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PA · Loretto, Pennsylvania · private

Saint Francis University Physician Assistant Program prerequisites

What Saint Francis PA 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.

Read from the school’s pageCheck it with the school

Coursework

  • General chemistry with labrequired

    2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

    "Chemistry - 2 courses with labs, 8 credits." The page says chemistry without naming the general sequence; two lab chemistry courses is the stated ask.

  • Biochemistrynot required here

    Neither organic chemistry nor biochemistry is on the Saint Francis list; the chemistry ask is two lab courses.

  • English or writing-intensivenot required here

    Not on the prerequisite list.

  • Statisticsrequired

    1 semester · 3 credits

    "Statistics or Upper-Level Math - 1 course, 3 credits." An upper-level math course can stand in for statistics.

  • Psychologyrequired

    1 semester · 3 credits

    "Psychology - 1 course, 3 credits."

  • Anatomy and physiologyrequired

    2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

    "Human Anatomy & Physiology - 2 courses with labs, 8 credits." The A&P GPA is scored separately in the initial faculty screen.

  • Microbiologyrequired

    1 semester · 4 credits · lab

    "Microbiology - 1 course with lab, 4 credits."

  • Medical terminologyrequireddiffers

    1 credits

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

    Required here: "Medical Terminology - 1 course, 1-3 credits." A graded course is what the list names; no substitution by work experience is offered.

Experience hours

  • Patient care experiencerecommendeddiffers

    500+ hours

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

    No patient care minimum is published; the only hours requirement is the 100 non-paid healthcare hours recorded on the healthcare experience line. Saint Francis defines patient care as "Experiences in which you are directly responsible for a patient's care. For example, prescribing medication, performing procedures, directing a course of treatment, designing a treatment regimen, actively working on a patient as a nurse, paramedic, EMT, military medic, hospital corpsman, and/or foreign medically-trained physician." In scoring, "The more patient contact and assessment the higher the patient care score."

  • Healthcare experiencerequireddiffers

    100+ hours

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

    "Evidence of 100 hours of non-paid health care experience, at least 40 hours of which must be shadowing a physician assistant in clinical practice. Demonstrated health care experience must be outside of earned academic credit." Note the word non-paid. The program defines healthcare experience as "Both paid and unpaid work in a health or health-related field where you are not directly responsible for a patient's care, but may still have patient interaction; for example, filling prescriptions, performing clerical work, delivering patient food, cleaning patients and or their rooms, administering food or medication, taking vitals or other record keeping information, working as a scribe, CNA, medical assistant, physical therapist, pharmacy tech and /or dental hygienist." "The quality and recent timing of Healthcare Experience will be scored higher."

  • PA shadowingrequireddiffers

    40+ hours

    Most PA programmes ask for 20+ hours and list it as recommended.

    "At least 40 hours of which must be shadowing a physician assistant in clinical practice." These 40 hours sit inside the 100 non-paid healthcare hours, and they must be with a PA.

Letters

  • Science faculty letternot required here

    None of the three letters is assigned to a science professor.

  • PA letternot required here

    "Three letters of recommendation" with no writer specified. No PA letter is required.

  • Supervisor letternot required here

    None of the three letters is assigned to a work supervisor.

Also on the school’s page

Saint Francis lists six prerequisite lines for the two-year graduate-entry MPAS: "Chemistry - 2 courses with labs, 8 credits; Human Anatomy & Physiology - 2 courses with labs, 8 credits; Microbiology - 1 course with lab, 4 credits; Psychology - 1 course, 3 credits; Medical Terminology - 1 course, 1-3 credits; Statistics or Upper-Level Math - 1 course, 3 credits." "It is beneficial to have completed at least five of the eight prerequisite courses prior to applying. Any prerequisite course not completed before the interview must be completed prior to the beginning of the didactic year with a grade of 'B' or better. All courses must have been completed at a regionally accredited college/university." "Virtual (online) labs taken after March 1, 2020, will be accepted." No prerequisite recency window is stated. GPA: transcripts must show "an overall Cumulative GPA of 3.2 and a Prerequisite GPA of 3.0." A bachelor's degree must be completed before matriculation. Testing: the GRE is listed under "Not Required"; the PA-CAT is not mentioned. TOEFL 102 iBT, 607 PBT or IELTS 7.0 for non-native speakers without a U.S. baccalaureate. Three letters of recommendation with no writer specified. Applications go through CASPA with an August 1 deadline; applications are scored on cumulative GPA, major collateral courses GPA, anatomy and physiology GPA, healthcare experience, essay and recommendations, and "The top ~80 applicants are invited to interview based on total ranking." The program does not grant advanced placement.

School

francis.edu/physician-assistant-science

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