemental application and take Casper. The 26-month program combines didactic and clinical training. UTMB does not require minimum patient-care or shadowing hours; it considers relevant experience in holistic review.

Program

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

Credential

MPAS

Location

Galveston, Texas, United States

Casper

Required

Interview

Multiple mini interview (MMI)

Seats

Approximately 90 students each July

Length

26 months

Casper Requirement for University of Texas Medical Branch Physician Assistant

University of Texas Medical Branch Physician Assistant requires Casper for the 2027-2028 cycle.

Languages

English

Applicant ID to enter

CASPA ID

Check available Casper test dates in your Acuity Insights account at takecasper.com.

Casper is required for every applicant. Register using your CASPA ID; UTMB does not review an application until it receives the Casper score. Scores are valid for one application cycle.

Casper format

Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test run by Acuity Insights. The current format has 11 scenarios (4 video-response and 7 typed-response) with 2 questions each and takes about 65 to 85 minutes, including optional breaks. Typed-response scenarios allow 3.5 minutes to answer both questions.

Practice with Bright Doctor's Casper Question Bank, featuring 100+ scenarios and 300+ expert responses.

University of Texas Medical Branch Physician Assistant Application Deadlines 2027-2028

Apply through

CASPA

Application fee

$35 UTMB supplemental application fee; CASPA charges a separate application fee.

Submit a CASPA application with official transcripts and supporting documents. UTMB requires the application to be verified by its deadline, then invites eligible applicants to complete a supplemental application.

University of Texas Medical Branch Physician Assistant Admissions Statistics

Period: Last-five-years accepted-student summary

• Seats / class size: Approximately 90 students each July
• Applicants: 932 verified
• Interviewed: 258
• Average GPA: 3.70 cumulative; 3.63 science
• Five-year mean first-time PANCE pass rate: 89%
• Accepted students’ mean patient-contact hours, last five years: 1,995

UTMB reports approximately 90 enrolled new students in its last-five-years accepted-student summary. The PANCE figure is a five-year mean, not a single-class rate.

Eligibility Requirements for University of Texas Medical Branch Physician Assistant

Degree / credits

Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, completed by the end of the spring semester before matriculation.

Citizenship

UTMB cannot accept DACA applicants at this time.

International applicants must also hold the required U.S. bachelor’s degree and complete prerequisites at regionally accredited U.S. institutions; there is no waiver for an international degree.

Other requirements

• Letters of evaluation: Submit at least three individual, signed, dated English-language letters to CASPA on letterhead, with applicant name and evaluator contact details.
• Technical standards: Applicants must meet the PA program’s technical standards to matriculate.
• Background check: After an offer, complete a clear security background check no more than 60 days before enrollment.
• BLS/BCLS: AHA-approved certification is required upon enrollment and throughout the program.

Selection Factors University of Texas Medical Branch Considers

Prerequisites

GPA

How it is calculated

Overall and science GPAs include undergraduate and graduate coursework; science GPA includes courses taught in chemistry, physics, biology or biochemistry departments.

Minimum

3.0 overall and 3.0 science

Competitive

Priority review at 3.2 or higher in both overall and science GPA.

Prerequisites require a C or better letter grade and must have been completed within 10 years of the application deadline. AP, IB, credit by exam and pass/fail credit do not fulfill prerequisites; degree and prerequisites must be complete by the end of spring before matriculation.

Experience and volunteer hours

Not required.

UTMB requires no minimum direct patient-care or shadowing hours. These experiences can strengthen an application and are considered in holistic review.

Supplementary application

After CASPA processing, UTMB emails an invitation to complete its required supplemental application. A completed supplement and $35 fee are required for interview consideration; the email states the submission deadline.

How applicants are ranked

UTMB reviews complete files, including qualifications, letters, statements, coursework, overall and science GPAs, and Casper; service, patient-care experience, shadowing, leadership and life experience also matter. Interview preference includes Texas residency, first-generation status, GPAs above 3.2, disadvantage and military service. The committee evaluates and ranks interviewed applicants for rolling offers.

Interview Format at University of Texas Medical Branch

Format: Multiple mini interview (MMI)

Invited candidates interview in person on the Galveston campus. The interview-day description specifies four stations, each with two minutes to read a scenario and six minutes for discussion.

Who is invited

Applicants selected after review of a complete file, including the supplemental application and Casper score.

When

Typically Fridays during the September to December interview season; invited applicants receive their date by email.

Practice under timed, realistic conditions with Bright Doctor's AI Interview Simulator.

Curriculum at University of Texas Medical Branch Physician Assistant

Program length

26 months

Structure

Approximately 12 months of didactic study followed by 14 months of clinical experiences; classes begin in July.

Campuses

Galveston

UTMB assigns clinical sites; students may incur travel and living costs for rotations away from campus.

Campus and facilities

Located in Galveston, Texas. Student housing options, with incoming students preparing for the first weeks by coordinating moves. The campus supports clinical training through John Sealy School of Medicine facilities serving the Gulf Coast. Access research opportunities and patient care sites focused on regional needs.

Tuition and Funding at University of Texas Medical Branch

• Estimated Texas-resident tuition and fees, years 1 and 2: $27,904 and $27,001
• Estimated nonresident tuition and fees, years 1 and 2: $52,032 and $52,058

Estimates may change and exclude living costs and other listed expenses.

University of Texas Medical Branch's Mission and Values

The John Sealy School of Medicine at UTMB serves patients across Texas, with a primary focus on Galveston County and the Gulf Coast region. This emphasis on primary care medicine aligns with the program's goal to produce competent PAs through a flexible, broad-based curriculum.

Faculty express high regard for graduates, stating they have been "impressed with the students I have had from this program."

What Applicants Are Saying

How to Prepare Your University of Texas Medical Branch Physician Assistant Application

1. Prepare CASPA transcripts and three qualifying letters early enough for verification.
2. Complete the required supplemental application when UTMB sends its invitation.
3. Book Casper with your CASPA ID and follow UTMB’s published testing instructions.
4. Describe patient-care, service, shadowing and leadership experiences without treating hours as mandatory.
5. Practice for an in-person, four-station scenario interview.

More About University of Texas Medical Branch Physician Assistant

Founding

One of the earliest PA programs established in Texas; degrees from the state's first medical school founded in 1891

School

John Sealy School of Medicine

Frequently Asked Questions About University of Texas Medical Branch Physician Assistant

Does the UTMB Physician Assistant program require Casper?

Yes. UTMB requires Casper and a CASPA ID for registration. It will not review an application until it receives the score.

What is the minimum patient care experience for UTMB PA admissions?

No minimum direct patient-care or shadowing hours are required. UTMB considers these experiences in holistic review.

What is the tuition for UTMB Physician Assistant program?

UTMB estimates two-year tuition and fees at $27,904 plus $27,001 for Texas residents, or $52,032 plus $52,058 for nonresidents; costs may change.

Does UTMB PA program have interviews, and what format?

Yes. Invited candidates interview in person on the Galveston campus in a four-station format.

What is the PANCE pass rate for UTMB PA graduates?

UTMB reports an 89% five-year mean first-time PANCE pass rate.

Is UTMB PA program part of a medical school?

Yes. The MPAS is awarded through UTMB’s John Sealy School of Medicine.

Can international students apply to UTMB Physician Assistant?

International applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and complete prerequisites at regionally accredited U.S. institutions. UTMB cannot accept DACA applicants at this time.

What is the attrition rate at UTMB PA program?

UTMB reports a 93% three-year average graduation rate in its program goals; it does not state a single current attrition rate.

Sources

• UTMB PA Studies Admissions & Applications
• UTMB Degree Plan & Curriculum
• UTMB Program Cost of Attendance
• UTMB Academics & Accreditation

Last updated: September 26, 2026