Physician Assistant Prerequisites

Carroll College Physician Assistant Program

Academic Prerequisites at-a-glance SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or equivalent foreign institution is required. No specific major is required or preferred. A degree may be in progress at the time of application, but must be complete by closure of the application cycle.

GPA

  • Minimum 3.0 overall cumulative GPA (on 4.0 scale) is required. Calculated by CASPA.
  • Minimum 3.0 prerequisite GPA (on 4.0 scale) is required. Calculated by CASPA.
  • Any graduate coursework may be considered in addition to the cumulative undergraduate GPA.

Entrance Examinations

Entrance exams such as the GRE, PA-CAT, and MCAT are not required.

Required Coursework

Due to the compressed and accelerated nature of the PA curriculum, competitive applicants will demonstrate a strong foundation in the basic sciences and an ability to successfully manage a challenging academic workload.

Regarding online coursework: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many students completed coursework online. Carroll College recognizes the unique challenges many students faced. As such, online coursework completed during the 2020-2021 academic year will be acceptable in most instances to meet the prerequisites. Exceptions are Anatomy (in-person lab required) and Organic Chemistry OR Biochemistry (in-person lab required).

Biological Sciences

  • Anatomy
    • 1 semester or 2 quarters with lab (cadaver lab not required)
    • A one-year combined anatomy and physiology course is acceptable
    • Must include all organ systems
    • Must be completed within 10 years of application deadline
    • If it has been more than 10 years since course was completed, a refresher course is required. A refresher course in anatomy (only) or a combined anatomy & physiology refresher course must be taken in person.
    • Acceptable courses may include: human anatomy, human anatomy and physiology, comparative anatomy, gross anatomy. Others may be acceptable. Inquire with PA program if unsure.
    • Not meeting requirement: Embryology, neuroanatomy
  • Physiology
    • 1 semester or 2 quarters with or without lab in human or animal physiology.
    • A one-year combined anatomy & physiology course is acceptable
    • Must include all organ systems
    • Must be completed within 10 years of application deadline
    • If it has been more than 10 years since course was completed, a refresher course is required. A refresher course in physiology (only) may be completed online. A combined anatomy & physiology refresher course must be taken in person.
    • A stand-alone course in physiology that was completed during the COVID-19 pandemic is acceptable (if taken 2020-2021).
    • Acceptable courses may include: general, animal, or human physiology, integrated physiology, cellular & molecular physiology. Others may be acceptable. Inquire with PA program if unsure.
    • Not meeting requirement: Exercise physiology, kinesiology, sports physiology or any course that does not include all organ systems.
  • Microbiology
    • 1 semester or 1 quarter with or without lab
    • Course should include a broad overview of microbiology that includes bacteriology, virology, fungi, and parasites.
    • Must be completed within 10 years of application deadline
    • If it has been more than 10 years since course was completed, a refresher course is required, which may be completed online.
    • Online course completed during COVID-19 pandemic is acceptable (if taken 2020-2021).
    • Acceptable courses may include: general microbiology, medical microbiology, clinical microbiology; others may be acceptable.
    • Not meeting requirement: Stand-alone courses in parasitology, virology, bacteriology

Chemistry

  • General Chemistry
    • 2 semesters or 3 quarters
    • Lab required
    • Acceptable courses may include: general chemistry, inorganic chemistry, essentials of chemistry.
  • Organic Chemistry OR Biochemistry
    • 2 semesters or 3 quarters
    • In-person lab required
    • Courses should be 200 level or higher and intended for science majors

Additional Biology/Chemistry

  • At least 2 additional courses that are applicable to human physiology
    • Courses must be 200 level or higher
    • A variety of courses will meet this prerequisite including (but not limited to): genetics, immunology, biochemistry, neuroscience, molecular biology, nutrition, pharmacology.
    • Not meeting requirement: botany, ecology, marine biology

Mathematics

  • Statistics
    • One course in statistics
    • Generally, any course with statistics in the title is acceptable

Social Science

  • One course in the social sciences
  • Required: A course in psychology, sociology, or anthropology will meet this requirement, although a variety of courses can fulfill this prerequisite
  • Not meeting requirement: political science, economics, history