PA · Toledo, Ohio · private
Mercy College of Ohio Physician Assistant Program prerequisites
What Mercy College of Ohio asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 12 lines differ from the standard PA school set, marked below.
Coursework
- General chemistry with labnot required here
General chemistry is not on Mercy's prerequisite list; the chemistry asks are one semester of organic chemistry and one of biochemistry.
- Organic chemistry with labrequiredextra here
3 credits
"One semester of organic chemistry that meets prerequisite criteria for biochemistry (minimum 3 semester hours or equivalent quarter hours)." No laboratory is specified. Organic Chemistry II with lab is explicitly not accepted as a substitute for biochemistry.
- Biochemistryrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"One semester of biochemistry following organic chemistry (minimum 3 semester hours or equivalent quarter hours)." Required here alongside organic chemistry, not instead of it.
- English or writing-intensivenot required here
No English or writing course appears on the prerequisite list.
- Statisticsrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"One semester of statistics (minimum 3 semester hours or equivalent quarter hours)."
- Psychologyrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"One semester of psychology (minimum 3 semester hours or equivalent quarter hours)."
- Geneticsrequiredextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
"One semester of genetics (minimum 3 semester hours or equivalent quarter hours)." Named among the medical science courses the program recommends retaking if older than 7 years.
- Anatomy and physiologyrequireddiffers
6 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 8 credits · lab.
"One semester of Human Anatomy and Physiology I" and "One semester of Human Anatomy and Physiology II," minimum 3 semester hours each. "Separate Human Anatomy and Human Physiology courses are acceptable as long as equates to a minimum of 3 semester hours each." No laboratory is specified. Upper-level A&P earns an admission preference.
- Microbiologyrequireddiffers
3 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 4 credits · lab.
"One semester of microbiology (minimum 3 semester hours or equivalent quarter hours)." No laboratory is specified. Molecular biology is explicitly not accepted in its place; upper-level microbiology earns an admission preference.
- Medical terminologyrequireddiffers
1 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 credits and list it as recommended.
Required here: "One semester of medical terminology (minimum 1 semester hour or equivalent quarter hours) or valid certificate of completion or equivalent."
Experience hours
- Patient care experiencerecommendeddiffers
500+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours and list it as required.
No minimum is published. "For equally qualified candidates, preference is given to applicants that have had the greatest Patient Care Experience (in hours) per the CASPA application," and direct patient care experience is listed among what the program looks for in top prospects. "Direct patient care roles provide the best opportunity" for the required "discernment into the PA profession."
- Healthcare experiencerecommended
500+ hours
No number. Asked whether non-direct roles such as healthcare administration, medical sales or health IT count toward the patient care preference, the program says "the Admissions Committee will review any health-related experience during the application process."
- PA shadowingrecommended
20+ hours
No shadowing requirement or number is published; the FAQ only points applicants to state PA organizations to find a shadowing experience.
Letters
- Science faculty letternot required here
The academic reference example ("academic advisor, instructor, or professor") carries no science restriction; recorded on the any-discipline faculty line.
- Faculty letter (any discipline)recommendedextra here
1 letter
No writer is required. "Examples of appropriate sources for reference letters include PA or Physician (MD or DO), current or former work supervisor, academic source such as an academic advisor, instructor, or professor." The first two letters submitted in CASPA are scored on the authors' ratings; letters from family or friends do not qualify.
- PA letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
Not required. A "PA or Physician (MD or DO)" is the first example of an appropriate reference source; no specific writer is mandated.
- Supervisor letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
Not required. A "current or former work supervisor" is listed as an appropriate reference source.
Also on the school’s page
Mercy lists nine prerequisites, each "one semester" with a stated minimum in semester hours: medical terminology (1 hour or a valid certificate of completion), psychology (3), statistics (3), genetics (3), organic chemistry "that meets prerequisite criteria for biochemistry" (3), microbiology (3), Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II (3 each, separate anatomy and physiology courses acceptable at 3 hours each), and biochemistry "following organic chemistry" (3). No laboratory is specified for any course, and general chemistry, general biology and English are not on the list. "Prerequisite coursework with a course grade of C or better will be considered." Pending coursework is allowed, with acceptance conditional on completing it before matriculation. "Advanced Placement (AP) coursework will not be accepted for pre-requisite coursework." "Online courses from regionally accredited institutions are acceptable." "The PA program does not allow substitutions for prerequisites or relevant courses," for example "Molecular biology for Microbiology or Organic Chemistry II with lab for Biochemistry." Recency is a recommendation rather than a rule: "It is recommended to retake medical science courses such as physiology, biochemistry, or genetics" if older than 7 years, though daily use of those sciences at work "may be sufficient." A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution is required before the May start; applicants "must be a US citizen or US legal permanent resident." Testing: the GRE general test is required of all candidates, "taken within the last 5 years," CASPA GRE code 4751; "No other test scores are accepted in lieu of the GRE." "The PA program does not utilize MCAT scores" and "Mercy College does not accept the PA-CAT." Published "Competitive Thresholds" (distinct from the minimum requirements) are a cumulative GPA of 3.0, a prerequisite GPA of 3.0 with no course grade lower than C, GRE combined verbal/quantitative over 300, quantitative over 150, and analytical writing 3.5 or above. The Acuity Insights Assessment is required of applicants invited to interview. Admission preferences go to upper-level microbiology, anatomy and physiology and biochemistry, and "For equally qualified candidates, preference is given to applicants that have had the greatest Patient Care Experience (in hours) per the CASPA application." Admissions are rolling through CASPA with all materials due by December 1; there is no supplemental application or fee.
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