About the program
The University of North Texas HS Center Ft Worth 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 Program is to create solutions for a healthier community by preparing graduates with knowledge and skills needed for physician assistant practice, emphasizing primary care medicine and meeting the healthcare needs of underserved populations."
Our program proudly shapes PAs who make a difference. We are continually improving as we create experiential learning opportunities that prepare our graduates to begin an exciting career in one of the country’s top professions. Our graduate performance on the national certifying exam (PANCE) is exceptional. We teach beyond this exam, giving our learners the hands-on experience, healthcare simulations and interprofessional education that create outstanding and confident health care providers.
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, with exceptions. please visit the program's website. DACA status applicants are considered. Distance learning is not offered. Part-time enrollment is not available.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: No Requirement
Program overview
The University of North Texas Health Science Center Fort Worth offers a 30-month Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree with continued ARC-PA accreditation, admitting a relatively large incoming class of 75 students each August. The next cohort is scheduled to begin in August 2027, with a rolling admissions process that reviews applications on a first-come, first-served basis and a deadline of September 1, 2026 - a structure that strongly rewards early submission.
The program's mission centers on preparing graduates to serve underserved communities with an emphasis on primary care medicine, making it a particularly strong match for applicants who are drawn to community health and health equity work. The curriculum is built around asynchronous, case-based, systems-based, and collaborative team learning, which reflects a modern approach to clinical education and prepares students for the interprofessional environments they will encounter in practice. The program emphasizes hands-on experience, healthcare simulations, and interprofessional education alongside preparation for the PANCE.
On the academic side, the minimum overall GPA is 3.00 and the minimum prerequisite GPA is 2.00, though matriculants typically arrive with a 3.69 overall GPA and a 3.62 science GPA, signaling meaningful competition in practice. Required prerequisites include Human Anatomy with lab (4 credits), Human Physiology with lab (4 credits), Microbiology with lab (4 credits), and Statistics (3 credits), with no time limit on when those courses were completed. Paid direct patient care experience is recommended but not required, which lowers the barrier compared to programs with hard minimums, though competitive applicants will likely have it regardless.
Applicants must submit GRE scores - the MCAT is not accepted - along with CASPer, a minimum of two letters of reference, and must complete a required onsite Multiple Mini Interview. The MMI format typically assesses communication, ethical reasoning, and situational judgment rather than content knowledge, so preparation should reflect that. Out-of-state and international applicants are accepted, with the program noting exceptions for international candidates that are best confirmed through the program's website. The program does offer separate tuition rates, and a seat deposit of $500 is required upon acceptance. No part-time or distance learning options are available.
An applicant should assess fit primarily by asking whether primary care and underserved community health genuinely align with their professional goals, and whether they can submit a complete, competitive application well before the September 2026 deadline given the rolling review process.