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 SCOTIADalhousie 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.
-
Address:
Physician Assistant Studies Office
Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University
5849 University Ave, CRC Building, Room C-125
Halifax, NS B3H 4R2General inquires
Email: mpas@dal.caAdmissions
Email: pa.admissions@dal.caAsk a Dal PA StudentEmail: askadalpas@gmail.com
-
-
-
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.
APPLY TO DALHOUSIE MPASPA Admissions Guide
DALHOUSIE MPAS > ADMISSIONSAdmission Requirements
Resident Status
Undergraduate Study
Minimum GPA
Prerequisite Courses
Health Care ExperienceMaritime Residency Requirement
Before applying to Dalhousie’s MPAS program, you must first confirm you meet the Maritime Resident Status requirement, which Dalhousie defines as:
Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and
Reside in a Maritime province: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, or Prince Edward Island
Dalhousie MPAS has 24 seats available:
20 seats are prioritized for Nova Scotia residents
4 seats are reserved for residents of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island
Applicants from outside the Maritime provinces are not eligible to apply.
Undergraduate Degree
Applicants must hold a completed four-year undergraduate degree from a recognized accredited institution.
GPA Requirement
A minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 is required, calculated using the most recent 60 credit hours of study (approximately the final two years of undergraduate coursework).
Applicants with a graduate degree may have up to 15 credit hours from their graduate studies included in their GPA calculation.
While the minimum GPA meets the eligibility requirement, successful applicants from previous cohorts typically present with higher GPAs (often closer to 3.7).
Prerequisite Courses
Applicants must complete coursework in:
Human Anatomy
Human Physiology
Biochemistry
These courses provide foundational knowledge that supports success in the MPAS curriculum.
Healthcare Experience
Healthcare experience is not required for admission to Dalhousie’s MPAS program.
No Preferred Admission CriteriaDalhousie does not specify any preferred qualities or experiences beyond what’s assessed through their formal application components.
DALHOUSIE MPAS > ADMISSIONSPA Admission Process
Application Portal
Supporting Documents
REFERENCES
Pre-Interview Assessments
Final InterviewOnce 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 > ADMISSIONSKey Application Dates
Applications Open
Application Deadline
Reference Letters Due
Final Interviews
PROGRAM STARTThe 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 StartJanuary 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 OVERVIEWAbout Dalhousie’s MPAS Program
About
University
Degree
Location
Length
DeliveryDalhousie’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 > AboutYear 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 > AboutYear 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 MPASPost Graduation
Step 1: Certification as a Physician Assistant
Graduates of Dalhousie’s MPAS program are eligible to challenge the Physician Assistant Certification Examination (PACE) through the Physician Assistant Certification Council of Canada (PACCC).
Successful completion of PACE allows graduates to use the Canadian Certified Physician Assistant (CCPA) designation, the national certification credential for Physician Assistants in Canada.
Step 2: Register to Practice
PAs can practice in Canadian jurisdictions where the profession is regulated and recognized.
In Nova Scotia PAs are regulated. To practice here, PAs must register with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia (CPSNS) beginning practice.
Graduates planning to work in another province or territory must complete the registration process through the relevant regulatory body in that jurisdiction.
Step 3: Begin Clinical Practice
Once certified and registered, PAs can work across a variety of healthcare settings, depending on provincial regulations, employer needs, and the individual PA/MD supervisory relationship.
Common practice settings include:
Primary care clinics
Emergency departments
Hospital medicine
Surgical services
Specialty clinics
Rural and community healthcare settings
APPLY TO DALHOUSIE MPASApplicant Resources
-
01. Pre-PA Community Chats
-
02. Application Prep Guides
DALHOUSIE MPASPodcast Interviews
DALHOUSIE MPASAccepted 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.
