How to Apply

Application for admission is made through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).

We adhere to CASPA’s Green Deadline which states that applications must be verified by 11:59 pm ET on August 1 of the application year.

Applications can only be verified once all payments, transcripts, and letters of reference have been received. To ensure your application is verified by the August 1 deadline, submit your completed application at least four weeks before the deadline. Applicants are encouraged to check the status of their CASPA application on a weekly basis.  Learn more about CASPA deadlines.

The UNM PA Program will send out a supplemental application via email to qualified applicants selected to move on in the admissions process. A separate application to UNM is required upon acceptance into the program, if not currently enrolled in a UNM master’s program.

Students are admitted once a year with classes beginning in July.

Navigating CASPA  

Watch CASPA for Applicants to get an overview of the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants for students interested in applying to PA school. Or read additional CASPA application FAQs and instructions to get started.

CASPA has a dedicated team that will help you with the application process. Please direct your questions to the CASPA customer service team.

Hours of operation: Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm ET
Telephone: 617-612-2080
Email: caspainfo@caspaonline.org - When contacting via email, please include yoru full name, CASPA ID number and a detailed question.

Additional Information

PA Advisement Workshops

The UNM Physician Assistant Program offers pre-matriculation advisement to any students interested in applying to the Program.

All students interested in scheduling a one-on-one advisement appointment with the UNM Physician Assistant Advisor must first attend a group advisement workshop. The PA Program holds monthly advisement workshops to provide students with the basic information on applying to PA school.  In-state and out-of-state students can video conference into the workshop with the use of our Zoom technology.

Prior to attending a PA Advisement appointment, please complete the PA advising worksheet as thoroughly as possible and bring it to the advisement workshop.  Advisors will be available after the presentation to provide some individual review.

Upcoming Advisement Workshops

Due to COVID-19, advisement for the PA Program is on hold until further notice. Program advisement updates will be posted here.

Directions & Parking

The UNM Physician Assistant Program office is located at 2701 Frontier Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131, Building #226 on the UNM north campus map.  Metered parking is available in the big “M” lot adjacent to the Medical/Legal Library near the Yale & Tucker intersection or behind building #226 off Marble Drive.  If you need additional help, please don’t hesitate to call the PA program office at 505.272.9864.

 

Please click here to view the admission statistics for the PA classes of 2018-2021.

Candidates for admission to the PA program must be able to meet the following technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodations:

  • Mental capacity to assimilate and learn large volumes of complex, technically detailed information, to perform clinical problem-solving, and synthesize and apply concepts and information from different disciplines to formulate diagnostic and therapeutic judgement
  • Ability to maintain composure and emotional stability during periods of high stress
  • Adequate sensory function to fulfill the minimum competency objectives for observation, palpation, auscultation and percussion in order to perform a competent physical examination
  • Sufficient postural control, neuromuscular control, and eye-to-hand coordination to utilize standard medical instruments and possess sufficient control of the upper extremities to meet the physical requirements for training and perform competent, complete physical examinations
  • Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients from different cultural and social backgrounds, and develop an effective professional rapport with patients
  • Ability to record examination and diagnostic results clearly, accurately and effectively, and then communicate effectively to the patient and colleagues
  • Expected to learn and perform common diagnostic procedures (e.g. laboratory, cardiographic, radiologic) and interpret the results with respect to recognizing deviations from the norm and identifying pathophysiologic processes
  • High degree of coordination of motor skills necessary to respond to emergency situations quickly and appropriately

The PA Program is cognizant of its responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Questions? Please contact the Director of the PA Program at 505.272.9864.