Prerequisites and Patient-Care Experience

This page is in progress. Below is what it will cover.

PA programs usually ask for specific courses and for hands-on patient-care hours before you apply. This page will explain both.

What this page will cover

• Typical prerequisite courses, and how they overlap with pre-med
• GPA expectations, including science and prerequisite GPAs
• What counts as patient-care experience, and how programs treat different kinds
• How many hours programs expect, and how that varies
• Shadowing, volunteering and other experiences that help
• Letters of recommendation

Requirements and rules differ by state, school and employer, so always confirm details with the school or licensing board you plan to use.