Physician Assistant
A physician assistant (PA) is an advanced practice clinician licensed to practice medicine with the supervision of a licensed physician. PAs obtain medical histories, perform examinations and procedures, order treatments, diagnose illnesses, prescribe medication, order and interpret diagnostic tests, refer patients to specialists when appropriate, and first-assist in surgery. They are employed in primary care or in specialties in urban or rural regions, as well as in academic administration. PAs may practice in any medical or surgical specialty, and have the ability to move to different medical and surgical fields during their careers.
Physician Assistant Prerequisites
While students planning to pursue admission to physician assistant programs can expect to complete many science courses, it is very important to research the requirements of every school you plan to apply to, as required coursework for admission can vary greatly from program to program. The courses listed below are the general pre-requisites recommended by AAPA and PAEA/CASPA, but your research into particular school is essential.
Your long term academic planning should be discussed with a pre-health advisor who can assist you in individualizing the schedule for your given area of study.
You should review the course description in the undergraduate catalog (catalog.utk.edu) of any course you are considering to determine what prerequisites, if any, exist for the course. Freshmen should be particularly aware that Chemistry 122 has a prerequisite of Math 119 (College Algebra) or an ACT Math score of 25. An academic advisor can help you select the math course or sequence that best fits your academic plans.
Prerequisites for Most PA Programs
The following classes are required for admission for most physician assistant programs; however, the courses required for admission will likely vary depending on the school. The content from these required courses also appear on the Physician Assistant College Admissions Test (PA-CAT), though the PA-CAT is not currently required by most programs.) It is required by the University of Tennessee Health Sciences PA Program.
Please note that many physician assistant programs require a grade of C or better in each pre-requisite course, though the PA program at Middle Tennessee State University currently requires a B- or higher.