Admission Requirements
March 29, 2023 2026-05-05 21:40Admission Requirements
Overview
Admission to the Rocky Mountain College Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program is extremely competitive. We look for applicants who are academically prepared, experienced in direct patient care, and aligned with our mission to serve rural and underserved communities in the intermountain West.
Applications are submitted through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). RMC MPAS does not have a supplemental application, but does require the submission of an additional $45.00 CASPA processing fee. All application materials must be submitted to CASPA by our program deadline of October 1st. Selected applicants will be invited to a virtual interview process with the admissions committee. Admission decisions are awarded on a rolling basis during the admissions cycle.
If you have questions at any point, please contact Graduate Admissions in Conner Hall at (406) 657-1025 or heynemank@rocky.edu.
Minimum Requirements for Application Consideration
To be considered for review, applicants must meet all of the following minimum criteria by the time they submit their CASPA application:
- Cumulative GPA:
Minimum 3.00
- Science GPA:
Minimum 3.00
- Direct Patient Care Experience:
At least 1,500 paid hours of direct, hands-on patient care completed before submitting your CASPA application
- Bachelor’s Degree:
A bachelor’s degree must be completed prior to matriculation into the MPAS program; applicants may apply while their degree is in progress
- Three Letters of Recommendation:
Three letters required, including one from a healthcare provider, preferably a physician assistant. Letters from family members are not accepted.
Applicants who do not meet these minimums at the time of application submission will not be considered for admission. Due to application volume, the program cannot consider application updates or amendments during the cycle. Your submitted application is considered your final application for the cycle.
Prerequisite Coursework
Prerequisite coursework can be in progress at the time of application submission, but all required coursework must be completed prior to matriculation in June of the following year.
Most prerequisite coursework may be completed with a grade of C- or higher, but science coursework MUST be completed with a grade of C or higher. All prerequisite coursework is required to be completed in an in-person setting (no online prerequisite coursework is allowed unless otherwise noted below). All prerequisite coursework must be completed and reflected on official transcripts. Advanced Placement courses taken in high school with passing AP test grades may fulfill prerequisite courses if the student’s college transcripts reflect the awarding of college credit.
Required Courses
Chemistry – 8 credits total
Your choice of one year sequence is required, with labs highly recommended:
- Two semesters of organic chemistry OR
- One semester of organic chemistry and one semester of biochemistry
General chemistry does not fulfill this requirement, although it is expected as preparation for advanced chemistry.
Biology – 15 credits total
Your choice of one year sequence is required, with labs highly recommended:
- Two semesters of human anatomy and physiology with laboratory required (from biology, physiology, zoology, or an allied health program) – 8 credits
- One semester of microbiology with lab required – 3 credits
- One semester of genetics – 3 credits
Medical Terminology – 1–2 credits
May be completed in an online format.
Mathematics – 6 credits
One course in pre-calculus or higher – 3 credits (including functions, trigonometry, exponents, and logarithmic functions). College algebra or Trigonometry will not satisfy this requirement.
One course in statistics/probability – 3 credits (pre-mathematical functions, statistics, and probability)
Psychology – 3 credits
One course in psychology (developmental or abnormal psychology is highly recommended).
English Composition – 3 credits
One college-level English composition course.
Social Science – 3 credits
One course in a social science that is NOT from a psychology department, such as: sociology, geography, anthropology, political science, or economics.
English Composition – 3 credits
One college-level English composition course.
Recommended Coursework
While not required, the following are strongly encouraged:
- One year of undergraduate physics or additional quantitative and/or laboratory-based science courses
- Additional writing-intensive coursework
Quarter System Coursework
RMC MPAS prerequisite coursework requirements are based on a semester credit system, if you have quarter system credits, please use the conversion chart listed below to determine the conversion rates of your credits.
| Quarter | Semester |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.7 |
| 2 | 1.3 |
| 3 | 2.0 |
| 4 | 2.7 |
| 5 | 3.3 |
Direct Patient Care Experience
Applicants must complete a minimum of 1,500 hours of paid, direct, hands-on patient care PRIOR to submitting their CASPA application.
Examples of roles that often qualify include:
- Scribe
- Phlebotomist
- EMT
- CNA
- Medical Assistant
- LPN / RN
- Respiratory therapist
- Paramedic
- Other positions providing direct, face-to-face patient care
The quality of patient care experience also matters. Applicants with higher-quality, higher-responsibility patient care experience are generally more competitive, but all applicants with direct patient care and high-quality patient interactions are encouraged to apply.
Selection Process & Preferences
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as soon as the CASPA cycle opens and ranked according to admission points awarded during the selection screening process. Selected applicants are invited to virtually interview with the admissions committee. Interviews are conducted August through January of each cycle, with admissions decisions released shortly after individual interview completion on a rolling basis.
All application materials must be submitted to CASPA by October 1 for consideration, but applicants are encouraged to apply early if they meet the minimum application criteria.
How Applications Are Scored
Completed applications undergo a preliminary screening that evaluates and awards admission points based on program preferences. Applications are ranked using the following weighting:
Past Academic Performance – 60%
Includes:
- Cumulative and science GPAs (minimum 3.00 in each)
- Grade improvement in repeated courses
- Number of prerequisite courses completed at the time of review
Geographic Regionality – 10%
In alignment with our mission to prepare providers for this rural region, applicants may receive locality preference points based on:
- Permanent address in the program’s stated region: Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, or Idaho
- Population of the location where the applicant graduated from high school, with a preference for rural communities
Clinical Work Experience – 20%
- Quantity and quality of direct patient care experience
- Formal health career preparation (EMT, CNA, LPN, RN, RT, MT, etc.)
Applicants with more extensive and higher-quality clinical experience are considered more competitive.
Personal Statement – 5%
Evaluated through the CASPA essay for clarity, reflection, and written communication skills.
Letters of Recommendation – 5%
Based on each writer’s assessment of the applicant’s potential to be a successful future physician assistant.
Admission Requirements Advising Worksheet:
Profile of Recently Admitted Students
In addition to meeting the minimum requirements, most students who are ultimately offered a seat in the program present strong academic records, meaningful patient care experience, and clear alignment with the program’s mission.
Typical characteristics among recently admitted students include:
- Cumulative and science GPAs above the minimum
- More than the required 1,500 hours of paid direct patient care experience
- Substantial shadowing with PAs or other providers in multiple settings
- Residence or experience in Montana or neighboring states, often from smaller or rural communities
- Strong personal statements that clearly express motivation to practice as a PA and serve rural or underserved populations
- Thoughtful, supportive letters of recommendation from healthcare professionals and academic references
This information can help you gauge how your background compares to recently admitted cohorts, while remembering that the admissions committee reviews each application holistically.
| Overall GPA | Science GPA | Science Credits | Patient Care Exp Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 3.73 | 3.68 | 86 | 3,830 |
| Median | 3.77 | 3.67 | 82 | 2,751 |
| Min | 3.18 | 3.04 | 48 | 1,501 |
| Max | 4.0 | 4.0 | 165 | 15,000 |
PA Shadowing Hours
We strongly encourage candidates to complete a minimum of 40 hours of shadowing with physician assistants in a variety of settings, including at least one primary care setting. These hours should be completed and documented by the time you submit your CASPA application.
Shadowing helps you confirm your interest in the PA profession and demonstrate familiarity with the role.
Coursework Older Than 10 Years
The program does not enforce a strict expiration date for prerequisite coursework. However, candidates whose science prerequisites are more than 10 years old are strongly encouraged to consider updating these core courses to remain competitive and better prepared for the curriculum.
TOEFL (English Language Proficiency)
TOEFL is required of all applicants when English is not the first language. Rocky Mountain College follows a consistent standard for all international applicants.
Please refer to the college’s graduate admissions policies for current minimum scores and accepted test formats.
Official Transcripts
Applicants admitted to the MPAS program must submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended, in accordance with Rocky Mountain College admissions policies.
Transcripts must be sent directly from each institution to:
Rocky Mountain College
Graduate Admissions Office
1511 Poly Drive
Billings, MT 59102
Transcripts must be received prior to the scheduled class matriculation date. Failure to provide required transcripts or meet conditions outlined in a conditional offer of admission will result in withdrawal of the offer and revocation of class standing.
Advanced Placement and Transfer Credit
No advanced placement or transfer credit may be applied toward fulfilling the MPAS curriculum. All required coursework for the MPAS degree must be completed within the Rocky Mountain College MPAS program.
Rocky Mountain College Graduate Advantage
Graduates of Rocky Mountain College who:
- Have earned a bachelor’s degree from Rocky with a minimum of 60 credits completed at RMC, and
- Have met all MPAS admission requirements
will be granted an automatic interview with the MPAS program. (Note: an automatic interview does not guarantee admission)
How to Apply
1
Submit your application and all required materials through CASPA by October 1.
2
Use CASPA to designate Rocky Mountain College as one of your programs.
3
After submitting your CASPA application, pay the non-refundable $45 program application fee to Rocky Mountain College.
4
Ensure that at least one of your three letters of recommendation is from a healthcare provider, preferably a physician assistant. Letters from family members are not accepted.
For questions about the CASPA process or your application status, please contact:
Graduate Admissions – Rocky Mountain College
Conner Hall
Phone: (406) 657-1025
Email: heynemank@rocky.edu
