PA · Albemarle, North Carolina · private
Pfeiffer University Physician Assistant Program prerequisites
What Pfeiffer asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 11 lines differ from the standard PA school set, marked below.
Coursework
- General chemistry with labnot required here
General chemistry is not on Pfeiffer's prerequisite list. The chemistry asks are one semester of organic chemistry with lab and one of biochemistry, both of which presuppose it in practice.
- Organic chemistry with labrequiredextra here
3 credits · lab
"Organic Chemistry with Lab," one semester, required in addition to biochemistry rather than as an alternative to it. The page gives semesters, not credit hours.
- Biochemistryrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"Biochemistry," one semester, no lab named. Required alongside organic chemistry, not instead of it.
- English or writing-intensivenot required here
No English or writing course appears in Pfeiffer's prerequisite list.
- 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.
- Geneticsrequiredextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
"Genetics," one semester, a required prerequisite here rather than the recommended extra it is at most programs.
- Anatomy and physiologyrequireddiffers
6 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 8 credits · lab.
"Anatomy and Physiology, 2 semesters." The page attaches no credit figure and does not mention a laboratory for this line, unlike microbiology and organic chemistry where it names the lab explicitly, so six credits is the floor two semesters implies and the lab is not stated as required. Must fall within 7 years of matriculation.
- Microbiologyrequireddiffers
3 credits · lab
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 4 credits · lab.
"Microbiology with Lab," one semester. Semesters rather than credits on the page, so three credits is the floor.
- Medical terminologyrequireddiffers
1 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 credits and list it as recommended.
Required, and the lightest line on the list: "Medical Terminology, 1 semester or CE credit," so a continuing education certificate satisfies it.
Experience hours
- Patient care experiencerequired
500+ hours
"Minimum of 500 hours of Direct Patient Care Experience." "Applicants are expected to have in-depth, hands on, direct patient care experiences in a healthcare setting." The program's examples include EMT, paramedic, ER technician, CNA, surgical technician, radiological technician, respiratory technician, medical assistant, medical scribe, nurse, lab technician, pharmacy technician, PT technician, sonographer, EEG/EKG technician, athletic trainer, phlebotomist and military medical roles; scribing counts here. "Unfortunately, we are not able to assist students and applicants in obtaining their healthcare-related experiences."
- 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 shadowingrequireddiffers
24+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 20+ hours and list it as recommended.
A stated minimum, and PA-specific: "Twenty-four (24) hours of shadowing a physician assistant is required."
Letters
- Science faculty letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
"professors" appear on the accepted writer list without a science qualifier; research mentors are named separately.
- PA letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
Not required by title. "Three letters of recommendation are required. Letters should be from physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, research mentors, professors or volunteer coordinators/supervisors who had direct interaction with the applicant and can attest to his/her qualities, strengths and suitability for a career as a physician assistant." The required 24 shadowing hours make a PA the natural writer for one.
- Supervisor letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
Volunteer coordinators and supervisors are among the six writer types Pfeiffer accepts for its three letters, but none is individually mandatory.
Also on the school’s page
Pfeiffer lists eight prerequisites by semester rather than by credit hour: Anatomy and Physiology (2 semesters), Microbiology with Lab, Organic Chemistry with Lab, Genetics, Biochemistry, Psychology, Statistics (1 semester each) and Medical Terminology (1 semester or CE credit). Every course needs a C or higher and the prerequisite GPA must be at least 3.2, alongside a 3.0 overall GPA and a 3.0 last 60 hours GPA. The recency window is a hard rule: "Requisite coursework MUST have been completed no more than 7 years prior to matriculation," and "all prerequisite coursework must be completed prior to matriculation." "Online courses and labs from regionally accredited institutions are accepted," but the program "does not accept advanced placement (AP) credit from high school for prerequisite coursework." No test of any kind: "The Pfeiffer University PA Program does not require any standardized tests for admission. (GRE, PA-CAT, MCAT or CASPer are not admissions requirements.)" A "Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited College of University prior to matriculation" is required. "Pfeiffer students and alumni who meet or exceed admission requirements will be invited for an interview." The program page notes the ARC-PA extended Accreditation-Probation status in September 2024 with the next review in October 2026; check the current status before applying.
School
pfeiffer.edu/mspasCheck your transcript against this list
Cyclios keeps this list beside your coursework and tells you what Pfeiffer still needs from you.
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