Rocky Mountain College Physician Assistant Program prerequisites

General chemistry does not appear in the prerequisite list. The eight credit chemistry block is organic chemistry, either two semesters of it or one semester plus biochemistry. General chemistry will still be needed as the campus prerequisite for organic almost everywhere, but Rocky does not count it as a prerequisite line of its own.

2 semesters · 8 credits

Rocky builds its whole chemistry block on organic rather than general chemistry: "Two semesters of organic chemistry OR one semester of organic chemistry and one semester of biochemistry," eight credits in total. Labs are highly recommended rather than required. Both routes require at least one semester of organic, so this line cannot be skipped.

1 semester · 3 credits

Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits and list it as required.

Optional rather than required, because it is one of two ways to finish the eight credit chemistry block: "Two semesters of organic chemistry OR one semester of organic chemistry and one semester of biochemistry." Take the second organic semester instead and this line goes away.

2 semesters · 8 credits

Recommended, not required, and offered as one of two ways to strengthen the science record: "One year of undergraduate physics or additional quantitative and/or laboratory-based science courses." Additional writing intensive coursework is separately recommended.

1 semester · 3 credits

Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 6 credits and list it as recommended.

Required here rather than recommended, and only one course: "One college-level English composition course." Additional writing intensive coursework is separately listed as recommended.

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.

1 semester · 3 credits

"One course in pre-calculus or higher." This sits beside the statistics requirement rather than replacing it, so the mathematics block is six credits and statistics cannot answer both halves.

1 semester · 3 credits

"One course in psychology (developmental or abnormal psychology is highly recommended)." Introductory psychology satisfies the letter of it, but the program says outright which two courses it would rather see.

1 semester · 3 credits

"one semester of genetics," three credits, part of the fifteen credit biology block alongside anatomy and physiology and microbiology. No laboratory stated.

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

The full A&P sequence with lab, the one course essentially every program names. Recency windows bite hardest here: several programs expire A&P specifically, one at three years, while leaving the rest of the list alone.

3 credits · lab

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

"one semester of microbiology with lab required," three credits. The laboratory is mandatory here, and like every other science prerequisite except medical terminology it must be taken in person.

1 credits

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

Required, one to two credits, and the one exception to the program's in person rule: "May be completed in an online format." Every other prerequisite must be taken in person.

1 semester · 3 credits

A social science that must come from outside psychology: "One course in a social science that is NOT from a psychology department, such as: sociology, geography, anthropology, political science, or economics." It is a second course on top of the psychology requirement, not an alternative to it.

1500+ hours

Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours.

One of the highest published floors on this path, and paid work only: "Applicants must complete a minimum of 1,500 hours of paid, direct, hands-on patient care PRIOR to submitting their CASPA application." Volunteer hours do not count toward it and hours you are still accruing in the autumn do not either. Qualifying roles named include scribe, phlebotomist, EMT, CNA, medical assistant, LPN or RN, respiratory therapist, paramedic, and "Other positions providing direct, face-to-face patient care." Clinical work experience carries 20 percent of the selection score, so the admitted averages of 3,830 mean and 2,751 median hours are where competitiveness actually sits.

The program counts only paid, direct, hands-on patient care toward its 1,500 hour requirement and publishes no separate healthcare experience figure, so healthcare work without patient responsibility does not answer anything here.

40+ hours

Most PA programmes ask for 20+ hours.

Strongly encouraged rather than required, and PA specific: "We strongly encourage candidates to complete a minimum of 40 hours of shadowing with physician assistants," including at least one primary care setting, completed before CASPA submission.

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.

1 letter

Of the three required letters, one must come from a healthcare provider, with a physician assistant preferred. The provider does not have to be a physician; the requirement is a healthcare provider. "Letters from family members are not accepted." Letters carry 5 percent of the selection score.

1 letter

Most PA programmes publish no minimum.

Preferred but not mandated. Three letters are required and one must be from a healthcare provider, "preferably a physician assistant," so a PA is the program's first choice for that slot rather than a condition of eligibility.

1 letter

Most PA programmes publish no minimum.

No supervisor or employer letter is named. Three letters are required, one from a healthcare provider, and family members are excluded; the other two writers are left to the applicant.