East Carolina University Physician Assistant Program
Greenville, North Carolina · Masters
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A closer look
Mission & approach
The mission of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies is to provide educational experiences which prepare physician assistant graduates to enhance access to primary medical care, with a hope to increase care for the citizens of rural and medically-underserved Eastern North Carolina and beyond. We seek to achieve this mission in an educational community where faculty, staff, clinical instructors, students, and other health care providers work together in an atmosphere of mutual respect, cooperation, compassion, and commitment.
Admissions insights
What this program looks for in applicants
Very competitive (up to 38 matriculants). Reviews total, science, and prerequisite GPA plus graduate science coursework. PRIORITY review categories: NC residents; military applicants; graduates of master's-level science programs; ECU Honors College students/grads; ECU College of Allied Health Sciences Nutrition Science students/grads. Values demonstrated commitment to serving rural/underserved communities, dedication to Eastern NC, military service, multilingual fluency, significant life/healthcare experiences, and service/leadership record. NOTE: Biochemistry becomes a required prerequisite starting 2026-2027 cycle.
Summarized from the program’s admissions information. Confirm current selection criteria with the program.
Program admissions informationHow this program interviews
Interviews are conducted in person on the ECU Health Sciences campus for the most qualified applicants; offers are sent by email through CASPA, interviews run roughly July through January, and decisions follow by March 1.
Source checked Aug 1, 2026. Interview formats and dates can change between cycles.
Program interview informationAdmissions & prerequisites
Admission requirements
Science GPA policy & alternatives
ECU publishes a 3.0 prerequisite GPA minimum but no separate general science-GPA cutoff.
Prerequisite coursework
Semester creditsReview each course, its lab, and the program’s policies. Your links are planning records; the program decides equivalency.
Courses shown as alternatives in the table are not all required. Confirm the accepted route with the program.
- Anatomy and Physiology pathway: Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II with labs OR Human Anatomy with lab + Human Physiology with lab
| Course | Credits | Lab | Min grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II with labs2 course(s) Two semesters, 8 semester credits; separate route is one semester each Human Anatomy with lab and Human Physiology with lab, total 8. Comparative, animal, or mammalian courses not accepted. | 8Semester credits | Required | Not specified |
| Human Anatomy with lab1 course(s) One semester, 4 credits, paired with Human Physiology with lab as an alternative to the two-semester combined A&P sequence. | 4Semester credits | Required | Not specified |
| Human Physiology with lab1 course(s) One semester, 4 credits, paired with Human Anatomy with lab as an alternative to the combined A&P sequence. | 4Semester credits | Required | Not specified |
Genetics1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesOne course, 3 semester credits; course grade B or higher recommended but not required. | 3Semester credits | Not specified | Not specified |
General Chemistry I and II with labs2 course(s)Course notes & alternativesTwo semesters, 8 semester credits. Organic Chemistry may substitute, but the program does not say how many courses or credits are needed. Check with the program. | 8Semester credits | Required | Not specified |
Microbiology1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesOne course, 3 semester credits. A lab rule is not stated. | 3Semester credits | Not specified | Not specified |
Introductory Psychology or higher1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesOne course, 3 credits; AP accepted. Introductory Psychology or a higher-level Psychology course satisfies the requirement. | 3Semester credits | Not specified | Not specified |
Statistics1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesOne course, 3 credits; biostatistics, mathematical statistics, or social-science statistics accepted; AP accepted. | 3Semester credits | Not specified | Not specified |
Upper-level Biochemistry1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesOne semester, minimum 3 semester credits; required beginning 2026–2027 admissions cycle. General or Organic Chemistry must be a prerequisite; survey and combined-discipline courses not accepted. | 3Semester credits | Not specified | Not specified |
Policies that can change your plan
- Cycle
- Biochemistry became required starting in 2026–2027 admissions cycle.
- Chemistry route
- General Chemistry I and II with labs (8 semester credits). Organic Chemistry is listed as a possible substitute, but the program does not state its credits or course count. Check with the program.
- Grade
- B or higher recommended; applicants may not have more than two prerequisite grades of C or any failing grade. No strict per-course minimum grade stated.
- Labs
- A&P and General Chemistry explicitly require labs. A Microbiology lab is not specified.
- Recency
- Five years strongly recommended, but explicitly not required.
CASPA and ECU Graduate School deadline September 1; all prerequisites must be complete at application submission. 3.0 overall and prerequisite GPA minimums. Residency restricted to NC, SC, VA, TN, GA, or Washington, DC (limited military waiver). No minimum patient-care hours; 1,000 health/patient-contact hours preferred. GRE/MCAT/PA-CAT not required and scores do not affect admission decisions. Five-year coursework recency is recommended, not required.
When courses must be complete: All prerequisite courses completed by application submission; current cycle deadline September 1.
Dates & application steps
Your application must be verified by the deadline.
Know what the total includes
Published cost estimate
Confirm current cohortConfirm rates for your entering cohort
2026-27 estimate for seven semesters: PA-specific tuition only. Fees and living costs are additional.
Curriculum & clinical training
Didactic phase
Four semesters and 59 credits at ECU’s College of Allied Health Sciences campus in Greenville emphasize primary care and rural healthcare.
Supervised clinical practice
Three semesters and 46 credits include more than 1,900 patient-contact hours at diverse sites primarily in eastern North Carolina.
The published curriculum lists clinical practicum courses in behavioral medicine, internal and family medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, pediatrics, women's health, geriatrics, and electives, plus bridge-to-practice courses.
The admitted class
Class 2027 — accepted Fall 2025
Published class statisticsFall 2025 admits (Class of 2027). Their prerequisite GPA, reported separately, is 3.75. These figures describe students who were selected, admitted, or matriculated at East Carolina University.
Compare published cohorts
| Class | Published GPA | Published science-related GPA | Published experience hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 2027 — accepted Fall 2025 | 3.79Mean Overall/cumulative GPA | 3.74Mean Science GPA | Not recordedPatient-care hours: not published. |
Published class statistics describe the named cohort or population. They are not admission minimums or acceptance probabilities.
The program’s track record
Graduate outcomes
PANCE pass rates
See first-time program performance with clearly dated national context.
- First-time PANCE pass rate: 100%
- Five-year first-time PANCE pass rate: 99%
Accreditation history
ContinuedSources you can open
Links to the program’s own pages and the official directories we use.
- East Carolina University curriculum and clinical training
- East Carolina University program page
- ECU PA Frequently Asked Questions
- PA School Finder deadline record
- ARC-PA currently accredited programs — sponsoring-institution directory
- Program contact page
About the U.S. News rank
The U.S. News PA rank uses the 2025 PA edition, matched to the listed program and campus. It reflects peer-assessed reputation, not admissions odds or a personal fit score. Programs without a separate entry are labeled “Unranked.”
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