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A qualified Physician Assistant (PA) school applicant must have a general understanding of the profession, demonstrate interest in and awareness of medical and social issues, and exhibit cross-cultural competency. You will gain this experience both in the classroom and through extracurricular activities.

Since PA schools do not give preference for any particular major, you should major in a field that aligns your interests, passions, and abilities. UW Tacoma has an interdisciplinary curriculum that will give you a broad base of knowledge and allow you to make connections between disciplines which is essential to being a successful physician assistant. Throughout your time on campus, your academic advisor can help ensure you take the appropriate pre-requisite courses as part of your academic experience.

Prepare

An excellent PA school applicant will have a strong cumulative grade point average and within the pre-requisite courses. It is also important to have a competitive GRE score. Outside of the classroom, PA schools will look for significant amount of time shadowing professionals, relevant volunteer experience, and leadership skills. Clinical experience requirements can range from 250-2,000 hours.

Below are the most commonly required pre-requisites for PA school. You should still review each school’s admission requirements to ensure you meet all preparatory coursework and other application requirements.

Mathematics

Chemistry

Biology

Social Science

English

TMATH 110

TCHEM 142

TBIOL 120

TPSYCH 101

TCORE 101

 

TCHEM 152

TBIOL 130

 

OR

 

TCHEM 162

TBIOL 140

 

TWRT 121

 

 

 

 

OR

 

TCHEM 251

TBIOL 301

 

ENGL 131

 

TCHEM 405

TBIOL 302

 

TWRT

 

 

 

 

OR

 

 

TBIOL 305

 

TLIT

 

 

Human Anatomy with lab

 

 

Each physician assistant program will have different pre-requisite courses. It is important to start researching each school's admission requirements early. Consult with your academic advisor about how to sequence these pre-requisites and create an academic plan. 

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Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

Most physical therapy programs require the general GRE. Browse the websites linked below for more information on test content, format, and preparation.