PA · Lynchburg, Virginia · private
University of Lynchburg Physician Assistant Program prerequisites
What Lynchburg asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 11 lines differ from the standard PA school set, marked below.
Coursework
- Biology with labrequiredextra here
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
"8 semester hours of biology with labs (2 biology with lab courses)* (excludes A&P)." The exclusion matters: anatomy and physiology sit in their own lines and cannot be double counted here. The asterisk means "These courses should be equivalent courses required in the science majors."
- General chemistry with labrequireddiffers
1 semester · 4 credits · lab
Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 8 credits · lab.
One semester, not two: "4 semester hours of general chemistry with lab or introductory chemistry with lab." An introductory chemistry course counts, provided it is the version "required in the science majors."
- Biochemistryrequireddiffers
4 credits · lab
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits.
"4 semester hours of organic chemistry with lab or biochemistry (200 level course or higher) with lab." Either subject answers the line, but unusually the laboratory is required either way, and biochemistry must be at the 200 level or above.
- English or writing-intensivenot required here
No English or writing course appears in Lynchburg's prerequisite groups, which run Sciences, Psychology, Math and Social Sciences. Written communication is assessed instead through the technical standards and the supplemental application.
- Statisticsrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"3 semester hours of introductory statistics (or equivalent course in other discipline)", so a statistics course housed in psychology, business or another department counts.
- Psychologyrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"3 semester hours of general or developmental psychology." Developmental psychology is accepted in place of the introductory course.
- Geneticsrequiredextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
"3 semester hours of genetics." It is listed under Sciences with no laboratory requirement and no substitution offered.
- Anatomy and physiologyrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
Split into two named courses rather than a sequence: "4 semester hours of human anatomy with lab" and "4 semester hours of human physiology with lab." Both need labs, and the grade bar is effectively higher here: "For Anatomy and Physiology prerequisite courses, while a minimum grade of C is required, a course grade of B or better is preferred."
- Microbiologyrequireddiffers
3 credits · lab
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 4 credits · lab.
"3-4 semester hours of microbiology with lab." A three credit course with its lab satisfies it, one credit below the usual four.
- Medical terminologynot required here
Medical terminology is not listed among the prerequisites, required or preferred. The heavy anatomy, physiology and genetics load is where Lynchburg puts the vocabulary burden before matriculation.
- Social sciences and humanitiesrequiredextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
"Social Sciences: 3 semester hours of economics, sociology, political science, or similar coursework." Psychology is required separately and does not answer this line.
Experience hours
- Patient care experiencerequired
500+ hours
"Students must have completed a minimum of 500 hours of direct patient care and 8 hours shadowing a licensed PA prior to matriculation. Many applicants far exceed the minimum amount for direct patient care hours." What counts: "work or volunteer experience including but not limited to: athletic trainer, paramedic or EMT, military medic, nurse, nurse aide, laboratory technician, radiology technician, respiratory therapist, and surgical technician." What usually does not: "Hours received through a certificate training or undergraduate degree program are typically not accepted (AT, EMT, OT, RN)", though those with high levels of independent patient care are reviewed individually by the clinical director. "Employment as a scribe and PA shadowing hours may count toward the direct patient care hours on a case by case basis. We do not require documentation of your patient care hours but reserve the right to verify them." The admissions rubric scores "direct patient care quality and quantity."
- 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 shadowingrequireddiffers
8+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 20+ hours and list it as recommended.
A rare hard shadowing minimum, and a small one: "8 hours shadowing a licensed PA prior to matriculation." It must be a PA specifically, and unlike the patient care hours it must be documented: "Verification of PA shadowing is required for the Supplemental Application."
Letters
- Science faculty letterrecommended
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.
- PA letterrequireddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum and list it as recommended.
"Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation to CASPA supporting the applicants' ability to be a PA. One letter must be from a practicing PA, nurse practitioner, or physician." A PA answers it, and so does an NP or a physician.
- Supervisor letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
Lynchburg requires three letters but names an author for only one of them, the practicing clinician. No supervisor letter is required, so this drops to recommended here; the remaining two letters are open, and letters of recommendation are one of the scored components of the admissions rubric.
Also on the school’s page
Lynchburg publishes a long, lab heavy prerequisite list in semester hours, grouped as Sciences, Psychology, Math and Social Sciences: 8 hours of biology with labs excluding A&P, 4 of general or introductory chemistry with lab, 4 of organic chemistry with lab or 200 level and higher biochemistry with lab, 4 of human anatomy with lab, 4 of human physiology with lab, 3 to 4 of microbiology with lab, 3 of genetics, 3 of psychology, 3 of statistics, and 3 of social science. Six of the ten carry a required laboratory, and the starred science courses "should be equivalent courses required in the science majors." Rules across the list: "All prerequisites must be completed at a regionally or nationally accredited college or university within the U.S. or Canada prior to matriculation. CLEP scores will not be accepted in place of prerequisites. AP scores will be accepted. The AP credit must be reflected on an undergraduate transcript. No prerequisite courses may be completed as 'pass/fail' or 'credit/non-credit.' A minimum course grade of C is required for all required prerequisite courses. For Anatomy and Physiology prerequisite courses, while a minimum grade of C is required, a course grade of B or better is preferred." The recency window is a preference rather than a bar: "It is preferred that prerequisite courses are completed within 5 years of application to the program." On exams, the GRE is required: "Applicants must submit official scores for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) to CASPA using the University of Lynchburg code 3874 for the PA Medicine program. Scores must be within 5 years of the CASPA application. There is no minimum score requirement. The GRE requirement will be waived for applicants with a previous graduate degree or who submit official MCAT scores to CASPA." The PA-CAT is not mentioned. GPA minimums are 3.0 cumulative, 3.0 science and 3.0 prerequisite, and "Strong applicants will exceed the minimum GPA." A bachelor's degree from a U.S. or Canadian regionally accredited institution is required. Applications go through CASPA, matching the catalog row, on rolling admission, with a $50 supplemental application returned within 15 days, an on campus interview, and a cohort capped at 40. There is no in-state preference, matching the catalog row, but there are named non-academic preferences: University of Lynchburg alumni, military, students from economic and environmentally underrepresented populations by CASPA HRSA indicators, minority applicants and first generation college students, and "Five additional points will be granted to University of Lynchburg graduates and Veterans", capped at five points total for someone who is both.
Check your transcript against this list
Cyclios keeps this list beside your coursework and tells you what Lynchburg still needs from you.
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