DALHOUSIE MPAS

Overview / Admissions / Program / Resources

Welcome to the Canadian PA Guide on Dalhousie MPAS

Last updated July 24, 2026.

This is not an official Dalhousie University resource. Information is updated when available, but always verify details on the Official Program Website.

PA PROGRAMS > NOVA SCOTIA

Dalhousie University

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

Dalhousie’s MPAS program is the first and only PA program in Atlantic Canada launched in 2024 response to improve access to care across Nova Scotia and the Maritimes. It is a 2-year, full time graduate program based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Program Website ⇗
Program Website ⇗

  • 2 years

    Duration

  • 24 students

    Class size

  • $16,000 CAD/year

    Tuition

  • January

    Start Date

  • Full Time, In-Person

    Format

  • Accreditation

    Pending eligibility evaluation under Accreditation Canada.

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PA Admissions Guide

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Process →
Deadlines → 
DALHOUSIE MPAS  > ADMISSIONS

Admission Requirements

No Preferred Admission Criteria

Dalhousie does not specify any preferred qualities or experiences beyond what’s assessed through their formal application components.

With Dalhousie, before you move forward with applying ensure you meet the Maritime Resident Status first. Applicants have to:

  • Be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent resident of Canada, AND

  • Reside in a Maritime Province, which Dalhousie MPAS outlines Nova Scotia, New Brunswick or Prince Edward Island).

There are 24 seats total, with 20 of the seats prioritized for Nova Scotia residents. The remaining 4 seats are reserved from applicants from the New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Candidates who hail from other provinces are not eligible to apply. Dalhousie outlines their Resident Requirements in more detail here.

Once you meet the resident status requirement, to apply you must hold a 4-year undergraduate degree that is recognized as an accredited institution.

The minimum GPA to apply is 3.0 out of 4.0 scale, calculated using your last 60 credit hours of study (~approximately last 2 years of study). If you have a graduate degree, up to 15 credit hours can be applied to your GPA calculation. Based on previous successful cohorts, competitive GPAs are closer to 3.7.

Prerequisite coursework to apply includes Human Anatomy, Human Physiology and Biochemistry. These courses provide a helpful foundation before successful admitted candidates start the PA program.

No healthcare experience is required to apply to Dalhousie’s MPAS Program. 

DALHOUSIE MPAS  > ADMISSIONS

PA Admission Process

Once you have confirmed you meet the Resident Requirement, and you meet the academic criteria (undergrad coursework, GPA, completion of pre-req courses) etc you can formally begin your Dalhousie MPAS Application.

The application unfolds in 3 main phases:

Phase 1: Submit Your Basic Application (Section 1)
When the application portal opens, you can create an online account, pay t application fee, and complete Section 1. This includes basic information about your academic background and credentials.

Phase 2: Submit Your Full Application (Dec to Jan)
Once Section 1 is approved, Section 2 opens within 5-10 business days. Here you provide detailed responses to short-answer questions and supplementary materials that help the admissions committee understand who you are. You also take the Casper test, which evaluates how you handle real-world scenarios and interpersonal situations.

Phase 3: Interview and Decision (March to May)
If selected, you're invited to a virtual interview in early April. The Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) presents brief scenarios to assess your clinical reasoning and communication skills. The admissions committee makes final decisions by May.

DALHOUSIE MPAS > ADMISSIONS

Key Application Dates

The entire application for Dalhousie’s MPAS program spans 6 months for a January 2028 start. Be sure to pay special attention to several overlapping deadlines.

Section 1: November-December 2026

Applications open November 9, 2026 where you submit your basic information, academic history & the application fee. This phase closes Dec 13, 2026. You must complete Section 1 before you can access section 2.

Casper Test

Casper is a mandatory situational judgement test that assess non-cognitive skills (e.g. communication, critical thinking, ethical decision making and handling conflict) through realistic scenarios. Casper test dates run from July 2026 through February 2027, but you must finish your Casper test by the Section 2 application deadline.

Tip: We recommend you plan to take the Casper test early (ideally by November or December), so you’re not rushed. If test slots fill, or for unforeseen reasons issues arise, you won’t risk missing the deadline.

Section 2: Dec 2026-Jan 2027

Section 2 opens shortly after section 1 opens. This section includes your short answer questionnaire and supplementary materials that will provide the admissions committee insight into your values, motivations and fit for the PA program and role. All components of section 2 (except reference letters) close January 17, 2027.

Reference Letters: April 1, 2027

Two letters of reference are required. These are submitted online via the online portal or Confidential Reference form.

Admission Tip: Request your letters early in the admissions process! Be sure to confirm and as your referees in December of January so they have time to write thoughtfully without being rushed.

Final Interviews: April 8, 2027

Admissions reviews all completed applications in February and March, then invitations for interviews are sent to competitive applicants on March 2027. These candidates participate in a Virtual Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) on April 8, 2027.

Admission Offers: May 2027

Final decisions are sent to successful applicants by May 2027, giving you several months before the PA program starts in January 2028. 

Application Timeline & Term Start

January 2027 Term

  • Application opens Nov 10, 2025

  • Application closes Dec 13, 2025

January 2028 Term

  • Application opens: Nov 9, 2026

  • Application closes: Dec 13, 2026

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

About Dalhousie’s MPAS Program

About →
Year 1 →
Year 2 →
Post Graduation →

About

Dalhousie’s MPAS program is Atlantic Canada’s first and only PA Program in Canada. The program was launched with its inaugural class in 2024, in response to increased demand for health care provider access in Nova Scotia and the Maritimes.

The program runs for 2 years, full-time, in-person, with first year being clinical foundations and second year being clinical rotations. The academic year runs from January to December, differing from most PA Programs.

Accreditation

Dalhousie is currently approved to operate by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission, which reviews programs before launch to confirm they meet established academic standards, and it remains accountable to Dalhousie's Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Graduate Studies.

The program is being evaluated for eligibility under Accreditation Canada's EQual program and anticipates earning accredited status by 2027

DALHOUSIE MPAS > About

Year 1: Pre-Clerkship

Year 1 is classroom, lab, and simulation based, taught through case-based learning in small groups. Students work through patient scenarios in tutorials to build clinical reasoning early rather than memorizing topics in isolation.

Medical Foundations spans three terms: host defence, metabolism, human development, neurosciences, MSK, dermatology, and integration topics like geriatrics and palliative care.

Skilled Clinician covers procedural skills such as suturing and casting, plus EKG and radiology interpretation. This is where students get their first patient contact through shadowing and observerships, and practise with simulated patients at the C3LR simulation centre.

Professional Competencies covers professionalism, working with communities, and habits for lifelong learning.

Research in Medicine meets biweekly and builds toward a scholarly project due at the end of Year 2.

Interprofessional Health Education requires four activities, one mandatory and three students select.

DALHOUSIE MPAS > About

Year 2: Clerkship

Year 2 is 48 weeks of clinical rotations. Students complete 10 rotations total, 8 core and 2 electives, working directly with patients under the supervision of physician and PA preceptors.

Rotations take place at tertiary care sites in Halifax and in community settings beyond the metro area, giving students exposure to how care is delivered in different Maritime populations.

Research in Medicine and Interprofessional Health Education continue, with the scholarly project due at the end of Year 2.

DALHOUSIE MPAS

Post Graduation

Graduates are eligible to challenge the Physician Assistant Certification Examination (PACE) through the Physician Assistant Certification Council of Canada (PACCC).

Successful candidates earn the Canadian Certified Physician Assistant (CCPA) designation and can pursue practice in settings such as:

  • Primary care clinics

  • Emergency departments

  • Hospitals

  • Surgical services

  • Specialty clinics

  • Rural and community healthcare settings

Graduates can pursue job opportunities in any province or territory where PAs are recognized and regulated.

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Accepted Class Infographics

Learn from self-reported data of accepted Dalhousie MPAS students. These are based on the Dalhousie PA Student Association surveys, showing GPA, age, academic background and application history.

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DalMPAS _ Class of 2027.png
DalMPAS _ Class of 2026.png