University of Michigan-Flint Physician Assistant Program prerequisites

2 semesters · 8 credits

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

One lecture course of General Chemistry, the first half of a two course chemistry requirement, and "(A lab component is not required.)" One semester, not the full sequence. Subject to the seven year science recency window.

1 semester · 3 credits

The second chemistry course, and either subject answers it: "General Chemistry and either Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry." No lab component is required. Subject to the seven year science recency window.

No English or writing prerequisite appears on the prerequisite list, which runs anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology, developmental psychology, statistics and medical terminology and nothing else.

1 semester · 3 credits

"Statistics/Biostatistics: One lecture course." Either subject counts, and no recency window applies.

1 semester · 3 credits

"Developmental Psychology: One lecture course covering the entire lifespan," and the exclusions are spelled out: "(Child, Adolescent, or Abnormal Psychology courses are not acceptable.)" Introductory psychology does not answer it either. Not a science prerequisite, so the seven year window does not apply.

2 semesters · 8 credits

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

Three lecture courses and no lab: "Human Anatomy: one lecture course without a lab" and "Human Physiology: two lecture courses without a lab component." A two-semester A&P I and II sequence covers the anatomy course and the lower-level physiology course, leaving one more to find, and the program is explicit about what fills it: "An upper-level Human Physiology course (300/3000 or higher), such as Exercise Physiology, Genetics, Human Physiology, or Pathophysiology, can fulfill the second Human Physiology requirement." Genetics counting as physiology here is unusual and worth using. Subject to the seven year science recency window.

1 semester · 4 credits · lab

"One lecture course that includes a lab, which can be taken separately or combined." The only prerequisite here that requires a laboratory at all. Subject to the seven year science recency window.

1 credits

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

Required here rather than recommended, and the cheap route is closed: "One lecture course. (Certificates or online certification courses do not qualify.)" It must be an undergraduate course at a U.S. regionally accredited institution like every other prerequisite.

500+ hours

The program calls it Health Care Experience but defines it as patient care: "Health Care Experience: 500 hours of hands-on direct patient care." Two constraints bite hard. The hours "must be completed before submission to CASPA and should occur within two years prior to application submission," a far shorter window than most programs apply. And two common sources are excluded outright: "Health clinician shadowing and hours gained through student clinical experiences are not accepted toward the Health Care Experience hour requirement." Paid work is preferred "due to the level of responsibility and duties afforded in these positions"; volunteer experience may be considered. In evaluating the hours the program looks for "the use of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiologic concepts in the work experience." The 500 is an eligibility floor: admitted classes averaged 1823 to 3194 hours.

500+ hours

No separate number, but an explicit push past the 500 hour floor: "Due to the competitive nature of PA admissions, earning additional health-related hours is advised." Those extra hours sit outside the required 500, which must be hands-on patient care.

Not required, and it will not help your hour total: "Health clinician shadowing and hours gained through student clinical experiences are not accepted toward the Health Care Experience hour requirement." Shadow to learn whether you want the job, not to build hours for this program.

The preference is for "college professors" generally, with no discipline attached, so a science professor specifically is not asked for. That preference is recorded on the any-faculty letter line instead.

1 letter

Three letters are required and UM-Flint names no discipline for two of them: "Letters of recommendation should be from persons who can attest to your potential as a PA, preferably from health professionals and/or college professors." Any professor answers that preference. "Recommendation letters from family members or friends will not be accepted."

Three letters are required but no writer is named beyond the health care experience supervisor. The program states only a preference for "health professionals and/or college professors," which a physician, nurse or professor satisfies as readily as a PA.

1 letter

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

One of the three letters is pinned to your hours: "One letter of recommendation should be from a supervisor who confirms the health care experience hours submitted." That makes the supervisor letter effectively an audit of the 500 hours, so keep the supervisor who can vouch for them reachable.