Bridgeport Pa Program - Level Medicine Blog

University of Bridgeport’ PA program is proud of the record of success our graduates have achieved as first-time takers of the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE). The program’s five-year average for first-time pass rates is 98%, well above national comparisons of 94%. View our NCCPA official 5-year report.

University of Bridgeport PA Program – How to Get In

Gaining admission into the University of Bridgeport PA program depends on fulfilling a set of academic prerequisites, including a degree from an accredited US university with a “C” grade or above in 8 prerequisite courses. In addition, it would help if you also had a GPA of over 3.0 in science subjects and can demonstrate 750 hours of patient care experience.

If you satisfy all the requirements and are among the top candidates, you will face an admission panel for a final interview to decide if you deserve one of the 40 places available at Bridgeport each year.

Here’s an overview of the program prerequisites, admissions process, and tips to improve your chances of admission.

Interested in learning about the PA Programs of other schools and colleges, finding useful admissions tips, etc? Check out our PA Programs articles here – we cover all major schools!

Prerequisites For Admission To The University of Bridgeport PA Program

Before applying to the University of Bridgeport Physician Assistant Program, you must meet the following admission requirements:

Degree

To be considered for review by the PA admissions committee and qualify for admission to the Bridgeport PA program, you need a bachelor’s degree (no specific discipline) from an accredited university or college.

The final transcripts of your bachelor’s degree should be confirmed by an official final transcript from the issuing university and must also include your degree conferral date.

Prerequisite Coursework

Applying to the University of Bridgeport’s PA program does not require a GRE. However, you must have completed the coursework below in the last ten years, achieving a “C” grade or better in each course from an accredited school.

You may, however, have one prerequisite course in progress if you complete your studies before matriculation.

Anatomy and Physiology with labs (2 semesters)
Chemistry with labs (2 semesters)
Biology with lab (1 semester)
Psychology (1 semester)
English (1 semester)
Microbiology (1 semester)
Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry (1 semester)

GPA

For its PA program, the University of Bridgeport primarily considers your overall GPA, science GPA, and prerequisite GPA. In all three cases, you require a minimum GPA of 3.0 to enter the program. The GPAs are as follows:

Overall GPA: Includes all undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate courses you have taken, both in the science and non-science fields.
Science GPA: All courses involving biology, zoology, chemistry, physics, or other science.

Patient Care Experience

A critical requirement for admission to the program is that you must have at least 750 hours of experience in direct patient care.

Examples of accepted direct patient care experiences:

Nurse
Dental hygienist
Physical therapist
Emergency Room Tech
Clinical nutritionist
Respiratory therapist
Emergency medical technician (EMT) or paramedic
Patient care assistant
Certified nursing assistant
Medical assistant
Athletic trainer (working with injuries or rehab)

You can obtain direct patient care experience through a volunteer or paid position.

Our hospital volunteer opportunities near you pages and our physician shadowing pages could come in useful to you here, depending on your location.

TOEFL

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is an evaluation of the ability of a non-native speaker to understand or use English within an academic setting. The University of Bridgeport, like most other PA programs, requires all international candidates to submit TOEFL scores to qualify for admission.

If English is not your first language, or you hold a non-U.S. bachelor’s degree, you must provide your TOEFL scores and certificate.

University of Bridgeport PA Program Admissions Process

Getting into the University of Bridgeport PA program is a three-step process:

1. CASPA Application

Submitting all the necessary documents and materials to the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) is an essential part of your application; the University of Bridgeport does not accept applications or any supplemental materials directly.

The CASPA application involves filling or submitting the following:

An application
Your official transcripts from every school you attended
Your CASPA personal statement

The deadline for submission of your CASPA application is August 1.

Additional requirements when filling out your CASPA application to the University of Bridgeport PA program are:

Supplemental essays

Supplemental essays allow the PA program’s admissions committee to ask about what they consider essential and what other programs do not.

Patient care experience

You should document your experiences in health care and patient care in detail. In addition, at the time of your application, you should submit adequate clinical hours since the university does not review any hours you earn after you submit your application.

Letters of recommendation

To apply for the program, you must supply three letters of recommendation. The preferred sources of letters of recommendation for the PA program include healthcare providers, academic professors, clinical supervisors, or employers.

2. Admissions Committee Review

Once the applications close on the August 1 deadline, the university’s admissions committee reviews applicants.

The committee review determines if you have achieved the required overall and science GPAs and have a quality patient care experience well above the program’s minimum required hours. In addition, your application should show that you’ve had a rigorous undergraduate academic career that fulfills the program prerequisites and aligns with the university’s mission.

The mission of the University of Bridgeport Physician Assistant Institute is to prepare future PAs with the knowledge and skills to provide culturally sensitive, patient-centered care and foster life-long learning and professionalism, emphasizing commitments to diversity, global perspective, and integrative approach benefiting all patients. This mission is reflected in our motto:

Adiuvare, Mederi, Communiter; TO HELP, TO HEAL, TOGETHER.

Additionally, your personal statement and supplemental essay should show that you understand the Physician’s Assistant profession, have superb interpersonal skills, excellent self-awareness, perseverance, and commitment to your goals.

3. Interview and Post Admission

Suppose the committee and faculty review select you as a top candidate for the University of Bridgeport PA program. In that case, you will then be invited to a round of in-person interviews conducted in mid-August. The university uses the interviews to select the final 40 applicants who receive an invitation to join the program.

Before enrollment, you will be subject to confidential background checks and drug screening by a trusted third party.

Tips To Improve Your Chances Of Admission To The Bridgeport PA Program

Some things to keep in mind when applying to the University of Bridgeport Physician’s Assistant program are:

Work on your weaknesses

Conduct an honest self-assessment and establish your limiting factors. Figure out what area you’re lacking, then work on the aspects that could hold your application back.

Ensure that you’ve met all the requirements

When you choose the Bridgeport PA program, do not waste your time or money if your application doesn’t check all the boxes. You must understand that the requirements are strict, have no exceptions, and many other applicants have all the prerequisites required.

Write a perfect personal statement

Many applicants fulfill the essential prerequisites, so your CASPA personal statement is what will get you an interview. However, you only get one chance to prove to the admissions committee that you deserve a spot in the program.

Check your application for errors or omissions

There’s no reason for you to have errors on your application. Ensure that all information you enter is accurate and has no typos. Any simple-to-identify error will make you look careless.

Brush up on your interview skills

Ultimately, your interview is what gets you admitted into the PA program. So never be too carefree with your interview prep, no matter how great your personality is.

Physician Assistant MS

The value and demand for PAs in healthcare continue to grow. Since 2011, University of Bridgeport’s PA program has offered the Master of Science in Physician Assistant degree, providing a rigorous and comprehensive PA education.

Advantages of pursuing your degree through the University of Bridgeport PA program:

Complete your degree in 28 months with classes beginning in January
Curriculum that emphasizes a patient-centered approach
Coursework dedicated to the care of diverse patient populations
Emphasis on global health, integrative medicine, and preventive care
Small class sizes that allow you to work closely with experienced faculty
On-site cadaver lab and high-fidelity, interprofessional simulation center

I learned so much about medicine, and life overall, during my time as a PA student. Throughout the didactic phase, I gradually built a strong foundation of medical knowledge that I was then able to apply and advance while out on clinical rotations. During my training, one of my professors encouraged my cohort to stop and ask ourselves, ‘if not you, then who?’ when faced with complex cases. This has become one of my favorite mottos because it reminds me to do my best to go the extra mile when treating patients. As a result, I strive to treat the whole person rather than just a disease or diagnosis. Chrissy Ready, PA-C

PANCE performance

Attrition and graduation rates

Accreditation

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the University of Bridgeport Physician Assistant Program sponsored by University of Bridgeport. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.

Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be September 2033. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

During my time at UB I was a student working hard, but also a husband and father. I received a quality education and the support from the UB faculty and staff, which enabled me to be successful in my career and a great provider for my family. Matt Petersen, PA-C