PA · Manchester, New Hampshire · private
MCPHS University Physician Assistant Studies Program, Manchester prerequisites
What MCPHS Manchester asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 8 lines differ from the standard PA school set, marked below.
Coursework
- General chemistry with labrequireddiffers
1 semester · 4 credits · lab
Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 8 credits · lab.
"General Chemistry I with lab (4 credits)." One semester rather than the full sequence; the second chemistry ask is met by the organic and biochemistry lines.
- Organic chemistry with labrequiredextra here
1 semester · 4 credits · lab
"Organic Chemistry I with lab (4 credits)." One semester only, with its laboratory, alongside the separate biochemistry line.
- Biochemistryrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
Roughly half the programs that ask for an upper chemistry accept either biochemistry or organic chemistry for the same single line, so one course often covers both entries on this list.
- English or writing-intensivenot required here
No English or writing requirement appears on the admission requirements page.
- Statisticsrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
Statistics, not calculus. The exception is regional: several Oklahoma and Texas programs require college algebra instead and do not count statistics, so check those individually.
- Psychologyrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
General psychology. Many programs fold it into a broader social or behavioural science block that sociology or anthropology also satisfies.
- Anatomy and physiologyrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
The full A&P sequence with lab, the one course essentially every program names. Recency windows bite hardest here: several programs expire A&P specifically, one at three years, while leaving the rest of the list alone.
- Microbiologyrequired
1 semester · 4 credits · lab
Named by nearly every program, usually 3 or 4 credits. A minority accept it without the lab, so read the school's own line before dropping one.
- Medical terminologynot required here
Not among the prerequisite courses MCPHS lists.
Experience hours
- Patient care experiencerecommendeddiffers
250+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours and list it as required.
MCPHS publishes a recommended range rather than a hard floor: "250 to 500 hours of patient care experience (strongly recommended)." The 250 recorded here is the low end of that range, not a stated minimum. Qualifying activities named on the page: "Taking vital signs, Administering medications, Drawing blood, Performing diagnostic testing (such as EKGs or X-rays), Assisting with patient treatment and care." The overview page adds that patient care experience from other countries is accepted if it meets the hands-on patient care expectation.
- 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
PA shadowing is listed as "recommended" with no number. The overview page restricts what counts: "We will only consider in-person shadowing hours with physician assistants."
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.
- Faculty letter (any discipline)requiredextra here
1 letter
Three letters are required: "One academic reference, One professional reference, One additional reference from someone who can speak to your qualifications." The academic reference is this line; MCPHS does not restrict it to a science professor.
- PA letternot required here
No PA letter is required. The three letters are one academic, one professional and one additional reference from anyone who can speak to your qualifications.
- Supervisor letterrequireddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum and list it as recommended.
"One professional reference." MCPHS names no particular writer beyond that; a supervisor from patient care employment is the natural fit but the wording is broader than a work supervisor.
Also on the school’s page
MCPHS publishes a short prerequisite list in semester credits for the accelerated Manchester and Worcester MPAS, each course to be completed "with a grade of C or better." One hard GPA floor and two soft ones: "Minimum CASPA verified cumulative GPA: 3.0," "Recommended science GPA: 3.2" and "Recommended prerequisite GPA: 3.2." The program overview page adds that "due to the competitive nature of admission to the program, we do not consider students who do not meet all of our minimum requirements," and gives the incoming class averages as 3.56 overall, 3.5 science and 3.70 prerequisite. The recency window covers math as well as science: "Math and science courses are required to be completed within 10 years of your anticipated enrollment date," so the statistics course is on the same clock as the biology and chemistry. On exams, the program overview page states outright that "MCPHS does not require standardized test scores for admission, including the GRE, PA-CAT, and MCAT." Prerequisites may be taken online or at a community college if the institution is regionally accredited, and an AP score of 4 or higher "may only count toward one three- or four-credit prerequisite course." Applications go through CASPA with a personal essay and one MCPHS supplemental question; admission is rolling with a January 15 final deadline, and "your application will be reviewed as-is upon submission."
Check your transcript against this list
Cyclios keeps this list beside your coursework and tells you what MCPHS Manchester still needs from you.
See it for PA school