PA · Elkins Park, Pennsylvania · private
Salus University Physician Assistant Program prerequisites
What Salus asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 10 lines differ from the standard PA school set, marked below.
Coursework
- Biology with labrequiredextra here
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
"Biology I with laboratory" and "Biology II with laboratory," four semester credits each. Three-credit courses "may be reviewed on an individual basis."
- General chemistry with labrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
"Chemistry I with laboratory" and "Chemistry II with laboratory," four semester credits each.
- Organic chemistry with labrequiredextra here
3 credits
"Organic Chemistry (laboratory recommended, but not required)," three semester credits. Organic chemistry is the required course here; biochemistry is only recommended.
- Biochemistryrecommendeddiffers
1 semester · 3 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits and list it as required.
Recommended, not required: biochemistry appears in the list of "Recommended courses, but not required" alongside genetics, immunology, embryology, histology, physics and cell biology. The required chemistry beyond the general sequence is organic chemistry.
- English or writing-intensiverequireddiffers
1 semester · 3 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 6 credits and list it as recommended.
Required here: "English Composition," three semester credits.
- Statisticsrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"Statistics or Biostatistics," three semester credits.
- Psychologyrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"Psychology," three semester credits. Developmental or abnormal psychology is listed among the recommended extras, not as a substitute.
- Anatomy and physiologyrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
"Anatomy and Physiology I (or Anatomy) with laboratory" and "Anatomy and Physiology II (or Physiology) with laboratory," four semester credits each. Separate anatomy and physiology courses are accepted in place of the combined sequence. Must be within ten years of the entrance date.
- Microbiologyrequireddiffers
3 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 4 credits · lab.
"Microbiology (laboratory recommended, but not required)," three semester credits.
- Medical terminologyrecommended
1 credits
"Recommended courses, but not required: medical terminology (strongly recommended)."
Experience hours
- Patient care experiencerequireddiffers
300+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours.
"A minimum of 300 hours of direct patient care experience is required. This may be a volunteer and/or employment position(s)." Priority consideration goes to "Those with an increasing number of hours for direct patient care beyond the minimum requirement" and to prior healthcare professionals. The page does not publish a list of qualifying roles.
- Healthcare experiencerecommended
500+ hours
No separate healthcare experience number is published; the 300-hour requirement is for direct patient care. "Related and unrelated work experience" is among the factors the committee considers.
- PA shadowingrequireddiffers
20+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 20+ hours and list it as recommended.
"In order to be familiar with the role of the physician assistant (PA) as a member of the health care team, a minimum of 20 hours of PA shadowing is required. Shadowing PAs in various medical disciplines is highly recommended," and doing so earns priority consideration.
Letters
- Science faculty letternot required here
No science faculty letter is named. The one specified letter may come from any "person with authority (e.g., professor, work supervisor, etc.)" and is recorded on the supervisor line.
- PA letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
"A letter from a physician assistant is recommended." Not required.
- Supervisor letterrequireddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum and list it as recommended.
"Three letters of recommendation are required; one letter must be written by a person with authority (e.g., professor, work supervisor, etc.) who knows you well enough to speak to your work ethic and professionalism, and can assess your qualifications for graduate education, ability to complete graduate work, and qualifications for entering a health profession career." A professor satisfies this line just as a work supervisor does. The other two letters are unrestricted.
Also on the school’s page
Salus now publishes as "Salus at Drexel University" and the program page redirects to the Drexel-branded salus.edu site. "Four semester credits are required in each of the following courses: Anatomy and Physiology I (or Anatomy) with laboratory; Anatomy and Physiology II (or Physiology) with laboratory; Biology I with laboratory; Biology II with laboratory; Chemistry I with laboratory; Chemistry II with laboratory," with the footnote "Three semester credit course/s may be reviewed on an individual basis." "Three semester credits are required in each of the following courses: Microbiology (laboratory recommended, but not required); Organic Chemistry (laboratory recommended, but not required); Psychology; Statistics or Biostatistics; English Composition." "Recommended courses, but not required: medical terminology (strongly recommended), genetics, immunology, embryology, histology, biochemistry, physics, cell biology, public speaking, ethics and developmental or abnormal psychology." All prerequisites need "a 2.0 (C) or better"; Pass grades count only for spring and summer 2020 or case by case. Recency: "Prerequisite courses must be completed within ten years of the anticipated entrance date to the Program." Prerequisites may be in progress at application but must be done before enrollment, and "it is recommended that no more than two prerequisites be outstanding at the time of interview." A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required. GPA: "Candidates must have a minimum cumulative and science GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for the program; however, a cumulative and science GPA of 3.2 or higher is strongly recommended." Testing: the page does not mention the GRE, PA-CAT or CASPer at all; only English proficiency testing (TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, IELTS or Duolingo within two years) for non-native speakers. Three letters through CASPA. Priority consideration goes to applicants from affiliated institutions, those who took three or more science courses per semester, those with a biology, chemistry and physics GPA of 3.5 or higher, those with direct patient care hours beyond the minimum, prior healthcare professionals, and those who shadowed PAs across disciplines. The program grants no advanced placement.
Check your transcript against this list
Cyclios keeps this list beside your coursework and tells you what Salus still needs from you.
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