Pre-Physician Assistant Coursework

A physician’s assistant (PA) is a nationally certified and state-licensed medical professional. PAs practice medicine on healthcare teams with physicians and other medical specialists. Physician’s assistants diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as a patient’s principal healthcare provider.

A bachelor’s degree is required for entry into a PA program. Undergraduate students do not have to major in one of the sciences. However, much of the pre-professional coursework is science focused and so most students major in one of the science areas. We encourage students to pursue a major that they find interesting so they will be successful.

Applicants should check whether they are required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or another exam for admission. Please check with each program as this requirement varies between schools. The GRE measures the applicant’s verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. For more information about GRE and preparation for the exam visit https://www.ets.org/gre/

Many hours of direct patient care experience is expected for admissions to PA programs. However, the number of hours varies considerably between programs so please check with each program to determine if you meet the minimal requirements. What qualifies as direct patient care may vary between programs as well. Work as a certified nursing assistant, EMT, or athletic trainer would most likely qualify; job shadowing may not. However, job shadowing experience would be beneficial to you application and may be required by some programs.