Admissions Policy

Application Timeline

CASPA application cycle opens	End of April
Application and supporting application materials submitted and verified by CASPA*	Verified by CASPA by September 1st
Interviews of top candidates	September-December
Invitations to those selected	Accepted applicants notified by end of February
Enrollment commitment	Accepted applicants must respond within two weeks after acceptance notification email is sent
Orientation and classes start	August

*Monitor your application until it is verified. The CASPA verification process can take up to 6 weeks
ADMISSIONS POLICY
Purpose: To select applicants with attributes congruent with the University and Physician Assistant program mission and goals.
The mission of the Charles R. Drew University Physician Assistant program is to prepare a diverse group of uniquely qualified physician assistants who provide excellent medical care with compassion while addressing health disparities, seeking social justice and improving the health of medically underserved communities.
Definition: The Charles R. Drew University Physician Assistant program is committed to the principles of equal opportunity in education. In accordance with the Charles R. Drew University equal opportunity policy, the Physician Assistant program makes admission decisions based on merit. University policy prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, actual or perceived gender identity, national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, uniformed service member status, marital status, pregnancy, age, genetic information, medical condition (cancer or HIV/AIDS-related), handicap, disability, association with an individual in a protected category or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. All students are expected to relate professionally and positively with persons of all backgrounds, cultures, races, ages, and genders.
Transfer/Advanced Placement: The Charles R. Drew University Physician Assistant program does not accept previous experience or medical training for advanced placement, except for transfer students from other US-based PA programs on a limited, case-by-case basis. Transfer students from other PA programs must have completed the entire pre-clinical didactic phase at their PA program and may be required to complete additional didactic courses at CDU. No credit will be awarded for any Supervised Clinical Practice Experience (SCPE) completed at other institutions. Students will be required to complete all assigned clinical courses through the CDU PA Program. Transfer students will also be required to complete the last didactic semester (Year 3, Semester 1) at CDU. Requests for transfer should be directed to the PA Program Director.