PA · North Haven, Connecticut · private
Quinnipiac University Physician Assistant Program prerequisites
What Quinnipiac 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
- Biology with labrequiredextra here
1 semester · 4 credits · lab
Quinnipiac's biology ask is four semesters total, so beyond the microbiology semester and the two anatomy and physiology semesters there is a fourth biology course to place. "Credits must be in mammalian or human biology" and "All of these courses must include labs," which rules out a botany or general-ecology filler.
- General chemistry with labrequireddiffers
2 semesters · 8 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 8 credits · lab.
Quinnipiac asks for "Three semesters of courses in chemistry" and names only the organic or biochemistry semester specifically, leaving two semesters of general chemistry to fill the block. The page states the lab requirement for the organic option, not for these two.
- Organic chemistry with labrequiredextra here
3 credits · lab
One of two ways to answer the same line: "one semester of organic chemistry (with lab) or biochemistry." Take either this course or the biochemistry line, not both. The lab is stated only for the organic option.
- Biochemistryrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
The alternative to the organic chemistry semester: "one semester of organic chemistry (with lab) or biochemistry." Either one closes the third chemistry semester.
- English or writing-intensivenot required here
No English, composition or writing credits appear in the published prerequisite list.
- Statisticsrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"One semester of pre-calculus, calculus or statistics." Statistics is only one of three accepted courses here, so a pre-calculus or calculus credit answers this line just as well.
- Psychologynot required here
Quinnipiac's published prerequisite list covers biology, chemistry and mathematics only. No psychology course appears.
- Anatomy and physiologyrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
"Two semesters of human anatomy and physiology," counted inside the four-semester biology block, and "All of these courses must include labs."
- Microbiologyrequired
1 semester · 4 credits · lab
"One semester of microbiology," also counted inside the four-semester biology block, with lab.
- Medical terminologynot required here
Not among the prerequisites Quinnipiac lists.
Experience hours
- Patient care experiencerequireddiffers
2000+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours.
A stated minimum, not an average: "2,000 hours of direct patient care experience in the U.S. or Canadian healthcare system." The program counts "direct, patient-facing, hands-on healthcare careers rather than those that lack physical contact with patients."
- 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 shadowingrecommended
20+ hours
No number is published, and shadowing does not help the 2,000 hour figure: "volunteer work that is primarily observation is a great way to 'get your foot in the door' in a health care setting but it is not direct patient care."
Letters
- Science faculty letterrecommended
No published minimum
Only a handful of programs require a science faculty letter by name. An academic letter is welcome nearly everywhere and mandatory almost nowhere.
- PA letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
Not named as a requirement. "We don't have specific requirements regarding who submits your references, however common choices include supervisors/managers at work, professors, PA/MD's and other health care providers. Ideally, at least 2 letters of reference should come from healthcare professionals who can speak to your work with patients." Three evaluations are required through CASPA and five is the maximum.
- Supervisor letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
Same line: supervisors and managers at work are listed as a common choice, not a requirement. "You are required to request at least 3 and may request a maximum of 5 evaluations as part of the CASPA application."
Also on the school’s page
Quinnipiac publishes its prerequisites as blocks of semesters rather than credit hours: "Four semesters of courses in biology (credits must be in mammalian or human biology), including one semester of microbiology and two semesters of human anatomy and physiology. All of these courses must include labs," "Three semesters of courses in chemistry, including one semester of organic chemistry (with lab) or biochemistry," and "One semester of pre-calculus, calculus or statistics." Three GPA floors apply, each at 3.20: overall, science, and "A combined GPA of at least 3.20 on the following required prerequisites," with "A grade of C or higher in all prerequisite courses." The recency window is ten years: "All prerequisites must be completed at an accredited institution in the United States or nationally recognized institution in Canada within ten years of the date of application." On exams, "Scores from Graduate Record Examination are not required" and the PA-CAT is not mentioned; the program instead asks for scores from the Acuity Insights Situational Judgment Test. Applications run through CASPA, the complete-application deadline is Sept. 1, and "All academic prerequisites must be completed prior to September 1 of the year of application."
Check your transcript against this list
Cyclios keeps this list beside your coursework and tells you what Quinnipiac still needs from you.
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