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PA · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · private

Carlow University Physician Assistant Program prerequisites

What Carlow 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

    2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

    General biology 6 credits plus General biology lab 2 credits, "2 semesters" of each.

  • General chemistry with labrequired

    2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

    General/Inorganic Chemistry 6 credits plus General Chemistry lab 2 credits, "2 semesters" of each.

  • Organic chemistry with labrequiredextra here

    1 semester · 4 credits · lab

    Organic Chemistry 3 credits plus Organic Chemistry lab 1 credit, "1 semester." Required alongside biochemistry, not instead of it.

  • Biochemistryrequired

    1 semester · 3 credits

    Biochemistry, 3 credits, required in addition to one semester of organic chemistry with lab.

  • English or writing-intensiverequireddiffers

    1 semester · 3 credits

    Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 6 credits and list it as recommended.

    English Composition/Writing, 3 credits, required.

  • Statisticsrequired

    1 semester · 3 credits

    Statistics, 3 credits.

  • Psychologyrequired

    1 semester · 3 credits

    General Psychology, 3 credits.

  • Geneticsrequiredextra here

    1 semester · 3 credits

    Genetics, 3 credits, on Carlow's required table.

  • Anatomy and physiologyrequireddiffers

    7 credits · lab

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

    Carlow lists Anatomy (human or vertebrate) 3 credits, Anatomy lab 1 credit, and Physiology (human or vertebrate) 3 credits; no physiology lab line appears. "If Anatomy is coupled with Physiology ('A&P') in one course then 2 semesters are required, with lab." Completed within 10 years of application.

  • Microbiologyrequireddiffers

    3 credits

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

    Microbiology, 3 credits. Unlike biology and chemistry, no separate lab line is listed for it.

  • Medical terminologyrequireddiffers

    1 credits

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

    Medical Terminology for Clinicians sits on the required table with no credit value: "May complete an online course for a certificate. Not used in calculation of pre-req GPA."

Experience hours

  • Patient care experiencerequired

    500+ hours

    "All applicants must document a minimum of 500 hours of direct patient care (defined as providing healthcare services directly to patients) OR 500 hours of clinical research experience (in which you work with human subjects in a clinical research environment)." Paid or unpaid, completed before application, documented by a supervisor or HR letter on official letterhead. "Workplace experience cannot be a school sanctioned 'internship' or other experience used for credit or a grade." The clinical research alternative is unusual; it must involve human subjects.

  • 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 shadowingrecommended

    20+ hours

    Under a fifth of programs set a shadowing minimum; among those that do the median is 20 hours and a handful ask for 100 or more. Several count shadowing inside their experience total rather than separately, and a few have dropped it from scoring entirely.

Letters

  • Science faculty letternot required here

    The required academic reference is from "an academic individual involved in candidate's education" with no science restriction; recorded on the any-discipline faculty line.

  • Faculty letter (any discipline)requiredextra here

    1 letter

    "One reference from an academic individual involved in candidate's education. This letter provides insight into your ability to successfully complete rigorous academic requirements." Any discipline.

  • PA letterrequireddiffers

    1 letter

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

    "One reference from a Physician Assistant. This letter provides insight into your potential as a PA." References cannot be from a relative.

  • Supervisor letterrecommendeddiffers

    1 letter

    Most PA programmes publish no minimum.

    The third reference is "from an individual of the candidate's choice," and Carlow's suggestions include "a former employer/supervisor, clergy, community leader with whom you have worked, or volunteer leader." A supervisor is one option, not a requirement.

Also on the school’s page

Carlow publishes its requirements as a formal Admissions Policy (ARC-PA standard A3.09a, revised 9/17/25) linked from the program page, with a credit table: Anatomy 3 plus Anatomy lab 1, Physiology 3 (if taken as combined A&P, "2 semesters are required, with lab"), Biochemistry 3, General biology 6 plus lab 2 (two semesters), Microbiology 3, Genetics 3, General/Inorganic Chemistry 6 plus lab 2 (two semesters), Organic Chemistry 3 plus lab 1 (one semester), English Composition/Writing 3, General Psychology 3, Statistics 3, and Medical Terminology for Clinicians ("May complete an online course for a certificate. Not used in calculation of pre-req GPA"). "All coursework must be completed within 10 years of application." "All pre-requisite courses must be successfully completed with a passing grade of C (2.0) or better. Minimum cumulative GPA for all pre-requisite coursework is 3.3/4.0. No pre-requisite coursework can be waived." Outstanding courses must be finished before May 31 of the entry year. "Minimum cumulative GPA for all undergraduate coursework is 3.3/4.0." A baccalaureate from an accredited institution is required at matriculation. Testing: "The GRE is not required for admission to the Carlow University PA Program"; the PA-CAT and CASPer are not mentioned. Experience: "All applicants must document a minimum of 500 hours of direct patient care (defined as providing healthcare services directly to patients) OR 500 hours of clinical research experience (in which you work with human subjects in a clinical research environment)," evidenced by a supervisor or HR letter on letterhead; "Workplace experience cannot be a school sanctioned 'internship' or other experience used for credit or a grade." Three references, none from a relative: one from a PA, one from an academic, one of the candidate's choice. Qualified candidates are invited to a scored three-prompt video interview; a mission-specific essay is part of the CASPA application. Rolling admission; the program page lists an October 1 priority deadline and April 1 final deadline.

School

carlow.edu/academic-programs/healthcare-degrees/physician-assistant-masters

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