Touro University California - Los Angeles Physician Assistant Program prerequisites

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

"General Biology I & II (with labs): 8 semester units/12 quarter units." The full year sequence with both labs, and it must be the version "designed for science majors": a nursing or allied health biology course is accepted only at the Admissions Committee's discretion.

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

"General Chemistry I & II (with labs): 8 semester units/12 quarter units." The full year with labs, in the science majors version. Chemistry grades feed the 3.0 BCP science GPA floor as well as this line.

1 semester · 4 credits

"Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry: 4 semester units/6 quarter units." One of the two satisfies the line, so this is not a course in addition to biochemistry. Touro writes "with labs" beside general biology and general chemistry but not beside this line, so no laboratory is named here.

4 credits

Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits.

The alternative to organic chemistry rather than a course beside it: "Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry: 4 semester units/6 quarter units." Four semester units either way, which is more than the three unit biochemistry course many institutions offer.

2 semesters · 6 credits

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

Required here, not recommended, and literature counts: "English Composition and/or English Literature: 6 semester units/9 quarter units." One caveat on where the course sits: "Applicants must provide catalog descriptions for English courses not taught by an English department (e.g. through a core curriculum or honors program) if requested by the Office of Admissions."

1 semester · 3 credits

"Statistics: 3 semester units/5 quarter units", listed as its own line beneath the mathematics requirement. Statistics does not discharge the pre-calculus mathematics block and the mathematics block does not discharge this one; Touro wants six units of quantitative work in total.

1 semester · 3 credits

"Mathematics (pre-calculus level or above): 3 semester units/5 quarter units." This is separate from and additional to the statistics line, and the level matters: anything below pre-calculus does not answer it.

Not required on its own. Psychology is one of three examples Touro gives for the six unit behavioral sciences block, beside sociology and anthropology, and any of them can fill it.

2 semesters · 8 credits

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

"Anatomy & Physiology: 8 semester units/12 quarter units." Eight units, which normally means the two course sequence. Touro appends "(with labs)" to general biology and general chemistry but not to this line, so no laboratory is stated as required, though a laboratory is hard to avoid in an eight unit A&P sequence. Sciences older than ten years trigger refresher coursework unless the committee exempts you.

3 credits

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

"Microbiology: 3 semester units/5 quarter units." Three units rather than the usual four, and no laboratory is named, though the course must be designed for science majors.

Not on Touro's prerequisite list, which is published as a closed distribution of 55 units across ten named blocks. No medical terminology course is asked for anywhere in the admission criteria.

4 semesters · 12 credits

Twelve units in total, but as two separate six unit blocks that cannot cover for each other: "Behavioral Sciences (e.g., Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology): 6 semester units/9 quarter units" and "Humanities (e.g., History, Philosophy, Languages, Literature, Art): 6 semester units/9 quarter units." A history course answers the humanities block and nothing else; a psychology course answers the behavioral block and nothing else. Plan for both.

200+ hours

Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours.

Far below the PA norm and stated as a hard verification step: "You will need to provide verification that you have obtained a minimum of 200 hours of direct patient contact health care experience, either volunteer or paid." The paperwork is specific: "Your hours must be documented on the Patient Contact Form, which is available and will be uploaded within the CASPA application", and the program suggests keeping a copy since the same form serves another Touro location or a later cycle. Contact with patients is what counts, and Touro's examples run from volunteering in an emergency department transporting patients or taking vitals in a doctor's office through medical assistant, nurse's aide, phlebotomist, LPN, respiratory therapist, EMT and paramedic. A low published minimum is not a target: the Admissions Committee still weighs the hours, and "Meeting the minimum requirements listed above does not guarantee an interview or admission to the program."

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

No number attached: "PA shadowing is recommended but not required (documentation forms can be found in the Application)." Touro offers a route to the hours, suggesting you volunteer at a hospital that employs PAs and shadow from inside the volunteer programme, or approach private offices that employ PAs directly. Worth doing here for a second reason: the required PA letter is difficult to earn without the time.

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.

Required and explicitly non-substitutable: "Three (3) letters of recommendation. One of the letters of recommendation must be from a physician assistant. In order to confirm applicants have a clear understanding of the working relationship between physicians and physician assistants, the letter of recommendation from a PA cannot be substituted with a letter from another health care provider (i.e. RN, NP, paramedic)." A physician's letter does not answer this line either. The other two writers are unspecified, and CASPA will not verify the application until at least two of the three have landed.

Not required. Touro names exactly one of the three letter writers, the physician assistant, and leaves the other two to the applicant. A supervisor is a sensible choice but not a stated requirement.