Augsburg University Physician Assistant Program prerequisites

Not on the prerequisite list. Biochemistry is the only chemistry Augsburg requires, and it must be a dedicated biochemistry course rather than a combined organic and biochemistry survey.

1 semester · 3 credits

"Biochemistry (3-4 credits)," a general biochemistry course covering "protein structure and function, enzyme mechanisms, thermodynamics, intermediary metabolism, and metabolic regulation." The common workaround is closed: "a survey or combined course in organic/biochemistry will NOT satisfy this requirement." Science major level and upper level, with the lab strongly recommended but not required.

No English or writing prerequisite appears on the prerequisite page.

1 semester · 3 credits

"Statistics (3-4 credits)," and the accepted set is wider than usual: "A general statistics, biostatistics or research methods course will fulfill this requirement." A research methods course counts here where most programs insist on statistics proper.

1 semester · 3 credits

"Psychology (3-4 credits)," and Augsburg is unusually generous about which one: "A general, developmental/lifespan or abnormal psychology course will fulfill this requirement." Not a science prerequisite, so the science major level rule does not apply to it.

1 semester · 3 credits

"Physiology (human/vertebrate/organ) (3-4 credits)," covering "digestion, respiration, circulation, excretion, movement, and sensory perception as well as neural and hormonal control of these functions, emphasizing vertebrates." It must be at the science major level and upper level, and it must be complete: "A full course of Physiology must be taken. If it is a combined course, i.e. Anatomy/Physiology I, then both Anatomy/Physiology I and II must be completed." So a single semester of A&P I does not answer this line, but the full two semester sequence does. A lab is strongly recommended and not required.

Anatomy is not required on its own. Augsburg's science block is physiology, microbiology and biochemistry, and anatomy appears only among the optional courses that "will help better prepare applicants." A full Anatomy and Physiology I and II sequence does satisfy the physiology prerequisite, recorded on the physiology line, but a standalone anatomy course satisfies nothing here.

3 credits

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

"Microbiology (3-4 credits)," satisfied by "A general study of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi) that cause human disease." It must be at the science major level and upper level. The lab is optional here, unusually for this course: "Labs are strongly recommended but not required."

1 credits

Most PA programmes ask for 1 credits and list it as recommended.

Required here rather than recommended, at 1 to 3 credits. "This requirement can be fulfilled by taking a college credit course or by completing a course through an accredited school or health care agency (must be associated with college credit)." A workplace course counts only if it carries college credit, and the B or better rule still applies.

2000+ hours

Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours.

One of the highest published minimums on this path: "We require 2,000 hours of paid, direct, hands-on clinical patient care." The definition is concrete, "roles in which you are responsible for measuring vital signs, administering medication, charting, drawing blood, tending to personal cares, dressing wounds," and the exclusion is absolute: "Any experience gained as a student or volunteer will not be counted as direct PCE." Clinical hours from a nursing or EMT training program therefore do not count, and neither does unpaid work however hands on. Competitive roles Augsburg names: athletic trainer, nurse, certified nursing assistant, clinical researcher, community health worker or health educator, dental hygienist, EMT, laboratory or medical technician, medical assistant, medical interpreter, mental health worker, military medic, paramedic, patient care assistant, pharmacy technician, phlebotomist, respiratory therapist, radiology technician and scribe. Scribing counts as patient care here, which many programs do not allow.

No healthcare experience number is published, and the hours that usually fill that bucket are excluded from the one requirement that counts: "Any experience gained as a student or volunteer will not be counted as direct PCE." Volunteer service is valued separately as evidence of commitment to the underserved, not as clinical hours.

20+ hours

Encouraged with no number attached: "While not required, we encourage you to learn more about the profession itself by formally shadowing a PA for a day. If you are unable to secure a true shadowing experience, meeting with a PA to learn more about their experiences is also beneficial." Note the two ways shadowing does not help you here: it earns no patient care hours, and the provider who supervised it cannot write your health care setting letter.

No published minimum

Not an hour count but a stated selection criterion: "the PA program looks for consistent service to disadvantaged and underrepresented populations. Applicants should have a strong record of commitment to the community," with examples including "work with people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities, youth, elderly and uninsured individuals," religious or civic group missions and rural medicine programs. "Your service work can be paid or volunteer." Note that this service is read separately from the 2,000 patient care hours, which must be paid.

No faculty letter is named. The one specified writer is a health care setting colleague or supervisor; the remaining two are left to the applicant.

Three letters are required and only one writer is specified, someone you have worked with in a health care setting. A PA letter is not required, and a PA you merely shadowed is explicitly disqualified from filling that slot.

1 letter

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

"The Augsburg PA Program requires three (3) letters of recommendation submitted through CASPA. At least one letter must be from someone whom you have worked with in a health care setting. Please note health care providers who supervised during a shadowing experience do not meet this requirement." The other two writers are unspecified; all letters "should demonstrate a high level of personal and professional maturity, integrity, dedication, and aptitude," and the program "strongly recommends that your letters be submitted to CASPA as confidential."