PA School Prerequisites: Admissions Directors Answer Your Burning Questions

As you probably know by now, if you want to get into PA school, you must complete the necessary prerequisite coursework.

I have discussed this in detail in a previous post Prerequisite Coursework: How to Design the Perfect Pre-PA School Curriculum.

Today, we are going a step further by giving you answers to some of the most common PA school prerequisite questions.

And the best part is:

These answers are directly from the PA school admissions committee themselves.

PA School Prerequisite Q&A

1. Do You Look Down On Community College Prerequisite Coursework?
2. Do PA School Prerequisite Classes Expire?
3. Can I Apply With Coursework in Progress?
4. Do My Prerequisite Courses Fulfill The Requirements?
5. Do You Accept Online Prerequisite Coursework?
6. Is There a Minimum GPA for Prerequisite Coursework?
7. Do You Accept Prerequisite Courses Completed at Different Colleges?
8. Is Lab Required?
9. How About Repeat Courses?
10. Graduate Or Undergraduate Courses?
11. Dropped Courses?

The following are questions asked by pre-PAs as part of the annual Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) forum, where ADCOMs from thirty top PA schools come together for a weekend and answer your questions. Schools such as Duke, Butler, Penn State College of Medicine, Yale, and Case Western Reserve (to name just a few).

Below you will find the question in bold with the ADCOM (admissions committee) answer in the blockquote. I have provided a summary of recommendations in yellow at the end of each section and an overall summary at the end of this post.

Got more questions or some helpful advice? Please let us know in the comments section.

1. Do You Look Down on Community College Prerequisite Coursework?

What is your take on applicants that take only one required course at a county college?

One or two community college courses is fine. The only time it becomes a concern is if ALL of your science or prereqs come from a community college, or there are multiple community colleges you have attended. - A.T. Still University

How do you view community college classes? Say I took a prerequisite course at a community college, but it was a simple general education class such as sociology?

Community college classes are fine. We know many people do not have the resources to go back and take pre-reqs at four-year schools - Duke University

I took all my science classes at community college. Will that be a problem?

Having all of your science from a community college will be a weakness on your application. If you have some science courses at a 4-year university that will help, but having completed all your science classes at CC will be a negative factor. - A.T. Still University

If I do plan to retake some courses, does it matter if it's at a local college or university? I can take some at the university level but others I can only retake at the college level because of financial hardship.

You can complete coursework at any regionally accredited institution. This can include a community college or online as well. - Butler University

So long as the courses are completed at a regionally accredited institution, they will satisfy. It does not matter to us if they are from a community college or a four-year institution. We are aware of the significant costs for applicants and students alike and we encourage you to complete them in a way that is cost-effective and works for you. - Penn State College of Medicine

I took all of my prerequisites at the community college level. Would you suggest re-taking any at a university or would it be better to put my focus on improving other areas of my application, such as patient care? How much of a negative impact does this hold? My GPA is strong, and I have significant volunteer hours.

In your case, I would not suggest retaking the courses. Yes, focus on your strengths so that you can offset the community college science courses. If you have an opportunity to take an upper-level science course at a 4-year university, you might consider that, but focus on the strong aspects of your application. It's not a one-strike and you are done - the whole process is flexible and holistic. - A.T. Still University

I had a school tell me that because I took my last few courses at a community college, this was held against me and that I was three of their scoring points away from an interview. How do you feel about that?

Upper division prerequisite requirements can be completed at a four-year institution, community college, or online courses from regionally accredited institutions. We do not look down on community college coursework. It will be factored in the same way - Penn State College of Medicine

Does your PA program accept prerequisites from Tri counties community college?

Yes, we will accept prerequisites from Tri C or other community colleges. - Case Western Reserve

Summary: Some schools care if all your prerequisite courses are taken at a community college, but the vast majority don't. If you can, it is best to research your preferred PA school's website and contact the program admission team.

Recommended reading: 

Does Attending Community College Hurt Your Chances of Getting into PA School?

2. Do PA School Prerequisite Classes Expire?

I would like to know if the prereq classes taken in undergrad in 2003 would be considered in factoring GPA or should I retake them. I can try to retake some at a university, but because of my financial situation, I can only afford community college courses. Will this be ok? Thanks

Courses you have taken do not expire for us. We will use your coursework from 2003 in our transcript review to determine which prerequisites are fulfilled. - Yale University

I completed my science classes in 2008, should I retake them?

If you've been working in healthcare full-time since graduating we would waive that requirement - Penn State College of Medicine

Do you accept a three-credit Humanities course if it was taken six years ago in 2011?

Yes, we will accept humanities credits that are older than 5 years. Only science credits must be taken within 5 years. - Touro University

My question is whether or not classes taken during undergrad "expire?" I graduated with a B.S in Biology in 2013 but started college in 2006. I was in the Air Force, so my undergrad took a long time to complete. As it stands, I am currently living as an Air Force dependent in Germany with my spouse while they finish their 4-year tour. I will not be applying to PA school for another three years. I was wondering since I will have been out of school for six years when I apply, will this hurt my application? I don't know if the time since my classes were taken, will work against me?

The courses that "time out" are Anatomy and Physiology. That course series must be completed within 5 years of matriculation so you may need to refresh those courses. - Carroll University

I am a medical graduate from India applying for PA program. When you talk about GPA, is it the GPA of the prerequisite courses or the bachelor's degree too? I received my bachelors in 1995 and have completed the prerequisites in the past two years. So which one counts more towards selection process?

The prereqs which must be completed within 10 years of applying count towards the selection process so we wouldn't look at your 1995 coursework at all actually. - Case Western Reserve

I have a biology degree but graduated in 2002, are there any courses that your program wants to be more recent?

All of the prerequisites have to be completed within 10 years of applying to our program.  - Case Western Reserve

Do classes have an expiration date? Also, can I repeat some of the undergrad courses at a community college?

College credits do not expire. I only suggest retaking if you did very poorly in a prereq. Some students will take refresher courses or upper-level science to get back into "student mode" but remember, community college credits are not as rigorous as 4-year university credits. - A.T. Still University

I graduated with a BS in 2011, taking some core science classes in 2007. Since graduating, I have been working as a certified medical assistant and now working with CHC on the central coast. Would I need to retake the core classes? 

No need to retake the prereqs. Having them completed more than 5 years ago is not ideal, but you have more recent coursework and clinical/volunteering to make up for it. So I suggest not worrying about retaking any courses unless you earned a C or below in one. - A.T. Still University

Summary: There is a surprisingly large amount of variation here between schools. Some schools do not have an expiration date on courses while others require all course be completed within a 10-year window and some require 5-year's for certain courses and no expiration on others. This could open (or close) a lot of doors depending on when you completed your prerequisite coursework. Take home message: Do your research before you apply!

3. Can I Apply With Coursework in Progress?

I took Anatomy and Physiology (separate and both with their respective labs) over seven years ago. I will be retaking these courses next spring. Can I still apply during the upcoming cycle?

Yes, you can apply with coursework in progress, you would list it as either in progress or planned on the application. - A.T. Still University

Can I take biochemistry after submitting my application? If so, does not having taken this class reflect negatively on my application?

You can have three outstanding prerequisites at the time of application. You must show your plan to complete the courses prior to entering the program. It will not reflect poorly if you have not yet completed biochemistry - Butler University

Genetics is the only prerequisite I have not taken. Could my application still be reviewed considering I have additional classes that offer a more holistic approach to the medical field?

You can apply with one outstanding prerequisite (Genetics), however, if accepted you will need to prove you took the course by December 31st and passed with a B or better. - Yale University

Many programs only allow non-science courses to be "in progress." Should I be worried that my Biochem will still be in progress when I apply? Should I wait to apply?

No more than two prerequisites can be outstanding at the time of application and they need to be done by the fall of the application year. - Case Western Reserve

Summary: The best bet is to try to have all your prerequisite coursework completed before you apply. If not, you better check with the PA program ADCOM, that being said, most schools allow one or two prerequisite courses to be outstanding at the time of application.

4. Do My Prerequisite Courses Fulfill the Requirements?

What do you accept for the human anatomy prerequisites? I attended Penn State University, where I took Biology 129, titled Mammalian Anatomy. I also took Biology 497, a human cadaver dissection course, and I used the dissected cadavers to teach my section of the Biology 129 lab. So, the Biology 129 course is called Mammalian Anatomy, but it is primarily human-focused. Will these courses be sufficient for the human anatomy prerequisite? And if so, should I match both of them on the CASPA application?

Sometimes those need approval by our PA Chair on a case by case basis so if you have a question about a particular class I would email the chair and include a complete course description (and syllabus if you have it) so we can run that by the chair to get approval for you. - A.T. Still University

I have a question about some wording on your website concerning your prerequisite coursework. Per your website, the prerequisite biology classes must be "at or above the 200 level." I have completed two combined anatomy and physiology courses with labs that are on par with what is usually required to apply. However, at my school, these were not listed as being at the "200 level". Could you give any more information on this pre-requisite expectation? 

We will look at your transcripts and if your courses are listed at the 200 level or higher in a biology related course then the course will count as fulfilling a prerequisite. - Butler University

Is it possible to substitute organic chemistry with biochemistry for the prerequisites?

We are not able to substitute Biochem for Organic Chem - Duke University

For the 2-semester psychology requirement, will neuroscience count? It is listed under the psychology department at my undergraduate university.

Neuroscience offered through your psychology department will be accepted as one of the two psychology prereqs. - Carroll University

I was wondering if students that are applying would be able to designate which courses they would like to use as prerequisites, such as the choice between organic chemistry and biochemistry. Will the course with a higher grade automatically be used?

When you are asked to complete our secondary application, you will identify which courses you believe best satisfy our pre-requisites. We then verify these courses across your entire transcript. So my advice would be to best align your course with our course not necessarily take a course less appropriate just because it received a higher grade. As for OChem vs. Biochem - it absolutely is your choice - we require either - or....not both.  - Penn State College of Medicine

Could you please let me know the equivalent courses for biochemistry and organic chemistry or the course numbers?

The program does not endorse any one course or university/college at which to take prerequisite courses. We do accept either undergraduate or graduate level courses for biochem and organic but they must be separate courses and they must be specific to biochem and organic, not overview courses that combine lots of different topics. - Case Western Reserve

What are your thoughts on having endocrinology as an upper-level bio class compared to some of the other upper-level bio courses?

While endocrinology is not a prerequisite for Yale, certainly any upper-level biology courses will only help enhance your application and prepare you for a rigorous curriculum in a PA Program. - Yale University

Summary: Tap into your college and university academic advisor and make a plan. When I was in college, I followed a pre-med track through my junior year until I discovered PA school. I met with my academic advisor, who suggested I pursue a Zoology degree to meet my genetics, microbiology, and anatomy/physiology prerequisites. I suggest you create a spreadsheet (here is one I have started for you) and compare prerequisite coursework across programs. When you meet with your advisor, you can formulate your attack plan. If there are uncertainties, as I will say a million times, contact a couple of PA programs and fill the gaps with knowledge!

5. Do You Accept Online Prerequisite Coursework?

I live in a small town with a private university and a community college. I still need to take a couple of prereqs and was thinking of taking them through UNE online courses because the school in my town is so much more expensive than UNE. Would the UNE online courses be accepted as a prereq?

Online courses count as long as they are taken at a regionally accredited institution - Duke University

Can we take prerequisite courses online and attached lab on the campus?

Our requirement is that all prerequisite courses with labs must be taken "on ground." - Case Western Reserve

Summary: Be careful with online courses, while many schools accept online classes, some school require that courses be taken on-site. Again best to check before you decide to pursue an online degree.

6. Is There a Minimum GPA for Prerequisite Coursework?

If I have a C in one of my prerequisites, but my overall prerequisite GPA is a B would you suggest I retake that course?

It is difficult to say if you should retake the prerequisite, certainly the higher the better for your prerequisite GPA, so it may be to your benefit. - Yale University

So, your guys' pre-requisite courses do not necessarily expire, but all prereqs must be met with a grade of a B?

The prerequisites do not have a grade minimum, but we calculate an overall prerequisite GPA.  If you are admitted to the program and have one outstanding course, you must complete the course by December 31st and earn a grade of B or better. - Yale University

Do you require all prereqs to be completed with a B or higher, or does your cumulative GPA just need to be a 3.0 or higher?

Your cumulative needs to be a 3.0 or higher. - Case Western Reserve

Summary: GPA requirements are the bane of many well-intended pre-PA existences. It was definitely mine, and it is the one area where schools vary across the spectrum on requirements. I suggest you use a combination of tools, starting with my paschoolfinder.com PA program match tool (where you can sort schools by overall and science GPA requirements) along with the PAEA Program Directory. Unless you have an overall and science GPA of 3.4, it is best to do your homework. If you are applying with a low GPA, read this post to see what the ADCOMs have to say.

7. Do You Accept Prerequisite Courses Completed at Different Colleges?

I took Anatomy and Physiology 1 at one school and Anatomy and Physiology 2 at another. Will this affect my application?

No this does not impact your application from our standpoint - Penn State College of Medicine

Summary: Most schools just want to see that you have completed your prerequisites and maintained a relatively high standard. Having completed your prerequisites at different schools isn't a big deal. If you have been to five different colleges in four years, you may have some explaining to do but otherwise, in the words of Bobby McFerrin "Don't Worry Be Happy. "

8. Is Lab Required?

I noticed one of the prereqs is physiology with a lab. How important is having this lab requirement? I have taken physiology without a lab and multiple anatomy classes with labs. I am also having trouble finding physiology lab classes to take separately.

Physiology lab is indeed a basic pre-requisite. We are strict about that. - Case Western Reserve

Summary: If the requirement says "lab," you better have the lab. Most biology, physics, chemistry, and anatomy/physiology courses have this as part of the course. This is not where you want to cut corners.

9 How About Repeat Courses?

Do repeated college courses give a bad impression of a student?

It depends on how many and what the trajectory of your studies look like.. Everyone has rough spots but the question is if its a pattern or if its an isolated instance with steady improvement thereafter. - Case Western Reserve

Summary: I think the admissions team at A.T. Stills said it best in my post about applying to PA school with a low GPA: "We look for an upward trend in grades. We understand that some students have a hard transition to college, or they do not find focus until later. All of your grades will be averaged together, however, we still look for an upward trend. You do want to be somewhat close to the average GPA though. For example, if your total GPA is a 2.8, that is going to be hard to overcome. If it is a 3.0 or higher, with significant other experiences, we can work with that to an extent."

10. Graduate or Undergraduate Courses?

Does your program factor graduate level work differently than undergraduate?

It does not.  - Case Western Reserve

Summary: CASPA calculates a GPA for your master's as well as undergraduate coursework. Schools look at both and take both into account. They are usually factored equally, but the trend (as always) matters.

11. Dropped Courses?

Do you take into account if you dropped a class then ended up retaking it later on? Will it essentially effect the application in any way?

We do consider if an applicant dropped a class and retook it later.  - Case Western Reserve

Summary: Of course, schools will factor in dropped courses. They are looking for candidates who can handle the rigors of an intensive 2-3 year program. So, you need to be careful here. If you drop a course and retake it scoring a 3.7, it isn't going to look so bad. But lots of dropped courses without good reason will not reflect highly.

Highlights and Summary

• Community college classes are fine. We know many people do not have the resources to go back and take pre-reqs at four-year schools - Duke University
• One or two community college courses is fine. The only time it becomes a concern is if ALL of your science or prereqs come from a community college, or there are multiple community colleges you have attended. - A.T. Still University
• All of the prerequisites have to be completed within 10 years of applying to our program.  - Case Western Reserve
• You can apply with coursework in progress, you would list it as either in progress or planned on the application. - A.T. Still University
• Our requirement is that all prerequisite courses with labs must be taken "on ground." - Case Western Reserve
• Make sure to check when credits expire. You may (or may not have to retake courses)
• We require that the pre-reqs be taken within ten years of your application. - Case Western Reserve
• The prerequisites do not have a grade minimum, but we calculate an overall prerequisite GPA.  If you are admitted to the program and have one outstanding course, you must complete the course by December 31st and earn a grade of B or better. - Yale University

Do you have more questions or a helpful suggestion? Let us know in the comments section below, I always reply.

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Stephen Pasquini PA-C Physician Assistant

Stephen has been a family practice PA since 2004 and is the creator of The PA Life, Smarty PANCE Board Review, and PASchoolfinder websites. A National Health Service Corps Scholar and a graduate of The University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ (Rutgers) PA Program and the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. Stephen's goal is to provide one-of-a-kind online resources for those interested in or practicing in the PA profession, to promote better access to healthcare for all, and to foster universal recognition/awareness of the PA profession. Read more about Stephen.

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