Admissions

UTHealth Houston MSA Admissions Committee Mission Statement:

The UTHealth Houston MSA Admissions Committee will strive to identify potential candidates and admit highly qualified students who graduate to become competent, compassionate and ethical anesthesiologist assistants who work within an Anesthesia Care Team.

An applicant’s academic record is important and serves as an indicator of ability to succeed in an intensive and rigorous program. Motivational factors, life experience, patient care experience, maturity, personality as assessed in personal interviews, and references are all important factors in the selection process.

The Admissions Committee endeavors to select applicants who have demonstrated excellence in science and mathematics during their undergraduate education; those with genuine desire and commitment to serve the public in matters of health; and possess the intellectual ability to manage the delivering of safe and quality anesthesia as a member of the Anesthesia Care Team.

 

Admissions Requirements

  1. Bachelor’s degree (biological sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, or other health-related field preferred) and completion of the required semester credit hours as listed below. Due to our credentialing process, all Baccalaureate Degree’s must be complete by the summer of the application year. Proof of completion will be in the form of a final transcript and a copy of the diploma.
  2. All prerequisites must be completed prior to acceptance into the program. (Course substitutions will not be considered.) All prerequisites must be completed at an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States, U.S. territory or Canada.
  3. Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (>3.5 to be competitive) based on a 4.0 scale.
    • A minimum of a B (3.0) is required for prerequisites
    • 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.
  4. The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is the preferred standardized exam for admission with a minimum acceptance score: 494. The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores will also be considered (minimum GRE 309)
    • 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.
    • MCAT and GRE scores must be within 3 years from the date of application submission to be considered.
  5. It is required that applicants observe at least 8 hours from an anesthesia provider (Anesthesiologist, Anesthesiologist Assistant, or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) prior to formal acceptance into the program.
  6. Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status. (International applicants are not being accepted at this time.)
  7. Completed Program Application, Resume, Personal Statement, and (3) Letters of Recommendations.
Prerequisite Courses Semester Hours
Biology I and II 8
Chemistry I and II 8
Physics I and II 8
Organic Chemistry I 4
Human Anatomy and/or Human Anatomy and Physiology I*

  • Beginning in the 2025 – 2026 application cycle, only Human Anatomy and Physiology I will be accepted. Human Anatomy I will not be accepted to fulfill this prerequisite in the 2025 – 2026 application cycle.
  • Human Anatomy II or Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits) is not a requirement for the 2024 – 2025 application cycle. However, beginning in the 2025 – 2026 application cycle, Human Anatomy and Physiology II will be a required prerequisite
 4
Biochemistry I* 3
Calculus I** 4
English*** 3
  • *Human anatomy/physiology and biochemistry must be taken within 5 years of the application deadline. All other prerequisites must be taken within 7 years of the deadline.
  • **Precalculus and survey courses will not fulfill this requirement
  • ***This can be fulfilled with other expository writing courses in the humanities.

The five-year time limit can only be waived for biochemistry, human anatomy with lab, and human physiology if you score a 501 or greater on the MCAT. A score of >500 on the MCAT indicates that your knowledge of the coursework is still current, and we do not ask that you retake your older coursework.
A score of >500 on the MCAT does NOT waive prerequisite courses – it merely waives the five-year time limit.

If you have any questions regarding specific course qualifications, please forward the website link for the course description at the time of your question.

 

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 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

UTHealth Houston MSA uses a rolling admission to evaluate applicants as they are received. Competitive applicants who meet the admissions requirements will be scheduled for a mandatory formal interview with the Admissions Committee. The interview includes assessment of communication skills and social engagement, in addition to motivation/interest to enter the field.

 

Physical and Technical Standards

All applicants must have the general abilities required of anesthesia healthcare providers. This includes:

  1. 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.
  2. Communication skills – the ability to effectively communicate with patients, faculty, staff and peers both in written and oral form.
  3. 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).
  4. Sensory abilities – the ability to assess a patient utilizing the five senses, including sight, hearing and touch.
  5. 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.

 

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.