About the program
The University of Charleston PA program is described in PAEA's published program data; full curriculum details, faculty, and admissions cycle specifics are maintained on the program's own website.
From the program's mission statement: "The mission of the University of Charleston Physician Assistant Program is to prepare competent physician assistants who value and provide comprehensive, patient-centered, culturally sensitive primary care, and are committed to lifelong-learning, professional growth, community health, and caring for underserved populations."
The program highlights rural medicine and community service. Grading is pass/fail. Small student-to-faculty ratio. Faculty with a significant number of years in PA education and clinical experience. Learning modalities include traditional lectures, case-based & team-based learning, simulated patient encounters, and hands-on activities/labs. Located in the heart of WV with access to a variety of outdoor activities, concerts, and events. Virtual interviews.
Matriculant data
Actual stats for students who enrolled in the most recently reported cohort, sourced from PAEA's published program data.
Admission policies
Out-of-state applicants are accepted. International applicants: yes. DACA status applicants are considered. Distance learning is not offered. Part-time enrollment is not available. On-campus housing is available. Transfer students are accepted.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 10 Years
Program overview
The University of Charleston offers a 28-month MPAS program in West Virginia, accredited by ARC-PA with Continued status, with the next cohort beginning January 2027. The program accepts out-of-state and international applicants, with no part-time or distance learning options available.
The program's mission centers on preparing primary care-focused physician assistants who are competent in culturally sensitive, patient-centered care and dedicated to serving underserved populations. This emphasis on community health and underserved care is reinforced by a specific curricular highlight on rural medicine and community service - a natural fit given the program's location in West Virginia. Applicants drawn to primary care and rural health work will find the program's mission closely aligned with that clinical direction.
The curriculum blends traditional lectures with case-based, team-based, problem-based, and systems-based learning approaches, along with simulated patient encounters and hands-on lab work. Notably, the program uses pass/fail grading rather than letter grades, which meaningfully shapes the academic environment. Faculty are described as having considerable years of both PA education experience and clinical practice, and the small student-to-faculty ratio - with an incoming class of 33 - supports close mentorship.
On the admissions side, the minimum overall GPA is 3.00, though matriculants typically arrive with a 3.6 overall and 3.5 science GPA, so competitive applicants should aim well above the floor. Unusually, neither paid direct patient care nor general healthcare experience is formally required for admission, making this one of the more accessible programs for applicants still building clinical hours. The GRE is required; the MCAT will not be accepted. At least two letters of reference are needed. Prerequisite coursework must have been completed within the last ten years and includes general chemistry with lab, general biology with lab, human anatomy with lab, human physiology with lab, microbiology, and statistics.
Admission is rolling on a first-come, first-served basis with an application deadline of September 1, 2026, so early submission is genuinely advantageous rather than merely advisable. Interviews are virtual and use a combination of group interview and multiple mini interview formats. The seat deposit is $1,000.
Total tuition sits at $89,950 for the program with no separate in-state or out-of-state rate distinction. Applicants considering cost of living should note the program is situated in Charleston, West Virginia, where the cost of living is generally lower than in many other PA program markets.
An applicant should seriously consider this program if they are motivated by rural and underserved primary care, are comfortable in a pass/fail, collaborative learning environment, and are prepared to apply early given the rolling admissions structure.