Last updated 2/19/2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Prerequisite coursework and experience

• Do all of my prerequisite courses need to be completed by the time I apply to the CCPA program?

•  All prerequisites must be completed before submission of the CASPA application.

• What are the prerequisite courses?

• Please click the link above to see the Admissions Requirements
       

• Can I take prerequisites at your institution?

• No. ATSU does not offer undergraduate courses.

• Is a baccalaureate degree required before matriculation?

• Yes, completing a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 2.5 cumulative overall grade point average* is required. (Please see the ‘Admissions Requirements’ are required to be completed before applying to the program)

* All prerequisite coursework and degrees must be completed from a United States regionally accredited institution. Prerequisite courses completed at foreign or other institutions that are not regionally accredited in the United States are not accepted. Course and transcript evaluations of equivalency are not accepted. The Central Coast Physician Assistant (CCPA) Program supports all educational experiences from either U.S. regionally accredited colleges and universities, by residential, hybrid, or online instruction, or by credit by examination.

• How many hours of clinical experience do I need?

• No set number of hours is required. EWhat type of experience should I get to accumulate hours for clinical experience?

• your experience should provide you with as much exposure/experience as possible to the roles and responsibilities of physicians, PAs, and other medical professionals, whose primary responsibility is underserved patient care.
• We recommend Letters of Recommendation from individuals who know you well and    can attest to your potential as a healthcare professional

Letters of recommendation should reflect your:

Timing and duration of relationship (when and how long)

Relationship with the reference

Experience with the reference

Interpersonal skills

Experience in healthcare delivery setting

Work ethic

Preparation for graduate study

Commitment/dedication to the CCPA Mission

• Does a letter of recommendation written by a nurse practitioner, chiropractor, or other health professional count for my healthcare letter of recommendation?

• Please see ‘Admissions Requirements’

• Is there someone available to review my application, transcripts, reference forms, resume, and personal statement before submission?

• Please reach out to the Admissions Department

• Does the program offer advanced placement or accept transfer credits?

• No.

• Can a course in “exercise physiology” satisfy the human anatomy & physiology prerequisite?

• No.

• How are ‘introductory level courses’ considered for one of the prerequisites?
  

• Any questions about prerequisites should be referred to the admissions office.

• Is the GRE required?

• GRE scores are NOT required and will not be considered in the application review.

• Can international students apply?

• No, to apply you must be a US citizen or permanent resident. DACA and other visas are not considered.

• What is a Hometown Scholar?

• Hometown scholars are individuals who work or volunteer with a Community Health Center anywhere in the US. If an applicant fits that criteria and goes through the process of being endorsed this program will grant them an automatic interview, as long as they meet the minimum requirements for the CCPA program. The endorsement letter must be received by the time the secondary application is submitted. If offered a seat in the cohort and successfully completes the didactic year, the student will be assigned to the endorsing Community Health Center for the clinical year training. If the endorsing Community Health Center does not have a training partnership with CCPA the student will be assigned to the closest partnership site of the endorsed location. For more information go to the Hometown Scholar link.

Application process

• How to apply to the program?

• The CCPA utilizes the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) located at https://caspa.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login
• A secondary application is required for university admissions which will be sent out to CASPA applicants

• What is the application timeframe?
  

• Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis. Please see ‘Admissions Requirements’ for additional details

• Interview process (online/virtual)

• Interviews will be held online via Zoom
  

• How will I be notified if I’m being invited for an interview?

• The invitation for our online interviews will be made by email; therefore, you must provide us with your current contact information.

• How do I prepare for the interview?
• Be yourself. Be prepared. Do your homework regarding the PA profession, ATSU and the CCPA program. Practice by asking others to “mock” interview you. Be professional in your attire, but allow it to reflect who you are.
• The CCPA Website has a ‘Summary of Program Admissions Process’ on the application page

CCPA Program FAQs

• Where are the didactic year classes held?
• In Santa Maria, California, where we have a learning center designed to facilitate our innovative learner-centered curriculum.
• Does it make a difference for admission if I am from out-of-state?

• We do give preference to those residing in or who have origin from the Central Coast of California. Other states of residence do not impact your chances for admission.

• Can students attend part-time?

• No, due to the nature of the delivery of the curriculum, part-time attendance is not an option.

• Will I be able to work while I am in school?
  
• Because of the rigorous nature of the physician assistant coursework, the PA program faculty strongly discourages students from working. Typically, PA students are engaged in learning activities throughout the day Monday through Friday, with an occasional required weekend or evening hours.
• Does ATSU offer financial aid? Where can I find scholarship information?
  
• Yes, we offer financial aid and scholarships to our students. Learn more about financial aid.
• How many people apply to the CCPA program each year?
  

• This is a new program, so no historical application data is available. It is common for PA programs to receive 1000+ applications for each cohort.

• How many open positions are available in the CCPA program each year?
  

• CCPA program enrolls 90 students per PA student cohort.

• Is there housing convenient to the University?
  

• Students find housing in many of the neighboring communities. There is no ATSU student housing.

• Who is on the PA admission committee?
  

• Committee members consist of PA program faculty, staff, and practicing physician assistants.

• What is the tuition for the PA program?
  

• Please note PA program costs are subject to change upon approval of the University Board of Trustees. Please check the CCPA website for the most up-to-date information.

• What are the curriculum components of the program?
  

• The didactic first year is residential. The students will spend the first year at the campus in Santa Maria, California. The average week is expected to include: interactive small group learning (70%) facilitated with case studies, interactive learning, and projects. Laboratory and clinical simulations (20%) will occur through small-group labs working with other students and faculty to practice skills (clinical skills, procedures, history taking, and physical exams). These experiences culminate in periodic practical assessments including standardized patient encounters.
• In the clinical second year, students will be assigned to one of our affiliate CHC locations around the country.
• For the Class of 2026, starting in the Fall of 2024, the grading system will use the traditional percentage cycle.

• How long is the program?
  

• The program is 24 months. The first year, the didactic year (residential), is 12 months. In the second year, the clinical year, students will be assigned to CHC locations by the program for 12 months.

• Do you offer a cadaver lab? How will you teach anatomy?

• No, we do not and will not have a cadaver lab.

• Will I need to move to California to attend the program?

• Yes, for the first year, students will need to move to the Santa Maria, California, area for the residential component.

• Do you provide options for shadowing physician assistants?

• We do not currently provide shadowing experiences.  

• Are students required to have health insurance?

• Yes, students will need to provide proof of health insurance.

• Are students covered by malpractice insurance?

• Yes, through ATSU the students are covered.

• Is there a classroom personal appearance policy?

• Yes, we provide students with a University Program Handbook and a CHC-CCPA Policy Sheet which outlines policies including personal appearance.

• Are there special technology requirements for the program?

• Please view the ATSU technology requirements for full details. A laptop with specific requirements is necessary to have before matriculation.

• Can you tell me more about your accreditation status?

• The Central Coast Physician Assistant (CCPA) program is a master of science in physician assistant studies (MPAS) offered by A.T. Still University. The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the CCPA Program. Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students. Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class. The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-at-still-university-central-coast/.

Any further questions?

• Contact the admissions office at Register for a Virtual Information Session or admissions@atsu.edu or call 866.626.2878 ext. 2237.