PA · New Orleans, Louisiana · private
Xavier University of Louisiana Physician Assistant Program prerequisites
What Xavier Louisiana asks for in the 2026-27 cycle, as read from the school's own admissions page. 12 lines differ from the standard PA school set, marked below.
Coursework
- Biology with labrequiredextra here
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
"General Biology I and II with labs," 8 credits, with a stated alternative route of "General Biology I with lab AND an Upper Level Biology Course" for 7 to 8 credits.
- General chemistry with labrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
The two-semester sequence with lab. Around a fifth of programs want only one semester or skip general chemistry entirely and start at organic or biochemistry.
- Organic chemistry with labrequiredextra here
1 semester · 4 credits · lab
Organic Chemistry I with lab, 4 credits. The second semester is not fixed: the next row is "Organic Chemistry II or Biochemistry," 3 or 4 credits.
- Biochemistryrequired
1 semester · 3 credits
One of two ways to fill the same row: "Organic Chemistry II or Biochemistry," 3 or 4 credits, "minimum three semester hours or equivalent quarter hours." A second semester of organic chemistry satisfies it, so biochemistry is not compulsory.
- English or writing-intensiverequireddiffers
1 semester · 3 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 2 semesters · 6 credits and list it as recommended.
English Composition, 3 credits, required rather than recommended.
- 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.
- College mathematicsrequiredextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
A math requirement beyond statistics: the row reads "Pre-Calculus or Calculus," 3 or 6 credits, and lists "College Trigonometry AND College Algebra (Both)" as the alternative. Because algebra plus trigonometry answers it, this is college mathematics rather than calculus specifically.
- 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.
- Sociologyrequiredextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
Three credits of sociology on the General prerequisite table, required alongside general psychology rather than as an alternative to it.
- Geneticsrequiredextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
Three credits of genetics, listed on the Basic Science prerequisite table. Uncommon as a hard PA prerequisite.
- Advanced biologyrecommendedextra here
1 semester · 3 credits
"Upper Level Biology Electives, Strongly Recommended, 3 to 8 credits." Xavier names what it has in mind: cell biology, molecular biology, embryology, histology, parasitology, virology and immunology.
- Anatomy and physiologyrequired
2 semesters · 8 credits · lab
"Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs," 8 credits, and "Combined Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs are accepted."
- Microbiologyrequired
1 semester · 4 credits · lab
Four credits with lab, and Xavier closes the usual substitutions: "Not satisfied by molecular biology, cellular biology or bacteriology alone."
- Medical terminologyrequireddiffers
1 credits
Most PA programmes ask for 1 credits and list it as recommended.
Required here, not recommended, and Xavier explicitly closes the shortcuts: 1 to 3 credits, "Not satisfied by professional, educational or life experiences. No 'test out' options are accepted."
Experience hours
- Patient care experiencerecommendeddiffers
500+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours and list it as required.
Xavier publishes one experience number and files it under healthcare experience, not patient care: "A minimum of 80 Healthcare Experience Hours are required." The program does not split the two or set a separate patient care minimum, so no PCE figure is recorded here. Hands-on patient care still carries the application, and the required PA or physician letter is written by someone who "can discuss the applicant's abilities with patients."
- Healthcare experiencerequireddiffers
80+ hours
Most PA programmes ask for 500+ hours and list it as recommended.
"A minimum of 80 Healthcare Experience Hours are required." The hours may be paid or volunteer, and "these hours must be completed at the time CASPA application is submitted." Eighty is an eligibility floor, not a competitive number.
- PA shadowingrecommended
20+ hours
No number is published: "Shadowing Physician Assistants is recommended as it prepares the student to understand the role of the PA role and medical profession."
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.
"At least one letter of reference must be from a practicing PA or physician who can discuss the applicant's abilities with patients, preferably someone who has supervised the applicant in a clinical setting." A physician's letter satisfies this line equally; a PA is not required specifically.
- Supervisor letterrecommendeddiffers
1 letter
Most PA programmes publish no minimum.
Supervision is a preference attached to the clinician letter, not a separate requirement: the PA or physician writer is "preferably someone who has supervised the applicant in a clinical setting."
Also on the school’s page
Xavier publishes the coursework on its Prerequisites page, split into a Basic Science table and a General table, and publishes the rest of the admission criteria on the companion page https://www.xula.edu/physician-assistant-program/physician-assistant-program-how-to-apply.html which was also read for this file. "Prerequisite courses must be completed with grades of C or above." Three GPA floors apply at once: overall GPA "must be a 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale," plus "a minimum undergraduate science GPA of 3.0" and "a minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0." Xavier is unusual in requiring BOTH tests. The GRE is required: "Candidates must have a combined verbal/quantitative GRE score of 290 and a minimum of 3 on the writing section." The PA-CAT is also required: "Candidates must have a minimum score of 490 on the PA-CAT." Both "must have been taken within the previous five years from the application deadline." There is no recency window on the coursework itself: "There is no expiration period for prerequisites." On letters, "a minimum of (3) letters of recommendation are required" and "personal references from friends or family members are not accepted."
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