Frequently Asked Questions

MEDEX offers its MCHS curriculum at five campus locations:

• Anchorage, AK
• Kona, HI
• Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, WA 

Seat availability varies by campus. For the class entering in 2027, MEDEX anticipates the following cohort sizes: Anchorage (24), Kona (24), Seattle (52), Spokane (32), and Tacoma (30).

Applicants may select two (2) preferred campus locations in the CASPA Application. MEDEX makes every effort to place applicants at their first campus choice, but due to competitiveness and limited seats, some applicants may be placed at their second campus preference.  

MEDEX seeks applicants who demonstrate a strong commitment to serving the communities around their chosen campus location(s).

MEDEX is reserving five (5) seats at the minimum at its Spokane Campus for current or permanent qualified Montana residents for the class entering 2027.

MEDEX maintains over 700 clinical training education sites throughout the WWAMI region and Hawai’i with occasional placements in other underserved areas in the western U.S. Clinical sites include hospitals, private clinics, prisons, specialty clinics, community health centers, farm worker clinics, and Indian Health sites.  

Placements are made on an individual basis in collaboration with the MEDEX Clinical Team, and all students are expected to travel during their clinical year. To confirm understanding, applicants must sign the Clinical Year Travel Acknowledgment and Agreement in the CASPA application and again upon acceptance.

Each student will gain experience working with an underserved community. Students at the Anchorage and Kona campuses are placed throughout Alaska and Hawai’i to meet regional healthcare needs.

Master of Clinical Health Services (MCHS)

The MEDEX Northwest PA program is a 27-month full-time course of study leading to a Master of Clinical Health Services degree.  

The two primary components of the curriculum are the classroom (known as didactic) phase and the clinical phase.   

Students who successfully complete the program also earn a Certificate of Completion, which qualifies them to take the national certification examination.  

PharmD/MCHS Dual Degree (2026 Matriculation Pause Continuing to 2027)

The PharmD/MCHS dual degree option, previously offered in partnership with the Pharmacy Doctorate (PharmD) Program at the University of Washington is not admitting new students at this time. MEDEX is currently in the process of determining its new curricululm, and the dual-degree pathway is on hold while curriculum alignment and transferable credit requirements are reviewed. Updates will be shared once the review is complete.

The most recent PANCE pass rate information is available on the MEDEX website here.   

MEDEX is a full-time educational program that requires regular independent study. Students are expected to be in the class from about 8am-4:30pm, Monday through Friday, with occasional weekend/evening workshops and are also expected to be available for training during the clinical year when their preceptors are available.   

Employment during MEDEX studies is strongly discouraged since it interferes with study time and concentration.  

Employment and work-related activities should not interfere with attendance, and are not valid excuses to miss class, miss scheduled clinical rotations or fail to submit required coursework on a timely basis.*  

It is especially important that students represent themselves as PA students only in clinical settings during the formal experiences (clinical rotations) arranged by the program. While shadowing is useful prior to PA school, this informal kind of arrangement is no longer appropriate during PA education.  

Students who work in a health-related profession during breaks in the academic schedule must limit their scope of practice to the health profession for which they hold a current, valid license or registration.  

*Exceptions may be arranged for federally- or state-required service for members of the Reserves or National Guard.  

MEDEX does not accept transfer students from other PA education programs, however students are welcome to apply to MEDEX along with all other applicants. 

WWAMI is the regional educational program of the University of Washington School of Medicine, including Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. MEDEX Northwest follows this same geographic footprint as a regional PA program. 

Advanced Placement (AP) courses will not meet MEDEX prerequisites; courses must be taken at the college level.

• May be completed as A&P I + A&P II or as separate Anatomy and Physiology courses
• Combined lecture/lab or separate lecture and lab formats accepted
• Credit amounts vary by institution; MEDEX accepts the full sequence as awarded
• Labs waived for the 2026-2027 application cycle
• Labs required for the 2027-2028 application cycle

Coursework must be completed at a regionally accredited community college or university and must receive a letter grade or a grade on a 4.0 scale.

Courses should cover the structure and function of the human body. A comprehensive study will provide an in-depth knowledge of the skeletal, muscular, integumentary, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, reproductive, and nervous system specific to the human body.

MEDEX does not have a specific degree that is preferred for eligibility to the program, however applicants with more extensive health-related science backgrounds are considered more competitive as taking upper division sciences can help to prepare for the rigors of the MEDEX curriculum. The bachelor’s degree must be completed by December 31st in the year of application to qualify for applying to the UW Graduate School.   

Coursework must be completed at a regionally accredited community college or university and must receive a letter grade or a grade on a 4.0 scale.

Courses should provide a foundational understanding of chemical principles as they relate to living systems. Biochemistry courses may include the study of biomolecules, enzymes, and metabolism. Organic chemistry courses should emphasize carbon-based compounds, functional groups, and reaction mechanisms.

MEDEX does not accept CLEP credits.  

MEDEX does not accept DANTES or DSST credits. 

All applicants must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. 

Applicants must also have a combined prerequisite coursework GPA of 3.2 or higher across all required prerequisite courses. 

Courses that were audited or taken on a Pass/Fail basis cannot be used to fulfill prerequisite requirements.

Survey courses are often not comprehensive and therefore not appropriate for fulfilling any of the MEDEX prerequisites. Introductory courses may meet MEDEX minimum requirements, but they will not be viewed as competitive compared to upper division coursework. Applicants are encouraged to take higher level sciences to prepare for the rigor of the program.  

Coursework must be completed at a regionally accredited community college or university and must receive a letter grade or a grade on a 4.0 scale.

Microbiology coursework should cover microbial cell structure and function, including their roles in health and disease. Study of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites should be included. An understanding of transmission, immunity, response, control, and prevention.

MEDEX does accept online courses and degrees taken through a regionally accredited U.S. community college or university for a letter grade or grade on a 4.0 scale.

All MEDEX prerequisite coursework must be completed by the application deadline.  Applications cannot be reviewed until MEDEX has a complete application packet. The later an application is completed, the fewer interview slots will be available. Coursework planned for spring or summer quarter of the upcoming year will not be accepted.  

Prerequisite coursework must have a combined GPA of 3.2 or higher across all required prerequisite courses.  

Use the CASAP GPA calculator to determine your prerequisite GPA.  

Coursework must be completed at a regionally accredited community college or university and must receive a letter grade or a grade on a 4.0 scale. Coursework should include probability, descriptive methods, sampling, inferences, data interpretation, hypothesis testing, and regression.

All prerequisites must be completed within 7 years of application. When considering prerequisites, MEDEX uses the most recent qualifying course with the best grade.   

Schools Attended 

Applicants must report all institutions attended, regardless of relevance to MEDEX and whether completed coursework was transferred to another institution, including but not limited to: 

• courses taken in high school for college or university credit 
• summer courses 

• community college courses 
• U.S. Military academies (note that this does not include courses on SMART or JST transcripts) 
• post-baccalaureate, graduate, and doctoral work 
• study abroad, Canadian, and foreign work, etc.  

Each institution should only be listed once, regardless of the number of degrees earned or gaps in the dates of attendance. Once an application is submitted, previously entered colleges and universities cannot be edited but applicants are able to add new colleges and universities. More information is available here. 

Transcripts 

Applicants are required to send official transcripts for each institution to CASPA. 

Applicants must also enter transcript information exactly as it appears on each transcript.If there are inaccuracies, the application will be sent back to the applicant, and this will result in delays in submitting. All courses must be included, even if the applicant did poorly or later repeated the course. Transfer credits should be listed at the institution where they were originally taken. Once an application is submitted, previously entered coursework cannot be edited, but new coursework can be added. More information is available here. 

Foreign Transcripts  

Coursework completed outside of the U.S. must be entered into the CASPA application. Applicants must submit official international transcripts to an approved international transcript evaluation service for a course-by-course U.S. equivalency report. MEDEX prefers World Education Services (WES) but is open to considering evaluations done by other organizations listed on the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.  

Applicants must also arrange for international transcript reports to be sent directly to MEDEX from the transcript evaluation agency on or before the application deadline. Applicants should not send international transcripts to CASPA. CASPA accepts only evaluations of international education. More information is available here. 

MEDEX offers its MCHS curriculum at five campus locations:

• Anchorage, AK
• Kona, HI
• Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, WA 

Seat availability varies by campus. For the class entering in 2027, MEDEX anticipates the following cohort sizes: Anchorage (24), Kona (24), Seattle (52), Spokane (32), and Tacoma (30).

Applicants may select two (2) preferred campus locations in the CASPA Application. MEDEX makes every effort to place applicants at their first campus choice, but due to competitiveness and limited seats, some applicants may be placed at their second campus preference.  

MEDEX seeks applicants who demonstrate a strong commitment to serving the communities around their chosen campus location(s).

MEDEX is reserving five (5) seats at the minimum at its Spokane Campus for current or permanent qualified Montana residents for the class entering 2027.

CASPA will accept up to five (5) references however MEDEX only requires three(3). Preferred letters of reference come from clinicians who have supervised the applicant in a health care setting, and can thoroughly address patient care abilities as well as speculate on prospects for becoming a successful PA in the future.  

MEDEX also prefers references from both a physician and a mid-level provider; specifically, a PA. Ideally, these should be from people who have worked closely with the applicant in a medical setting and are able to evaluate clinical skills. 

CASPA offers the opportunity for evaluators to submit letters electronically. Once an applicant has listed references in the CASPA application, CASPA will send a link to those persons. References will be asked to complete the form and provide a letter for electronic submission. There will be a space on the reference permission form to enter the date by which the applicant will need to have the reference submitted. MEDEX encourages applicants to put the date as being at least two (2) weeks before the application deadline to avoid their application being delayed due to late receipt of the reference. 

MEDEX requires clinical experience hours to be entered into the CASPA application including, job title, supervisor name, job start and end dates, total number of hours in each position, and a concise job description outlining direct patient care duties. Applicants should follow CASPA directions carefully to ensure hours are documented accurately for each position. 

Experience must be from paid position(s) and not volunteer work. The only exception is work as a paramedic or EMT when all emergency services are provided only on an all-volunteer basis. Clinical experience gained through a training program, as a student, does not count toward satisfying the 2,000-hour paid requirement. 

Ongoing community service and leadership demonstrated through taking initiative, contributing to a team, solving problems, or creating positive change in a community or organization strengthens an application.

MEDEX uses this information to gain a broader view of candidates as potential students. PAs, as primary health providers, are active, integrated members of their communities. Evidence of previous community ties and involvement can indicate an interest in continuing that role as PA. 

Volunteer experience does not replace required paid clinical experience.

Applicants are required to answer the questions in this section to indicate and describe previous experience with family medicine, primary care, rural, and/or underserved populations. Family Medicine and primary care are often used synonymously. However, MEDEX views Family Medicine as a medical specialty that manages common and long-term illnesses in children and adults, focusing on overall health and well-being.  

 As defined by the Health Resources & Services Administration, (HRSA) Primary Care is the provision of integrated, accessible health services by clinicians who are accountable for  

• addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, 
• developing a sustained partnership with patients, and  
• practicing in the context of family and community. 
  

MEDEX considers Primary Care specialties as: family practice, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology. Urgent Care provided as part of comprehensive primary care services may also be considered primary care. These are NOT considered as primary care: 

• Emergency departments 
• Inpatient hospital settings 
• Ambulatory surgical centers 
• Independent diagnostic testing facilities 
• Skilled nursing facilities 
• Inpatient rehabilitation facilities 
• Hospices 

Underserved experiences include those in which you were working primarily with people in 

medically underserved communities. Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) are areas or populations designated by HRSA as having too few primary care providers, high infant mortality, high poverty or a high elderly population. 

MEDEX is not requiring GRE scores for the 2026-2027 application cycle. Please provide if available. Scores will not be considered in the application process and will be for internal programmatic data-tracking only. 

Candidates apply using the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) application. Select University of Washington to apply to the MEDEX Northwest program; including all five MEDEX campuses. The application must meet all requirements and be submitted per the application timeline in the current admissions cycle to be considered. More information can be viewed here.  

Military applicants should submit a DD214 and a Joint Services Transcript or CCAF transcript. To request a DD214 and other proof of service documents please visit the Veterans Service Records web site.   

Social Security numbers must be redacted on all submitted documents.

CASPA Personal Statement (Required)

Applicants are required to submit a personal statement in the CASPA application. This is limited to 5,000 characters and asks the applicant to describe why they want to be a PA. Meaningful content typically conveys the applicants understanding of the PA role and profession, demonstrated teamwork, quality writing, examples of problem solving and critical thinking skills, time management, and a high-level of motivation and self-awareness. 

CASPA Life Experiences Statement (Required)

Applicants are asked to describe how any life experiences could help advance the goal of having healthcare providers who can empathize with the patient communities they serve.

CASPA Situational Decision-making Statement (Optional)

Applicants are asked how future PAs learn to use emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, telemedicine, and wearable health devices thoughtfully while maintaining strong, human-centered relationships with patients, even in settings where access to technology may be limited.

MEDEX Personal Statement (Required)

Applicants are required to submit a program-specific statement (limited to 1,000 words total) addressing the following questions:  

1. Tell us how your values, strengths, and lived experiences make you a strong fit for MEDEX and its mission and values.
2. What factors influenced your decision to pursue PA practice, and how have your prior experiences including any interactions with advanced practice providers prepared you for this transition?
3. What challenges do you anticipate in returning to school, and how do you plan to manage them?
4. Do you believe your academic history reflects your ability to succeed in PA school? Please explain.

Reapplicants (If applicable)

Applicants who have applied within the last five (5) years are asked to submit a personal narrative (no more than 500 words) that describes what they have done to strengthen their application since previously applying. 

CASPA offers the option to bring applications forward from one cycle to the next. Reapplicants who submitted and paid for the CASPA application in the last admissions cycle now have the ability to update a previous application and submit it for the current cycle (with a new fee). Reapplicants should review and update each section of the CASPA application with any new or updated information. All references and academic transcripts must be resubmitted directly to CASPA. This process ensures accuracy and verification of all information submitted for a particular application year.  

MEDEX has a very competitive applicant pool of individuals with recent clinical experience. Recent experience is considered as being within the last two (2) years. There are a few exceptions, i.e., if an applicant has left clinical practice to become a full-time student. The strongest applicants are currently involved in health care.  

All applicants must meet a minimum of 2,000 hours of paid, direct, hands-on clinical patient care experience.

Click here for more detailed information about clinical requirements required to apply to the program.

When considering clinical experience MEDEX looks for evidence of significant patient care responsibility, clinical judgment, and critical thinking in paid positions adding up to a total of two thousand (2,000) hours or more.

Volunteer hours will not replace any requirement for paid experience. 

For more information about health fields that may satisfy the direct, hands-on patient care experience requirement please visit the Clinical Experience Prerequisite page. 

MEDEX prioritizes primary care experience over technical or highly specialized experience. The most competitive applicantswill have substantial patient-care responsibility that builds clinical skills and supports medical decision-making. A strong application also demonstrates a clear commitment to rural and/or underserved communities, including 1+ years of primary care experience in these settings.

Highly Competitive Examples:

• Military medicine (corpsman, healthcare specialist, medic, etc.)
• Emergency medicine (paramedic, EMT, ER tech)
• Nursing fields (RN, LPN/LVN)
• International medical graduates.

Moderately Competitive Examples:

• Medical assistants (primary care, hospital, specialty clinics)
• Allied health technicians (surgical, patient care, medical/lab, anesthesia, respiratory)
• Nursing (CNA)
• Athletic/Rehabilitation practitioners (physical therapist, PT assistant, athletic trainer, rehabilitation technician)
• Community health aide
• Mental health counselor/technician
• Phlebotomist
• Scribe (if in-room, direct interaction with providers and patient)

Acceptable Examples:

• Allied health technicians (x-ray/radiology, pharmacy, dental assistant/hygienist)
• Athletic/rehabilitation practitioners (exercise physiologist)
• Dietitian/nutritionist
• Clinical research

MEDEX is committed to educating PAs who will serve where they are most needed. MEDEX seeks applicants who demonstrate a strong commitment to serving the communities around their chosen campus location(s).  In addition, MEDEX is reserving a minimum of five (5) seats at its Spokane Campus for current/legal/permanent residents of Montana. 

Ongoing community service and leadership demonstrated through taking initiative, contributing to a team, solving problems, or creating positive change in a community or organization strengthens an application.

MEDEX prioritizes primary care experience over technical or highly specialized experience. 

A strong application demonstrates a clear commitment to rural and/or underserved communities, including 1+ years of primary care experience in these settings.

In addition to the required courses, the following are highly recommended to help strengthen an application: 

• Genetics 
• Social Science (Sociology, Psychology, or Anthropology) 
• Medical Terminology 
• Biochemistry/Organic Chemistry Lab
• Microbiology Lab

MEDEX Northwest will accept prerequisite courses completed on a pass/no pass grading scale for courses taken between Jan 2020 – December 2022. Students must still have earned at least a 3.0 grade-point-average (on a 4-pointscale) from a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. or its equivalent from a foreign institution for the last 90 graded quarter credits or 60 graded semester credits from a baccalaureate degree (for a Master’s, doctoral, or professional degree, the total cumulative average may be used). Additional credits earned from an accredited institution after degree conferment may be included in calculating GPA.  

MEDEX is not requiring GRE scores for the 2026-2027 application cycle. Please provide if available. Scores will not be considered in the application process and will be for internal programmatic data-tracking only. 

MEDEX Northwest does not offer advanced standing to any student regardless of their prior degree status in order to graduate from the program. 

MEDEX does not require either the ECFMG or USMLE exam scores. Please note:Scores from either of these exams do not replace the need for completed academic or clinical prerequisites for MEDEX Northwest. 

IMGs are welcome to apply to the MEDEX program and are required to meet the same minimum standards as other applicants. They must follow the same application process as all other applicants to the MEDEX Northwest program.

When applying to MEDEX using the CASPA application, enter all academic information into the CASPA application. Applicants will be required to send official translated copies of their international transcripts directly to the UW Graduate School if admitted to MEDEX. 

Submit official international transcripts to an approved international transcript evaluation service for a course-by-course U.S. equivalency report. Arrange for international transcript reports to be sent directly to CASPA from the transcript evaluation agency by the application deadline. DO NOT SEND INTERNATIONAL TRANSCRIPTS TO CASPA. CASPA accepts only evaluations of international education. 

These transcripts are required and will be used to verify the academic information entered in the CASPA application. MEDEX cannot verify academic information without the required translated, course-by-course transcript evaluation. 

Typically, IMG experience gained outside of the U.S. does qualify towards meeting the MEDEX 2,000-hour minimum clinical requirement. Most IMGs accepted also have some experience in the U.S. healthcare system. MEDEX does not accept hours completed during residency or internship within another educational program toward the prerequisite.  

English language proficiency (ELP) is required for graduate study at the University of Washington. Therefore, every applicant whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency. Please visit the UW Graduate School Policy 3.2: Graduate school English Language Proficiency Requirements for more information. Applicants choosing to demonstrate English proficiency with TOEFL must send their official scores to CASPA by the application deadline using the ETS Code #3709. The minimum score accepted on the TOEFL iBT test is a 4.5 on the new scoring scale and 92 on the previous scoring scale.

The program is not able to provide visa sponsorship.

MEDEX Northwest does not offer advanced standing to any student regardless of their prior degree status to graduate from the program.  

Military training credits can satisfy at least part of the Anatomy and Physiology requirement. Typically, one hundred (100) hours of training in A&P satisfies this entire requirement, but MEDEX will need to evaluate military transcripts to determine what training can be considered.  

The Joint Services Transcript (JST) has centralized the process of obtaining military transcripts for all services except Air Force (please consult CCAF for Air Force transcripts).  For fast and efficient transcript processing, please obtain your military transcripts from the JST system and then upload to CASPA, or please request that military transcripts be sent directly from JST to MEDEX Northwest, University of Washington.  

The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) provides an online records request system.  Both the DD214 and SF 180 forms are available through this site.  

The University of Washington has a long history of educating and supporting veterans and provides academic benefits counseling, academic and career counseling, and wellness counseling. To access information regarding services provided by the UW please visit the UW Veterans Center web site.  

UW does not participate in the Yellow Ribbon program, as post 9/11, VA benefits will cover full resident tuition and fees (assuming the student has 100% entitlement). For MEDEX which is fee based the benefits cover the full tuition cost every quarter. The Yellow Ribbon program is mostly used for private schools where the tuition payment has a yearly cap. Asa public school we don’t have a yearly cap on the tuition payment. The VA will cover full resident tuition for all of our degree programs, no matter if it is an undergraduate program, law school, med school or MEDEX.   

The University of Washington and MEDEX are committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities.  

To request disability accommodation in the admission and application process, contact the Disabilities Services Office (DSO) at:  

206 543-6450 (voice)  
206 543-6452 (TTY)  
206 685-7264 (FAX)  
dso@u.washington.edu.  

More information about DSO can be found at http://www.washington.edu/admin/dso/.  

To request disability accommodation as an enrolled MEDEX student, contact Disability Resources for Students Office (DRS) at:  

206 543-8924 (Voice)  

206 543-8925 (TTY)  
206 616-8379 (FAX)  
uwdss@u.washington.edu.  

More information about DRS can be found at http://www.washington.edu/students/drs/.  

The most common source of financial aid is through federal loans, available online through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.  Because maximum federal aid awards may fall short of covering all expenses, students may also supplement their expenses with bank loans and may rely on help from working spouses, family support, or personal savings.   

Since MEDEX is a self-sustaining program, tuition and fees are the same for both in-state and out-of-state students. 

Visit here for a list of the most current tuition and fees. 

MEDEX Scholarships 

MEDEX Northwest has established several in-house scholarship funds with an emphasis on primary care, a focus on the medically underserved, and leadership potential.  One is focused on emergency medicine. An announcement to first-year didactic students in Fall quarter invites students to apply for these scholarships. Scholarships are awarded at the April MEDEX Alumni Reception & Awards Ceremony in SeaTac, WA. This annual event coincides with the Western Washington meeting of the Washington Academy of Physician Assistants (WAPA).  Students must be currently enrolled to be eligible to apply. 

Other Scholarships 

Other scholarship information can be found on many websites, and most public libraries maintain lists of educational scholarships and loans in their reference areas. There are links to various scholarships and lists of available scholarships on the UW Office of Student Financial Aid website and through the UW Scholarship office. Professional associations also offer scholarships to currently enrolled PA students who meet certain criteria. WAPA, the American Academy of Physician Assistants Veterans Caucus and the Physician Assistant Foundation sponsor just a few of these awards annually. Look for the websites that are free and do not require registration fees unless that is something you choose to do. 

To make the search for scholarship opportunities easier, MEDEX has compiled a list of opportunities. The list is expansive and includes many scholarships meant for physician assistant students and healthcare workers. Please visit each website to view the most up-to-date opportunities available. 

Students requesting a leave of absence for any substantial length of time should be aware they are subject to the official UW withdrawal policy for tuition forfeiture or refunds based on the UW quarter calendar (rather than the dates of the MEDEX quarters). Depending on the specific time during the UW quarter that a leave or withdrawal is requested, a student may be responsible for paying that quarter’s tuition.  

MEDEX follows the UW Academic Calendar for adding/dropping courses, withdrawals, and tuition/fee assessment deadlines.  

Shadowing experience is recommended but not required. Competitive MEDEX applicants typically have spent time shadowing or working directly with a PA to understand the role of the profession. The strongest applicants often have exposure to PAs in various medical specialties which helps build a broader understanding of healthcare delivery. 

Most applicants are already connected to the medical community through their clinical work, and we encourage you to use those networks. Every state has a PA professional organization that can often connect prospective applicants with practicing PAs who are open to informational conversations or shadowing. These organizations also host annual meetings and continuing medical education events, which can be excellent opportunities to network.

You may also contact local clinics to ask whether they have a PA on staff and whether shadowing is permitted. Some clinics may restrict shadowing due to HIPAA regulations. 

Virtual shadowing is accepted however in-person is preferred.