Touro University Illinois Physician Assistant Program prerequisites

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

"General Biology I & II (with labs)," 8 credits. A full introductory biology sequence on top of anatomy and physiology, which most PA programs do not require.

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.

4 credits

Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits.

"Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry," 4 credits, your choice of the two. Four credits usually means a course carrying a laboratory, though the table does not say so outright.

2 semesters · 6 credits

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

Required, not recommended: "English Composition and/or English Literature," 6 credits. Either subject or a mix of the two.

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.

1 semester · 3 credits

"Mathematics (pre-calculus level or above)," 3 credits, and it sits beside the separate 3 credit statistics requirement rather than being satisfied by it. College algebra below pre-calculus will not count.

2 semesters · 6 credits

Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits.

Six credits of "Behavioral Sciences (e.g., Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology)." Psychology is one accepted route rather than a named requirement; sociology or anthropology fill the same block.

2 semesters · 8 credits

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

Eight credits of anatomy and physiology. The prerequisite table marks general biology and general chemistry "(with labs)" but attaches no lab note to anatomy and physiology, so the lab is not stated as required here; a full A&P I and II sequence with lab is the ordinary way to reach 8 credits anyway.

3 credits

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

Three credits. Unlike general biology and general chemistry, microbiology carries no "(with labs)" note in Touro's table.

Not among the 55 credits of specific prerequisites.

4 semesters · 12 credits

Two separate blocks that together come to 12 credits: "Behavioral Sciences (e.g., Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology)" at 6 credits, and "Humanities and/or Liberal Arts & Sciences" at 6 credits. Touro accepts a wide range in both and several courses count toward each block.

200+ hours

Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours.

One of the lowest published floors on this path: "Verification of a minimum of 200 hours of direct patient contact health care experience, either volunteer or paid, must be documented on the Patient Contact Form and uploaded through CASPA." Volunteer hours count equally with paid hours, and the documentation runs on Touro's own Patient Contact Form. A 200 hour floor is a floor, not a competitive figure.

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

"PA shadowing is recommended but not required." No hour figure is published.

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

Not named. Touro requires "three (3) letters of recommendation," of which only one writer is specified, a physician assistant. The remaining two are unrestricted, so a physician letter fits there without being asked for.

1 letter

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

Explicit and unavoidable: "Three (3) letters of recommendation. One of the letters of recommendation must be from a physician assistant." Build the relationship that produces this letter early, since PA shadowing itself is only recommended here.

1 letter

Most PA programmes publish no minimum.

Not specified. Only one of the three required letters has a named writer, the physician assistant; a work supervisor is a natural choice for the other two but is not asked for.