Prepare for
PA School
Confirm your interest in PA, prepare academically and develop the necessary skills and experience:
ACADEMIC PREREQUSITES
COMPARE PRE-REQS OF CALIFORNIA PA SCHOOLS
Identify School Pre-Requisites and the UC San Diego classes you can take to meet them. The list provided by Health Beat is a general guideline for courses. Students are expected to check individual schools for their specific pre-requisites.
This is a general guideline. Please check individual schools for their specific prerequisites:
One year of biology
- BILD 1, 2, 3, & any upper division Biology lab course (must be at least 4 quarter units)
One year of general chemistry
- CHEM 6A, 6B, 6C, & lab 7L (lab)
**One year of organic chemistry (FAQ)
- CHEM 40A, 40B, & 43A (lab), or
- Student who are Chem/Biochem, or Engineering majors will use: CHEM 41A, 41B, 41C, & 43A (lab)
One biochemistry course
- One of the following: BIBC 100, BIBC 102, CHEM 114A, or CHEM 114B
One year of anatomy and physiology
- One Anatomy Course with Lab
- BILD X13 at UC San Diego Extended Studies
- OR, Anatomy lecture and lab at the community college
- One Human Physiology Course with Lab
- BIPN 100 and BIPN 105 (lab)
- OR, Anatomy lecture and lab at the community college
Microbiology
- BIMM 120 & BIMM 121 (lab)
Statistics
- MATH 11 Or PSYC 60
Genetics
- BICD 100
**40AB is a prerequisite for biochemistry, which is a requirement for BIMM 100 Molecular Biology, which is necessary to take BIMM 120 Microbiology at UC San Diego. Some programs will not require organic chemistry**
RECOMMENDED COURSES
General Psychology- PSYC 1 Psychology
- OR, An abnormal psychology course
- BILD 22 Human Nutrition
- OR, BIBC 120 Nutrition
- FPM-40632 at UC San Diego Extended Studies
- OR, Alternatively community college coursework
- LASP-40150 at UC San Diego Extended Studies
- OR, Alternatively students take general education Spanish courses.
- BICD 110 Cell Biology
- BIMM 100 Molecular Biology
4-Year Timeline Sample Plan (with 1 or 2 gap years)
Experience
- Steps to Become a PA
- Many PA schools want applicants with extensive direct patient care experience. Consider training to become an EMT/paramedic, medical assistant, nurse (RN, LVN or CNA), phlebotomist or other Allied Health.
- ALLIED HEALTH CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS
Student Organizations
PA-related student groups include the following:
The Pre-Physician Assistant Student Organization provides excellent opportunities to meet other pre-PA students, local PAs, and visiting PA programs.
Additional Preparation Information
Learn more about gaining experience - clinical, service, leadership, and research.