Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP)
San Antonio (Fort Sam Houston), Texas · Masters
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A closer look
Mission & approach
Providing the uniformed services with highly competent, compassionate physician assistants who model integrity, strive for leadership excellence, and are committed to lifelong learning.
Admissions insights
What this program looks for in applicants
Military competitive selection board (USARD rank-order; UNMC/UNICAS academics). Min 2.5 cum GPA; SAT within 5 yr (>=1000 total, >=450 math & reading; no GRE/ACT substitute); PA-CAT required; >=80 PA shadow hrs (>=40 within 12 mo). Letter of intent, up to 5 LORs (incl. 1st-line supervisor, commander, a PA), commander conditional-release, commissioning medical standards.
Summarized from the program’s admissions information. Confirm current selection criteria with the program.
Program admissions informationAdmissions & prerequisites
Admission requirements
Prerequisite coursework
Semester hoursReview 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 + Human Physiology OR Combined Anatomy & Physiology I + Combined Anatomy & Physiology II
| Course | Credits | Lab | Min grade |
|---|---|---|---|
English including writing/compositionCourse notes & alternatives6 semester hours, including at least 3 in writing/composition. CLEP and AP authorized. | 6Semester hours | Not specified | C |
HumanitiesCourse notes & alternatives6 semester hours; examples include government, history, foreign language, art, social science, and religion. | 6Semester hours | Not specified | C |
PsychologyCourse notes & alternativesAny type; introductory psychology accepted. | 3Semester hours | Not specified | C |
General Chemistry I and II or higher chemistry2 course(s)Course notes & alternativesTwo courses totaling 6 semester hours, from Spring 2018 onward and no older than 10 years at school start (five years recommended). Lab not required but highly recommended. | 6Semester hours | Preferred | C |
| Human Anatomy 3 semester hours, completed Spring 2018 onward and no older than 10 years at school start (five years recommended). Lab not required but highly recommended. If taking combined A&P, all A&P courses must be combined. | 3Semester hours | Preferred | C |
| Human Physiology 3 semester hours, completed Spring 2018 onward and no older than 10 years at school start (five years recommended). Lab not required but highly recommended. If taking combined A&P, all A&P courses must be combined. | 3Semester hours | Preferred | C |
| Combined Anatomy & Physiology I Counts toward Anatomy only if all of your Anatomy and Physiology coursework is in a combined A&P sequence. The credit minimum for this course is not stated separately. | Not publishedSemester hours | Preferred | C |
| Combined Anatomy & Physiology II Counts toward Physiology only if all of your Anatomy and Physiology coursework is in a combined A&P sequence. The credit minimum for this course is not stated separately. | Not publishedSemester hours | Preferred | C |
College Algebra or higher mathematicsCourse notes & alternativesStatistics, introductory algebra, and intermediate algebra do not count. CLEP and AP are accepted. Higher-level qualifying math still needs the program to confirm equivalency. | 3Semester hours | Not specified | C |
Medical TerminologyCourse notes & alternativesMust be completed within five years (Spring 2023 or later for the FY27 cycle). A credit minimum is not published. | Not publishedSemester hours | Not specified | C |
Policies that can change your plan
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Applicants must also meet the FY27 military service eligibility rules. The Army distinguishes 30 semester hours of residence coursework from the remaining 30 transferable hours; confirm with IPAP exactly how Medical Terminology is counted. For FY27, you may have up to three classes still pending at application only if you are Active Army or Reserve, not National Guard or ROTC; otherwise follow the cycle's completion deadlines. Use only the FY27 instructions issued after August 25, 2026.
When courses must be complete: C or better. FY27 standard prerequisites due by application deadline; approved academic delay may allow up to three pending classes for eligible Active Army/Reserve applicants only, completed by October 1, 2027.
Dates & application steps
IPAP does not use CASPA; application and nomination timing depends on the applicant’s military service and commissioning process.
Know what the total includes
Published cost estimate
Confirm current cohortConfirm rates for your entering cohort
No tuition; this is a military program.
Curriculum & clinical training
Phase I: didactic training
Academic training takes place at Joint Base San Antonio–Fort Sam Houston.
Phase II: clinical clerkships
Supervised clerkships take place at military or affiliated medical facilities.
UNMC awards a bachelor’s degree after Phase I and an MPAS after Phase II. This is the military IPAP route, distinct from UNMC’s civilian PA program.
The admitted class
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: 82%
- Five-year first-time PANCE pass rate: 89%
Accreditation history
ProbationSources you can open
Links to the program’s own pages and the official directories we use.
- Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) program page
- Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) program page
- Army IPAP FY27 requirements
- Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) program page
- Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) program page
- Program contact page
- Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) curriculum and clinical training
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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