How can I prepare myself financially for this program?
- Submit your FAFSA application early
- Meet with the college financial advising department
- If you live in Alaska, Arizona, Nevada, or Wyoming submit your WICHE application by October 15th (read the website carefully)
- Make preparations to support yourself (and your family, if applicable) for 2+ years
- Start researching private scholarships and sources of educational funding.
- Note: Students are required to secure housing for cliinial placements and are financially responsible for associated costs. Program-covered AHEC housing may be available for in-state clinical placements. See Financial Aid tab.
What are the demographics of the recently admitted cohort?
Statistics for the Class of 2026 (matriculating August 2024):
- Mean total GPA is 3.52; overall science GPA is 3.45
- Mean total prerequisite GPA is 3.51
- The cohort had collectively acquired 230,496 hours of paid healthcare-relevant experience at the time of application submittal.
- Individually, incoming students averaged 6985 hours of paid healthcare-relevant experience at the time of application submittal.
- 23 females, 10 males
- 20 Colorado residents, 13 out of state
- Mean age of cohort is 26
Can I make an appointment to talk to program faculty about my application or prerequisites?
Program faculty/staff do not provide individual pre-application advising sessions. The program faculty/staff DOES NOT provide the following services for program pre-applicants: review of individual transcripts or completed course syllabi; perform assessment of proposed/planned courses; provide confirmation of prerequisite course completion/fulfillment; provide advising sessions; assist with completion of the CASPA application or review the application prior to submittal.
- Applicants are strongly advised to contact an academic advisor from their conferring university or college to confirm coursework meets PA Program prerequisite requirements.
- Pre-applicants are encouraged to attend a PA Program virtual information session hosted by program faculty and current students. Questions pertaining to application requirements will be addressed in these sessions. Information regarding virtual information sessions can be found on the PA Program home page.
- Applicants are advised to contact CASPA Customer Service for assistance with application completion.
Do I have to take the prerequisites within a certain period of time?
All prerequisites must be completed by the posted deadline. There is no period of time previous to which prerequisites will not be accepted, however, experience has shown that students who have taken the prerequisites within the last five years perform better academically.
What is the minimum GPA for application to the RRCC PA Program?
There is not a minimum GPA for application to the PA Program, however, applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for prerequisite coursework. All prerequisite courses must be passed with a grade of "C" or higher.
What kind of paid healthcare- relevant experience do you accept for admission to the program?
Applicants must have a minimum of 2,000 hours of relevant paid healthcare-relevant experience. There are no specific jobs, titles, or professions that qualify for the healthcare-relevant experience. The program expects applicants to explain how the healthcare experience is relevant and will support the applicant's success in the program. If the applicant believes the healthcare-relevant experience has been "non-traditional," this should be explained in the personal statement of the CASPA application. Some of the healthcare-relevant experience the program has not typically accepted include lifeguard, personal trainer or yoga/pilates instructor in a gym, non-medical researcher, and registrar/front office/administrative only positions.
Does the admission committee allow extensions for the completion of any prerequisite including healthcare-relevant experience?
No. All prerequisites must be completed by the posted deadline.
Are GRE, PA-CAT or CASP-er assessments required for the RRCC PA Program?
No.
Where do I find information about the PA profession in general?
Start with www.AAPA.org (link is external). There are substantial resources and information on PA programs, scope of practice, state regulations, salaries, job openings, and much more.
Is part time study available at RRCC PA program?
No.
Can I transfer from another active PA program to RRCC?
No.
Can I take all of my pre-requisites at Red Rocks?
All pre-requisite courses for the PA Program are offered at RRCC although a baccalaureate degree is required for entry into the PA program. Visit the Admission/Application link for a complete list of required pre-requisites.
Is it possible to obtain advanced standing for coursework received as part of a professional program (such as RN, M.D.,Chiropractic)?
No advanced standing is given for any course required within the RRCC Physician Assistant curriculum. All 120 credits of the PA curriculum must be completed to meet the requirements for graduation.
Is it possible to start the program at anytime other than August?
No.
Does the program have rolling admissions?
No.
Is it possible to work while attending the RRCC PA program?
While there is no way the program can enforce a ban on student employment while in the program, it is strongly discouraged. The rigor of the PA curriculum is such that attempting to work may severely impact the ability to be successful in coursework and clinical experiences. Applicants who need to work to finance the PA program and the cost of living are strongly encouraged to consider delaying application until they are prepared to meet the financial demands of program attendance.
What will my Clinical Year look like?
Students will complete nine rotations during the clinical year. It is the program’s responsibility to place students in rotations that allow the student to meet program graduation requirements. Students are not required to secure their own rotation assignments; the program has robust and active partnerships with several preceptors working in a variety of clinical settings and disciplines. Students may request rotation sites but placement is not guaranteed. Final approval of all clinical rotations rests with the program and must follow established program policy. In keeping with the mission of the program, all students are required to complete a number of clinical rotations in rural and underserved areas. Experiences in these areas provide the student with a unique perspective on these medical communities and the patients they serve. A student from a rural area may be able to fulfill many rotations in or near their hometown. It is important to note that a student may not refuse a rotation assigned by the program, and doing so is considered a voluntary withdrawal from the program. Students are required to secure housing for clinical placements and are financially responsible for associated costs. Program-covered AHEC housing may be available for in-state clinical placements.
Is there a supplemental application for the program admission process?
There are supplemental questions in the CASPA application that are specific to RRCC applicants. There is no other supplemental application required, however, there is a non-refundable $100.00 application fee. Please see the Admissions tab for information about payment submittal and due date.
Will an arrest record preclude someone from being considered for the RRCC PA program?
An arrest will not preclude a candidate from being considered; however, an applicant cannot have been convicted of any criminal offense, regardless of its designation, involving a crime of moral turpitude or a crime against a child. Prior to matriculation, accepted students must pass a criminal background check or otherwise may waive their acceptance into the program. The RRCC PA Program cannot guarantee that a criminal offense does not impact a graduate's ability to gain state licensure, DEA licensure, or health care Credentialing.
I have applied to your program and did not score enough points for an interview. What can I do to improve my application?
The program receives many more applications than there are seats available. You may be a strong applicant, but in any given application cycle you may be more or less competitive among the pool. The program does not provide information about your ranking within the pool. Please note the advertised prerequisites are a minimum, and there are no exceptions or substitutions allowed. The program values applicants who can self-evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. Here are some points to consider:
- The mean GPA for the Class of 2025 is 3.51 overall, 3.41 science and 3.5 prerequisite. Consider how you can improve your academic standing if your GPA is less than 3.0 in any category.
- If you met only minimum science prerequisites, you should consider how you may be a more competitive applicant by taking additional upper level science courses, including those that will better prepare you for the curriculum of the program. (PA curriculum information is available under the PA curriculum tab on this website)
- Was your personal statement a reflection of how you will be successful as a PA student in a rigorous program, how you share the qualities of others who influenced your decision to become a PA, and your commitment to the profession?
- Did you answer all application questions?
- Did you choose references who could speak to your clinical and/or academic abilities and personal/professional strengths?
- Did your application reflect how you would align with the mission of the RRCC PA program? (empathetic, primary care-focused medicine that serves the community)
- Did you ensure your application was free of spelling and grammatical errors?
The admission committee reviews each application based upon program-determined criteria. Each application is reviewed using a comprehensive, multi-step review process. The application decision of the admission committee is final. The program will not re-review applications or accept appeal requests in the case of an applicant whose application did not meet program application requirements or score sufficient points for an interview.