STATE GUIDE
What to Do if Your State Has No PA Program
Not every state has an accredited PA program, and a few have only one. If you live in one of them, your application strategy needs to look different from day one.
THE SHORT VERSION
Five states have no PA program of their own
As of 2026, Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Vermont, and Wyoming have no accredited PA program based in the state (Alaska and Hawaii host distant cohorts of the University of Washington MEDEX program). Several more states, including Maine, North Dakota, and South Dakota, have exactly one. Program lists change every year, so confirm the current list with ARC-PA or our PA Programs Map before you finalize your school list.
Applying without a home-state program
Many PA programs give meaningful preference to in-state residents. If your state does not have a program, you lose that advantage everywhere, which means the rest of your application has to work harder and your school list has to be built more deliberately.
YOUR PLAYBOOK
Five things to do differently
Some programs extend preference to neighboring states or to applicants from states without a program. These policies are not always obvious. They are often buried in admissions FAQs rather than the main requirements page.
Without in-state preference, a longer list helps, but only if every school on it is one you actually qualify for and would attend. Twenty applications you are not competitive for is money spent, not strategy.
If you have family, prior education, or work history near a program, say so. Programs care about whether you will show up, stay, and eventually practice in their region.
Nationally recognized certifications and roles read the same in every state. Regional or employer-specific titles sometimes need explaining.
Out-of-state tuition, moving costs, and cost-of-living differences change which acceptances are actually workable. Know your numbers before interview season, not after.
WHERE TO LOOK NEXT
Start with the states nearest you
Our state-by-state guides break down every program we cover: prerequisites, hour requirements, GRE policies, and how competitive each one tends to be. If your own state is not listed, work outward from the closest ones.
Every accredited program, by state, with links to the full program spotlight.
See how CASPA will actually calculate your GPAs before you build your list.
Thirty minutes one-on-one with a practicing PA to build a school list that fits your state situation.
Requirements, tuition, and stats for every PA program, updated on a rolling basis.
Do not submit until it is right. Let us make this your cycle.
Not sure which service fits? Build your own package and see exactly what is included, or email us and we will tell you honestly what you do and do not need.