Admissions
UTHealth Houston MSA Admissions Committee Mission Statement:
Our mission is to identify and recruit exceptional candidates who demonstrate the maturity, professionalism, and passion essential for advancing the field of anesthesiology. Through a holistic admissions process, we aim to foster a culture that reflects excellence, innovation, and a commitment to patient care. By maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and integrity, we aim to select applicants who will excel in a rigorous training environment and ultimately shape the future of CAAs through their contributions to clinical practice, research, and education.
Admissions Requirements
- Applicants must complete a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in biological sciences, physical sciences, or another health-related field, along with all prerequisite coursework prior to matriculation, without exception. Proof of completion is required in the form of a final transcript and a copy of the diploma.
- All prerequisites must be completed at an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States, U.S. territory, or Canada (course substitutions will not be considered).
- A minimum cumulative and science GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required.
- A minimum of a B (3.0) is required for all prerequisites. No exceptions.
- If a course is repeated (i.e. for a better grade), all grades will be incorporated in the computation. This method of calculation is adopted to give fair weight to applicants who attempted the course only once.
- The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is the preferred standardized exam for admission with a MCAT minimum acceptance score: 498. The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores will also be considered (minimum GRE 309).
- MCAT and GRE scores must be submitted through the appropriate channels before an applicant can be considered for an interview by the program.
- MCAT and GRE scores must be within tree (3) years from the date of application submission to be considered.
- Applicants who have taken the MCAT or GRE more than once will be evaluated based on the highest score achieved. If an applicant has taken both exams, they should submit official scores from both exams.
- Official MCAT score submission directions
- GRE Designated Institution (DI) Code for The UTHealth Science Center at Houston CASAA portal: 1385
- MCAT and GRE scores must be submitted through the appropriate channels before an applicant can be considered for an interview by the program.
- It is required that applicants observe at least 8 hours from an anesthesia provider (Anesthesiologist, Anesthesiologist Assistant, or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) prior to submitting their application to the UT MSA program. At this time, the UT MSA Program does not coordinate shadowing opportunities.
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status.
- Completed CASAA application, resume/CV, personal statement, and (3) letters of recommendation.
| Prerequisite Courses for the 2025-2026 Application Cycle | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|
Biology I and II
|
8 |
Chemistry I and II
|
8 |
Physics I and II
|
8 |
| Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
Human Anatomy & Physiology
|
8 |
Calculus I*
|
4 |
English**
|
3 |
- All prerequisites must be taken within 7 years of application submission.
- *Precalculus and survey courses will not fulfill this requirement
- **This can be fulfilled with other expository writing courses in the humanities.
A MCAT score >505 will waive the time limit for ALL prerequisite courses. A score of >505 on the MCAT does NOT waive prerequisite courses – it merely waives the time limit. The MCAT score must be within 3 years of submission of your application.
Admission Statistics
| 2025-2026 Matriculant Averages for the UTHealth Houston MSA Program | Matriculant Average |
|---|---|
| Cumulative GPA | 3.74 |
| Science GPA | 3.69 |
| MCAT | 506 |
| GRE Quantitative Reasoning | 166 |
| GRE Verbal Reasoning | 165 |
| GRE Analytical Writing | 4.63 |
During the 2024-2025 application cycle, 89% of accepted applicants completed the MCAT, achieving an mean score of 506.
Additionally, 75% of matriculants had prior healthcare experience, including roles such as Anesthesia Technician, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Medical Assistant, Medical Scribe, or Nursing.
Letters of Recommendation
Three (3) letters of recommendation. Applicants are encouraged to select individuals who can provide personalized and comprehensive evaluations of their qualifications and character. Recommenders should ideally be able to speak to the applicant’s educational background, critical thinking, communication abilities, interpersonal skills, leadership qualities, and relevant experience in healthcare settings.
Acceptable letters of recommendations can come from former supervisors, academic advisors or college professors, or an individual in healthcare such as a Certified Anesthesia Assistant, Physician, or Nurse. Recommendations letters submitted by relatives, personal healthcare providers, family or personal friends of the family are not acceptable and do not meet our admission requirements.
Shadowing
The UT MSA program requires that every applicant be familiar with the practice of anesthesia, the operating room environment, and the role that anesthesiologist assistants play in the Anesthesia Care Team (ACT). Applicants must arrange to spend time with an anesthetist or anesthesiologist in an operating room environment observing the administration of anesthesia and other human patient care activities. We strongly recommend shadowing for a minimum of eight (8) hours to familiarize themselves of the role and responsibilities of an anesthesia provider.
The UT MSA Program does not have a formal program for assistance with shadowing opportunities – applicants should obtain opportunities directly through personal resources or clinical sites, often by contacting the Chief Anesthetist at a given group.
Interview Process
Interviews take place between October and February during the application cycle, with admissions decisions made on a rolling basis. Competitive applicants will be notified via email by the UT MSA Admissions Committee with specific details regarding their mandatory in-person interview. The interview is designed to evaluate interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, professionalism, adaptability to social cues, and overall demeanor. These criteria aim to assess the applicant’s ability to navigate the professional and collaborative environments integral to success in the UT MSA program.
Physical and Technical Standards
All applicants must have the general abilities required of anesthesia healthcare providers. This includes:
- Motor skills – the physical ability to perform the technical and procedural functions required in patient care, including the ability to perform complex two-handed skills.
- Communication skills – the ability to effectively communicate with patients, faculty, staff and peers both in written and oral form.
- Physical health – the physical capacity to stand for prolonged periods of time in an operating room and/or clinic, the ability to lift up to ten pounds of equipment (intravenous fluids, monitors and other equipment necessary to administer a complete anesthetic).
- Sensory abilities – the ability to assess a patient utilizing the five senses, including sight, hearing and touch.
- Professionalism – must exhibit professional behavior, including honesty, altruism, respect for others, compassion, empathy, and respect for patient privacy.
A disability does not preclude a student from admission. The MSA Program is committed to providing equal opportunities for qualified students with disabilities in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations. The intent of the law is to ensure equal access to individuals with disabilities who are otherwise qualified to meet the essential demands of the program.
MSA Student Computer Policies for Matriculating Students
The UTHealth MSA Program adheres to the Medical School Information Technology (MSIT) standards. In order to fully utilize the information resources required by the faculty during your education and be able to complete online examinations, the school requires that all incoming medical students bring a laptop that meets the university’s hardware, software, and data security requirements. The computers cannot be more than two years old at the time of orientation. For more information about computer requirements, please visit the MSIT website.
Acceptance Requirements
Acceptance is contingent upon successful completion of outstanding prerequisites (if any), immunization screening (see below), and clearance of a mandatory criminal background check.
Immunizations and Health Records
Refer to the UTHealth Houston General Information Catalog for immunization requirements and Student Health Services page for additional information.