Admission Timeline
The RMC PA Program will utilize a rolling admission process, which means that application review and offers for interview and enrollment will proceed throughout the admissions cycle.
The RMC PA Program will utilize CASPA for most parts of the application process. CASPer Reasoning Test scores will be submitted separately, however please note that NEITHER the Snapshot nor Duet portions are required.
Before you submit, we encourage you to explore the CASPA Fee Waiver Program, which may help to cover application fees, if you’re eligible.
The Admissions Committee will only review completed applications. Use our printable Completed Application Checklist to ensure that you have submitted all the required items!
Application Requirements
- U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status.
- Completion of a baccalaureate degree, earned according to the program timeline, from a regionally-accredited university or college. Official transcripts must be submitted directly to the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Do not send transcripts directly to the RMC PA program.
- If coursework has been completed outside of the U.S. or Canada, such must be evaluated, at applicant’s expense, by a qualified transcript evaluation service and demonstrate equivalence with required prerequisite coursework.
- Graduate Record Exam, General Test, with scores within the last five years. Score reports must be submitted through CASPA to RMC (Code: 3294).
- CASPer Situational Reasoning Test results must be from the current application year.
- Cumulative and Science GPAs of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Completion of the following prerequisite courses via a regionally-accredited college or university with a grade of C or better. Prerequisite courses of grades C-, D, or F will not be considered.
- Applicants who have separated from military service must provide an official copy of their DD Form 214.
- 3 letters of reference, identified by you, will be requested by the PA Program as part of your application process.
Prerequisite coursework
The following coursework represents the minimum required for a completed application to the PA Program. Courses marked with a “*” must include a lab component.
- Two semesters of General Biology are required. One General Biology course must include a lab component. Other general and upper-level Biology courses will fulfill this requirement (excluding Botany) (7+ credit hours)
- Two semesters of General/Inorganic Chemistry* (7+ credit hours)
- One semester of Biochemistry (3+ credit hours)
- One semester of Organic Chemistry (3+ credit hours)
- Two semesters of Human Anatomy and Physiology* (7+ credit hours)
- One semester of General Psychology (3+ credit hours)
- One semester of Statistics (2+ credit hours)
- One semester of College Math or other quantitative and symbolic reasoning course (3+ credit hours)
- Medical Terminology (1+ credit hour or equivalent)
Preferred Coursework
Successful completion of any of the following coursework will strengthen a candidate’s application.
- One semester of Microbiology (3+ credit hours)
- One semester of Psychology elective (3+ credit hours)
- One semester of Genetics (3+ credit hours)
- Upper-level Biology, Chemistry, or Physics courses (3+ credit hours)
Clinical experience
We strongly recommend applicants seek meaningful time and experience within medical environments. While not currently required, demonstration of meaningful hands-on clinical experience will strengthen a candidate’s application.
Special considerations
The RMC PA Program has published strategic goals based on the needs of our region and our country. These include preparing providers from diverse backgrounds, ready to move into healthcare spaces and effect positive change. The educational environment best suited to prepare such individuals is one that actively engages students from varied backgrounds and fosters the sharing of values and cultural dynamics during the training process.
RMC will give preference to qualified applicants meeting any one of the following criteria. Meeting the bulleted criteria below does not, however, guarantee interview or admission to the RMC PA Program.
- First in family to attend college
- From a medically-underserved area (MUA)* or health professions shortage area (HPSA)*
In addition, Randolph-Macon College graduates who meet all criteria for admission will be offered an interview during the year of application. The offer of an interview does not constitute a guarantee of admission.
Randolph-Macon College and its PA Program will employ admissions processes that comport with Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College as decided by the U.S. Supreme Court on June 29, 2023. As RMC learns more about whether and how this decision affects our admissions and selection criteria, the information regarding any modifications to those processes will be made available on this page.
General Admission and Retention Requirements
Student Health Insurance
While enrolled in the PA Program, all students are required to have health insurance. Students are to accept or decline insurance offered to Randolph-Macon students. Proof of College-provided or other health insurance coverage must be provided to the PA program prior to matriculation and maintained until graduation.
More information related to health insurance can be found here.
Background Check, Immunizations, and Health Screening
The safety of those involved in the educational experiences of PA students depends on appropriate screening and vaccination of all admitted students. Each admitted student must demonstrate compliance with the immunizations, health screenings, background checks, and drug testing screenings required by the College and the PA Program. No exemptions will be approved unless a student has a medical contraindication or documented allergy to a vaccine or its components. Required and recommended immunizations and screenings are included in the Immunization and Titer Entrance Requirements form at the end of the Student Handbook and include:
Required:
- Hepatitis B immunity via documented 3 dose vaccine series AND immune titer
- If titer results show “not immune”, students must restart the hepatitis B vaccine series and have repeat titers drawn.
- Negative TB/PPD skin test, OR negative chest X-ray, OR negative QuantiFERON test within the past 12 months
- Two documented MMR vaccines AND/OR immune titer
- Documented Tdap vaccine as an adult (at age 18 or older) AND within the last 10 years
- Proof of immunity to Varicella by 2 documented vaccines OR immune titer
- Documented Influenza vaccine for the current influenza season
- Documented initial COVID-19 vaccine series (either 2 doses of Moderna or Pfizer or 1 dose of J & J)
- Other vaccinations and/or screenings may be required as recommended by the VDH or CDC
Recommended:
- Documented COVID-19 vaccine for the current variant
- Documented MenACWY vaccine. 2 doses are suggested if the first vaccine was administered prior to 16 years of age.
- Documented series of inactivated Polio vaccines AND/OR immune titer
Students selected for admission to the PA Program must submit health screening and immunization information as required. Health screening forms will be provided by the PA program, then collected and stored by the College’s Student Health Center. The Student Health Center will review forms and verify student attainment, then convey to the PA Program completion of all requirements.
Admitted students must also complete a background check prior to matriculation and a drug screen. If the student is found to have an aberrant finding on either, the offer of admission may be rescinded at the discretion of the Program Director. If a student refuses to participate in drug or background screening at any time, they may be denied admission to or dismissed from the PA Program.
The Immunization and Titer Entrance Requirements form can be found here, as well as at the end of the Student Handbook.
Technical Standards for Admission and Retention
The PA Program has a responsibility to educate competent physician assistants to provide care for their patients, patient families, and communities with critical judgment, broadly-based knowledge, competent technical skills, and ethical conviction. The PA Program has adopted technical standards for performance across key functional domains.
Students admitted to the PA Program must be able to meet these standards for matriculation, progression, and graduation. These standards reflect a sample of the performance abilities and characteristics that are necessary for safe, quality care of patients and are not all-inclusive. These performance standards include skills and abilities across several domains, which may be demonstrated with or without reasonable accommodations.
Observation Standards
- Sensory capacity enabling accurate observations in the classroom, small group, simulation, laboratory, and in various patient settings
- Sensory skills enabling performance of a physical examination, including functional vision, hearing, smell, and tactile sensation
- Collective sensory ability adequate to elicit information through procedures typically required to gather a history and physical examination
Communication Standards
- Effective and sensitive communication with patients, colleagues, supervisors, and subordinates in health care settings.
- Attentive listening and effective verbal communication, including with patients from different social, health literacy, and cultural backgrounds.
- Effective written communication that allows accurate facilitation of information sharing and recording
- Accurate reception and description of non-verbal communication, including mood, activity, and physical expressions
Motor Function Standards
- Motor function sufficient to elicit information from patients through maneuvers typically required for history-taking, physical examination, and diagnostic procedures
- Negotiation of patient care environments, including moving oneself between and among classrooms, outpatient and inpatient clinical settings
- Physical stamina sufficient to complete the course of preclinical and clinical study required.
- This may include:
- Long periods of sitting, standing, or physical movement
- Effective use of computers and other electronic devices for:
- Curriculum activities
- Electronic medical records
- National certification exam
- Motor function sufficient to perform physical movements typically required to deliver care to patients in chronic, acute, and emergent situations and in inpatient, outpatient, operative, and emergency environments. Examples include but are not limited to:
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation for adults and children
- Intravenous medication administration
- Simple wound closure, including placing sutures
- Surgical instrument handling performance
- Gynecologic examination maneuvers
Intellectual, Quantitative, and Integrative Standards
- Ability to learn and negotiate large amounts of technical, detailed, and complicated information gathered through a variety of modalities and settings including, but not limited to:
- Large classrooms and small group rooms
- Laboratories
- Clinical settings and simulated environments
- Collaborative activities
- Individual self-study
- Project completion
- Pre-recorded digital sessions
- Ability to negotiate data via:
- Memorization
- Measurement
- Calculation
- Reasoning
- Analysis
- Synthesis
- Spatial capacity sufficient to understand three-dimensional relationships.
- Ability to read, understand, and evaluate medical literature to develop accurate
diagnoses and management plans.
Behavioral and Social Attribute Standards
- Ability to express empathy, integrity, ethical conduct and deportment, accountability, engagement, and motivation
- Consistent employment of interpersonal skills necessary for professional, culturally sensitive, and effective interactions with diverse populations of patients, patient families, colleagues, and community members
- Ability to function effectively, with composure, when under stress and in situations that are uncertain, unpredictable, and physically and / or emotionally challenging
- Ability to recognize and seek assistance when personal limitations affect learning and / or performance
- Effective reception of and adaptation to feedback
- Capability of reliable and timely attendance at all required program-sponsored events, including clinical rotations, with the understanding that such may require early morning, late evening, and / or overnight attendance
Ethical and Legal Standards
- Ability to understand the basis and content of both general and medical ethics
- Understanding of the following ethical and legal requirements:
- Students found to be impaired by prescribed or illicit medications, abuse of alcohol or other substances, and cannot meet the technical standards of the program, are not suitable candidates for admission, promotion, or graduation
- Students charged or convicted of any misdemeanor or felony offense must immediately notify the program
- Failure to disclose prior or new offenses may result in disciplinary action, including the rescinding of the offer of admission or dismissal.
- Understanding of the expectation that students will seek and maintain a high level of personal integrity, acting ethically and lawfully in their professional and personal lives.
PA Admission FAQs
How are Applicants Selected?
Completed applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis by the PA Admissions Committee. Based on the Program Goals and Outcomes, required prerequisites, and preferred factors, selected applicants will be invited to interview for admission. Interviewees will be invited to visit the PA Program to participate in additional non-cognitive assessments that aid in final admission decisions.
Randolph-Macon College graduates who meet all criteria for admission will be offered an interview during the year of application.
When are Applications Due?
The Class of 2028 admissions cycle runs April – September, 2026. Specific dates will be released once they become available. Completed applications include degree completion, all prerequisite coursework, and submission of a completed CASPA file. Only complete and verified applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.
How Many Students will be in the Class?
Applications for the Class of 2027 are now closed. The PA Program plans to enroll a maximum of 32 students, who will matriculate in January 2026.
Dates and deadlines for the Class of 2028 admissions cycle will be shared in early 2026. If you have questions about your submitted application, please contact us at paadmissions@rmc.edu.
What Standardized Tests are Required?
As part of a completed application, the RMC PA Program requires that applicants submit scores from the General Test of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Scores must be from within the five years preceding the application date. If the applicant identifies as speaking English as a second language or has earned a required degree from a country other than the U.S. or Canada, the TOEFL is required. Applicants must also complete the CASPer Test, an online assessment of non-cognitive and situational reasoning skills.
No other standardized tests may substitute for those listed above.
Will you Consider an Incomplete Application?
The Admissions Committee will only review complete and verified applications. Until minimum criteria for admission are met, files are considered incomplete.
Does RMC Accept Transfer Credits or Allow Advanced Placement?
No. All enrolled students must complete each required component of the PA Program.
Is There an Expiration Date for Prerequisites or Other Required Elements?
We strongly recommend that all prerequisite coursework and standardized tests be as current as possible. Most coursework and other requirements do not have expiration dates, except for the following:
- CASPer results must be from the year of application.
- GRE General Test results must be within 5 years of the application date.
Do I Need Clinical Experience to Apply?
No, however it is strongly recommended that applicants find opportunities to spend meaningful time in healthcare environments with a PA, MD, DO, or NP. This leads incredible perspective for the individual, and can help to shape career passions, views of health and health disparities, and the “real life” experiences of medical providers.
We do not require a baseline number of clinical experience hours, but we will give preference to applicants who demonstrate volunteer or paid experiences that include significant patient contact.
What is the Minimum GPA for Application?
The RMC PA Program requires minimum cumulative and science GPAs of 3.0. All prerequisites must be completed with a grade of C or higher. We do not accept pass/fail for prerequisite courses.
GPAs are calculated through CASPA based on the applicant’s transcript entry. These include: cumulative GPA, non-science GPA, focused science coursework GPAs, post-baccalaureate GPA, and graduate GPA.
If I am Accepted into the PA Program, is a Deposit Required?
Yes. If offered a seat in the class, applicants have two weeks to formally accept and submit a non-refundable $750.00 deposit. This deposit is credited towards tuition.
Are Letters of Recommendation Required?
Yes. Three letters are required, which will be submitted through CASPA. Letters can be submitted by colleagues, supervisors, professors, etc. We do not accept personal references, including those by family members.
Does RMC Accept Community College and/or Online Courses?
Yes, we recognize the diverse nature of our potential applicants’ needs. The PA Program will accept coursework from accredited 2- and 4-year institutions, including those who deliver coursework via online or hybrid environments.
What are my Financial Aid Options?
Graduate students are eligible for federal and state aid, including the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant. Learn more.
What are the average cumulative GPA, average science GPA and average patient care hours of an RMC PA student?
Class of 2024:
- Average Cumulative GPA – 3.45
- Average Science GPA – 3.32
- Average Patient Care Hours – over 4000
Class of 2025:
- Average Cumulative GPA – 3.61
- Average Science GPA – 3.5
- Average Patient Care Hours – over 4000
Class of 2026:
- Average Cumulative GPA – 3.65
- Average Science GPA – 3.58
- Average Patient Care Hours – over 3000
