Overview:
Physician Assistants (PAs) are healthcare professionals who work in collaboration with licensed physicians and other members of the healthcare team. They can provide a wide range of clinical services such as diagnosing and treating illnesses, prescribing medications, performing procedures, and assisting in surgery. They can also work across different specialties including primary care, urgent or emergency care, psychiatry, and women’s health.
For additional information about this career path, check out: https://explorehealthcareers.org/careers/physician-assistant-associate/
Explore:
What major should I choose? When preparing for a career as a physician assistant, prerequisite requirements can vary between programs. Most science-based majors will cover many of the common prerequisites needed for PA programs.
When choosing a major, we recommend selecting one you’re genuinely interested in. Students who do so often earn higher GPAs, which is an important factor when applying to graduate and professional programs.
How do you find accredited PA programs? You can find PA programs using this program directory. When selecting programs, students are encouraged to research programs based on factors such as admission requirements, prerequisite coursework, healthcare experience requirements, location, cost, program length, and overall fit.
Prepare:
Recommended Coursework:
*These courses are intended as general prerequisite guidelines and may not include all requirements. Students are responsible for reviewing the specific prerequisite coursework and course equivalencies required by each PA program they are considering.
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CSU Recommended Courses
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General Biology (2 semesters) |
LIFE 102 and LIFE 103 |
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General Chemistry (2 semesters w/ labs) |
CHEM 111/112 and CHEM 113/114 |
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Genetics (1 semester) |
BZ 350 or LIFE 201B
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Human Anatomy (1 semester) |
BMS 301 |
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Physiology- lab recommended (1 semester) |
BMS 300/302 |
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Psychology (2 semesters) |
PSY 100 and PSY 320 |
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Statistics (1 semester) |
STAT 301 or STAT 307 |
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Highly recommended courses (organic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, and medical terminology) |
CHEM 245/246 or CHEM 341, 343/344, BC 351, LIFE 205/206 or MIP 300/302, OT 215 |
How to create a competitive application
Building a competitive PA school application involves more than meeting minimum admission requirements. Successful applicants often demonstrate strong academic performance, complete upper–level coursework, when possible, gain meaningful direct patient care experience, shadow Physician Assistants, participate in research or leadership activities, and develop a clear understanding of why they want to pursue the PA profession. Focus on gaining experiences that align with your interests while learning about the expectations and requirements of the programs you plan to apply to.
Direct Patient Care Hours
Many PA programs may have requirements when it comes to direct patient care hours or clinical/healthcare relevant experience hours. Competitive applicants generally have around 500 to 1000 hours of experience prior to applying, with some programs requiring up to 2000 hours.
Undergraduate Research
While not required for admission, it is highly recommended that students participate in research. For more information about undergraduate research at CSU, visit the Office for Undergraduate Research & Artistry page.
Shadowing
Shadowing does not count towards direct patient care hours. It is often required or highly recommended by PA programs. We encourage students to check their programs of interest to see specific requirements. Shadowing allows students to gain rapport with PAs who can go on to write them strong letters of recommendation.
Volunteering and Extracurricular Activities
While there are no specific requirements for volunteer and extracurricular activities, it is highly encouraged that students gain other experiences that improve transferable skills/career competencies and create a more competitive application.
Apply:
Possible Entrance Exams:
Some PA programs do not require standardized tests. However, some programs may require applicants to complete the GRE (Graduate Record Examination), the PA-CAT (Physician Assistant College Admission Test), or the Casper (a situational judgement assessment).
Letters of Recommendation:
- Most PA programs require 2–3 letters of recommendation.
- Recommended letter writers: a physician assistant, a clinical supervisor from paid or volunteer patient care experience, and a professor.
- Many programs prefer or require at least one letter from a PA.
- Program requirements vary, so be sure to verify each program’s requirements before applying.
Application Service:
- Create a CASPA application. CASPA (Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants)
- Submit application materials including official transcripts, healthcare and extracurricular experiences, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and check for supplemental application requirements.
- Review program deadlines. Some programs may use a rolling or non-rolling process.
- Need help with the application? Check out the CASPA help center.
Personal Statements:
PA programs require a personal statement as part of the CASPA. The personal statement is typically an essay with up to 5,000 characters. In this essay, you can highlight relevant experiences and demonstrate an understanding of the profession. Because it is an important part of the holistic review process, students should take time to reflect on their clinical experiences, academic journey, and long-term career goals when drafting their essay. Check out our website for personal statement resources.
Resources:
Timeline: This timeline may not apply to every student and can vary depending on transfer credits, academic preparation, and other individual circumstances.
Freshman and Sophomore year: |
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Junior year- Fall: |
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Junior Year – Dec-March: |
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Junior Year- Spring-Summer: |
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Senior Year: |
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FAQ
Are AP credits allowed?
Some PA schools do not accept AP credits. Please be sure to look at each of your programs’ AP credit policies before utilizing them to meet PA program requirements.
How many PA schools should I apply to?
Many students apply to 5-10 PA schools. It is highly dependent upon financial aspects, competitiveness of your application, and preferred program location.
How do I find shadowing experience or clinical/patient care opportunities?
Students often find shadowing and clinical experiences by contacting local hospitals, clinics, private practices, and healthcare organizations, or by networking through personal contacts and career fairs. For PA programs, patient care experience typically involves direct hands-on interaction with patients, such as working as a CNA, EMT, medical assistant, phlebotomist, or other support roles.
Do prerequisites expire?
Many programs require science prerequisites to be completed within the last 5-7 years.
What GPA is competitive for PA programs?
Most PA programs have a minimum GPA requirement of 3.0, but average applicants typically have GPAs around 3.5
Do online classes and community college courses count?
Policies vary; some PA programs require in-person labs or accept community college coursework, while others prefer four-year university credits.
How do I track or log my experiences?
We recommend keeping a document or spreadsheet that includes the location, contact information, dates of your experience, total hours completed, and a brief description of what you observed or participated in.
When do I apply?
Application cycles can vary depending on the program. Some may use rolling admissions, which means applicants are reviewed as soon as they submit. For programs that use rolling admissions, it is better to submit early in the application cycle. Programs that use non-rolling admissions generally have deadlines in the fall.