PA · Amherst, New York · private
Daemen University Physician Assistant Program prerequisites
What Daemen 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
"8 credits of Biology with lab (e.g. Zoology, Botany, General Biology I and II, A & P I and II)." An introductory A&P sequence can fill this line; it does not satisfy the separate 300 level anatomy and physiology core courses.
- General chemistry with labrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
"8 credits of General Chemistry with lab."
- Biochemistryrequireddiffers
4 credits · lab
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits.
One core line, either course: "4 credits of 300 level Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry with lab." Unusually the lab is required whichever you choose. Within five years, in person, part of the core course GPA.
- English or writing-intensivenot required here
No English or writing course appears on Daemen's prerequisite list.
- Statisticsnot required here
Daemen requires calculus, not statistics; no statistics course appears on the list.
- Calculusrequiredextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
"3 credits of Calculus." Daemen asks for calculus rather than statistics.
- Psychologyrequireddiffers
3 semesters · 9 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits.
"9 credits of Psychology and/or Sociology (any combination at any college level for a total of nine credits)." Three times the usual ask, but sociology counts and community college credit is fine.
- Anatomy and physiologyrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
Two of the four core courses: "4 credits of 300 level Anatomy with lab" and "4 credits of 300 level Physiology with lab." Upper division only, in person, not at a community college, within the last five years, and part of the 3.0 core course GPA. An introductory A&P sequence counts toward the biology line instead.
- Microbiologyrequired
1 semester · 4 credits · lab
"4 credits of 300 level Microbiology with lab (only course that may be taken at the community college level)." Within five years, in person, part of the core course GPA.
- Medical terminologyrequireddiffers
1 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 credits and list it as recommended.
Not a course but an exam after acceptance: "Upon acceptance to the PA program, students are required to pass a medical terminology exam by July 1st, 2027 for matriculation into the program." Multiple dates in late spring and summer, two attempts, textbook provided, and "failure to pass the medical terminology exam results in disqualification from the program."
Experience hours
- Patient care experiencerecommendeddiffers
500+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours and list it as required.
No separate hands-on minimum. The 120 hour requirement is recorded on the healthcare experience line because Daemen counts shadowing and volunteer exposure toward it; within that figure "advanced levels of responsibility are highly valued," so hands-on hours still carry more weight.
- Healthcare experiencerequireddiffers
120+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours and list it as recommended.
Daemen publishes one combined figure and does not split patient care from other healthcare exposure: "120 hours of direct patient contact experience (degree of responsibility during patient care experience taken into consideration-advanced levels of responsibility are highly valued). May be either paid or volunteer work, including shadowing, in which the individual was exposed to patients in one way or another." Recorded here because shadowing and volunteer exposure count toward it.
- PA shadowingrecommended
20+ hours
No separate figure. Shadowing counts toward the 120 hours of direct patient contact experience.
Letters
- Science faculty letterrecommended
No published minimum
Only a handful of programs require a science faculty letter by name. An academic letter is welcome nearly everywhere and mandatory almost nowhere.
- PA letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
Not named. "Three letters of recommendation" with no writer type specified.
- Supervisor letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
Not named. Three letters are required and the page does not say who should write them.
Also on the school’s page
Daemen's graduate entry list for the 2027 cycle has two tiers. Four core courses must be 300 level with lab and carry their own GPA floor: "GPA of 3.0 or better (average of accepted students generally >3.4) in the following four courses," anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and organic chemistry or biochemistry, with "all must have been completed within the last five years" and a preference that eight of those credits fall within the last twelve months and that they be taken in a full time semester. "Online classes/labs are not acceptable for the above-mentioned courses unless completed from Spring 2020-Summer 2021," and microbiology is the "only course that may be taken at the community college level." The remaining lines (biology, general chemistry, calculus, psychology and/or sociology) have no stated recency window. Overall GPA and overall science GPA must each be 3.0 or better, with accepted students averaging above 3.5 overall. "No more than two grades below C in any college level course" and "no more than two course repeats." "The GRE is not required"; the PA-CAT is not mentioned. Only one prerequisite may be outstanding at application, completed by August 1, 2027; AP/IB credit counts when on an official college transcript; pass/fail grades are strongly discouraged. Three letters of recommendation with no writer type specified. Applications must be CASPA verified by January 15, 2027 (the cycle opens April 30, 2026), interviews run September to February in person on campus, and a $1,500 non-refundable deposit confirms a seat. Prerequisite coursework "is subject to individual review for equivalency and acceptability."
Check your transcript against this list
Cyclios keeps this list beside your coursework and tells you what Daemen still needs from you.
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