Mount St. Mary's University Physician Assistant Program prerequisites

General chemistry is not required by name. It appears only as one example of an acceptable course toward the six credit additional chemistry block, alongside Introduction to Chemistry, Organic Chemistry II and Physical Chemistry. The chemistry the Mount names outright is organic chemistry with lab.

1 semester · 4 credits · lab

"Organic Chemistry with lab (minimum 4 credits)." One semester, named outright, and the lab must have been done in person if completed on or after 9/1/2022. Organic Chemistry II does not answer this line; it is listed instead as an example of an acceptable additional chemistry course.

Not required. Biochemistry is listed only as one example among nine acceptable courses for the six credit additional biology block.

No English or writing course is on the prerequisite list. The page asks only for "Proficiency in the English language," which is a language standard rather than coursework.

1 semester · 3 credits

"Statistics (minimum 3 credits)." One course.

1 semester · 3 credits

"Psychology (minimum 3 credits)." One course, with no second psychology course named.

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

"Human Anatomy and Physiology I with lab (minimum 4 credits)" and "Human Anatomy and Physiology II with lab (minimum 4 credits)." The full sequence, minimum B-, completed in the U.S. within 10 years of the application deadline. If either lab was taken on or after 9/1/2022 it must have been in person.

1 semester · 4 credits · lab

"Microbiology with lab (minimum 4 credits)." The in-person lab rule for coursework on or after 9/1/2022 applies here too.

1 credits

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

"Medical Terminology (minimum 1 credit)," required rather than recommended, and it must have been completed at community college level or above. A single credit satisfies it, which makes this one of the cheaper prerequisites to clear.

4 semesters · 12 credits

Two open science blocks that sit on top of the named courses, six credits each. Biology: "At least two (2) additional biology courses are required. Examples of acceptable courses include: Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, General Biology, Introduction to Biology, Genetics, Histology, Immunology, Pathophysiology." Chemistry: "At least two (2) additional chemistry courses are required. Examples of acceptable courses include: General Chemistry, Introduction to Chemistry, Organic Chemistry II, Physical Chemistry." Anatomy and physiology, microbiology and organic chemistry are listed separately and do not count toward these twelve credits. Note that introductory courses such as General Biology and General Chemistry are explicitly acceptable here, so the block does not have to be filled with upper-level work.

The Mount publishes no separate patient care minimum. Its single requirement is "Minimum of 400 hours of healthcare experience, including patient care," recorded on the healthcare experience line, and the accepted roles list mixes hands-on patient care such as CNA and EMT with roles like medical research and medical technologist. Recording a patient care figure here would invent a number the program does not state.

400+ hours

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

"Minimum of 400 hours of healthcare experience, including patient care." The Mount publishes one combined number and does not split patient care experience from healthcare experience, so this figure covers both. Accepted: "athletic trainer, certified nursing assistant (CNA or GNA), chiropractor, dental assistant, emergency medical technician, imaging technologist, medical assistant, medical research, medical technologist, mental health worker, military medic, nurse (RN, LPN), occupational therapy assistant, paramedic, pharmacy technician (depending on patient contact and medication management), phlebotomist, physical therapist, physical therapy assistant, respiratory therapist, scribe (in a clinical setting with patient facing exposure)." Not accepted: "lifeguard, medical records, personal caregiver, pharmacy technician (depending on patient contact and medication management), recreational aide, shadowing, sitter, transport, unit secretary." Four hundred hours is a low floor by PA standards and admitted applicants generally bring far more.

The Mount publishes no shadowing requirement, and shadowing is named outright under Not Accepted Experience, meaning it cannot be counted toward the 400 hour minimum. It may still be worth doing for the interview, but it earns nothing on this application.

Not named. The second of the two letters is unrestricted by role.

1 letter

Most PA programmes publish no minimum and list it as recommended.

"Two (2) letters of recommendation, including one (1) from a Physician Assistant, Physician, or Nurse Practitioner." Read this carefully: a PA letter is one of three writers that satisfy the clinician line, and a physician's or nurse practitioner's letter answers it just as well. The second letter has no named writer.

Only two letters are required and only one writer is specified, a PA, physician or nurse practitioner. A supervisor letter is not required.