Pre-Physician Assistant (PA) Pathway

Students who choose to pursue a Pre-PA Pathway should:

  • Earn a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Shadow a PA at Phelps Health or in their local community

Students should take the following prerequisite courses:

  • BIO SCI 1213 or 1113 Principles or General Biology
  • BIO SCI 1219 General Biology Lab
  • BIO SCI 2223 Genetics
  • BIO SCI 3313 Microbiology
  • BIO SCI 3319 Microbiology Lab
  • BIO SCI 3333 A&P I
  • BIO SCI 3343 A&P II
  • BIO SCI 3359 Physiology Lab
  • CHEM 1310 General Chemistry I
  • CHEM 1319 General Chemistry Lab
  • CHEM 1320 General Chemistry II
  • CHEM 1220 Organic Chemistry I
  • CHEM 2220 Organic Chemistry II
  • Some programs require CHEM 4610 General Biochemistry
  • STAT 3425 Introduction to Biostatistics
  • PSYCH 1101 General Psychology
  • PSYCH 3310 Developmental Psychology or other upper level psychology
  • PREMED 3010 Prehealth Communication (optional in Junior year for application preparation, includes practice exam)

Admission to PA programs require a minimum of 500+ hours (number depends on program) of paid hands-on patient care experience. Patient care experience typically requires certification to work as a nurse, paramedic, EMT-B, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Patient Care Technician (PCT), respiratory therapist, athletic trainer, or Medical Assistant (MA).

Determine if your schools of interest require the GRE, PA-CAT, or neither, and use CASPA to submit your application to PA programs.