Pre-Physician Assistant
Click on the categories below to learn more about academic preparation, timelines and checklists, testing requirements, and shadowing and clinical experience.
Choosing a Major
Upon starting your undergraduate education, one of the first decisions you are faced with is choosing a major. Physician Assistant (PA) programs do not require applicants to complete a specific undergraduate major, as long as they have earned a bachelor’s degree and completed the required prerequisite coursework. It is important to choose a major that you both enjoy and can excel in academically.
In addition to selecting a major of your choice, you have the option to select the UCCS Pre-Child Health Associate/Physician Assistant Track: Pre-Physician Assistant Preparation 2025-26
IMPORTANT: UCCS does not have a Physician Assistant program. The Pre-Child Health Associate/Physician Assistant Track is not a major or minor but a listing of requisite courses and recommendations needed to be eligible for admission to the CU School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant program at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, CO. For more information, visit: Prerequisites
Other schools often have different requirements. Students should check admissions requirements for all schools to which they plan to apply. A list of program and their requirements is available via the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA): CASPA® Program Directory | PAEA
*Completion of requisite coursework does not guarantee acceptance into any professional degree.
Applying to PA school requires careful planning with a clear timeline and checklist.
Most physician assistant programs require applicants to apply through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA), which allows students to submit one comprehensive application to multiple PA programs.
Applicants commonly submit CASPA in the spring before their intended start year, so prerequisites, healthcare experience, letters, personal statements, and exams should be prepared well in advance. Tracking transcripts, evaluations, supplemental materials, and interviews is essential. Resources from PAEA and AAPA provide detailed checklists to ensure all steps and deadlines are met efficiently.
PA school testing requirements vary by program. The most common exams that may be required or accepted for physician assistant applicants include the GRE (Graduate Record Examination), CASPer (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics), PA-CAT (Physician Assistant College Admission Test), and, less commonly, the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test).
It is important to make a list of PA programs that you are interested in applying to and become aware of their testing requirements. A list of programs and their requirements is available via the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) website: CASPA® Program Directory | PAEA
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) — A general graduate admissions exam that some PA programs require or accept.
🔗 GRE official website: https://www.ets.org/gre/ Learn.orgPhysician Assistant College Admission Test (PA-CAT) — A discipline-specific admissions test used by some PA programs.
🔗 PA-CAT information & registration: https://www.pa-cat.com/ Exam Master PA-CATCASPer (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) — A situational judgment test measuring interpersonal and professional traits; required by some PA schools.
🔗 CASPer info (via Acuity Insights): CASPer WebsiteMedical College Admission Test (MCAT) — Traditionally for medical school, occasionally accepted by certain PA programs.
🔗 MCAT official site: Register for the MCAT® Exam | Students & Residents
According to the PAEA, a survey of PA programs shows that requirements for clinical and shadowing experience are not uniform nationwide.
Most PA programs require clinical experience, including Patient Care Experience (PCE) hours that demonstrate hands-on interaction with patients. In addition, Healthcare Experience (HCE) and shadowing experience is often required or recommended.
Patient Care Experience (PCE) hours are hands-on clinical hours where you are directly responsible for patient care, including assessment, treatment, or direct physical interaction.
Healthcare Experience (HCE) hours are hours spent working or volunteering in a healthcare environment that give you exposure to healthcare systems, patients, or providers, without requiring you to provide direct, hands-on patient care.
Shadowing is a structured observational experience in which a prospective healthcare applicant spends time observing a practicing professional (most often a Physician Assistant) during their normal workday to learn about the role, responsibilities, and workflow of the profession. Shadowing is often recommended to strengthen applications and help applicants deepen their understanding of the profession. It is important to note that shadowing hours don’t substitute for Patient Care Experience hours required by most PA schools.
For more information about clinical hours requirements, visit: