Course Requirements Overview
This is a guide to common pre-physician assistant studies course requirements.
Additional Notes:
- Individual schools may require or recommend additional courses.
- Many programs prefer in person coursework, and some programs may not allow online coursework. See individual schools for policies.
- All prerequisites must be completed with a letter grade of C or higher.
- Schools vary on Credit-By-Exam (AP/IB/CLEP) policies and preferences for prerequisites. Please see "Can I Claim AP/IB Credit?"
School requirements can change. See individual school websites and admissions guides under Research Physician Assistant Schools Before You Apply
Recommended Pre-PA Courses
To prepare for most physician assistant studies, students study the following subjects.
- General Biology with labs
- Genetics
- Microbiology with lab
- Human Anatomy & Physiology with labs
- General Chemistry with labs
- Organic Chemistry with lab
- Biochemistry (recommended)
- Math/Statistics
- English/Rhetoric/Expository Writing
- Psychology/Sociology
(PA Prerequisite Course Timelines and a PA Science Courses Flowchart are available at the bottom of this page.)
We strongly recommend taking courses in the following areas.
- Ethics
- Analytical problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Writing, interpersonal communications, and presentation skills
- Cultural studies
- Spanish and other language studies relevant to your career goals
UT Austin courses are typically taken to fulfill requirements.
Science courses:
| Subject | Lecture | Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Biology |
|
|
| Anatomy |
|
|
| Physiology |
|
|
| Microbiology & Lab |
|
|
| General Chemistry |
|
|
| Organic Chemistry |
|
|
Currently, all Texas PA schools only require one semester of Organic Chemistry with a lab. Starting Fall 2024*, pre-health students only needing one semester of O Chem lab should be able to register for CH 120K (*this is still pending approval and has recently been updated). Some out of state schools may require two semesters of O Chem and 2 credit hours of lab. (Check school websites for their specific requirements.)
Some schools may require additional science courses. Examples of courses that may be required or recommended are:
| Subject | Lecture | Lab/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Biochemistry |
|
|
| Cell Biology |
|
|
| Immunology |
|
Another course option is pharmacology. |
Other remaining prerequisites:
| Subject | Lecture | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics |
|
Other introductory statistics courses may satisfy this requirement. Compare topics listed on the course syllabus with the requirements of the schools to which you will apply. Some schools may prefer only SDS or M courses. |
| Math | Some PA schools may require one semester of college algebra or higher. Most PA schools do not have a math requirement. Check school websites. | |
| Rhetoric (Composition) |
|
Few Texas PA programs require English and Writing courses. Check school websites. |
| Literature |
|
Remedial, developmental, and "English As a Second Language" courses are not accepted. |
PA programs vary on the specific requirements for the behavioral sciences. Generally, schools require no more than 3 – 6 hours which for most schools can be fulfilled by the following. Below the behavioral sciences are some other potential additional non-science courses.
| Subject | Lecture | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology |
|
Some programs may accept sociology or anthropology in place of one psychology course.
|
| Medical Terminology |
|
|
| Spanish | Check individual schools. |
Physician Assistant School Prerequisite Course Timelines
Completing the pre-PA courses and extra-curricular activities generally requires six semesters or longer, regardless of the student’s age or year in college. Your personal timeline may differ from these samples. Work with your academic advisor to incorporate these courses into your degree plan.
Important Note: Timelines do not include all course options and details. To be sure that you are fulfilling all requirements, see individual school websites. School links are provided on another page. See: Research PA schools before you apply!
Additional Course Information
- Currently a UT student and thinking of taking courses away from UT? (This may not be applicable if you are not yet enrolled at UT.)
- Are Extension Courses Okay for Physician Assistant Pre-Reqs?
- Other Pre-Health non-science courses of interest