PA · Smithfield, Rhode Island · private
Bryant University Physician Assistant Program prerequisites
What Bryant 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.
Coursework
- Biology with labrequiredextra here
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
"Biology for science majors with lab: 8SH." The two-semester introductory sequence, separate from anatomy and physiology and microbiology.
- General chemistry with labrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
"Chemistry for science majors with lab: 8SH."
- Organic chemistry with labrequiredextra here
1 semester · 4 credits · lab
"Organic Chemistry with lab (4 SH) or Biochemistry (3 SH)." One of the two satisfies the requirement; an applicant with biochemistry does not need organic chemistry, and the biochemistry line carries the same either-or.
- Biochemistryrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"Organic Chemistry with lab (4 SH) or Biochemistry (3 SH)." Either course satisfies the requirement; see the organic chemistry line, which carries the same either-or.
- English or writing-intensivenot required here
No English or writing course is named.
- Statisticsrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"Statistics: 3SH."
- Psychologyrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"Psychology: 3SH."
- Anatomy and physiologyrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
"Human Anatomy and Physiology with lab: 8SH." No recency window is published.
- Microbiologyrequireddiffers
3 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 4 credits · lab.
"Microbiology: 3SH." No laboratory is asked for on this course.
- Medical terminologynot required here
Not on Bryant's prerequisite list.
Experience hours
- Patient care experiencerequireddiffers
2000+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours.
"Documentation of at least 2,000 hours of direct patient care experience by the time of application submission." "Examples of direct patient care experience include but are not necessarily limited to: emergency medical technicians and paramedics, nurses, military medics, corpsmen, health service technicians, emergency department technicians, medical scribes, physical and occupational therapy aides, respiratory therapists, medical assistants, certified nursing assistants." Scribing counts here. In review, "stronger preference will be given to applicants with greater than 2000 patient care hours" and to roles involving "direct patient care and clinical decision making."
- Healthcare experiencenot required here
Bryant publishes a single direct patient care figure and no separate healthcare experience number.
- PA shadowingrecommendeddiffers
30+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 20+ hours.
Not a stated minimum, but a scored preference: "Stronger preference will be given to applicants who have shadowed physician assistants in 3 or more specialties or have spent greater than 30 total hours shadowing."
Letters
- Science faculty letternot required here
"Three professional letters of reference" with no writer specified; no faculty letter is named.
- PA letternot required here
"Three professional letters of reference" with no writer specified; no PA letter is required.
- Supervisor letternot required here
"Three professional letters of reference" with no writer specified; no supervisor letter is named.
Also on the school’s page
Bryant (MSPAS, Smithfield RI, January start, 60 seats) publishes prerequisites in semester hours: "Biology for science majors with lab: 8SH. Chemistry for science majors with lab: 8SH. Human Anatomy and Physiology with lab: 8SH. Microbiology: 3SH. Organic Chemistry with lab (4 SH) or Biochemistry (3 SH). Psychology: 3SH. Statistics: 3SH." All must be completed by October 1, 2026 "with a minimum GPA of 3.00 overall for these prerequisite courses and a 'C' or better in each class." GPA gate: "an overall undergraduate GPA and an overall Biology, Chemistry and Physics (BCP) GPA of at least 3.00." "We do not accept Advanced Placement/CLEP coursework to fulfill prerequisite requirements," and no transfer credit or advanced placement is granted. Only a single outstanding prerequisite course (and degree completion) may be pending at application, and it must be finished by October 1. No prerequisite recency window is stated. Testing: "Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score but it is not required for admission. No minimum is required on the GRE, but performance will be used to determine competitiveness. Testing must have been from within the last 5 years," CASPA code 8825. No PA-CAT is mentioned. Letters: "Three professional letters of reference," with no writer specified. Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution by October 1, no preferred major. CASPA plus a $75 supplemental application, rolling admissions, CASPA verified by October 1. The holistic review gives "stronger preference" to higher overall and BCP GPAs, academic rigor, clinical roles involving "direct patient care and clinical decision making," more than 2,000 patient care hours, PA shadowing in three or more specialties or more than 30 hours, and alignment with the program mission. About 1,900 verified applications in the 2025-2026 cycle, roughly 190 interviewed in person. International applicants need a TOEFL above 100 within two years unless they hold a U.S. bachelor's degree. Admitted students need American Heart Association BLS before entry.
Check your transcript against this list
Cyclios keeps this list beside your coursework and tells you what Bryant still needs from you.
See it for PA school