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The document lists common prerequisites and program-by-program alternatives using PSU course mappings, covering biology, anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology, psychology, statistics, and additional requirements such as genetics, biochemistry, math, medical terminology, and abnormal/developmental psychology. It also summarizes PA entrance selection signals, including GPA averages, health care experience hours, shadowing, direct patient contact eligibility, certification considerations, and application components like CASPA, GRE, recommendation letters, and supportive resource links.",{"@graph":69,"@context":123},[70,84,106],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":20,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/preparing-for-physician-assistant-graduate-programs-admissions-and-coursework-preparation/397786/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/preparing-for-physician-assistant-graduate-programs-admissions-and-coursework-preparation/397786.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Cart","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-02","2026-09-26",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":105},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",12,{"@type":107,"mainEntity":108},"FAQPage",[109,115,119],{"name":110,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":112},"Why can’t applicants rely on one universal checklist for PA admissions?","Question",{"text":113,"@type":114},"Admission requirements vary across PA programs, so applicants must research the specific schools they plan to apply to rather than rely only on the provided lists.","Answer",{"name":116,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":117},"What are the common pre-PA course requirements listed in the document?",{"text":118,"@type":114},"The document lists general biology with lab, anatomy with lab, physiology with lab, general chemistry across two lab-inclusive semesters, microbiology, intro psychology, and statistics as common requirements.",{"name":120,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":121},"What does the document say about patient experience and shadowing hours?",{"text":122,"@type":114},"PA schools value shadowing hours, volunteer experience, and direct patient contact; the document reports average GPA values and summarizes health care experience hours and shadowing averages from responding programs.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":125,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":127,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":129,"site_id":62},397786,1790718214,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":132},{"doc_id":129,"user_id":133,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":19,"category_name":20,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":105,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":81,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":144,"read_time":39,"preview_page_count":4},18829141979164,"https://eur-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_6f874abed73319feea01a86fa6f0fab8","Preparing for Physician Assistant Graduate Programs  \nOne of the most challenging aspects of preparing for PA school is that not all programs have the same admission requirements. The tables below list the coursework that should be on a pre-PA student’s radar.  \nRather than rely solely on the lists below, it is the student’s responsibility to research the admission requirements for the schools to which they plan to apply. To look up requirements for individual schools, [go to directory.paeaonline.org/](go to directory.paeaonline.org/)  \nCOMMON REQUIREMENTS:  \n| Requirement | PSU Course |\n| --- | --- |\n| General Biology I with Lab | BIOL 110 (fall semester preferred for “wet” lab) |\n| Anatomy with Lab | BIOL 129 |\n| Physiology with Lab | BIOL 141, 142 |\n| General Chemistry (Inorganic) (2 semesters w/ labs) | CHEM 110, 111, 112, 113 |\n| Microbiology | MICRB 106 , 107 or 201 , 202 |\n| Intro Psychology | PSYCH 100 |\n| Statistics | STAT 200 or 250 |\n\nPROGRAM-by-PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:  \n\n| Requirement | PSU Course |\n| --- | --- |\n| Genetics | BIOL 133 or 222 |\n| General Biology II with Lab | BIOL 230W or 240W (only offered spring semesters @ UP) |\n| Organic Chemistry | CHEM 202 (3 cr)\u003Cbr>-or\u003Cbr>CHEM 202 (3 cr) → 203 (3 cr) (if lab required or if two semesters of o-chem required)\u003Cbr>* Chem 202 is a prereq for Chem 203.\u003Cbr>*Chem 203 includes a built-in lab.\u003Cbr>-or\u003Cbr>CHEM 210 (3 cr) → Chem 212 (3 cr) + Chem 213 (2 cr lab) .\u003Cbr>NOTE: There is no 1-credit o-chem lab at Penn State. |\n| Biochemistry | BMB 211 + 212 (if lab required) (Chem 202 or 210 is a prereq for BMB 211) |\n| Math | MATH 022 or higher level (depending on specific schools’ requirements and your Aleks placement) |\n| Medical Terminology | KINES 203 |\n| Developmental Psychology | PSYCH 212 |\n| Social Psychology (less often required than Developmental or Abnormal Psych) | PSYCH 221 |\n| Abnormal Psychology | PSYCH 270 |\n\nThe data below are from the PAEA Annual Report 2014-2015  \nGRADES:  \n• The average overall GPA of admitted students was 3.5.  \n• The average science GPA of admitted students was 3.5  \nPATIENT EXPERIENCE:  \n• PA schools value shadowing hours, volunteer experience and direct patient contact when looking at an applicant’s experience. The average amount and type of experience of admitted students is detailed below.  \nTable 26 shows the average health care experience (HCE) hours of matriculants for responding programs. Fifty-five percent of programs (n = 106) collect information on the average number of hours of HCE or work/volunteer experience. There was an increase in the average HCE hours for matriculating students between this year and the last. For instance, the average number of community service hours of matriculating students more than doubled from 424.8 (Mdn=269 .9, SD=480 .0) to 869.0 (Mdn=322 .0, SD=2,245 .2) the previous year.  \nThis year’s matriculants reported more work experience prior to entering their PA program, with an average of 3,272 .3 hours of other HCE hours (Mdn=2,297 .0, SD=2,157 .2), as compared to the previous year’s cohort, which had an average of 1,013 .6 other HCE hours (Mdn=713 .0, SD=943 .0) . Fifty-five programs reported that their students averaged 160.4 hours of shadowing experience, as compared to last year, when 45 programs reported an average of 144.2 hours of shadowing experience per matriculant.  \n• The average age of a first-year PA student was 26 , which implies that successful applicants have taken a gap period since graduating with a bachelor’s degree and have gained significant experience during their gap period.  \nNot all schools will consider the same experiences as qualifying as direct patient care hours, so please research/contact schools you are considering. Some possibilities for direct patient care may include:  \n\n| Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Nurse’s Aide | Medical Assistant |\n| --- | --- |\n| EMT/Paramedic | Phlebotomist |\n| Home Health Care Aide | Orderly/Patient Transporter/ED Technician |\n| Scribe | ","cbCaiaTW7FJq13gn","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiaTW7FJq13gn","pdf",183727,"English","# Common Requirements\n# Program-by-Program Requirements\n## Coursework Mappings\n# Applicant Metrics and Patient Experience\n## GPA and Science GPA\n## Shadowing and Health Care Experience Hours\n## Direct Patient Care and Certification\n# GRE and Applications\n## GRE Requirements and Links\n## Applications via CASPA\n# Letters of Recommendation\n# Additional Resources","[{\"question\":\"Why can’t applicants rely on one universal checklist for PA admissions?\",\"answer\":\"Admission requirements vary across PA programs, so applicants must research the specific schools they plan to apply to rather than rely only on the provided lists.\"},{\"question\":\"What are the common pre-PA course requirements listed in the document?\",\"answer\":\"The document lists general biology with lab, anatomy with lab, physiology with lab, general chemistry across two lab-inclusive semesters, microbiology, intro psychology, and statistics as common requirements.\"},{\"question\":\"What does the document say about patient experience and shadowing hours?\",\"answer\":\"PA schools value shadowing hours, volunteer experience, and direct patient contact; the document reports average GPA values and summarizes health care experience hours and shadowing averages from responding programs.\"}]","Preparing for Physician Assistant Graduate Programs - Admissions and Coursework Preparation | PDF",1790466232]