Beginning in June 2013, UC Davis will offer master’s degrees for aspiring nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Complete program information will be posted by April 17, 2013, when the 2013-2014 Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) opens. Interested applicants may review the information below to see how their qualifications match up with the admission requirements.

A minimum cumulative college grade-point average of 3.0 is required. Transcripts are thoroughly reviewed to assess the potential of the applicant's academic success and completion of the program. Completion of the supplemental application is not required at the time of the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants application. Applicants ranking competitively will receive further instruction regarding the supplemental application.

A UC Davis nurse practitioner/physician assistant supplemental application and an interview will be required from the most competitive applicants before final decisions are made.

1. A bachelor’s degree in a health-related field*
2. A minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0
3. Three letters of recommendation (submit with the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants application; see website)
4. Statement of purpose and personal history describing the applicant’s background and experiences, rationale for seeking the degree and how they intend to apply their newly obtained knowledge and skills (submit with the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants application; see web site)
5. 1000 hours of clinical experience in a health-related field within the past two years*
6. The GRE is not required.

*Examples of health-related fields include: Biology, Physiology or other life sciences majors and degrees leading to clinical/health-related careers.

A UC Davis nurse practitioner/physician assistant supplemental application and an interview will be required from the most competitive applicants before final decisions are made.

1. Licensure as a registered nurse
2. A bachelor’s degree in nursing
3. A minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0
4. Three letters of recommendation (submit with the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants application; see website)
5. Statement of purpose, personal history describing the applicant’s background and experiences, rationale for seeking the degree, and how they intend to apply their newly obtained knowledge and skills (submit with the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants application; see web site.)
6. The GRE is not required.

NOTE: Registered nurses who acquired licensed by challenge mechanism rather than completion of an educational program must complete all of the prerequisite courses at an accredited college/institution. For example, courses completed by means of examination (i.e., the College Level Examination Program) or experiential learning must be repeated.

Applicants whose native language or language of instruction is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test. Applicants do not need to take both tests.

Test of English as a Foreign Language
The TOEFL is given by Educational Testing Service (ETS). That mailing address is:

Educational Testing Service (ETS)
P.O. Box 6151
Princeton, NJ 08541-6151 USA

Applicants may contact ETS via phone: 877-863-3546 (from the U.S. and Canada) or 1-609-771-7100 (outside the U.S. and Canada). Official score reports must be sent from ETS electronically to the UC Davis nurse practitioner or physician assistant program. In addition, applicants may send a paper version of the report directly to the nurse practitioner/physician assistant program office. There is no conditional admission. The score report is required before application processing begins.

Applicants may take either the paper or online TOEFL test. The minimum score required for admission to the family nurse practitioner/physician assistant program at UC Davis is 550 for the paper test. A score of 80 is required for the Internet-based test. Information and an application for the TOEFL can be obtained at most U.S. consulates or at the ETS address listed above. TOEFL scores expire after two years. Scores that are two years old or more will not be accepted.

International English Language Testing System test
As an alternative to the TOEFL test, applicants may submit scores from the Academic Modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), designed by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate and administered by the British Council worldwide. Applicants are responsible for providing the UC Davis family nurse practitioner/physician assistant program with an official test report form of their IELTS score. Remember to order the test report form when you register to take the test.

IELTS scores expire after two years. Scores that are two years old or more will not be accepted. Applicants’ most recent overall band score on the IELTS must be at least 7 on a 9-point scale.

To register for the IELTS, consult the IELTS website or contact them via mail at:

IELTS Subject Officer
University of Cambridge
Local Examinations Syndicate
1 Hills Road
Cambridge, CB1 2EU, United Kingdom