PA · Grand Forks, North Dakota · public
University of North Dakota Physician Assistant Program prerequisites
What North Dakota 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
- General chemistry with labnot required here
General chemistry does not appear anywhere on UND's prerequisite list. The only chemistry the page names is organic chemistry I and II, as an option toward the upper-level science block.
- Biochemistryrecommendeddiffers
1 semester · 3 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits and list it as required.
Not a standalone requirement here. Biochemistry appears only as one of the courses that can fill the six-credit upper-level science block, and it is one of the asterisked courses where "a grade of C is acceptable" instead of the usual B.
- English or writing-intensivenot required here
No English composition or writing course is listed as a prerequisite or as recommended coursework.
- Statisticsrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
"Statistics (At least 3 semester credits). Preferably statistics for psychology, sociology, or biology." Grade of B or higher.
- Psychologyrecommendeddiffers
1 semester · 3 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 3 credits and list it as required.
Psychology is not a prerequisite at UND. It is listed under "Other Recommended Coursework" alongside medical terminology and pharmacology.
- Anatomy and physiologyrequireddiffers
6 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 8 credits · lab.
Listed as two courses: "Human Anatomy (At least 3 semester credits). Lab preferred" and "Human Physiology (At least 3 semester credits). Lab preferred." The lab is preferred, not required. "If a combined course such as anatomy and physiology (i.e. A&P I and II) is taken, 2 courses of at least 3 semester credits each are required." Grade of B or higher.
- Microbiologyrequireddiffers
2 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 semester · 4 credits · lab.
"Microbiology (At least 2 semester credits). Lab preferred." Lighter than the baseline on credits and the lab is a preference rather than a requirement. Grade of B or higher.
- Medical terminologyrecommended
1 credits
Listed first under "Other Recommended Coursework." No credit count or substitute is stated.
- Additional science creditsrequiredextra here
2 semesters · 6 credits
"At least 6 semester credits of additional upper-level University science. Taking these courses with their respective labs (if offered) is preferred. Clinical courses taken toward health care certification do not meet this requirement." Upper-level means "non-introductory, typically with course numbers indicating at least junior or senior status." The page's list of courses to consider: biochemistry, biochemistry of proteins and information flow, genetics, cell biology, developmental biology, endocrinology, systems biology, physiology of organs and systems, molecular genetics, molecular biology of the cell, organic chemistry I and II, and introduction to immunology. Grade B or higher, except that the biochemistry and organic chemistry courses accept a C.
Experience hours
- Patient care experiencerequireddiffers
1000+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours.
"A minimum of 1,000 paid hours of health care experience must be completed within the United States and be related to direct (hands-on), supervised patient care showing commitment to a career in medicine. Experience should involve assessment and treatment relating to Western (allopathic) medicine and medical professional judgment. Hours accrued in a student/learner role are not acceptable." Paid only, US only, hands-on only. The program says the most competitive candidates bring "direct patient care exceeding the minimum 1,000 paid hours requirement" that is "rich in high-level, direct patient care and decision-making responsibilities," and gives admission preference to rural healthcare experience.
- Healthcare experiencerecommended
500+ hours
UND publishes no separate figure for healthcare experience without hands-on responsibility. Its only experience requirement is the 1,000 paid hours of direct, hands-on, supervised patient care recorded on the patient care line; the page warns that clinical experiences lacking direct patient care and decision-making "do not fully prepare students" for the program.
- PA shadowingrecommended
20+ hours
Neither the requirements page nor the How to Apply page mentions shadowing or publishes a shadowing hour figure.
Letters
- Science faculty letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
No faculty letter is named. The only writers the program mentions are physicians, physician assistants and clinical supervisors; three professional letters total.
- PA letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
Not required by title. The How to Apply page asks for "Three professional letters of reference" through CASPA, and the requirements page says the program seeks "strong references from physicians, physician assistants, and other clinical supervisors." A PA is one of the named voices but none of the three is mandated.
- Supervisor letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
Three professional letters of reference, writers unspecified. "Other clinical supervisors" are named alongside physicians and PAs as the references the program looks for, so a supervisor from your paid patient care work is the natural fit, but it is not a stated requirement.
Also on the school’s page
UND publishes a short, biology-heavy prerequisite list with no general chemistry, no English and no psychology requirement: human anatomy, human physiology, microbiology, statistics, and six credits of additional upper-level science. The grade bar is high, "Grade of B or higher (3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale) unless denoted below," with the exception that biochemistry and organic chemistry courses used toward the upper-level science block may carry a C. Recency is a preference rather than a cutoff: "Preference is given to candidates whose prerequisite coursework has been completed within 7 years of the application deadline." Coursework must be "Completed at a regionally accredited institution within the United States" and "CLEP (College Level Examination Programs) or 'test out' courses are not accepted." S/U grades are considered only where COVID-era grading was mandated by the school. On grades, "A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) is required," with consideration below 3.0 where the most recent 60 semester credits show a 3.0 or higher on a stable or upward trend, and applicants below 2.75 may be admitted to provisional status through the Graduate School. A bachelor's or graduate degree from a regionally accredited US institution is required and "must be completed by December 31 of the application year." Neither the requirements page nor the program's How to Apply page mentions the GRE or the PA-CAT, so no entrance exam is stated as required. Letters: the How to Apply page asks for "Three professional letters of reference" through CASPA without naming writers; the requirements page says the program seeks "strong references from physicians, physician assistants, and other clinical supervisors." Preference factors are explicit and regional: "North Dakota residents are given highest preference followed by those in bordering states (MN, MT, SD) and the region (IA, NE, WI, WY)," plus rural residence and rural healthcare experience, a health or science degree, and recent rigorous coursework with labs. The program "does not accept transfer students from other PA programs" and allows no advanced placement. CASPA deadline is August 1, and all prerequisites must be on an official transcript by then. Other recommended coursework named on the page: medical terminology, pharmacology, psychology, and additional upper-level science with labs, especially immunology, pathophysiology, gerontology, epidemiology and human nutrition.
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