A PA school interview day is rarely one conversation. Programs combine MMI stations, one-on-one interviews, group exercises, written essays, and recorded video answers, and each program picks its own mix. Here is what named PA programs say about their interviews, what they score, and how to prepare.
From PAEA and programs' own admissions pages2026-27 cycleChecked October 28, 2026
Practice with a mock interviewOne-on-one on Zoom with Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP.
Jump to:Formats by programWhat they look forCommon questionGroup exercisesVirtual interviewsHow to prepareFAQ
Interview formats by program
These come from each program's own admissions page. Formats change from cycle to cycle, so check the page for every program that invites you.
| School | Format | What their page says |
|---|---|---|
| OHSU | MMI, interview, and group activity | “Each station lasts 10 minutes, with 2 minutes to review the scenario or question and 8 minutes to respond.” “In groups of five, candidates complete a 25-minute activity.” Uses Kira. Source |
| Emory | MMI on Zoom | “Emory PA interviews are conducted in the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format,” online via Zoom. Source |
| University of Florida | 8-station MMI | “an 8 station Multiple Mini Interview circuit with PA faculty members” and others; “the option of in-person or virtual format.” Source |
| Methodist University | In-person MMI and group exercise | “all interviews are conducted in-person and on campus.” “Virtual interview requests will not be granted.” Source |
| Duke | Two interviews and a group exercise on Zoom | “two individual interviews with a faculty, PA alumni, or other Duke health professional, as well as a group exercise with other applicants.” Source |
| Texas Tech HSC | Interviews, group interview, and essay on Zoom | “interviewed individually by two faculty members, alumni, community PAs or Physicians,” plus “a typed, short essay” and “a group interview.” Sessions run 4 to 5 hours. Source |
| Pace (Pleasantville) | Interview, group exercise, and essay, in person | “The interview is comprised of individual interview, group exercise, and completion of an essay.” Source |
| Des Moines University | Recorded Kira interview | “You will be asked a question and given prep time and a set amount of time to respond.” About 20 to 30 minutes. Source |
For how MMI stations work, see our page on the MMI interview.
What PA programs are looking for
OHSU lists what its interview day assesses: communication, self-reflection and self-awareness, empathy, teamwork, ethical responsibility to self and others, cultural awareness and sensitivity, resilience and adaptability, and professional and personal preparation (OHSU). Emory's MMIs assess communication skills, understanding of medical ethical issues or health policy, problem-solving, maturity, attitudes, and interpersonal skills, and Emory adds:
“The MMIs are not used to assess a candidate’s medical knowledge.”Emory PA Program
Pace says applicants are evaluated on qualities including professional awareness, leadership, communication skills, motivation, professionalism, and coping abilities, and that “These are assessed and scored using Rubrics” (Pace).
The question you will almost certainly get
PA programs rarely publish their questions, but Mount St. Mary's PA admissions manager wrote about the most common one in August 2026:
“Be prepared to discuss why you want to become a Physician Assistant. This question almost always comes up”Laura Godwin-Stewart, Mount St. Mary’s University PA Program
She adds that your answer should “go beyond, ‘I want to help people,’” and suggests thinking about “a patient interaction that impacted you,” “A mentor who inspired you,” or “A personal experience that shaped your perspective.”
Based on what programs say they assess, these are worth practicing out loud. They are my practice prompts, not questions any program has published:
- Why PA and not medicine or nursing?
- Tell me about a patient who changed how you think about care.
- What does a PA do on a care team, and how do you see yourself working with physicians?
- Tell me about a time you disagreed with someone on a team.
- Describe a mistake you made and what you did next.
- How do you handle stress, and what will you do when PA school gets hard?
- Why our program?
Your interviewers may have your application in front of them, so reread your own CASPA personal statement before the interview. If you haven't submitted yet, see our CASPA personal statement examples, or work with Lauren Hammond, PhD, our personal statement editor.
Group exercises and essays
Many PA programs watch you work with other applicants. OHSU, Duke, Methodist, Texas Tech, and Pace all include a group exercise or group interview. In a group task you are scored on how you work with others: whether you invite quieter people in, build on ideas, and keep the group moving, not on whether you talk the most.
Some programs add writing. Texas Tech asks for “a typed, short essay,” and Pace includes an essay on interview day. Practice writing a clear, organized answer to a healthcare or ethics prompt in 20 to 30 minutes.
Virtual and recorded interviews
PAEA's tips for virtual interviews: “Do a dry run, making sure you know how to connect your camera and audio via the live streaming platform,” and “Make sure your lighting is good and your background is appropriate, including minimal clutter” (PAEA). Recorded platforms like Kira give you a fixed prep time and answer time with no interviewer to react to, so practice talking to a camera on a timer. See our Kira Talent interview guide.
Some programs also require Casper, a separate online situational judgment test. Boston University says “Applications without CASPer scores will NOT be reviewed” and that “the minimum required CASPer score will be the 3rd quartile (50+ percentile)” for 2026-27 (Boston University). See our Casper test guide.
How to prepare
- Find each program's format. An MMI, a group exercise, and a recorded Kira interview need different practice.
- Know your why in two minutes. Build it from a specific patient, mentor, or experience, not a general wish to help.
- Know the PA role. Be ready to explain what PAs do and how they work with physicians.
- Prepare five or six stories. A patient interaction, a team conflict, a mistake, a stressful stretch, and a leadership moment.
- Practice out loud, on a timer. OHSU gives 2 minutes to read and 8 to respond. Practice at that pace.
- Get feedback from a person. You can't hear your own filler words or see how you come across on camera. A mock interview shows you both.
Practice with a real interviewer before the real one. My wife, Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP, is a licensed speech-language pathologist who runs mock interviews on Zoom for PA school applicants. She coaches every format: one-on-one, panel, MMI, and recorded video interviews such as Kira Talent. She works on how your answers come across: clear key words, pace, voice, filler words, organizing an answer so it has a point, staying steady when you're nervous, and how you look and sound on camera. It's $250 an hour.
Frequently asked questions
What is the PA school interview format?
It depends on the program. OHSU, Emory, Florida, and Methodist use MMI stations; Duke uses two individual interviews and a group exercise; Des Moines uses a recorded Kira interview. Many programs combine formats.
What is the most common PA school interview question?
Why you want to become a PA. Mount St. Mary's PA admissions manager says, “This question almost always comes up.”
Do PA school interviews test medical knowledge?
Generally no. Emory says its MMIs “are not used to assess a candidate's medical knowledge.” Programs score communication, ethics, teamwork, and motivation.
Are PA school interviews virtual?
Many are. Emory, Duke, and Texas Tech interview on Zoom, and Florida offers in person or virtual. Methodist interviews in person only, and Pace holds interviews on its Pleasantville campus.
Is there a group activity at PA school interviews?
Often. OHSU, Duke, Methodist, Texas Tech, and Pace all include a group exercise or group interview.
Do PA programs require Casper?
Some do. Boston University requires it for 2026-27 and sets a minimum of the 3rd quartile. Check each program's requirements.
Every format and quotation on this page comes from PAEA or the program's own admissions page, linked where it appears. Last checked October 28, 2026.