Cyclios

PA · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · public

Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program prerequisites

What Temple asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 12 lines differ from the standard PA school set, marked below.

Read from the school’s pageCheck it with the school

Coursework

  • Biology with labrequiredextra here

    2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

    "General Biology I & II (with lab)." "'General' coursework denotes the first two courses in the subject sequence for science majors."

  • General chemistry with labrequired

    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.

  • Organic chemistry with labrequiredextra here

    3 credits · lab

    "Organic Chemistry (with lab)," one semester. Temple requires this in addition to biochemistry, not as an alternative.

  • Biochemistryrequired

    1 semester · 3 credits

    Roughly half the programs that ask for an upper chemistry accept either biochemistry or organic chemistry for the same single line, so one course often covers both entries on this list.

  • English or writing-intensiverecommended

    2 semesters · 6 credits

    English composition, usually two semesters where it is asked for at all.

  • Statisticsrequired

    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.

  • Psychologyrequired

    1 semester · 3 credits

    General psychology. Many programs fold it into a broader social or behavioural science block that sociology or anthropology also satisfies.

  • Advanced biologyrequiredextra here

    2 semesters · 6 credits

    "2 or more courses from the following list: Genetics, Molecular Biology, Immunology, Microbiology, Cell Biology." Two full semesters, typically 3 to 4 semester hours each; one course cannot double count against another prerequisite.

  • Anatomy and physiologyrequireddiffers

    6 credits · lab

    Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 8 credits · lab.

    "Human Anatomy (with lab); Human Physiology (with lab)" as two separate courses, each one full semester of typically 3 to 4 semester hours. "Two Combined Human Anatomy/Physiology courses may substitute for these two individual courses."

  • Microbiologynot required here

    Not required on its own. Microbiology is one of five options for the two-course advanced biology block (Genetics, Molecular Biology, Immunology, Microbiology, Cell Biology) and counts there if taken.

  • Medical terminologyrequireddiffers

    1 credits

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

    Listed as a required prerequisite course. Online coursework is accepted; the page does not offer a work experience substitute.

Experience hours

  • Patient care experiencerequireddiffers

    400+ hours

    Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours.

    "To be considered for an interview, a minimum of 400 hours of clearly documented volunteer or paid direct hands-on patient contact experience (PCE) or witnessing care first-hand are required." Hours must be accrued by December before the intended matriculation year; "virtual experiences ... will not count toward the minimum hours required." Temple's PCE list is broad and includes Medical Scribe, Caregiver, Home Healthcare Aid, Dietician, Exercise Physiologist and Medical Research with patient contact alongside EMT, CNA, MA, phlebotomist and similar roles.

  • 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 shadowingrecommendeddiffers

    100+ hours

    Most PA programmes ask for 20+ hours.

    "In addition to the 400 hours of PCE, it is strongly recommended that one complete at least 100 hours working with or shadowing an MD, DO, and/or PA."

  • Non-clinical volunteeringrecommendedextra here

    50+ hours

    "It's recommended that applicants have a minimum of 50 hours of community service activities, not including those performed in high school. All types of community service and volunteer activities are considered."

Letters

  • Science faculty letterrequireddiffers

    1 letter

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

    "One letter from a professor with whom you completed science course work." Three letters required through the CASPA Letter Evaluation Program; the third is "the applicant's choice of recommender." The program "discourages submission of letters of recommendation from friends, relatives, personal physicians, or instructors who do not possess a personal, supervisory knowledge of the applicant."

  • PA letterrequireddiffers

    1 letter

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

    "One letter from a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner. (A letter from a physician assistant is preferred but not required.)" A physician or NP letter satisfies this line at Temple.

  • Supervisor letternot required here

    No supervisor letter is named. Temple's three letters are one science professor, one physician, PA or NP, and one of the applicant's choice.

Also on the school’s page

Temple's traditional MMS page lists prerequisites by course rather than credit: "General Biology I & II (with lab); General Chemistry I & II (with lab); Organic Chemistry (with lab); Biochemistry; Human Anatomy (with lab); Human Physiology (with lab); Statistics; Psychology; Medical Terminology; 2 or more courses from the following list: Genetics, Molecular Biology, Immunology, Microbiology, Cell Biology." "Each prerequisite course can be satisfied by one full semester, typically 3 to 4 semester-hours," and "one course cannot be used to satisfy multiple prerequisite courses." Every prerequisite needs "a grade of at least a 'C' or 2.0 on a 4.0 scale." Recency: "All science and math prerequisites coursework must be completed within 10 years prior to June enrollment" and "at least four science courses must be completed within 4 years prior to June enrollment." Online courses are accepted. Applicants may apply with no more than two prerequisites outstanding; everything must be done by matriculation. GPA: Temple's Graduate School policy "requires a minimum cumulative and science grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale," evaluated on the verified CASPA overall GPA. Exams: "GRE or MCAT scores are optional" and "will not impact your PA Program application status"; the page does not mention the PA-CAT. Also required: a 500 to 1,000 word statement of goals, a resume, a $60 Temple fee after CASPA verification, and U.S. citizenship or permanent resident, refugee or asylee status. CASPA must be complete and verified by January 15 for the June start. The page as read still says the bachelor's degree must be completed "By May 2025," which reads as a stale date carried over from an earlier cycle; treat it as degree by the May before matriculation.

School

medicine.temple.edu/education/physician-assistant-program

Check your transcript against this list

Cyclios keeps this list beside your coursework and tells you what Temple still needs from you.

See it for PA school

Also in Pennsylvania

All PA programmes, compared