At most colleges, a pre-PA program is an advising track that helps you plan prerequisite courses, build patient care hours, and apply to physician assistant school through CASPA. Some schools even run programs that combine a bachelor's with a PA master's. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the pre-PA program!
In this article:
- Most pre-PA programs are advising tracks, so you can major in biology, psychology, nursing, or something similar
- PA schools demand science prerequisites, a strong GPA, and a lot of hands-on patient care
- Nurses, CNAs, and medical assistants can start with an advantage on hours, but each program decides what counts individually
What is a pre-PA program?
A pre-PA program is a planning track for undergraduates who want to apply to physician assistant school.
The University of Iowa explains it this way: pre-PA "is not a degree-granting major, but rather a track for students who plan to attend PA school"(1). So, you pick a major, and a pre-health advisor helps you fit the PA prerequisites around it.
Direct-entry and dual-degree pre-PA programs
It’s worth knowing that some schools admit students straight from high school into a combined path. For example, Le Moyne College offers a 3+2 program that ends with a BS in Biology and an MS in Physician Assistant Studies after five years (2).
Monmouth University runs a six-year 3+3 track (3) – it’s good because you have a guaranteed seat if you hit the benchmarks. On the other hand, the trade-off is committing to one school and one profession when you’re very young.
What do PA schools expect from pre-PA students?
PA programs look at three main things: completed science prerequisites, grades, and patient care experience. What does it actually mean in real life?
|
Requirement |
What it usually means |
|---|---|
|
Prerequisites |
Anatomy, physiology, biology, microbiology, general and organic chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, psychology, statistics, English composition, medical terminology |
|
GPA |
Many programs list 3.0 as the minimum; however, admitted students often score higher |
|
Patient care experience |
Hundreds of hours, depending on the program |
|
Admissions tests |
Some programs ask for the GRE, a smaller group uses the PA-CAT, but many require neither |
|
Shadowing |
Time spent observing a practicing PA, often recommended or required |
Prerequisite lists may differ in the details, such as whether a lab is required or how old a course can be, so be sure to check each program's website before planning your schedule.
Why do patient care hours matter so much?
PA programs expect applicants to know what clinical work feels like before they start – and the hours are the proof. The AAPA says PA students bring an average of more than 3,000 hours of direct patient contact experience (4). CASPA splits experience into two categories:
- Patient care experience (PCE): you're directly responsible for a patient's care, for example, as a nurse, paramedic, EMT, CNA, or phlebotomist.
- Healthcare experience (HCE): you work in healthcare and may interact with patients but aren't directly responsible for their care. CASPA lists medical scribes and medical assistants here, and notes that CNA work can fall into either group depending on the job description.
Please note that programs apply these rules differently. Plenty of schools accept medical assistant work as PCE when the role includes vitals, rooming, and procedures. So, log your hours by what you actually did, and keep a short description of your duties for each job.
Can nurses go to PA school?
Yes, and nurses are strong applicants because nursing work counts as patient care experience under CASPA's own definition.
The question most nurses weigh is PA versus nurse practitioner. NPs must hold an RN license and finish a master's or doctoral program, and they train in the nursing model. PA education is modeled on the medical school curriculum and trains generalists. That generalist training is one reason some nurses choose the PA route, especially if they want to move between specialties later.
If you're a nursing student leaning toward PA school, take your time to compare your coursework with PA prerequisites. Nursing programs cover anatomy, physiology, and microbiology, but many PA programs also ask for general chemistry, organic chemistry, or biochemistry that a nursing degree may not include.
Which jobs give pre-PA students strong clinical experience?
The best pre-PA jobs should put you next to patients. Common choices include:
- certified nursing assistant (CNA),
- EMT or paramedic,
- medical assistant or clinical assistant,
- phlebotomist,
- medical scribe.
At EnabliHealth, we build our medical assistant teams around pre-professional talent, meaning aspiring physicians, PAs, and other mid-level providers, nurses, and future healthcare leaders.
New hires go through orientation on rooming, charting, HIPAA, and specialty workflows, then one-on-one clinical training and EMR training. As a clinical assistant, you room patients, take vitals, and prepare charts for providers, which is exactly the kind of work PA programs want to read about.
How long does it take to become a PA after a pre-PA program?
PA school itself takes about 27 months, including more than 2,000 hours of clinical rotations (5). Add four years of college (or five to six in a direct-entry program) and a year or two of clinical work, and the whole path often takes seven years or more from the first day of college.
After graduating, you sit for the PANCE, the certification exam run by the NCCPA, and earn the PA-C credential.
Read also: How to Get Patient Care Hours for PA School?
The takeaway
Pre-PA programs help students prepare for PA school with a clear academic path, relevant coursework, and exposure to the healthcare field. They can also make it easier to understand PA school requirements and build a stronger foundation before applying. If that sounds like your dream career path, take your time to make up your mind & good luck!
You may also like: Resume Tips for Entry-Level Healthcare Candidates
Sources:
- The University of Iowa Academic Advising Center, Pre-Physician Assistant, advisingcenter.uiowa.edu/pre-health/pre-physician-assistant
- Le Moyne College, Physician Assistant Studies (Direct Entry), lemoyne.edu/academics/programs/physician-assistant-studies-direct-entry
- Monmouth University, 3+3 Physician Assistant Programs, monmouth.edu/b+m/pa
- American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA), PAs Treat, aapa.org/pas-go-beyond/pas-treat
- American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA), Become a PA, aapa.org/career-central/become-a-pa
