• Required: Overall undergraduate GPA: 3.0 Minimal with preference for higher scores*
• Required: BCP (Science): 3.0 Minimal with preference for higher scores
• Bachelor’s degree (may apply without a bachelor’s degree, but the degree must be completed before entering PA training).

*Students with undergraduate GPA below 3.0 who have earned a graduate degree may petition for a waiver to allow graduate GPA to stand in lieu of undergraduate GPA. There is no guarantee that the waiver will be granted. The committee will consider the length and rigor of the graduate degree training when granting the waiver request.

• (1) General Biology with a lab- 4 credit hours or equivalent
• (1) General Chemistry with a lab- 4 credit hours or equivalent
• (1) Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry- 3 credit hours or equivalent (May substitute embryology or genetics)
• (1) Microbiology with lab- 4 credit hours or equivalent
• (1) Statistics- 3 credit hours or equivalent
• (1) Medical Terminology- 1 credit hour or online certification course
• (2) Human Anatomy/Physiology with Lab: 7 - 8 credit hour courses or equivalent OR Human Anatomy (with lab) – 4 credit hour course and Human Physiology-3-4 credit hour course   

The pre-requisite score must be a “C” or better.

The highest retake grade will replace the original grade.

There is no time limit for when the pre-requisite was taken.

The applicant may apply with two unfinished pre-requisites, but pre-requisites must be completed with minimal score before entering PA training.

• Required: voluntary or paid- minimum 250 hours with preference for higher-level experience hours.
• No shadowing is required.
• Examples of health care experience include, but are not limited to, the following: Any licensed health care professional (EMT, EMT-P, RN/BSN, RT, AT, etc..), Patient Care Technician (in any setting), Scribe (in any setting), Pharmacy Technician, Home Health Aid, Certified Nurse Assistant, as well as unlicensed medical assistants.
• A research assistant does not count as health care experience unless the experience included direct patient interaction, such as completion of medical assessments, taking vital signs, etc.
• Health care experience will be evaluated based on the level of patient responsibility and the required training, with preference given to positions that demonstrate higher levels of both.

Not required and will not be scored as part of the interview selection process.

For applicants who have earned degrees outside the United States, the following must be completed before applying:

• Pre-requisite courses taken outside the United States: Transcripts will be reviewed for pre-requisite equivalency. Those found to be equivalent will be accepted for application; those not equivalent must be taken before applying.
• Foreign medical graduates must complete the same application process as any other applicant to be considered for an interview or admission.
• Advanced academic credit/transfer credit will not be granted to foreign medical graduates.
• Applicants who completed courses and/or a degree outside of the United States must submit a transcript evaluation from World Education Services (wes.org), Educational Credential Evaluators (www.ece.org/ECE), or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. (www.jsilny.com) to CASPA to verify equivalency to a US bachelor's degree.
• Student applicants whose native language is not English must submit scores from the combined Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Test of Spoken English (TSE) examination (https://www.ets.org/toefl) unless that applicant is a graduate of a regionally or nationally accredited college or university in the United States. The minimum accepted score is 79 for Internet-Based Testing (iBT) and 26 for the speaking component. 

• Apply through CASPA- https://caspa.cas.myliaison.com/applicant-ux/#/login
• Application to the LMU Chattanooga PA program is separate from any other LMU PA program. The applicant must select the LMU Chattanooga PA program from the CASPA menu.
• No supplementary application is required.
• Applications will be reviewed from April (or when CASPA opens) to December 1^st. (Must be verified in CASPA by November 15^th).
• Applicants who are selected for an interview will be emailed to schedule the interview. There is an option for a zoom interview if requested. Interviews will start in June, the year before enrollment in January. Interviews will continue until December or until a full class has been selected and an adequate waitlist has been established.
• Note that we use rolling admissions: applications are reviewed as they are received. Early submission is strongly encouraged for the best opportunity for selection.
• The Admissions Committee meets after one or more interview sessions and makes one of three decisions: (1) offer admission, (2) place on the waitlist, or (3) decline the offer of admission. Student applicants are notified of the Admissions Committee’s decision via email as soon as possible following their student applicant interview.

Student applicants who are admitted to the Program must submit a non-refundable seat deposit of $500.00 to secure their seat.  The seat deposit is applied to the balance of tuition and fees for the first semester.  The seat deposit is not refunded to students who do not matriculate into the Program.

Students may request to defer their admission offer to the next student cohort once.  This request must be submitted in writing to the Program Director no less than 30 days prior to the first day of class.  Any student who does not matriculate with the next student cohort following approval for deferral for admission offer loses their offer of admission but is eligible to reapply to the Program.

Any student reapplying to the Program must follow the same application procedure as new student applicants and is evaluated using the same process as new student applicants.  The Program does not maintain student application records for student applicants who do not matriculate into the Program.

All students seeking a Master of Medical Science (MMS) degree must complete the full LMU-SMS Physician Assistant curriculum as designed by their program to be eligible for graduation. The program does not grant advanced placement, transfer credit, or credit for prior academic, professional, or experiential learning. Graduate-level coursework completed before enrollment—including courses taken at other institutions or during undergraduate or graduate study—will not be accepted toward the MMS degree. Students from other PA programs are not eligible for transfer.

Student applicants are held to CASPA’s Code of Cooperation and Conduct Policies.  As such, all student applicants are expected and required to take full responsibility for their application throughout the application and admissions process and to abide by CASPA’s Professional Code of Conduct.

Before matriculation, students must have a licensed health care provider verify the student’s immunization, tuberculosis screening, and urine drug screening status, as required below.  Clinical sites may have additional requirements.  Students are responsible for all costs associated with obtaining the Program’s immunization and screening requirements and any additional requirements of clinical sites providing supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) for the student.  Students must submit their immunization records, tuberculosis screening results, and urine drug screen results to the online central screening service by the Program’s submission due dates. 

The Program follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for healthcare workers. Click the link below and scroll down to healthcare workers.
Recommended Vaccines for Adults | CDC 

Click the following link to learn about the TB guidelines.
TB Screening and Testing of Health Care Personnel | TB | CDC

Immunization Table 

The meningococcal vaccination will not be required for students entering the Program unless required by a rotation site. 

Students may request a religious or medical exemption to the immunization/vaccination requirements by contacting the Program Director; however, clinical sites that provide supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) may not allow for exemptions to the above requirements and may have additional requirements.

To ensure the safety of students, faculty, colleagues, and most importantly, patients; the PA profession requires that both students and licensed health care professionals be able to pass criminal background checks. Therefore, prior to matriculation and prior to beginning supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs), students must submit to a criminal background check. Students may be required to submit additional criminal background checks, which may include fingerprinting, based on clinical affiliation agreements with the Program’s clinical sites or at the Program Director’s discretion. Students are responsible for all costs associated with criminal background checks. Further information is published in the LMU-SMS Chattanooga PA Program Student Handbook.

Safe and competent delivery of patient care requires all providers to be free of impairment from drugs and alcohol. Prior to matriculation and prior to beginning SCPEs, students must submit the results of a urine drug screen to the online central screening service by the Program’s submission due dates. At times students may be required to submit additional drug and/or alcohol screens. Students are responsible for all costs associated with drug and alcohol screenings. Further information is published in the LMU-SMS Chattanooga PA Program Student Handbook.

Students are required to maintain personal health insurance during enrollment in LMU Physician Assistant Program. Proof of insurance coverage must be provided prior to orientation. Students are responsible for all personal health care costs incurred while enrolled in the PA Program. These costs may include but are not limited to immunizations, illness, PPD testing, health evaluation post exposure to a communicable disease, or other accidental injuries sustained during program mandated training activities. Due to the potential for exposure to infectious materials, insurance should cover screenings, diagnostics, treatments, and short- and long-term disability compensation that may result from any potential exposure. All screening, treatment, or disability maintenance costs that insurance does not cover will be the sole responsibility of the student. All covered, uncovered, or related costs are the exclusive responsibility of the student and not the responsibility of Lincoln Memorial University.

All matriculants must complete the American Heart Association Basic Life Support Class before matriculation.

Getting Ready for Your PA Journey

We’re so excited to welcome you to the LMU Chattanooga PA Program! PA school is fast-paced, challenging, and incredibly rewarding—and we want you to start strong from day one. To help you hit the ground running, there are two important things to complete before you join us:

• Read Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
  This book is all about how your attitude toward learning and challenges can shape your success. As you read, think about how you’ll apply a growth mindset—embracing challenges, learning from mistakes, and staying resilient—throughout PA school. When you’re done, write a short self-reflection on how you’ll use these ideas as a PA student. You’ll turn this in on your first day, and it will be a great way to set personal goals for your journey.
• Prepare for and Take the PA-CAT
  On the Monday of your second week, you’ll take the Physician Assistant College Admission Test (PA-CAT). This exam covers foundational science topics like:
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • General Biology & Microbiology
  • General & Organic Chemistry
  • Biochemistry & Genetics
  • Behavioral Sciences & Statistics

1. • If you score in the top two quintiles, great—you’re on track!
   • If you score below that, you’ll work with us in an academic remediation plan to strengthen your foundation and set you up for success.
   • Even if you’ve taken the PA-CAT before, you’ll retake it after matriculation so we have up-to-date information.

Tip: We highly recommend brushing up before you arrive! Free resources are available here: https://www.pa-cat.com/resources/ (no cost to you).

These two projects aren’t just “to-dos”—they’re your first steps toward becoming the kind of PA who thrives in school, in practice, and in life. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

The technical standards outlined below are essential for achieving the program’s Graduate Competencies (detailed in the LMU-SMS-Chattanooga PA Program Student Catalog), meeting accreditation requirements, and upholding the standards of the physician assistant profession.

All students must demonstrate the required health, cognitive, and motor skills, as well as professional behaviors—either independently or with reasonable accommodations—to meet these standards throughout their time in the program. Students seeking accommodation should contact the Office of Accessible Education Services (www.LMUnet.edu). While the program makes every effort to support qualified applicants and enrolled students through appropriate accommodation, all students must continue to meet the Minimum Technical Standards for Enrollment and Progression. This ensures the full delivery of the curriculum and the ability to provide safe and effective patient care.

Clinical affiliates that host students for SCPEs require that students meet these standards and can perform assigned duties promptly and competently. Therefore, extra time is not granted during assessments of physical exam skills, clinical procedures, simulated patient encounters, or during SCPE responsibilities. Likewise, the use of trained intermediaries is not permitted in these assessments or clinical settings.

Prior to matriculation, all students must submit a completed Medical Clearance Form signed by a licensed health care provider, confirming that they meet the Minimum Technical Standards and are medically cleared to participate fully in the program’s curriculum. Students must promptly notify the Program Director of any changes in their ability to meet these standards at any time during enrollment.

For additional information, refer to the LMU-SMS-Chattanooga PA Program Student Catalog.

Students must be able to fully participate in all learning activities and assessments across classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings. These activities may require prolonged periods of active engagement—such as sitting, standing, or performing procedures—for more than eight hours, and may involve exposure to body fluids, communicable diseases, radiation, and potentially toxic substances.

To meet the demands of the program and the PA profession, students must maintain a level of physical and mental health that supports sustained performance under typical academic and clinical conditions. This includes adherence to standard preventive health measures, such as receiving annual immunizations.

Prior to matriculation and before beginning supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs), students must be medically cleared by a licensed healthcare provider. Medical clearance confirms the absence of any physical, behavioral/mental health condition, or communicable disease that could pose a risk to patients or interfere with full participation in the curriculum.

All enrolled students are required to maintain active health insurance coverage from matriculation through graduation.

Students must possess the intellectual capacity to successfully complete the full curriculum and meet the competencies established by the program and the PA profession. This includes the ability to think critically—specifically, to measure, calculate, synthesize, and analyze large volumes of complex information. Students must also be able to comprehend three-dimensional and spatial relationships, which are essential for understanding anatomical structures and performing clinical procedures.

Students must demonstrate proficiency in using computer technology to support their academic and clinical responsibilities. This includes the ability to navigate learning management systems, complete computerized assessments, conduct online research, create multimedia presentations, access electronic medical resources, and enter and review data in electronic medical records (EMRs).

Students must be able to effectively speak, hear, and observe patients in order to gather relevant clinical information, describe findings, and interpret nonverbal cues. They must be capable of communicating clearly and accurately—both orally and in writing—with peers, faculty, staff, patients, families, and members of the healthcare team. This communication must be respectful, sensitive, and effective across diverse social and cultural backgrounds to ensure safe and compassionate patient care.

Students must have sufficient visual acuity to perform essential functions in clinical and educational settings. This includes accurately observing patients during physical examinations, monitoring patient status, and safely performing a variety of medical and surgical procedures.

Students must possess adequate hearing and tactile sensory skills to accurately gather clinical information through methods such as palpation, auscultation, and percussion. These abilities are essential for conducting physical examinations and safely performing a broad range of medical and surgical procedures.

Students must possess sufficient physical strength, mobility, coordination, and cardiovascular endurance to meet the demands of patient care. This includes maintaining upright posture, tolerating physically taxing workloads, and performing tasks such as sitting, standing, and moving for extended periods.

Students must also demonstrate the motor skills necessary to navigate confined clinical spaces, calibrate and operate medical equipment, assist with patient positioning and transfers, and perform a variety of clinical procedures required in medical and surgical practice.

Students must possess a wide range of interpersonal skills, including (1) management of high stress situations while maintaining full intellectual abilities, (2) utilization of good judgment, (3) time management (arrive on time, prioritize activities, complete tasks efficiently), (4) development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with classmates, faculty, staff, all members of the healthcare team, and patients and their families, (5) recognition of one’s own emotional state and the emotional states of others, (6) management of personal emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges, and defuse conflict, (7) engagement with patients and families in a way that establishes confidence and trust, and (8) acceptance of constructive criticism and initiation of appropriate behavior modification.