Pre-enrollment Requirements
PA Prep Academy
While the PA Program's attendance policy allows each learner one personal day per month during the didactic phase of the program, it is a rigorous 24-month program with no breaks between the didactic terms. Therefore, a pre-enrollment requirement is completion of the by November 15, 2026. This is at the admitted learner’s expense. Please see an explanation of the course at .
Required Drug Screens and Criminal Background Checks
The PA Program considers the health, safety, and welfare of its faculty, learners, staff, and the community we serve of the utmost importance. Therefore, the program has developed the following policy to safeguard the well-being of all.
Drug Screens: All learners offered conditional acceptance must successfully pass an initial chain of custody drug screen. The PA Program reserves the right to withdraw offers of conditional acceptance if the candidate fails the initial chain of custody drug screen.
Criminal Background Checks: By accepting admission to the PA Program, a learner agrees to submit to national criminal background checks, which may include fingerprinting and paying any associated expenses. The PA Program reserves the right to withdraw offers of conditional acceptance if the candidate fails the initial criminal background check.
Required Physical Examination: Two comprehensive physical examinations are required, one before the didactic phase of the program and the second before the start of the clinical phase of the program by a licensed medical provider (PA, MD, DO, or NP) and must be completed indicating that the conditionally accepted applicant or learner is appropriately screened for TB, current on all CDC immunization requirements for healthcare workers, and has been medically cleared for admission and progression to the clinical phase. The following forms are required before matriculation:
- Healthcare Provider Attestation Statement
- Immunization Form
- Health Screening and Immunization Information Release Form
- Tuberculosis Screening Questionnaire (if PPD or IGRA positive)
Immunizations: The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ PA Program requires documentation of a scope of immunizations and testing as recommended by the CDC to ensure learner safety and accreditation alignment. The recommendations provided by the CDC can be found here:
Applicants or learners who fail to complete these requirements by the program due date may have their acceptance into the program withdrawn. If an applicant or learner is non-immune (negative or equivocal) to any of the required vaccinations, completion of a booster vaccination series is required.
- Tuberculosis (TB) Screening Questionnaire: Program required for all learners.
- ​â¶Ä‹Must complete an annual TB screening questionnaire within six months of matriculation and prior to the start of clinical rotations if PPD or IGRA is positive. Applicants must submit documentation of ONE of the following:
- Results of NEGATIVE TB Skin Testing (TST/PPD) OR
- This screening requires two separate TB skin tests administered at least two weeks apart but within twelve months of each other.
- The last TST must be within six months of matriculation
- Lab copy showing a NEGATIVE Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) blood test (QFT or T-Spot)
- Individuals with a history of a POSITIVE TB skin test or IGRA blood test must submit both of the following:
- *Verification of a NEGATIVE chest x-ray within twelve months of matriculation AND
- *A NEGATIVE screening questionnaire within six months of matriculation
- *Both the chest x-ray and TB screening questionnaire will need to be updated annually.
- Rubella (German Measles): CDC Recommended Program Required for all learners.
- Serological documentation of a positive immunity titer.
- Measles (Rubeola): CDC Recommended Program Required for all learners.
- ​Serological documentation of a positive immunity titer.
- Mumps: CDC Recommended Program Required for all learners.
- ​Serological documentation of a positive immunity titer.
- Varicella (Chicken Pox): CDC Recommended Program Required for all learners.
- ​Serological documentation of a positive immunity titer.
- Hepatitis B: CDC Recommended Program Required for all learners.
- ​Serological documentation of a positive quantitative titer.
- If NEGATIVE/NON-IMMUNE, receive a three-dose series of either Recombivax HB or Energix-B OR receive a two-dose series of Heplisav-B. Receive an anti-HBs serological test one to two months following the final dose.
- If result is still NEGATIVE/NON-IMMUNE, test for HBsAg. Discuss results with healthcare provider
- TDAP: CDC Recommended Program Required for all learners
- ​Documentation of an Adult Tetanus/Diphtheria/Acellular Pertussis (Tdap) vaccine within five years of expected graduation.
- Influenza: CDC Recommended Program Required for all learners.
- Documentation of influenza vaccine within the last year.
- Polio: Program Recommended for all learners.
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Program Recommended for all learners.
- COVID-19: Program Recommended for all learners.
Financial Responsibility: Candidates are financially responsible for any health care services required to participate in the PA Program (e.g., physical examination, TB testing, immunizations.) Candidates must also sign a Health Screening and Immunization Information Release Form. The program will maintain the health attestation form confirming that the learner has met institution and program health screening requirements, immunization records, and tuberculosis screening of all matriculated learners through a HIPAA secure cloud-based management system.