Pre-Physician Assistant (PA) Pathway
Missouri S&T students are increasingly pursuing careers in medicine as Physician Assistants (PAs). Our graduates have been accepted into competitive PA master’s degree programs at institutions such as Saint Louis University, UMKC, Drury University, and Stephens College, reflecting the strength of their preparation and academic foundation.
Students who choose to pursue a Pre-PA Pathway should:
- Earn a minimum 3.0 GPA
- Shadow a PA at Phelps Health or in their local community
Students should take the following prerequisite courses:
- BIO SCI 1213 or 1113 Principles or General Biology
- BIO SCI 1219 General Biology Lab
- BIO SCI 2223 Genetics
- BIO SCI 3313 Microbiology
- BIO SCI 3319 Microbiology Lab
- BIO SCI 3333 A&P I
- BIO SCI 3343 A&P II
- BIO SCI 3359 Physiology Lab
- CHEM 1310 General Chemistry I
- CHEM 1319 General Chemistry Lab
- CHEM 1320 General Chemistry II
- CHEM 1220 Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 2220 Organic Chemistry II
- Some programs require CHEM 4610 General Biochemistry
- STAT 3425 Introduction to Biostatistics
- PSYCH 1101 General Psychology
- PSYCH 3310 Developmental Psychology or other upper level psychology
- PREMED 3010 Prehealth Communication (optional in Junior year for application preparation, includes practice exam)
Admission to PA programs require a minimum of 500+ hours (number depends on program) of paid hands-on patient care experience. Patient care experience typically requires certification to work as a nurse, paramedic, EMT-B, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Patient Care Technician (PCT), respiratory therapist, athletic trainer, or Medical Assistant (MA).
Determine if your schools of interest require the GRE, PA-CAT, or neither, and use CASPA to submit your application to PA programs.