PA · Muskogee, Oklahoma · public
Northeastern State University Physician Assistant Program prerequisites
What Northeastern State asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 9 lines differ from the standard PA school set, marked below.
Coursework
- General chemistry with labrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
Both semesters: "General Chemistry I with laboratory" (4) and "General Chemistry II with laboratory" (4).
- Organic chemistry with labrequiredextra here
1 semester · 4 credits · lab
One semester: "Organic Chemistry I with laboratory," 4 semester hours. Required alongside biochemistry, not instead of it.
- Biochemistryrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"Biochemistry," 3 semester hours. Must be completed within seven years of the application deadline, no exceptions.
- English or writing-intensivenot required here
Not on NSU's prerequisite list.
- Statisticsrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"Statistics," 3 semester hours, in addition to college algebra or higher. AP credit is accepted for this line.
- College mathematicsrequiredextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
"College Algebra or higher-level mathematics," 3 semester hours, required in addition to statistics. AP credit is accepted for this line.
- Psychologyrequireddiffers
2 semesters · 6 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits.
"Applicants must complete a minimum of 6 semester hours of Psychology." Introductory, abnormal or developmental psychology are recommended. AP credit is accepted for this line.
- Geneticsrequiredextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
"Genetics," 3 semester hours. Must be completed within seven years of the application deadline, no exceptions.
- Anatomy and physiologyrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
"Human Anatomy with laboratory" (4) and "Human Physiology with laboratory" (4), or "Combined Anatomy and Physiology courses may satisfy the Anatomy and Physiology requirements when Anatomy & Physiology I with laboratory and Anatomy & Physiology II with laboratory are completed for a minimum of 8 semester hours." Must be completed within seven years of the application deadline, no exceptions.
- Microbiologyrequired
1 semester · 4 credits · lab
"Microbiology with laboratory," 4 semester hours.
- Medical terminologyrecommended
1 credits
Required outright by nearly half of programs, which is more than its recommended level here suggests. Several refuse a certificate or a free online course and want transcript credit; a few teach it after acceptance instead.
Experience hours
- Patient care experiencerecommendeddiffers
500+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours and list it as required.
No minimum: "Prior direct, hands-on healthcare experience is not required for admission." NSU's definition: "Direct patient care experience may include positions that involve actively caring for patients in pre-hospital, hospital, clinic, or other healthcare settings." Weighed in holistic review.
- Healthcare experiencerecommended
500+ hours
No number published. "Medical scribe experience is also recognized by the Program as healthcare experience."
- PA shadowingrecommended
20+ hours
Under a fifth of programs set a shadowing minimum; among those that do the median is 20 hours and a handful ask for 100 or more. Several count shadowing inside their experience total rather than separately, and a few have dropped it from scoring entirely.
Letters
- Science faculty letternot required here
Three letters are required but no writer category is mandated; a professor is not named.
- PA letternot required here
Three letters are required but no writer category is mandated; a PA is not named.
- Supervisor letternot required here
Three letters are required but no writer category is mandated; a supervisor is not named.
Also on the school’s page
NSU publishes a semester-hour prerequisite list: Microbiology with laboratory (4), General Chemistry I with laboratory (4), General Chemistry II with laboratory (4), Organic Chemistry I with laboratory (4), College Algebra or higher-level mathematics (3), Statistics (3), Psychology (6 minimum), Biochemistry (3), Genetics (3), Human Anatomy with laboratory (4) and Human Physiology with laboratory (4). No general biology, English or medical terminology appears. Every prerequisite needs a grade of C or better from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. Recency: "Biochemistry, Genetics, Human Anatomy with laboratory, and Human Physiology with laboratory must have been completed within seven years of the application deadline. No exceptions are made to this requirement." No other courses carry a recency window. "Beginning with the 2025-2026 application cycle, Advanced Placement (AP) credit may be used only for the following prerequisite requirements: Mathematics, College Algebra or higher, Statistics, Psychology." Applicants "may apply with outstanding prerequisite coursework if they communicate a clear and reasonable plan for completing the remaining courses," and those finishing prerequisites by October 1 receive preference. GPA: "Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale" and "a minimum science GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. There are no exceptions to the minimum GPA requirements." Testing: "The NSU Physician Assistant Studies Program does not require the GRE or another standardized admission test." The PA-CAT and CASPer are not mentioned by name. Experience: "Prior direct, hands-on healthcare experience is not required for admission," though it is weighed in holistic review; no hour figure is published. Letters: "Three letters of recommendation are required as part of the application," from professional references who can speak to academic ability, professionalism, commitment to the medical profession, leadership and service; no writer category is mandated. "Applicants must earn a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution within the United States prior to matriculation." Oklahoma residents receive preference, and NSU students may qualify for a guaranteed interview. CASPA deadline October 1 at 11:59 p.m. CST; supplemental application fee due October 20.
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