Duke University Physician Assistant Program prerequisites

6 credits

Two biology courses beyond anatomy, physiology and microbiology, three semester or four quarter hours each. No laboratory is stated. Duke names preferred topics without mandating them: genetics, cell biology, molecular biology, embryology, histology and immunology are recommended choices for these two slots.

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

Two chemistry courses with lab, four semester or five quarter hours each. The laboratory is part of the requirement on both, and the credit weight is heavier per course than most programs ask because the lab is bundled in.

Neither biochemistry nor organic chemistry appears on Duke's list. The chemistry requirement is two chemistry courses with lab and nothing beyond that.

No English composition or writing prerequisite appears on Duke's list.

2 credits

Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits.

Two semester or three quarter hours, a lighter statistics line than the usual three semester credits. A two credit statistics course clears it here where it would fall short elsewhere.

Psychology is not one of the eight prerequisites. Statistics is the only non biology, non chemistry course on the list.

6 credits

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

Lighter than the baseline and silent on the laboratory. Anatomy is three semester or four quarter hours and physiology the same, and a combined course is fine: combined anatomy and physiology is acceptable if it totals at least six semester or eight quarter hours.

3 credits

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

Three semester or four quarter hours, with no laboratory stated. Like every prerequisite here it needs a B- or better.

Medical terminology is not among the eight prerequisites.

1000+ hours

Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours.

A minimum of 1,000 hours of direct, hands-on patient contact, and the deadline is the trap: the hours must be complete no later than May 1 of the application year, with no exceptions, and applications cannot be updated after submission. Duke publishes both lists. Accepted roles include EMT, paramedic, health educator, registered nurse, CNA, medical assistant, clinic assistant, therapist, technologist, non-virtual scribe, and clinical research assistant with direct care duties. Explicitly not accepted: PA or physician observer, non-clinical research, pharmacy technician, student clinical experiences, virtual scribe, medical translator, volunteer positions, CPR or ACLS instructor, transporter, pharmaceutical representative, lifeguard, fitness instructor and clerical positions. Note that volunteer positions do not count at all here, which rules out a route many applicants rely on.

Duke recognises only direct, hands-on patient contact and publishes no separate healthcare experience figure. It goes further than most programs in ruling healthcare setting work out of the count entirely: pharmacy technician, clerical positions, transporter, medical translator, non-clinical research and virtual scribing are all listed as not accepted.

No shadowing requirement appears on the prerequisites or application pages, and observation is explicitly ruled out of the hours that do count: "PA/physician observer" is on the list of experiences not accepted toward the 1,000 patient care hours.

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.

1 letter

"Three evaluation forms from references are required, including at least one from a health care professional with whom the applicant has worked." The writer must be a health care professional but need not be a physician, and the phrase "with whom the applicant has worked" rules out someone you only shadowed. The other references may come from employers, supervisors or professors, but not friends or family.

1 letter

Most PA programmes publish no minimum.

Not required by title. Of the three required evaluation forms, one must come from a health care professional you have worked with; a PA is one such professional but the program does not name the profession.

1 letter

Most PA programmes publish no minimum.

Employers and supervisors are named as acceptable reference writers alongside professors, but no supervisor letter is mandatory. The only pinned slot is the health care professional. Friends and family are not accepted.