3+1 for the CU Physician Assistant Program

The 3+1 program for the CU PA program will allow students to complete three years of coursework at Concord followed by a fourth year in the CU PA Program to earn a bachelor’s degree in their undergraduate major. Credit hours for the fourth year (1st year in the PA program) are transferred to their undergraduate degree at Concord. Tuition for the fourth year can be found under “Program Costs” here.

Students accepted into the CU PA program and participating in the 3+1 program will complete:

1. Concord’s General Education Program.
2. Requirements for a 3 + 1 pathway in a designated major.
3. 125-134 credit hours, which include 33 hours in the PA program.

The program may be fulfilled through Concord majors in Chemistry, Biology, and Health Sciences. Students should submit a letter of application indicating intent to pursue the 3 + 1 program to their academic advisor, the relevant department chair, and the Dean of the College of Science, Mathematics, and Health by August 1st prior to their fourth year of study (matriculation into the PA Program).

Students should remain in close contact with their academic advisor and the PA Admissions Coordinator to ensure that all requirements for admission to the CU PA program are completed. Admission to the CU PA program is competitive. Students who fail to be admitted will not be eligible for the 3+1 program and can finish their affiliated Concord major during a fourth year in undergraduate studies at CU.

The following requirements must be met for the 3 + 1 program. Requirements 1 through 3 determine eligibility to apply for the CU PA Fast Track.

1. A minimum of 36 credit hours must have been earned at Concord University prior to matriculating into the PA Program.
2. Sixteen of the last 32 credit hours must have been completed at Concord University prior to matriculating into the PA Program.
3. At least nine credit hours of upper-level coursework for the major must have been earned at Concord University prior to matriculating into the PA Program.
4. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 and PA program prerequisite GPA of 3.0.
5. Be accepted into the CU PA Program.
6. Successful completion of the 33 credit hours in the first two semesters of the CU PA program, with a B or higher in each course.

The PA program is a 28-month program. Students participating in the 3 +1 program will earn their baccalaureate degree before completion of the graduate degree (after two semesters in the PA program). A master’s degree will be awarded upon completion of the PA Program.

Discover our 3+1 Options Below:

• Health Science
• Biology
• Chemistry

The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Concord University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Concord University.

Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.

Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-concord-university/.