PA · Waukesha, Wisconsin · private
Carroll University Physician Assistant Studies Program prerequisites
What Carroll University 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
No published minimum
"Two Semesters Biological Science," a flexible block on top of the separate anatomy, physiology and microbiology requirements. "Electives could include general biology I and II, genetics, cell biology, immunology, endocrinology, or other upper division biological science related to medicine." No credit figure is published and the lab is "highly suggested" rather than required, but competitive applicants take courses designed for science majors. Kinesiology and exercise science courses do not count.
- General chemistry with labrequireddiffers
2 semesters · 8 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 8 credits · lab.
Carroll asks for a four-semester chemistry block rather than a named sequence: "Four Semesters Chemistry, Suggested course options include general chemistry I and II, inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, and organic chemistry. Upper division courses are highly recommended." This is the single largest prerequisite here and it is worth mapping early. Labs are highly suggested, not required, and AP credit covers general chemistry I only.
- Biochemistryrecommendeddiffers
1 semester · 3 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits and list it as required.
Not a standalone requirement. Biochemistry is one of the suggested ways to fill the four-semester chemistry block, alongside general chemistry I and II, inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry, and the program "highly recommended" upper division chemistry generally.
- English or writing-intensivenot required here
Not a prerequisite for domestic applicants. English composition appears only in the international section: "Three (3) hours of English composition is required at a US or Canadian college or university if the initial education was not taken at an English-speaking university."
- Statisticsrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"One Semester Statistics, Any discipline," so a statistics course from psychology, business or mathematics all count equally. AP statistics is accepted.
- Psychologyrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"Two Semesters Psychology," double the baseline. "Suggested course options include general psychology, developmental psychology, lifespan psychology, abnormal psychology." AP credit is accepted for general psychology.
- Anatomy and physiologyrequireddiffers
2 semesters · 8 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 8 credits · lab.
"One Semester Anatomy" and "One Semester Physiology," and "Also accepted: A&P I, A&P II sequence." No credit figure is published; Carroll counts semesters. This is the program's tightest recency window: "within 5 years of matriculation required, within 3 years preferred." The lab is highly suggested rather than required.
- Microbiologyrequireddiffers
1 semester · 4 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 4 credits · lab.
"One Semester Microbiology," no credit figure published. The lab is "highly suggested" for biological science coursework rather than required, and the 5 year recency preference for biological science applies.
- Medical terminologyrecommended
1 credits
Named on the program's own encouragement list, not its requirement list: "Other courses highly recommended for success in PA education: pathophysiology, medical terminology, epidemiology, pharmacology, foreign language."
Experience hours
- Patient care experiencerequired
500+ hours
"A minimum of 500 hours of direct patient care experience is required." The exclusions matter more than the number here, and they are stricter than most: "Experience in administrative work, as a medical scribe, a PT tech, an ABA therapist, or a student in training or in observation, will not be accepted as patient care experience." Scribing counts nowhere at Carroll. Separately, enrolled students in 2025-26 averaged 3,574 patient care hours, an average and not a threshold, but a fair read of how competitive the pool is.
- Healthcare experiencenot required here
Carroll publishes one hours figure, 500 direct patient care hours, and healthcare work without hands-on responsibility does not count toward it: "Experience in administrative work, as a medical scribe, a PT tech, an ABA therapist, or a student in training or in observation, will not be accepted as patient care experience." Work and community service still feed the holistic review, but they earn no hours here.
- PA shadowingrecommended
20+ hours
No hour figure is published. Carroll frames it as one route to a required understanding: "Knowledge of the PA Profession: It is important that candidates fully understand the role of a physician assistant. Although this understanding can be obtained in many ways, time spent shadowing is highly regarded." Observation hours do not count toward the 500 patient care hours.
Letters
- Science faculty letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
Carroll asks for "a college instructor" and names no discipline, so a science professor satisfies it but is not specifically required.
- Faculty letter (any discipline)recommendedextra here
1 letter
One of the three preferred writers is "a college instructor," with no discipline named, so a non-science professor answers it. Three letters are required, submitted through CASPA, and "All letters submitted will be considered."
- PA letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
Preferred rather than mandated, and a PA is one of four acceptable clinicians: three letters, "preferably from a college instructor, a supervisor from a work or volunteer clinical experience and a health care professional such as PA, NP, MD or DO."
- Supervisor letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
Preferred, not required, and volunteer supervision counts: one of the three preferred writers is "a supervisor from a work or volunteer clinical experience." All letters go through CASPA.
Also on the school’s page
Carroll counts prerequisites in semesters rather than credit hours, so plan by course count: one semester of anatomy, one of physiology (an A&P I and II sequence is also accepted), one of microbiology, two of biological science, four of chemistry, two of psychology and one of statistics. "Completion of all prerequisite courses with a C or better is required prior to matriculation," and "a 'C-' will not be accepted." Read this line before choosing courses: "Courses in kinesiology, exercise science or nutrition will not satisfy prerequisite coursework." Recency is split: anatomy and physiology must be "within 5 years of matriculation required, within 3 years preferred," while for the rest "Completion of biological science and chemistry prerequisites within the last 5 years is preferred." Community college and regionally accredited four year coursework are both accepted, but "Competitive candidates will have completed biological science and chemistry coursework designed for science majors" and "Survey courses may not provide the depth and rigor needed for success in PA education." Labs are "highly suggested for coursework in biological science and chemistry," not required. AP credit is accepted for exactly four courses: general psychology, general biology I, general chemistry I and statistics, and it must appear in CASPA and on a university transcript. "It is advised that no more than two prerequisite course be pending at the time of application." Both CASPA calculated GPAs must be 3.0 or greater. On testing, the GRE is "No longer required starting with the 2026-27 application cycle," and no PA-CAT or CASPer requirement is published. Applications run through CASPA, due October 1, plus a $50 Carroll supplemental fee, waived for CASPA fee waiver and McNair Scholarship recipients. Interviews are virtual and "Applicants may not be accepted without a personal interview." 32 seats. Two admission preferences are stated and neither is about state residency: "Students need not have received their bachelor's degree from Carroll University, but those who do will receive additional admission consideration," and additional consideration also goes to applicants with a commitment to diversity, experience improving healthcare for those in need, leadership and service, or who overcame barriers to education. For scale rather than as a bar, the applicant profile page reports enrolled students in 2025-26 averaging a 3.69 cumulative GPA, a 3.60 science GPA and 3,574 patient care hours: averages, not minimums.
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