PA · Fort Worth, Texas · public
University of North Texas Health Science Center Physician Assistant Program prerequisites
What UNTHSC Fort Worth asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 8 lines differ from the standard PA school set, marked below.
Coursework
- General chemistry with labnot required here
General chemistry is not among the seven required courses. The only chemistry required is one semester of organic chemistry with lab.
- Organic chemistry with labrequiredextra here
1 semester · 4 credits · lab
"Organic Chemistry with Lab, 4 Semester Credit Hours." One semester, and the program requires organic chemistry rather than biochemistry.
- Biochemistrynot required here
Biochemistry is not on the required course list. Organic chemistry with lab is required in its place.
- English or writing-intensiverecommended
2 semesters · 6 credits
English composition, usually two semesters where it is asked for at all.
- Statisticsrequired
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.
- Psychologyrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
General psychology. Many programs fold it into a broader social or behavioural science block that sociology or anthropology also satisfies.
- Geneticsrequiredextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
Three semester credit hours of genetics, intended for science majors. No lab listed.
- Anatomy and physiologyrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
Listed as anatomy with lab 4 and physiology with lab 4. "A combination of eight semester credit hours of A and P coursework can be used to fulfill the requirements for anatomy and physiology," so a two semester A&P I and II sequence works. No recency window applies here.
- Microbiologyrequired
1 semester · 4 credits · lab
Named by nearly every program, usually 3 or 4 credits. A minority accept it without the lab, so read the school's own line before dropping one.
- Medical terminologyrecommended
1 credits
Required outright by nearly half of programs, which is more than its recommended level here suggests. Several refuse a certificate or a free online course and want transcript credit; a few teach it after acceptance instead.
Experience hours
- Patient care experiencerecommendeddiffers
500+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours and list it as required.
"While prior experience in a health care setting is not required, this experience is considered a beneficial attribute and viewed positively by the Admissions Committee. Typically, admitted students will have experience working in a setting where PAs practice." No hours minimum is published, and the selection factors list "Direct patient care or healthcare-related experiences" without separating the two.
- Healthcare experiencerecommended
500+ hours
The program groups this with patient care as "Direct patient care or healthcare-related experiences" and publishes no number for either. Not required, but described as typical of admitted students.
- PA shadowingrecommended
20+ hours
"PA mentoring and shadowing experiences are not required but are encouraged," and admitted students typically "will have experience shadowing PAs." No hours figure.
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.
- Physician letterrecommendedextra here
1 letter
"Letters of recommendation from a PA or physician are strongly encouraged." Either writer satisfies the encouragement; neither is required.
- PA letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
"Letters of recommendation from a PA or physician are strongly encouraged." Strongly encouraged, not required, and a physician letter is treated as equivalent. All letters must come through CASPA; the program will not accept any outside it.
- Supervisor letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
Not named by the program. UNT Health asks for "Letters of Professional Reference" through CASPA without stating a number or a writer, and singles out only the PA or physician letter as encouraged.
Also on the school’s page
UNT Health Fort Worth requires seven courses: psychology 3, statistics 3, anatomy with lab 4, physiology with lab 4, organic chemistry with lab 4, microbiology with lab 4, genetics 3. "A combination of eight semester credit hours of A and P coursework can be used to fulfill the requirements for anatomy and physiology." "All science coursework must be intended for science majors." General chemistry, biochemistry and English are not required. Recency, unusually for this path: "There is no restriction on the number of years since prerequisite courses were completed." Prerequisites must be passed with a C or higher (2.0), completed at an institutionally accredited US institution, and foreign coursework is not accepted. CLEP or AP credit is accepted where the applicant's undergraduate institution recognised it and recorded it on the transcript. Timing changes next cycle: prerequisites must be completed by December 31 of the application year, but "beginning with the 2027-2028 admissions cycle (for the class entering in 2028), all science prerequisites must be completed prior to application submission." Academics: a bachelor's degree before matriculation and "a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale as calculated by CASPA," with a competitive science GPA described as 3.0 or higher. Exams: "The MPAS program requires a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test Score," due by September 1, code 6380, and "There is no minimum score requirement; however, higher scores are considered more competitive." No PA-CAT requirement is published. The page names "Letters of Professional Reference" among the required materials, all through CASPA, but does not state a number. No supplemental application. Rolling admissions, CASPA verification deadline September 1, and interviews use a multiple mini interview format on campus from September to December, with 200 to 300 applicants interviewed for a class of 75.
Check your transcript against this list
Cyclios keeps this list beside your coursework and tells you what UNTHSC Fort Worth still needs from you.
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