Students who are interested in Physician Assistant programs should know that PA programs have a number of different requirements, and there is no standard curriculum that can be guaranteed to meet all requirements. Coursework, in general, can include requirements from any of the following areas:
- Anatomy (offered through cross-registration)
- Physiology (BIOL-4270)
- Biochemistry (BIOL-4760)
- Biology (BIOL 1010/1015 & BIOL 2120/2125)
- Microbiology (BIOL 4320)
- Chemistry (CHEM 1110/1120 & CHEM 1200)
- Organic Chemistry (CHEM 2230/2250 & CHEM 2240/2260)
- English Composition/Writing (Any two WRIT, LITR, or COMM courses that are communication intensive)
- Genetics (BIOL 2500)
- Medical Terminology (offered through cross-registration)
- Psychological Sciences (PSYC-1200)
- Statistics (BIOL 4200, MGMT-2150, or PSYC-2310)
It is recommended that students consult the official PAEA list of graduate programs for specific requirements by program.
Additional requirements include up to three years of clinical experience, which can be gained through any of the following positions (not an exhaustive list):
- Medical assistant
- Emergency medical technician
- Paramedic
- Medic or medical corpsman
- Lab assistant/phlebotomist
- Emergency room technician
- Surgical tech
- Certified nursing assistant
Because the application for PA schools is less standardized (test requirements vary by program, as do clinical experience requirements and class requirements) it is recommended that students look at each program individually.
The CASPA
The CASPA is the application service for Physician Assistant programs. Application cycles run from April to April each year, though students are encouraged to apply as early in the cycle as possible.