About the program
The Utah Valley University 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 Physician Assistant Program at Utah Valley University is to graduate academically and clinically prepared compassionate providers who strengthen our regional healthcare workforce through exceptional patient care.”"
A small cohort that starts a clinical skills class with patient actor patients early in the first semester. Within the 2nd semester participation in a student run clinic that provides medical care to historically underserved populations. A system-based teaching model that includes lectures from experts in their field.
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: no. DACA status applicants are considered. Distance learning is not offered. Part-time enrollment is not available. Veteran support programs are available; consult the program directly for details.
Prerequisite coursework
Recency: 7 Years
Program overview
Utah Valley University offers a 28-month MPAS program in Utah, currently holding Provisional ARC-PA accreditation, with the inaugural cohort scheduled to begin in January 2027. The program's mission centers on producing clinically and academically prepared, compassionate providers who strengthen the regional healthcare workforce - a focus that signals the program is particularly well-suited to applicants with genuine ties to or interest in Utah and surrounding areas, though out-of-state students are welcome to apply.
The program admits a small cohort of approximately 30 students, which means close faculty interaction and a tight-knit learning environment. Curriculum delivery draws on case-based, problem-based, systems-based, and team-based learning alongside lectures from field experts - a multi-modal approach that prioritizes active engagement over passive instruction. A distinguishing early feature is a clinical skills course in the first semester that incorporates patient actor encounters, giving students structured hands-on exposure from the outset. By the second semester, students participate in a student-run clinic serving historically underserved populations, which reflects the program's regional workforce and health equity commitments in a concrete, practical way.
Applicants should meet a minimum 3.00 overall and science GPA; matriculants typically arrive with a 3.7 overall and 3.6 science GPA, so competitive applicants will want to sit above the floor. The program requires a minimum of 2,000 paid direct patient care hours, and healthcare experience is mandatory - unpaid or shadowing hours alone will not satisfy this requirement. Prerequisite coursework must have been completed within the last seven years and includes general chemistry with lab (8 credits), general biology with lab (4 credits), human anatomy with lab, human physiology with lab, microbiology with lab, and statistics. At least three letters of reference are required.
The application deadline is July 15, 2026, under a regular review process meaning all applications are evaluated after the deadline passes rather than on a rolling basis. Interviews are conducted onsite and include both a traditional interview format and a Multiple Mini Interview, so candidates should prepare for varied question styles and scenario-based assessment. Tuition is assessed at separate in-state and out-of-state rates, and a $1,000 seat deposit is required upon acceptance. International applicants are not accepted, and the program offers no part-time or distance learning options.
Applicants should honestly assess whether their paid clinical hours are substantial, their prerequisite coursework is current, and their interest in regional, underserved-population care aligns with what this program is explicitly building toward.