Pre-Physician Assistant

Admission Requirements for the Physician Assistant Program
All physician assistant programs have prerequisite courses you must complete, sometimes before even applying to the program. You must verify with an advisor and/or with each physician assistant school you plan on applying to, that all prerequisites and direct health care experience are completed properly.
If you have questions directly related to CMU's Physician Assistant program, please contact:

          CHP Graduate Admissions
             Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions
             (989) 774-1730
             chpadmit@cmich.edu


Education and Training
Physician assistant educational programs usually take 2 years to complete, if you are a full-time student.

PA education includes classroom and lab instruction in subjects like biochemistry, pathology, human anatomy, physiology, clinical pharmacology, clinical medicine, physical diagnosis and medical ethics. They also include supervised clinical training in several areas, including family medicine, internal medicine, surgery, prenatal care and gynecology, geriatrics, emergency medicine and pediatrics.

College Major
You are not required to select a particular major in order to be eligible for admission to a PA program. In selecting a college major, consider how you will you satisfactorily complete the prerequisite courses for your designated physician assistant programs, in addition to the college/university's degree and major requirements. Work with your academic and/or pre-PA advisor to plan your course schedule.

You have the option to choose from a wide variety of undergraduate majors to prepare you for a physician assistant program.  Possible undergraduate majors include Exercise Science, Biology, Psychology, Child Development, Therapeutic Recreation, Psychology, and Neuroscience.

GPA
Most programs look for a minimum undergraduate cumulative 3.0 GPA but the average GPA for matriculates is a 3.5 cumulative and a 3.5 in the sciences. Keep in mind these numbers are averages and various schools can have their own averages that are higher or lower. Also, these averages are climbing higher each year and admission to physician assistant graduate programs is more competitive than ever. Be sure you take your studies seriously and put in the proper time for reading, studying, and review for each course.

Course Requirements
Certain basic requirements must be fulfilled before you can be accepted to a physician assistant graduate program. This is a GUIDE only. Students must consult with their advisors AND the appropriate PA programs on a regular basis for revisions to course requirements and to identify and ensure completion of all required courses. Some of the most common requirements include:

• 1 year General Chemistry 
• 1 year Organic Chemistry
• 1 year Biology 
• 1 year Psychology
• 1 semester Anatomy & Physiology
• 1 semester Biochemistry
• 1 semester Statistics

Some physician assistant schools may have additional courses required or recommended. Review the admission requirements of the physician assistant schools you plan on applying in advance.

All required courses must be taken for a grade. Each school has its own policy regarding AP credit. Usually, AP credit in these areas should be followed with additional upper level work in the discipline including labs.


Additional Courses
To further strengthen you application and your ability to succeed in physician assistant school, here are some additional courses you could take:


You should contact a CMU Pre-Physician Assistant advisor before or during your freshman year to develop a program of study.

Career Outlook
Physician assistants held about 94,400 jobs in 2014.

Employment of physician assistants is expected to increase 38 percent from 2012 to 2022.  As more physicians enter specialty areas of medicine, there will be a greater need for primary healthcare providers, such as physician assistants. 

Earnings
The median annual wage of physician assistants was $101,480 in 2016.

Online Resources
For information on a career as a physician​ assistant: 

• American Academy of Physician Assistants Information Center
  

For a list of accredited physician assistant programs:

• Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant

For eligibility requirements and a description of the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam:

• National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, Inc.
  

GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
Most programs will require some standardized testing. The most common exam required by physician assistant programs is the GRE. This is a computerized exam offered year-round. Examinees may take the test once every 21 days, but no more than 5 times within a 12-month period.

In order to register for the GRE you will need to complete the following:

• Create a GRE user account: https://mygre.ets.org/greweb/login/login.jsp
  
• Register for the GRE
• Take the test

Michigan Physician Assistant Programs

• Central Michigan University – The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions
  
• Eastern Michigan University - School of Health Promotion and Human Performance
  
• Grand Valley State University
  
• University of Detroit - Mercy
• Wayne State University – College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Western Michigan University

Applying to Physician Assistant Schools
There is a centralized application process for physician assistant schools. You may file one application and send it to multiple physician assistant programs. Most physician assistant schools use the CASPA (Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants) site as a centralized application site.

• To apply: Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA)
  
• Create a new account
• Submit your application accurately but early if possible

Experience as a Physician Assistant
Many PA programs require applicants to have a certain number of volunteer or paid experiences working with patients in a healthcare setting. The program may specify which settings or types of experiences are required. Applicants may also be required to have a licensed physician assistant verify the number of hours and type of experience. This experience is an important factor in the admissions process and students should work with their advisors and prospective programs to verify the amount of hours needed.

Other qualifications. To be a physician assistant you must have a desire to serve patients and be self-motivated. PAs must also have good bedside manner, emotional stability and the ability to make decisions in emergencies. You should also have an enthusiasm for lifelong learning because your eligibility to practice depends on continuing education.