Post Acceptance Requirements for Physician Assistants

Physician Assistant Admissions

Once accepted into the Gardner-Webb Physician Assistant Program, the following conditions must be met and completed by the stated deadlines to matriculate into the program. Instructions for completing the items below are included in the acceptance package.

  • Signed and received Technical Standards Form
  • Signed and received Health Information Release Form
  • Signed and received Annual Health Assessment Form
  • Signed and received Healthcare Experience Verification Form
  • Basic Cardiac Life Support (BLS) Certification (not expiring before January 2026)
  • Official transcripts for all outstanding coursework sent to Graduate Admissions (PA Admissions, Gardner-Webb University, PO Box 7252, Boiling Springs, NC 28017) by October 1, 2024
  • Background Check, Fingerprinting, Drug Screen (through CastleBranch)
  • Before matriculation, students offered a seat in the program must complete a criminal background check and drug screen via CastleBranch. In addition, to fulfill the annual requirements of SCPE sites, students must annually repeat the criminal background check and drug screening designated by the clinical team.

    Applicants convicted of a felony or misdemeanor may be denied certification or licensure as a health professional. Eligibility information may be obtained from appropriate credentialing boards. Furthermore, supervised clinical practice experience sites will not permit participation in the clinical experience. This should be considered seriously by the candidate before application and enrollment.
  • HIPAA, OSHA, BBP Certification (obtained through CastleBranch)
  • Healthcare Insurance Verification (through CastleBranch)
    Students are required to continuously maintain personal health insurance throughout enrollment in the GWU Department of Physician Assistant Studies. Proof of insurance coverage must be provided before matriculation and for onboarding with clinical sites.
  • Immunization History Verification (through CastleBranch)
    All accepted applicants must submit documentation of immunizations, titers, or proof of immunity before NOVEMBER 15 to be registered for spring classes. Furthermore, the GWU PA Program requires that students comply with these requirements through graduation.

    The GWU PA Studies Program immunization requirements are described in detail below. In addition, the post-acceptance packet will include instructions for uploading this required documentation.

Hepatitis B vaccination:

  • 2-dose series only applies when two (2) doses of Heplisav-B* are used at least four (4) weeks apart
    • 3-dose series Engerix-B, PreHevbrio*, or Recombivax HB at 0, 1, 6 months
    • 3-dose series HepA-HepB (Twinrix at 0, 1, 6 months)
    • 4-dose series HepA-HepB (Twinrix) accelerated schedule of 3 doses at 0, 7, and 21–30 days, followed by a booster dose at 12 months

AND

  • Record of a titer validating current immunity.
    • If the quantitative titer is negative, another two (2)-, three (3)- or four (4)-dose Hepatitis B series should be completed, and a quantitative titer should be repeated according to guidelines.

Influenza vaccination:

  • One (1) dose of influenza vaccine each year by October 1.
    • Provide proof of receiving the influenza vaccine no later than October 1 annually while enrolled in the program.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccination:

  • Record of titer validating current immunity or documentation of a two (2)-dose vaccine series administered according to guidelines.

Polio vaccination:

  • Record of the completed primary series of at least three (3) vaccinations.
    • If there is no record of the Polio vaccine, doses 1 and 2 are administered with 1-2 months in between, and the 3rd dose is administered 6-12 months after the 2nd dose.

Varicella vaccination:

**A history of a previous infection is not sufficient evidence of immunity.

  • Record of titer validating current immunity or a two (2) vaccine series administered according to guidelines (see below).

No evidence of immunity

  • Requires a 2-dose series 4–8 weeks apart if previously did not receive the varicella-containing vaccine (VAR or MMRV) for children)
    • If previously received one (1) dose of varicella-containing vaccine, one (1) dose at least four (4) weeks after the first dose

Evidence of immunity

  • Documentation of 2 doses of varicella-containing vaccine at least four (4) weeks apart, diagnosis or verification of a history of varicella or herpes zoster by a health care provider, laboratory evidence of immunity or disease

Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis vaccination:

  • Provide a record of receiving one (1) dose of Tdap followed by Tdap or Td booster every ten years.
    • If previously did not receive Tdap at or after age 11 years: 1 dose Tdap, then Td or Tdap every 10 years.

Tuberculosis

  • Two-step tuberculosis skin test (TST) or Interferon-Gamma Release Assays (IGRA – TB blood test): Must be completed within the four (4) months preceding the first day of classes. BCG vaccination does not prevent testing.
    • For students who have received the BCG vaccine, an IGRA, either QuantiFERON TB Gold (QFT-G) or T-Spot, is preferred.
    • If TST or IGRA is positive or if there is a history of previous positive TB testing, a negative chest x-ray is required within the four months preceding the first day of classes. If a student is allergic to TB testing, a chest x-ray is required for screening.
    •  If a student has recently received a live virus vaccine, TB testing should be delayed for four (4) weeks.
    • Annual re-testing for tuberculosis (TB) is required and must be the two-step TB test (unless contraindicated by a previous severe reaction) to meet clinical year requirements and must be submitted by October 1 via Castlebranch.
    • Before starting clinical SCPEs, students must have documentation of completing a two-step TB test. In addition, students must maintain up-to-date annual two-step TB testing throughout their clinical year. After a positive TST or IGRA test result and subsequent chest x-ray, students must be evaluated by the Health Department. If the chest X-ray is positive, the applicant/student will not be allowed to enter or continue training until treated and cleared by an infectious disease specialist.
  • CDC guideline (link) for COVID -19 vaccination.

NOTE: Failure to comply with the vaccination requirements could result in the inability to matriculate or delayed progression through the program and graduation.

  • Compliance with all conditions of acceptance by the deadlines provided by the program