University Requirements

1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education (must be completed by the month of May prior to program matriculation).
2. Completion of GVSU supplemental application form.
   • Once your CASPA application has been verified and sent to GVSU, applicants will receive an email with instructions to complete the GVSU supplemental application.  If you experience any issues with this process, please contact GVSU Admissions ([email protected] or 616-331-2025).
3. $30 application fee payable to GVSU.  Applicants who have previously applied to GVSU and paid this fee are exempt.

Program Requirements

1.   CASPA Application.  https://caspa.liaisoncas.com/

• All applicants must submit the GVSU Supplemental Application. The link to the GVSU Supplemental Application form is only available through the CASPA website.
• If an applicant submits their CASPA application and it is VERIFIED before completing one of the five required prerequisite courses, they must submit an updated transcript documenting completion of the outstanding prerequisite course(s) directly to the GVSU Admissions Office by September 1 to be considered for application.  Example: An applicant submitted their CASPA application on May 1, and CASPA verified their application on May 15, but a required prerequisite course will not be complete until August 1. If the required prerequisite course(s) is completed by the September 1 deadline, students can apply to the GVSU PAS program if they submit an updated transcript documenting completion of the prerequisite course to the GVSU Admission Office by September 1.  
• Note:  CASPA does not recalculate grades once an application has been verified.

2.   Acuity Insights Comprehensive Admissions Assessments.  (https://acuityinsights.app/)

• All applicants to the GVSU PAS program must complete the United States Casper 2 test as part of their application.  For more information and to complete the assessment, visit Acuity Insights Assessments to create an account and register to take the test.
• Applicants must select GVSU for score distribution when taking the United States Casper 2 test.  Scores will be released directly from Acuity Insights Assessments to GVSU.  You do NOT need to send score reports to CASPA.
• Please note that only a select number of the United States Casper 2 testing dates are available each year; therefore, applicant are strongly encouraged to schedule their exam as early as possible.
• The final United States Casper 2 test date for the Fall 2027 application cycle is August 25, 2027.
• Please note that the United States Casper 2 test must be completed each year.  You must retake the test if you completed it during a prior application cycle.

3.   College Transcripts.  

• Copies of official transcripts from all higher education institutions previously attended, including GVSU, must be sent from those institutions directly to CASPA.

4.   GPA.  Applicants must maintain an average GPA of “B” (3.0) or higher in EACH of the following categories:

• Overall GPA (based on CASPA calculations)
• Last 60 hours of coursework (based on GVSU calculations)
  • The GPA will be calculated for the last 60 hours of coursework completed at the time of application.  The actual number of credit hours may vary slightly between applicants.  The calculation will include the entire semester's grades in which the final 60th credit hour falls.  The total credit hours may be slightly more than 60.
• Program Prerequisite Courses (based on GVSU calculations)
  • The GPA will use the highest grade earned if any course is repeated.
  • If a two-semester course sequence is used, the higher of the two grades will be used to calculate the prerequisite GPA.

5.   Minimum of two (2) Recommendation Rubrics

• CASPA emails recommendation rubrics to an applicant's references at the time of application submission.
• Separate letters of recommendation can NOT be substituted for a recommendation rubric.
• One recommendation rubric must be completed by a health care professional.
• The other recommendation rubric may be completed by either a second health care professional or a university faculty member.

6.   Healthcare experience.  

• The applicant must complete a minimum of 500 hours of significant volunteer and/or work and/or observational experience in a health care environment by the time of application.  Hands-on patient care experience is highly encouraged.
• Health care experience will be documented on the CASPA application as Patient Care Experience, Health Care Experience, and Shadowing.
  • The Patient Care Experience and Shadowing categories will count towards the required 500 hours.
  • Some of the Health Care Experiences category may count towards the required 500 hours.
    • Examples of experiences from the Health Care Experience category that will apply toward the required hours include filling prescriptions, administering medication, taking vitals or other record-keeping information, and working as a scribe, CNA, or medical assistant.
    • Examples of experiences from the Health Care Experience category that will NOT apply towards the required hours include clerical work, delivering patient food, and cleaning patient rooms.

7.   Non-native English Speakers or International Students

• All students in the PAS program should speak and write fluently in English.  Students whose first language is not English must submit one of the official test scores as listed on the GVSU graduate studies admission requirements webpage.
• Students completing higher education studies outside of the U.S. must follow the admission requirements as noted on the GVSU international graduate studies website as well as the following:
  • Original or certified original transcripts
    • Official transcript credential evaluation information:  WES (https://www.wes.org) and ECE (https://www.ece.org) are the preferred transcript credential evaluation services; however, GVSU will accept a transcript credential evaluation from an organization listed on the following website:  https://www.naces.org/members
    • Transcripts demonstrating 30 hours of higher education coursework taken at an established and accredited U.S. Institution.