Northern Arizona University Physician Assistant Program prerequisites

6 credits

Two semesters the baseline does not carry: "General Biology I, 3" and "General Biology II, 3," each "the first part" and "the second part of an introductory level biology course for science majors. Courses for non-science majors are not acceptable." Unusually, the "Laboratory component not required" for either.

6 credits · lab

Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 8 credits · lab.

Both semesters, three credits each: "General Chemistry I" and "General Chemistry II," the introductory sequence for science majors, with "Laboratory component required" on both. "Courses for non-science majors are not acceptable."

1 semester · 3 credits

Either course satisfies it: "Choose any introductory organic chemistry or biochemistry course. Courses for science and health professions majors preferred. Laboratory component not required."

No English or composition credits appear on the prerequisite course list.

2 credits

Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits.

Only two semester credit hours, and the department is unusually open about the source: "Choose any statistics course in any discipline." The course "should include topics such as statistics terms, analytical statistics, measurement of the mean and variance, null hypothesis, p-values, confidence intervals, and probability." Calculus does not substitute: asked whether the program accepts calculus for the statistics prerequisite, NAU answers "No, it does not."

Psychology is not on NAU's prerequisite course list, which runs biology, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, twelve credits of additional sciences, two semesters of general chemistry, organic chemistry or biochemistry, and statistics.

6 credits · lab

Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 8 credits · lab.

Six semester credit hours rather than eight, taken either as "Anatomy & Physiology I and Anatomy & Physiology II" or as separate anatomy and physiology courses. "Human focused is preferred. A&P courses for non-science majors are not acceptable. Laboratory component required for both A&P I and A&P II." If taken separately, "Anatomy must cover all body systems. Physiology must cover all body systems," and both need labs.

3 credits · lab

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

"Choose an introductory microbiology course. Courses for non-science majors are not acceptable. Laboratory component required." Three semester credit hours.

Not among the published prerequisite courses.

4 semesters · 12 credits

NAU's largest requirement and the one most easily missed: a twelve credit Additional Sciences block. Recorded on the science electives key rather than advanced biology, because it is broader than biology: "CASPA course subjects that contribute to the CASPA Science GPA are accepted as Additional Sciences for this requirement. Science courses intended for science majors and/or upper division coursework is more competitive for admissions purposes. Laboratory components are not required for these courses." These twelve credits must be separate courses from the named prerequisites, since double dipping is not allowed, and a combined lecture plus lab course cannot have its extra credit split off toward the twelve unless the lab was a separate registration.

NAU asks for healthcare experience, not patient care specifically: "Does the program require direct patient care experience? Direct patient care experience is not required; however, it is highly recommended." The 500 hour minimum is recorded on the healthcare experience line instead, and hands-on roles count toward it fully.

500+ hours

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

This is the hours line that matters at NAU, and it is healthcare experience rather than patient care: "Complete a minimum of 500 hours of health care experience by September 1. Both volunteer and paid experiences are acceptable," and "The program does not prefer paid over volunteer health care experience." The hours must already be in hand: "Applicants should have already completed the minimum of 500 hours prior to submitting their application. Projected healthcare experience hours are not accepted," and the program does not recalculate hours later in the cycle. Accepted roles run wide, from medical assistant, EMT, CNA, paramedic, RN and LPN through phlebotomist, athletic trainer, radiology technician and registered dietician, and NAU also counts medical scribe, research technician, lab based researcher, volunteering at marathons and blood donor clinics, and "other non-medical work in waiting room or other medical setting." Clinical hours earned as a student in a previous degree count if the CASPA description makes the training role clear.

"No, PA shadowing is not required for admission; however, shadowing a PA can provide some valuable insights about the profession. It can also be counted as health care experience." Shadowing hours earn no separate credit here: "Applicants with PA shadowing and/or letters from PAs are not given any advantage in the admissions process."

1 letter

Most PA programmes publish no minimum.

NAU names "professors" among its preferred writers but specifies no discipline and requires no faculty letter.

1 letter

Most PA programmes publish no minimum.

Three letters of reference are required but no writer is prescribed: "Who can write letters of reference for me? Anyone the applicant chooses. The program prefers letters from health care professionals applicants have shadowed or worked with, employers/supervisors and professors. Letters from friends and family are discouraged." A PA letter earns nothing extra: "Applicants with PA shadowing and/or letters from PAs are not given any advantage in the admissions process." All three must be complete in CASPA by September 1 or the application cannot be considered further, and letters sent outside CASPA cannot be used.

1 letter

Most PA programmes publish no minimum.

Preferred rather than required. Employers and supervisors are among the three writer types NAU says it prefers for the three required letters, alongside health care professionals you have shadowed or worked with, and professors.