Frequently Asked Questions

The Sacred Heart University PA Studies program will emphasize inter-professional education with other health professions programs such as physical therapy, nursing, and occupational therapy. Experienced PA educators will provide a student-centered learning environment with small class sizes.

The trimester-based program will provide a 12-month didactic phase with an integrated organ-based learning design. There is a focus on primary care and population health and wellness.

A 15-month clinical phase is planned as 10 five-week rotations, with 2,000 hours of experience in internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, primary care/family medicine and others including orthopedics, women’s health, emergency medicine, behavioral health and one elective. International rotations are also available.

Students are not required to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors. The students may make suggestions to the Director of Clinical Education, Clinical Coordinator, or principal faculty regarding potential or requested preceptors and/or clinical sites, but are not required to do so. The MSPAS program verifies all clinical sites for educational suitability and arranges all Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPE) for students.

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Sacred Heart University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by the Sacred Heart University. 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remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards.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 March 2031. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA Website.

The program is 27 months and begins once a year in late August.

The program is located in the Tandent Center, in Stamford, CT- just 40 miles from NYC.

Yes, the program is only offered full-time and it is not advisable to work while enrolled.

Holistic admissions, adopted by the PA program, is a process by which applicants’ cognitive skills, such as GPA, are balanced with non-cognitive variables including but not limited to commitment to service, cultural sensitivity, empathy, capacity for growth, emotional resilience, strength of character, and interpersonal skills (Witzburg & Sondheimer, 2013). This approach encourages diversity and the equitable evaluation of well-rounded applicants.

Witzburg, R. A., & Sondheimer, H. M. (2013). Holistic review: Shaping the medical profession one applicant at a time. New England Journal of Medicine, 368, 1565-1567.

Visit our Admissions Requirements page for more information.

Do not submit your CASPA application until your degree is conferred and all admissions requirements are completed. The deadline for this application cycle is September 1, 2025.

Interviews begin August and end in November.

No, since admission to the program is very competitive, interviews will be by invitation only. However, applicants who have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from Sacred Heart University or are a current Stamford Health employee who meets all minimum requirements and technical standards will be granted an in-person interview.

42 students, each cohort begins in the fall.

A minimum of 1,000 hours of verifiable, paid, direct patient care experience in the U.S. Health care system. Health care experience will be evaluated based on the type of work and the level of patient interaction.

Health care experiences will be considered on a case-by-case basis and are dependent upon the quality of patient interaction. Preferred clinical experiences include, but are not limited to:

• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Patient Care Assistant (PCA)
• Emergency Department Technician
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN)
• Medical Assistant (MA) - Does not include administrative/clerical work
• Medical/ER Scribe
• Military medic or corpsman
• Ophthalmic Technician
• Paramedic
• Patient Care Assistant (PCA)
• Physical Therapy Aide
• Radiology Technician
• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Respiratory Therapist

While good experience, shadowing is not required.

All applicants, including graduates from foreign institutions, must hold either U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residence status at the time of application. Applicants with pending citizenship or temporary residency will not be considered. Applicants educated outside the U.S. must utilize a transcript evaluation service to verify their degree and course work. The academic record must show credits and grades equivalent to those given by U.S. institutions of higher learning. Scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are required if the applicant is from a non-English speaking country.

No, transfer credit or advanced standing is not accepted. All students are expected to complete all didactic and clinical elements of the PA Studies program.

Yes, Sacred Heart offers competitive loan packages through the FAFSA application. For more information, visit the Financial Assistance site. Students can apply for a scholarship or loan repayment through the National Health Service Corps.

Additional consideration will be given to applicants. Sacred Heart participates in the Yellow Ribbon program.

Visit our tuition and fees page for more information on program estimated costs.

Students are discouraged from working while in the PA Program due to the robust nature of the PA program. In the event a student chooses to work, they are not permitted to miss or reschedule lecture, lab sessions, journal clubs, seminar sessions or any part of their didactic or clinical educational requirements. The Program has the right to recommend termination of employment based on academics that fall below the minimum University and program requirements. Additionally, PA students are not permitted to be employed by or perform clerical or administrative tasks for the PA Program.