University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Physician Assistant Program prerequisites

General chemistry is not on UNC's prerequisite list; the only chemistry line is biochemistry or organic chemistry.

1 semester · 3 credits

"Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry (3 sem/4.5 qtr hrs)." Either one answers this line; UNC does not require both.

No English or writing course appears in UNC's prerequisite list.

1 semester · 3 credits

"Statistics or Biostatistics (3 sem/4.5 qtr hrs)."

1 semester · 3 credits

"Sociology or Psychology (3 sem/4.5 qtr hrs)." A sociology course satisfies this line just as well as psychology.

6 credits

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

Anatomy, 3 semester hours or 4.5 quarter hours, "A&P Human-based highly preferred," plus Physiology, 3 semester hours or 4.5 quarter hours. Six hours total and the page names no laboratory. Seven year recency is strongly recommended, not required.

3 credits

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

"Microbiology (3 sem/4.5 qtr hrs)." Three hours rather than four, and no laboratory is stated.

1 credits

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

Required, with the lightest possible form accepted: "Medical Terminology," and a "certificate of completion may also be accepted in lieu of academic credit."

1000+ hours

Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours.

"A minimum of 1,000 hours of paid, direct, hands-on patient care," for example "prescribing medication, performing procedures, directing a course of treatment, work as an active nurse, EMT, etc." "These hours must be completed no later than the CASPA deadline" and are confirmed on the program's Patient Care Experience Verification Form. The FAQ's acceptable list: clinical nutritionist/dietician, clinical research assistant, paramedic/EMT/firefighter paramedic, emergency room technician, military medic, certified nursing assistant, certified medical assistant, respiratory therapist, scribe/virtual scribe, dentist, dental hygienist, ophthalmic technician, phlebotomist, physical therapist and PT assistant, athletic trainer, occupational therapist and OT assistant. Not accepted: clerical positions, medical transcriptionist, patient transporter, ski patrol, unit clerk, dental assistant, organ transport, chiropractor or chiropractic assistant, hospital or retail pharmacy technician, physical therapy technician. Paid is part of the definition: "directly responsible and paid for assessing a patient's condition or providing a form of treatment."

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 shadowing requirement is published, and shadowing earns nothing toward the hours that matter: "We do not accept shadowing hours, experience received during training, for academic credit, or administrative/clerical positions." Still the easiest way to earn the required PA letter.

1 letter

Most PA programmes publish no minimum.

Not named. With two of three letters reserved for healthcare professionals from clinical settings, at most one letter can come from a professor.

1 letter

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

"At least one letter is required from a practicing Physician Assistant." Three letters total; "No personal recommendations are accepted."

1 letter

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

"At least two of the three letters are required from experienced health care professionals who observed or supervised you in a clinical setting." The required PA letter can be one of those two, which leaves at least one more clinical observer or supervisor to find.