Boston University’s Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program admits up to 36 students each August. Its full-time Master of Science curriculum spans 34 months and 114.5 credits, combining didactic and clinical training. Applicants apply through CASPA and, if invited, complete a required BU supplemental application. Casper is required; BU reviews complete applications and interviews selected candidates.
- Program
- Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program
- Credential
- Master of Science
- Location
- Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Casper
- Required
- Seats
- Up to 36
- Length
- 34 months
Casper Requirement for Boston University Physician Assistant
Boston University 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.
BU requires Casper and downloads scores directly from Acuity. Enter the CASPA ID accurately when booking; applicants may take Casper only once per admissions cycle. Casper dates and any minimum-score rule for the next entry cohort have not been published.
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.
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Boston University Physician Assistant Application Deadlines 2027-2028
- Apply through
- CASPA
- Application fee
- Fee for the next entry cohort not yet published.
BU requires a verified CASPA application and, after receiving it, sends an invitation to complete a separate required supplemental application. Deadlines are firm; BU does not use rolling admissions or review incomplete applications.
Boston University Physician Assistant Admissions Statistics
Period: Class of 2023; April to November 2020 admission cycle
- Seats / class size: Up to 36
- Applicants: 2,095
- Interviewed: 75
- Admitted: 26 matriculating students
- Average GPA: 3.48 overall
- Mean science GPA (Class of 2023): 3.4
Historical class figures, not statistics for the next entry cohort.
Eligibility Requirements for Boston University Physician Assistant
- Degree / credits
Bachelor’s degree conferred and verified by CASPA by the application deadline; no particular undergraduate major is preferred.
- Language proficiency
English-language fluency testing is required for applicants who speak English as a second language or did not complete four years of undergraduate education in the US, Canada or UK.
BU’s PA checklist requires WES verification of foreign transcripts. Lacking a US-issued Social Security number may limit available clinical rotation sites.
Other requirements
- Technical standards: Students must meet BU’s observation, communication, motor, intellectual and behavioral standards, with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Immunizations and background check: Students must comply with health-professional immunization policies. Admission offers are contingent on a satisfactory criminal background check; clinical sites may impose additional placement requirements.
Selection Factors Boston University Considers
Prerequisites
| Course | Requirement |
|---|---|
| General Biology or Zoology with lab | One semester AP credit accepted if shown on the transcript; another biology lab may substitute. |
| Human or Animal Physiology | One semester Preferably upper-level; cannot also count toward the three upper-level biology courses. |
| General Chemistry with lab | One semester AP credit accepted if shown on the transcript. |
| Organic Chemistry with lab | One semester |
| Biochemistry | One semester Preferably upper-level; cannot also count toward the three upper-level biology courses. |
| Upper-level biology | Three one-semester courses at the 300/400 level or above Separate from physiology and biochemistry requirements. |
GPA
- How it is calculated
CASPA calculates the science GPA using all science courses; BU has no minimum overall GPA.
- Minimum
- Minimum CASPA-calculated science GPA: 3.2; no minimum overall GPA.
- Competitive
- The published class mean science GPA was 3.4 and mean overall GPA was 3.48; these are historical class figures, not competitive cutoffs.
Strategic applicants calculate preliminary GPAs using CASPA's methodology to identify improvement areas before submission.
Admissions tests
- GRE: BU has not published a GRE rule for the next entry cohort; its last published cycle did not require or review scores.
- MCAT: BU has not published an MCAT rule for the next entry cohort; its last published cycle did not require or review scores.
- TOEFL (required for some applicants): Required for applicants who speak English as a second language or did not complete four undergraduate years in the US, Canada or UK; minimum reading 26, speaking 26, writing 28. Send to CASPA using ETS code 0400.
Experience and volunteer hours
Not required.
No healthcare-experience prerequisite or minimum patient-care hours. Applicants must demonstrate understanding of the PA profession and its contribution to US healthcare; BU does not prefer one type of prior healthcare experience over another.
Supplementary application
A separate BU supplemental application is required after BU receives the verified CASPA application. CASPA must include three letters: one academic professor or advisor, one MD, DO, PA-C or NP who observed the applicant clinically, and one employer supervisor or manager. BU will not consider applications missing required letters.
How applicants are ranked
BU screens for prerequisites, then reviews complete applications holistically without assigning greater weight to any one background or personal attribute. The Admissions Committee selects candidates for formal interviews; offers consider the complete file and interview. BU does not make admissions decisions before its application deadline.
Interview Format at Boston University
A formal interview contributes to the admission decision. BU has not specified the next season’s interview format.
- Who is invited
- Candidates selected by the Admissions Committee after review of complete applications.
- When
- Fall; dates for the next interview season have not been published.
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Start Practicing FreeCurriculum at Boston University Physician Assistant
- Program length
- 34 months
- Structure
114.5 credits over 34 months: a 21-month, five-semester didactic phase followed by a 13-month clinical phase with 11 clerkships, nine required and two elective, and thesis preparation. Full-time sequential study is required.
- Campuses
- Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
The program emphasizes team-based didactic education alongside medical students and interprofessional activities across professions.
Campus and facilities
Housed within the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine in Boston. The program leverages urban clinical affiliations for rotations. Facilities support interprofessional learning, integrating PA students with medical cohorts. Boston's healthcare ecosystem provides diverse patient exposures, from community clinics to major hospitals.
Tuition and Funding at Boston University
Tuition for the next entry cohort has not been published. BU grants PA students a tuition discount of approximately 40% of GMS tuition and charges the same tuition regardless of state residency. An admitted student pays a $1,000 program deposit; tuition and fees can change annually.
What Applicants Are Saying
Matriculated students describe an environment fostering collaborative skills essential for PA roles. Some note the need for robust experiential preparation beyond coursework.
Shared by applicants and students on forums and communities. It is anecdotal, not official program information.
How to Prepare Your Boston University Physician Assistant Application
- Check that your CASPA science GPA meets BU’s 3.2 minimum.
- Complete the required laboratory sciences and three separate upper-level biology courses in person or hybrid.
- Plan Casper using BU’s published dates once available and enter your CASPA ID accurately.
- Arrange BU’s three specified academic, clinical and supervisor letters.
- Have CASPA verified by BU’s deadline, then complete the separate BU supplemental application.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boston University Physician Assistant
Does Boston University PA Program require Casper?
Yes. BU requires Casper; enter your CASPA ID when booking. Dates and any minimum-score rule for the next entry cohort have not been published.
What is the minimum GPA for Boston University PA admissions?
A CASPA-calculated science GPA of at least 3.2 is required. BU has no minimum overall GPA.
Is GRE or MCAT required for Boston University PA?
BU has not published test rules for the next entry cohort. For its last published cycle, GRE and MCAT scores were neither required nor reviewed.
How many students does Boston University PA admit per class?
BU admits up to 36 students each August. It does not use rolling admissions.
What is the Boston University PA program length and credits?
The full-time program is 34 months and 114.5 credits, with didactic and clinical phases.
Does Boston University PA accept international applicants?
BU’s PA checklist addresses applicants with foreign transcripts and requires WES verification. English-language testing may also be required; applicants without a US-issued Social Security number may have fewer clinical rotation sites.
What is the CASPA deadline for Boston University PA?
The deadline for the next entry cohort has not been published. BU requires a verified CASPA application by its deadline and a separate supplemental application.
How competitive is Boston University Physician Assistant program?
BU admits up to 36 students annually and uses holistic review and a formal interview. Its published historical mean GPAs describe that class, not current competitive cutoffs.
Sources
- BU PA Admissions
- BU PA How to Apply
- BU PA Admissions FAQ
- BU PA Admissions Statistics
- BU PA Academics
- BU PA Tuition and Financial Aid
- BU PA Application Checklist
- BU Graduate Medical Sciences Master’s Programs
Last updated: September 26, 2026