Cyclios

PA · Reading, Pennsylvania · private

Alvernia University Physician Assistant Program prerequisites

What Alvernia asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 11 lines differ from the standard PA school set, marked below.

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Coursework

  • Biology with labrequiredextra here

    6 credits · lab

    General Biology: "Two courses, or a minimum of 6 semester hours. Lab is required."

  • General chemistry with labrequireddiffers

    6 credits · lab

    Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 8 credits · lab.

    "Two courses, or a minimum of 6 semester hours. Lab is required."

  • Biochemistryrequired

    1 semester · 3 credits

    Alvernia's advanced chemistry line: Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry, "One course, or a minimum of 3 semester hours." Either satisfies it; no lab is stated.

  • English or writing-intensiverecommended

    2 semesters · 6 credits

    English composition, usually two semesters where it is asked for at all.

  • Statisticsrequired

    1 semester · 3 credits

    Statistics: "One course, or a minimum of 3 semester hours."

  • Psychologyrequired

    1 semester · 3 credits

    Psychology: "One course, or a minimum of 3 semester hours."

  • Anatomy and physiologyrequireddiffers

    6 credits · lab

    Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 8 credits · lab.

    Two lines on Alvernia's list: Anatomy or A&P I and Physiology or A&P II, each "One course, or a minimum of 3 semester hours. Lab is required." Separate anatomy and physiology courses answer it as well as the A&P sequence. Completed within 10 years of CASPA submission.

  • Microbiologyrequireddiffers

    3 credits · lab

    Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 4 credits · lab.

    "One course, or a minimum of 3 semester hours. Lab is required."

  • Medical terminologynot required here

    Not on Alvernia's prerequisite list.

Experience hours

  • Patient care experiencerequireddiffers

    200+ hours

    Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours.

    A low published floor: "We require a minimum of 200 direct patient care hours with at least 8 hours direct interaction with a PA. Additional hours will strengthen the application." "The Program defines direct patient care hours as any experience where the applicant provides hands-on patient care and is exposed to patient care delivery and/or the provider-patient relationship." "Any hours credited as part of education or training will not count. Direct patient care hours may be paid or volunteer." The program links a list of acceptable roles.

  • Healthcare experiencerecommended

    500+ hours

    Many programs publish one combined healthcare figure instead of splitting patient care from healthcare exposure; where they do, the number lands here. Median published minimum is 500 hours.

  • PA shadowingrequireddiffers

    8+ hours

    Most PA programmes ask for 20+ hours and list it as recommended.

    Alvernia does not use the word shadowing, but requires "at least 8 hours direct interaction with a PA" within the direct patient care hours. Recorded here so the PA contact is not missed; those 8 hours count inside the 200, not on top of them.

Letters

  • Science faculty letternot required here

    The required academic letter is "from a professor/instructor" with no science restriction; recorded on the any-discipline faculty line.

  • Faculty letter (any discipline)requiredextra here

    1 letter

    One of the three letters must be "from a professor/instructor," any discipline. Applicants five or more years past graduation may substitute a second healthcare professional or a direct supervisor of employment.

  • PA letternot required here

    The required clinician letter is "from a healthcare professional"; no PA letter is named. Recorded on the supervisor line.

  • Supervisor letterrequireddiffers

    1 letter

    Most PA programmes publish no minimum and list it as recommended.

    Alvernia's clinician letter, recorded here because the ask is broad: "at least one from a healthcare professional." Any healthcare professional satisfies it; a PA is not named.

Also on the school’s page

Alvernia (Master of Medical Science in Physician Associate Studies, a 24 month program entered after a bachelor's) publishes its prerequisites as courses with semester hour minimums: Anatomy or A&P I and Physiology or A&P II, one course each of at least 3 semester hours with lab; General Chemistry, two courses or 6 semester hours with lab; General Biology, two courses or 6 semester hours with lab; Microbiology, one course or 3 semester hours with lab; Statistics, Psychology, and Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry, one course or 3 semester hours each. "No less than 'C' in any prerequisite course. Pass/Fail grades for prerequisite courses will not be accepted." Recency: "All prerequisite courses must be completed within 10 years of CASPA application submission." "AP Credit will not be accepted for prerequisite courses." "Applicants must have a bachelor's degree awarded from an institution accredited by a US recognized higher education accrediting agency," with a "Minimum overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 and minimum Science and Prerequisite GPA of 3.0." Testing: "GRE is not required." The page does not mention the PA-CAT or CASPer. Letters: "Three letters of recommendation are required, including at least one from a healthcare professional and one from a professor/instructor. If an applicant is five (5) or more years post-graduation, a letter of recommendation from a second healthcare professional or a direct supervisor of employment can be submitted in place of one from a professor/instructor." "Community service is not required but is recommended." Apply through CASPA.

School

alvernia.edu/academics/grad/PA-post-bacc

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