Penn College's Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies is a two-year, CASPA-participating program in Williamsport. Selection is based on prerequisite science GPA, cumulative GPA and Casper, with minimum science GPA and experience requirements. The program does not conduct admission interviews.
- Program
- Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
- Credential
- MS
- Location
- Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States
- Casper
- Required · CSP-20100
- Next deadline
- January 15, 2027 (CASPA application and selection requirements (11:59 p.m. EST))
- Interview
- No interview
- Seats
- Up to 30; actual cohort size may vary
- Length
- Two years
Casper Requirement for Pennsylvania College of Technology Physician Assistant
Pennsylvania College of Technology Physician Assistant requires Casper for the 2026-2027 cycle.
- Test to book
- United States Casper 2 - Physician Assistant · CSP-20100
- Languages
- English
- Applicant ID to enter
- CASPA ID or 9-digit Penn College ID with a leading zero
- Other Acuity assessments
- Duet (not required)
Check available Casper test dates in your Acuity Insights account at takecasper.com.
Complete Casper by the selection deadline and achieve a z-score of at least -1. Select Penn College when booking to see available sittings. Casper may be taken once per application cycle; results from an earlier cycle cannot be reused. Penn College does not use Duet.
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.
Pennsylvania College of Technology Physician Assistant Application Deadlines 2026-2027
- Apply through
- CASPA
- Applications open
- July 1, 2026
| What | When |
|---|---|
| CASPA application and selection requirements (11:59 p.m. EST) | January 15, 2027upcoming |
| Bachelor's degree conferral, if completing degree in spring | June 1, 2027upcoming |
| Final degree transcript, if completing degree in spring | July 1, 2027upcoming |
Submit the completed CASPA application and all selection requirements by the program deadline.
Pennsylvania College of Technology Physician Assistant Admissions Statistics
Period: January 2027 selection / August 2027 entering cohort
- Seats / class size: Up to 30; actual cohort size may vary
- Class of 2025 PANCE, first-time takers: 22 of 23 passed; 96% first-time pass rate
Eligibility Requirements for Pennsylvania College of Technology Physician Assistant
- Degree / credits
Bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S.-based institution, completed or scheduled for completion in the spring before entry. Applicants completing the degree in spring may apply with no more than two prerequisite courses outstanding. All prerequisite science courses must be completed at an accredited U.S.-based institution.
Admission pathways
- Completed bachelor's degree: Apply after completing the degree and prerequisite science courses
- Spring degree completion: Apply with no more than two prerequisite courses outstanding; admission is conditional on degree conferral
International applicants should check eligibility separately; specific international policies and international matriculation data are not detailed in the article.
Other requirements
- Technical standards: Applicants must meet the PA program's technical standards
- Clinical participation requirements: Participation requires clearances, vaccinations, health and liability insurance, physical examinations and drug testing; the program also lists CPR certification
- Accepted-student deposit: A $500 non-refundable seat deposit is required only after an offer and is applied to first-semester costs
Selection Factors Pennsylvania College of Technology Considers
Prerequisites
| Course | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Biology | Two courses with labs Introductory biology, cell biology, molecular biology, evolution or ecology; genetics and microbiology do not substitute |
| Anatomy and Physiology | Two courses with labs A&P I and II, or separate anatomy and physiology courses |
| Microbiology | One course with lab |
| General Chemistry | Two courses with labs |
| Organic Chemistry | One course with lab |
| Biochemistry | One course |
| Genetics | One course |
GPA
- How it is calculated
Prerequisite science GPA includes every attempt at a required science course taken within the applicable eight-year period, including grades below 2.0. Cumulative GPA uses coursework at the bachelor's-degree institution; plus/minus distinctions are not used in science GPA calculations.
- Minimum
- At least 3.0/4.0 in prerequisite science courses
- Competitive
- Strong science and cumulative GPAs; the program prioritizes strong academic performance in sciences
Prerequisite science coursework must fall within the applicable eight-year period.
Admissions tests
- GRE (not required): Not required for this selection cycle
- MCAT (not required): Not required for this selection cycle
- PA-CAT (optional): Not mandatory for this selection cycle; the program FAQ encourages applicants who have taken it to submit results
Experience and volunteer hours
Required.
Log at least 500 hours of patient care, healthcare experience and/or shadowing in CASPA, including 16 hours of in-person shadowing with a practicing PA, NP, MD or DO. Hours must be from the past five calendar years. Virtual shadowing and coursework or rotations counted toward a grade do not qualify. The selection committee reviews hours for suitability. Experience is required but not scored.
Supplementary application
CASPA requires an essay and at least two letters of evaluation, although Penn College does not use either in its selection decision. Enter required experience hours and descriptions in CASPA.
How applicants are ranked
Eligible applicants are ranked for up to 30 seats using prerequisite science GPA (70%), cumulative GPA at the bachelor's-degree institution (15%) and Casper score (15%). Experience is required but receives no ranking weight. Penn College does not use CASPA's essay or evaluation letters in its selection decision; it does not conduct admission interviews.
Interview Format at Pennsylvania College of Technology
Format: No interview
Penn College uses Casper rather than a personal admission interview.
- Who is invited
- No admission interview is conducted.
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Start Practicing FreeCurriculum at Pennsylvania College of Technology Physician Assistant
- Program length
- Two years
- Structure
A didactic year followed by a clinical year with seven core rotations and one elective rotation; the program coordinates clinical sites and preceptors.
- Campuses
- Williamsport
The published curriculum comprises 96 credits. Core rotations include family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, behavioral and mental health care, surgery, women's health and pediatrics.
Campus and facilities
Williamsport campus fosters a supportive environment for traditional and non-traditional students. Matriculated students describe a structured daily schedule starting at 8:30-9:00 AM and ending by 3:30-4:30 PM most days, with rare extensions to 7:00 PM. Program culture emphasizes professional development, with opportunities to connect with practicing PAs for shadowing.
Tuition and Funding at Pennsylvania College of Technology
Penn College publishes tuition and fee information separately from its PA tools and supplies estimates. Graduate tuition uses the same rate as undergraduate tuition; additional PA program fees and required supplies apply.
Pennsylvania College of Technology's Mission and Values
The program emphasizes producing academically, clinically, professionally, and culturally competent physician assistants.
The program aims to prepare graduates to be academically, clinically, professionally and culturally competent physician assistants.
What Applicants Are Saying
Matriculated students describe a structured daily schedule starting at 8:30-9:00 AM and ending by 3:30-4:30 PM most days, with rare extensions to 7:00 PM. Students advise taking breaks to manage stress during the didactic year. Non-traditional applicants from fields like healthcare advertising report success by emphasizing transferable skills in patient interaction.
Shared by applicants and students on forums and communities. It is anecdotal, not official program information.
How to Prepare Your Pennsylvania College of Technology Physician Assistant Application
- Complete the required U.S.-based science prerequisites and check course equivalencies.
- Keep prerequisite science GPA at or above 3.0.
- Log at least 500 eligible experience hours, including 16 hours of in-person provider shadowing.
- Book the required Casper version and select Penn College for score distribution.
- Complete CASPA's essay and evaluation letters, although Penn College does not score them.
- Review the PA program's technical standards and clinical participation requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pennsylvania College of Technology Physician Assistant
Does Pennsylvania College of Technology Physician Assistant Program require Casper?
Yes. Complete United States Casper 2 - Physician Assistant (CSP-20100) and achieve a z-score of at least -1; Duet is not required.
What is the GPA requirement for Pennsylvania College of Technology PA program?
The prerequisite science GPA must be at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Science GPA and cumulative GPA both contribute to selection.
Is clinical experience required for Pennsylvania College of Technology Physician Assistant admissions?
Yes. Log at least 500 eligible experience hours, including 16 hours shadowing a practicing PA, NP, MD or DO. Virtual shadowing does not count toward the 16 hours.
What is the interview format at Pennsylvania College of Technology PA program?
There is no admission interview; Penn College uses Casper in its selection process.
What are Pennsylvania College of Technology Physician Assistant tuition costs?
Penn College publishes tuition and fees separately from estimated PA supplies and other expenses. Check its current tuition schedule and PA cost information for your residency and entering cohort.
How long is the Pennsylvania College of Technology PA program?
The master's program runs for two years: a didactic year followed by a clinical year with eight rotations.
Does Pennsylvania College of Technology accept international students for PA program?
PA applicants must earn their bachelor's degree and complete all prerequisite science courses at accredited U.S.-based institutions. Penn College provides separate guidance for international applicants.
What are the class hours like at Pennsylvania College of Technology Physician Assistant?
The program publishes its curriculum and clinical rotation structure, but not a standard daily class-hours schedule.
Sources
- Penn College: Physician Assistant Studies
- Penn College: January 2027 Selection Criteria
- Penn College: Physician Assistant Studies FAQ
- Penn College: Casper Test
- Penn College: January 2028 Selection Criteria
- Penn College: 2026-27 PA Tools and Supplies
- Penn College: PANCE Performance Report
- Penn College: Graduate Student Aid
Last updated: September 26, 2026