FAQ

The MPAS program begins in May of each year.

Applications must be submitted electronically to CASPA by October 1 of each year.

Kettering College accepts 60 qualified applicants per cohort.

Kettering College requires a minimum prerequisite science GPA of 3.0.  Please note a GPA of 3.0 or higher is no guarantee of admission.

Kettering College also requires recent scores (within 5 years) from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). There is no minimum requirement for the GRE. All test scores are examined on an individual basis in light of the applicant’s complete portfolio. We do not accept the MCAT in lieu of the GRE.

Our GRE code is 7341.

Students are allowed to have no more than 4 prerequisite courses outstanding at the time of application.

Advanced standing is not awarded for any course work completed prior to admission into the PA program. (This includes graduates of foreign medical schools.)

The program takes 27 months to complete. The first 15 months are spent on didactic and laboratory coursework and the following 12 months are spent in clinical rotations.

Examples of patient experience include: Certified Nurse Aide (CNA), Patient Care Associate (PCA), Phlebotomist, Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant, Dietician/Nutritionist, EMT, Medical Mission Trips, Medical Scribe, Pharmacy Tech, EKG Tech, Surgical Tech, Respiratory Therapist, Nursing, Athletic Trainer, or other experiences that require taking vitals, evaluating/triaging patients, bedside care, drawing blood, obtaining EKGs, etc.

• The MPAS program does not have a minimum required amount of PCE hours but we highly recommend between 250-1000 hours. Shadowing a PA is also highly recommended and can count toward the recommended PCE hours.

In order to enhance student learning and assure student success, the program highly discourages the PA students from maintaining outside employment when enrolled. Should a student desire to continue employment while in the program, work schedules must not interfere with class attendance, academic performance or clinical rotation schedules.

All science prerequisite courses must have been completed within the last 10 years.

Kettering College MPAS program requires 3 letters of recommendation. Our preference would be for at least one letter to come from a medical provider with significant interaction with the applicant.

Background Checks

Admitted students must complete a background check through Castle Branch.  Students are provided information to register online for this service.  An additional background check and drug screen are performed prior to students beginning clinical rotations.

Immunization Requirements

The following immunizations are required prior to starting the PA program:

• *Measles (Rubeola), Mumps & Rubella – a history of 2 doses AND a positive MMR titer. Should the titer be negative, booster doses will be required WITHOUT a follow up titer.
• *Varicella (Chicken Pox) – a history of 2 doses AND a positive Varicella titer. Should the titer be negative, booster doses will be required WITHOUT follow up titer
• *Hepatitis B – a history of 3 doses and a positive titer. Should the titer be negative, booster doses will be required WITH a follow up titer
• Tuberculosis (TB) Annually
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap) 1 dose within 10 years and remain current with the vaccine
• Influenza (Flu) Annually
• Meningococcal

*If proof of primary series cannot be furnished than a titer will suffice.  Proof of vaccination alone is NOT sufficient

The following immunizations are optional but highly recommended:

• Polio
• Hepatitis A
• COVID-19 vaccination

Healthcare Requirements

• Physical Examination – completed within 6 months of enrollment
• Student Health Information Form – available on the Castle Branch website
• Health Insurance – copy of insurance card or proof of coverage
• Basic Safety Education Test – completed during the 1^st semester and annually renewed
• Basic Life Support (BLS) – completed through the American Heart Association at the end of the 2^nd semester
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) – completed at the end of the 3^rd semester

Letter to Students regarding Healthcare Requirements

Students are responsible for any expenses incurred when completing the background checks, immunization and healthcare requirements.

CLINTON TROTT SOCIETY
The Kettering College PA student society is named after Clinton Trott, M.D., who was the founding director of school’s PA department. All matriculating students are automatically members of the Society. The purpose of the Society is to foster professionalism and encourage students to become involved in professional activities.

The incoming physician assistant class will elect officers in the summer semester, to include a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, student diversity committee representative, AOR representative, AOR alternate, HOD student delegate, Director of External Affairs, and any other positions that the student society deems necessary. All officers and representatives/delegates must become members of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).

A faculty/staff advisor, appointed by the student society officers, may be present at the student society meetings. Appropriate parliamentary procedures must be followed during all meetings. Meeting minutes, including treasurer’s report, must be recorded and archived.

Society funds are not ordinarily used to fund social occasions or to purchase gifts other than special occasions or get-well cards for the PA “family.” Funds will not be used to purchase alcoholic beverages. Faculty/staff advisor must approve use of funds.

Student Academy Of The American Academy Of Physician Assistants (SAAAPA) 
Students are encouraged to participate in the SAAAPA functions at the national conventions. Two students will participate in political activities at the national conference. Representatives for House of Delegates (HOD) and Assembly of Representatives (AOR) will be determined by each individual class. Funds raised by the student society will help facilitate students attending the national conference as well as two students participating in political activities yearly.

Applications are accepted from international medical graduates (IMGs). The following is important information pertinent to the IMG:

Advanced placement is not offered for IMGs; all PA students must complete the entire curriculum.

IMGs must meet all prerequisite coursework.

International transcripts will need to be evaluated by a service to establish equivalencies to U.S. university courses and grades. Evaluations are currently accepted from:

World Education Services: http://www.wes.org (preferred)

Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.: http://www.jsilny.com/html/foreign.htm

Applicants who are not permanent residents should refer to the Admission section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for information for international students.

IMG applicants who have completed the USMLE Step 1 must submit a copy of their Score Report and USMLE Step 1 Performance Profile to the PA admissions coordinator.

The role of a PA is a dependent practitioner under the supervision of a physician. IMGs who have worked as physicians in other countries may have difficulty accepting this role change.