South College Physician Assistant Program, Orlando prerequisites

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

"Biology I & II with lab (8 semester or 12 quarter hours)," required in addition to the anatomy and physiology sequence. Subject to the 7 year science recency window.

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

The two-semester sequence with lab. Around a fifth of programs want only one semester or skip general chemistry entirely and start at organic or biochemistry.

1 semester · 3 credits

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

Biochemistry appears only among the recommended electives, alongside genetics, immunology, organic chemistry and advanced biology or zoology courses.

2 semesters · 6 credits

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

Required here rather than recommended: "English (6 semester or 8 quarter hours)."

1 semester · 3 credits

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

Statistics is not required on its own. The requirement is six hours of advanced mathematics, and "a statistics course is recommended" within it.

2 semesters · 6 credits

"Advanced Mathematics (6 semester or 8 quarter hours)." The program names statistics, algebra, calculus and finite math as courses that count, so statistics alone is not the requirement; it is one way to fill part of six hours.

1 semester · 3 credits

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

Not a named prerequisite. Psychology is recommended as a way to fill the six hour humanities and social science block.

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.

"Microbiology with lab (3 semester or 4.5 quarter hours)," a credit lighter than the usual four, and inside the 7 year science recency window.

1 credits

Required outright by nearly half of programs, which is more than its recommended level here suggests. Several refuse a certificate or a free online course and want transcript credit; a few teach it after acceptance instead.

2 semesters · 6 credits

"Humanities/Social Science (6 semester or 8 quarter hours)," with psychology named as a recommended way to fill it.

500+ hours

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

No minimum is published: "Although direct patient care work experience and PA shadowing are not required, points are awarded for applicants who do obtain direct patient care hours." The program gives preference to applicants with higher hours, so this is scored rather than gated.

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.

20+ hours

Explicitly not required, and no number is published. Shadowing is part of what earns preference in review.

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

Most PA programmes publish no minimum and list it as recommended.

"Three Letters of Recommendation. One must be from a PA, MD/DO or NP. It is strongly encouraged that at least one letter be from a physician assistant." A physician or nurse practitioner letter satisfies the hard requirement, so the PA specifically is encouraged rather than mandated.

1 letter

Most PA programmes publish no minimum.

South College names no supervisor letter. Beyond the one clinician letter, the other two of the three are unrestricted, so a work supervisor is an accepted writer, not a required one.