Life Sciences Building, Room 206
501 S. Nedderman Drive
Box 19047
Arlington, TX 76019
Pre Physician Assistant Studies
WHAT IS A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT (PA)?
A physician assistant (PA) is a medical professional that diagnoses illnesses, develops and manages treatment plans, prescribes medications, and can serve as a patient's principal healthcare provider. PA's can specialize in many medical settings and have thousands of medical training hours. They can also assist in surgery, make rounds at hospitals and nursing homes, perform procedures and physical exams, counsel on preventative care, and do clinical research. PA's work with physicians.
EDUCATION LEVEL: Master's degree (27-month program on average)
TRADITIONAL COMPETITIVE PRE-PA STUDENTS
*NOTE: Each student's path is different! Holistic review takes several factors into account.
- Average GPA: 3.5-3.8 with strong science GPA
- Average GRE: 300+ in reasoning & 4+ in Writing
- Average clinical experiences: 500+ hours (Majority direct patient care with scribing and shadowing)
- Well rounded experiences, volunteering, strong letters and essays
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STAY CONNECTED & UPDATED
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NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
- American Academy of PAs (AAPA)
- Find information on becoming a PA
UTA PRE-HEALTH ORGANIZATION
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- Visit the Special Programs and FAQ page
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SPECIAL PROGRAMS
- PARKLAND HOSPITAL OBSERVATION PROGRAM
- The experience is designed to increase career awareness, fulfill education/application requirement and help model behavior through example. Eligibility and additional information can be found on the website.
- The experience is designed to increase career awareness, fulfill education/application requirement and help model behavior through example. Eligibility and additional information can be found on the website.
- STUDENTS ENGAGED in ROUNDING and VOLUNTEERING PROGRAM (SERV)
- The SERV Program is a two-semester long volunteering and shadowing program at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. Eligibility and additional information can be found on the website. Applications are accepted at certain times of the year.
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RECOMMENDED CLINICAL EXPERIENCES
Gaining shadowing and direct patient care experience is very important in becoming a competitive candidate for PA programs. Some programs may expect hundreds to thousands of hours of healthcare experience with a focus on direct patient care. Therefore, getting an early start is helpful. Below are suggestions for pre-PA students. Visit our Special Programs page for additional resources.
- Shadowing PA's
- VIRTUAL SHADOWING: (Note: some are physicians)
- EMT/paramedic
- RN or CNA
- Medical assistant
- Physical therapy aide
- Home health aide
- ER, EEG, or EKG technician
- Phlebotomist
- Hospice care
- Scribing
- Some companies include, ProScribe, Scribe America, Scribology
- Volunteering in clinics or healthcare settings
- Shadowing other healthcare professionals
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PREREQUISITES
The prerequisites for PA programs can vary by school and can have a 7-10 year expiration. The courses listed below are typical requirements for most programs. The courses must be for science majors and are taken with your major classes. You can major in any subject, however, most students choose Biology. Students should visit the specific schools admission website for complete requirements. Recent coursework is preferred. The average GPA of accepted student is 3.6-3.8.
Course | # of Hours Required | UTA Course |
General Biology (prerequisites to upper level Biology) | 8 Hours - 6 hrs lecture & 2 hrs lab |
BIOL 1441 - Cell and Molecular Biology BIOL 1442 - Evolution and Ecology |
Genetics | 3Hours | BIOL 3315 - Genetics |
Microbiology | 4Hours - 3 hrs lecture and 1 hr lab | BIOL 2444/3444 - Microbiology |
Human Anatomy & Human Physiology (For SCIENCE Majors) | 8Hours- 6 hrs lecture & 2 hrs lab |
BIOL 3446 - Human Anatomy w/lab BIOL 3442 - Human Physiology w/lab |
General Chemistry | 8 Hours - 6 hrs lecture & 2 hrs lab |
CHEM 1441 - General Chemistry I w/lab CHEM 1442 - General Chemistry II w/lab |
Organic Chemistry with Lab | 4 Hours - 3 hrs lecture & 1 hr lab | CHEM 2321/2181 - Organic Chemistry I w/lab |
Statistics | 3 Hours |
MATH 1308 -Elementary Statistics OR BIOL 2300 - Biostatistics |
Psychology | 3Hours | PSYC 1315 - Intro to Psychology |
Recommended Courses (Some schools may require) |
CHEM 4311 - Biochemistry I (prerequisite Organic Chem II) BIOL 3301 - Cell Physiology BIOL 3312 - Immunobiology BIOL 4312 - Intro to Virology BIOL 4331 - Molecular Biology NURS 3309 - Medical Terminology |
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Average GPA of Accepted Applicants: | 3.6-3.8 |
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PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAMS - 254 U.S. Programs
TEXAS - Specific Program Information
- UT Southwestern School of Health Professions - Dallas
- UNT Health Science Center School of Health Professions - Fort Worth
- UT San Antonio Schools of Health Professions
- UT Rio Grande Valley College of Health Professions
- UT Medical Branch School of Medicine -Galveston
- Texas Tech School of Health Professions - Midland
- Baylor School of Allied Health- Houston
- Hardin-Simmons Holland College of Science and Mathematics- Abilene
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APPLYING & APPLICATION SERVICE
Students typically apply at the end of junior year but your application cycle may be different depending on your circumstances. This is a competitive, year-long process; therefore, it is important to apply only when you are a competitive candidate. Student should become familiar with the application service used to apply to PA programs early. HELPFUL VIDEO: Gap Year Before Medical School: How to Decide if it's Right for You
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CASPA - Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants
- 2022-23 APPLICATION CYCLE: April 27, 2023 - deadlines vary per school
- COST: $179 for one School ($56 per additional school)
- FEE WAIVERS: limited waivers are offered at the beginning of each cycle
- CASPA Application Help Center
GPA Calculators:
- Med School HQ
- CASPA Calculator - downloadable Excel sheet for ALL pre-health students
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ADMISSION TEST - GRADUATE RECORD EXAMINATION (GRE)
- The GRE is currently the more common admissions test requirement for PA Programs
- SCORE: 130-170 in reasoning sections and 0-6 in writing section
- SECTIONS: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing
- COMPETITIVE SCORE: >150 in each reasoning section and >4 in writing
- COST: $220
- IDEAL time to TAKE: Can vary; summers are ideal
- Register at: GRE ETS Site
- General information
TEST PREP RESOURCES
- ETS TEST PREP RESOURCE SECTION - FREE and paid resources (scroll down on page)
- KAPLAN FREE GRE Prep Resources
NEW ADMISSION TEST - PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT COLLEGE ADMISSION TEST (PA-CAT) - currently not required for Texas PA programs
***A NEW admissions test will be required for some programs (PA-CAT). This admissions test is not currently a common requirement for most PA programs. For more information on this test please visit : PA-CAT FAQ (More information for come)
- PA-CAT STUDY GUIDE
- PROGRAMS requiring or recommending the PA-CAT as of July 2022
- University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) - recommends the PA-CAT but currently does not require it
- COST: $228
- PA-CAT Fee Assistance Program
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CASPer TEST
Some programs also require the CASPer Test, an assessment of an applicant's personal qualities. This test is taken during the application cycle and valid for 1 year. More information can be found on the CASPer Website.
- CASPer Blog Page
- COST: $40 and $12 per school
The following Texas Schools currently require this test:
- UTMB - The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
- UTSA - The University of Texas at San Antonio