Kansas State University Physician Assistant Program prerequisites

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

"Two Semesters - Biology (one of which must be General Biology with lab)." Only the general biology semester must carry a laboratory; the second biology semester is open. Anatomy and physiology, microbiology and genetics are all listed separately and cannot double count, since "One course cannot be used to satisfy multiple prerequisites."

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

"Two Semesters - General Chemistry with lab (Second semester can include Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry)." The first semester must be general chemistry; the second can be answered with biochemistry or organic chemistry instead.

1 semester · 3 credits

Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits and list it as required.

Listed under "Recommended additional courses" alongside organic chemistry, biostatistics, pharmacology, and introductory statistics or critical thinking. It can also do double duty as the second semester of the general chemistry requirement, though not both at once: "One course cannot be used to satisfy multiple prerequisites."

No English, composition or writing requirement appears on K-State's prerequisite list or among its recommended additional courses.

1 semester · 3 credits

Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits and list it as required.

Not a prerequisite. Biostatistics and "Introductory Statistics or Critical Thinking" both appear on the recommended additional courses list.

1 semester · 3 credits

"One Semester - Psychology." No subfield is named, so introductory psychology answers it.

1 semester · 3 credits

"One Semester - Human Genetics (must have been completed within the past 5 years)." Rare as a PA prerequisite and the tightest deadline on K-State's list: the ten year window that covers everything else does not apply, and the program states it "cannot be plant genetics." Human genetics specifically.

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

"Two Semesters - Human Anatomy & Physiology with lab." Three routes are accepted: "either one semester of Anatomy and one semester of Physiology, or two semesters of Anatomy and Physiology combined, or a one-semester combined Anatomy and Physiology course of at least 8 semester hours." Subject to the ten year recency rule.

3 credits

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

"One Semester - Microbiology or Bacteriology." K-State does not state a laboratory requirement for this one, unlike its biology, chemistry and A&P lines.

1 semester · 2 credits

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

Required, not merely suggested: "One Semester - Medical Terminology (at least 2 credit hours)." It must carry a letter grade of C or above like every other prerequisite, so a non-credit or pass/fail online course will not answer it.

750+ hours

Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours and list it as required.

"Direct patient care experience is not required for application, but the program gives preference to applicants with patient care experience in high or moderate categories, and additional preference for those with more than 750 hours." The 750 is a preference threshold, not a floor. K-State publishes its own tiering: high covers RN, APRN, paramedic, respiratory therapist, athletic trainer and military medic or corpsman; moderate covers EMT, LPN, CNA, scribe, medical assistant and dental hygienist; technician and technologist roles form their own band; and phlebotomist, patient transporter, unit clerk, dental assistant and medical volunteer are rated minimal. Applicants "MAY NOT petition to have the listed direct patient care roles reclassified." Note that phlebotomy sits in the minimal band here, lower than most programs place it.

500+ hours

K-State does not run a healthcare experience bucket as such. Its nearest equivalent is a program admission preference, "Work experience or research hours > 500 hours," which is not limited to healthcare work. Roles other programs would call healthcare experience, such as unit clerk and patient transporter, are instead placed in K-State's minimal patient care band.

20+ hours

No number is published: "Physician assistant observation or shadowing is not required for the application. However, competitive applicants will have observed one or more PAs for as many hours as necessary to demonstrate their knowledge of the PA role on the healthcare team. PA observation/shadowing experiences are evaluated during the interview." Also, "Observation of a PA does not qualify as direct patient care experience."

250+ hours

One of the nine program admission preferences, of which an applicant must demonstrate at least two to be forwarded for faculty review: "Community service/mission hours > 250 hours." Not required on its own, but with patient care experience optional here, the preference list is the real screen.

1 letter

Most PA programmes publish no minimum.

Faculty are one of the accepted writer types, but no science faculty letter is specifically asked for and none of the three letters is assigned to a category.

1 letter

Most PA programmes publish no minimum.

Stated outright: "A letter from a PA or physician is not required." Three letters are required and the writer pool is wide, "faculty, coaches, employers, patients, or health care providers with whom the applicant has a shadow or work history." A patient may write one, which few programs allow. "Letters from immediate family members or friends will not be accepted," and "The program will only evaluate the first three letters submitted if more than three letters are received."

1 letter

Most PA programmes publish no minimum.

No letter category is mandatory at K-State. Employers are one of the five acceptable writer types for the three required letters, alongside faculty, coaches, patients and health care providers.