Physician Assistant

Physician Assistant Studies (MS) Prerequisites

Prerequisites | International Applicants | Required Technical Standards

Prerequisites

Both academic work and hands-on patient care experience must be completed prior to applying to the program.  Admissions requirements and procedures are reviewed and revised annually.  Updates are generally made on our web page in late-April at the start of the new CASPA application cycle.  It is the applicant's responsibility to review the most current information that is applicable to when you are applying.

The GRE is not required. The program does not have a code number.

Academics

The following academic work must be completed prior to applying by the September 1 deadline:

• bachelor’s degree in any major from a regionally accredited institution 
  • overall GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale as calculated by CASPA
  • science GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale as calculated by CASPA
• 2 semesters of biology lecture plus 1 biology lab
  • must be designated as pre-med level courses by school offering them
  • must be taken in-class at a regionally accredited 4-year institution (online courses or courses taken at a 2-year community college will not fulfill the biology prerequisites)
  • must be taken within 7 years of applying to the program
  • grades of solid B or better required
  • course content may include cellular and organismic biology, genetics, and/or evolutionary process. Microbiology is acceptable as 1 of the 2 biology courses
• 2 semesters of chemistry lecture plus 1 chemistry lab
  • must be designated as pre-med level courses by school offering them
  • must be taken in-class at a regionally accredited 4-year institution (online courses or courses taken at a 2-year community college will not fulfill the chemistry prerequisites)
  • must be taken within 7 years of applying to the program
  • grades of solid B or better required
  • organic chemistry and biochemistry are acceptable to fulfill the chemistry prerequisites
• anatomy and physiology that cover the entire body from head to toe including all body systems
  • may be taken in-class or online at either a regionally accredited 2-year or 4-year institution. See FAQ section on Prerequisites for additional information.
  • must be taken within 5 years of applying to the program
  • grades of solid B or better required
  • most commonly offered as A&P 1 plus A&P 2 or 1 semester of anatomy plus 1 semester of physiology. Course content must be covered in sufficient depth in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the body.  A 1-semester A&P course is not adequate.
  • a lab is not required
• 1 course in statistics
  • topics covered should include hypothesis testing, probability theory, chi square, multiple regression, T tests, Z tests, ANOVAS, correlations, means, medians, modes, etc. as well as how to select and apply the appropriate statistical test, analyze the data, and interpret the results
  • may be taken in-class or online at either a regionally accredited 2-year or 4-year institution
  • no time limitation requirement
  • grade of solid B or better required

Advanced placement (AP) or international baccalaureate (IB) credits from high school do not fulfill any of our course prerequisites. For applicants who received college credits for high school biology and chemistry AP courses, upper level biology and chemistry taken in college may be substituted. Statistics must be taken in college even if college credit was given for high school statistics.  Non-credit college courses are not accepted to fulfill prerequisites.

For applicants who have taken introductory biology and introductory chemistry courses more than 7 years ago, upper level courses may be substituted rather than repeating those basic level courses. However, the upper level courses must have been taken in-class at a regionally accredited 4-year institution within 7 years of applying to the program. Examples of upper level biology-related courses include, but are not limited to, genetics, immunology, infectious disease, pathophysiology, cell biology, microbiology, etc. Examples of upper level chemistry-related courses include biochemistry, organic chemistry, and inorganic chemistry.

There are no substitutes for anatomy and physiology. If your A&P courses are more than 5 years old at the time of application, you would need to repeat them and ensure that the entire body and all systems are covered.

Statistics courses offered by various departments (math, biology, psychology, etc.) are acceptable.  Calculus cannot be used to satisfy the statistics prerequisite.

Grades of solid B or better are required in all prerequisite courses.  "Minus" grades or Pass/Fail grades do not fulfill the prerequisites.

Hands-on Patient Care Experience

Hands-on patient care experience should be completed prior to applying:

• evidence of significant direct hands-on patient care experience is required in order for applicants to have a basic understanding of and comfort with patient care as well as a minimum level of clinical maturity. Strongest preference will be given to applicants who have approximately 2000 hours of hands-on patient care experience prior to applying to the program. Applicants with less than 2000 hours may also be given consideration depending upon the strength of their entire application.
• hands-on patient care involves working one-on-one with patients and doing procedures that require touching patients yourself including, but not limited to:
  • taking vital signs
  • drawing blood
  • doing EKGs
  • changing bandages and dressings
  • casting and splinting
  • removing sutures and staples
  • bathing and toileting
• partial list of hands-on patient care positions includes, but is not limited to:
  • certified nursing assistant
  • medical/clinical assistant
  • ER tech
  • EMT doing more than patient transfer
  • physical therapy assistant
  • paramedic
  • nurse
  • physical therapist
  • respiratory therapist
  • medical corpsman
• full-time paid employment done after completing your bachelor’s degree is most competitive, although part-time equivalencies will be considered if they total approximately 2000 hours.
• all students accepted into the program are required to document their immunizations (i.e., measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, varicella, Td, and PPD) prior to the start of the program.
• Massachusetts CORI checks are required for all students.  Some rotation sites require additional criminal background checks.
• A laptop computer is required in order to take online exams in class.
• Access to a car or alternative transportation is necessary in order to travel to clinical sites.

International Applicants

For applicants who have earned degrees outside of the United States, the following prerequisites must be completed prior to applying:

• completion of all the science courses required of all applicants (see list of specific courses under “Prerequisites”) at a regionally accredited institution in the United States, even if these courses were previously taken in your native country
• TOEFL score within the previous 2 years of at least 100 (internet-based) to demonstrate proficiency in English
• a certified degree and course-by-course evaluation of foreign transcripts to ascertain equivalences to United States educational standards.  Suggested evaluation services include:

World Education Services
Bowling Green Station, PO Box 5087
New York, NY 10274
Phone: 212.966.6311
Website: www.wes.org

Center for Educational Documentation
P.O. Box 170116
Boston, MA 02117
Phone: 617.338.7171
Website: www.cedevaluations.com

Successful completion of the ECFMG or USMLE cannot be substituted in lieu of taking all of the prerequisite courses in the United States.  Advanced standing credit will not be given for courses taken elsewhere.  All students accepted into the program must successfully complete the entire 2-year curriculum regardless of previous education and degrees.

Required Technical Standards

A candidate for the Physician Assistant Program must have abilities and skills in:

• observation
• communication
• sensory and motor coordination and function
• intellectual-conceptual, integrative, and quantitative abilities
• behavioral and social attributes

Observation
Candidates and students must be able to observe demonstrations and participate in experiments in the basic sciences, and must observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand, noting both nonverbal and verbal signals. Observation necessitates the functional use of the sense of vision and other sensory modalities.

Communication
Candidates and students must be able to: speak intelligibly, hear sufficiently, and observe patients closely in order to elicit and transmit information; describe changes in mood, activity, and posture; and perceive nonverbal communications communicate effectively and sensitively with patients. Communication includes not only speech, but also reading and writing skills. Candidates and students must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written English with all members of the health care team. Students must demonstrate reading skills at a level sufficient to accomplish curricular requirements, provide clinical care for patients, and complete appropriate medical records, documents, and plans according to protocol in a thorough and timely manner.

Sensory and Motor Coordination and Function
Candidates and students are required to possess motor skills sufficient to: directly perform palpation, percussion, auscultation, and other basic diagnostic procedures; and execute motor movements reasonably required to provide basic medical care, such as airway management, placement of catheters, application of sufficient pressure to control bleeding, simple obstetrical maneuvers, etc. These actions require coordination of gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.

Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities
These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Problem solving, the critical skill demanded of physician assistants, requires all of these intellectual abilities. Candidates and students must be able to: independently access and interpret medical histories or files; identify significant findings from history, physical examination, and laboratory data; provide a reasoned explanation for likely diagnoses and prescribed medications and therapy; recall and retain information in an efficient and timely manner. The ability to incorporate new information from peers, teachers, and the medical literature in formulating diagnoses and plans is essential. Good judgment in patient assessment and diagnostic and therapeutic planning is essential. Students must be able to communicate their knowledge to others when appropriate.

Behavioral and Social Attributes
Candidates and students must possess the ability to: use their intellectual capacity, exercise good judgment, and promptly complete all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients under potentially stressful and/or emergency circumstances; develop empathic, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients; adapt to changing environments and learn in the face of uncertainties that are inherent in the practice of medicine; use supervision appropriately and act independently when indicated. Compassion, integrity, ethical standards, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation are all personal qualities that will be assessed during the admissions and educational process.

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Contact Info

Physician Assistant
202 Robinson Hall
Tel: 617.373.3195