Physician Assistants (PAs) are medical professionals who work as part of a medical team with a doctor. PAs perform physical examinations, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret lab tests, perform procedures, and assist in surgery. PAs also provide patient education, counseling and make rounds in hospitals and nursing homes. After licensure and certification, PAs are allowed to practice medicine and prescribe medication under the supervision of a physician. If you choose to pursue a Pre-Physician Program alongside your major, you will be on track to apply to a master’s degree program in PA Studies upon graduation.
Resources for Success
Study + Excel. A competitive GPA is essential when considering a career in the health field. We recommend maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA. Talk with your academic advisor, professors, and the Academic Success Center for help with study skills through various workshops and tutoring.
Resume + Interviews. Create and/or improve your resume at the Office of Career Services. You can also gain confidence and develop your interview skills with a video-taped mock interview.
Job Shadow. We recommend that you gain experience by shadowing a general practice Physician Assistant and specialists of your choosing. Document your experiences in a physical or digital format, and obtain at least one letter of reference from a Physician Assistant you have shadowed.
Direct Patient Care. Get hands-on experience to show your genuine interest in and commitment to the healthcare field. Program direct patient care requirements vary between 100 – 2,000 hours. Roles to gain experience include: Nursing/Medical Assistant, EMT, Phlebotomy, and more!
Volunteer + Lead. We recommend that you participate in volunteer activities that benefit others. Contact the Office of Leadership and Community Engagement for more information about volunteering with local weekly trips, Alternative Break Trips, and more. We also recommend that you participate in leadership seminars, workshops, retreats and LEAD courses. Get involved and join a student club or organization, such as the Association of Pre-Health Professionals or Pre-Physician Assistant Association.
Connect + Explore. Get to know your professors and local health care professionals. These individuals are valuable resources for research experience, volunteering, shadowing and letters of recommendation. Consider Study Abroad programs through the Office of International Programs and Services. Attend information sessions, workshops, field trips, and other events for pre-PA students offered by the Office of Medical Professions Advising.
Research. Talk with your professors and peers who are involved with undergraduate research and consider opportunities within the College of Science and Mathematics.
Prepare for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). This exam requires substantial amounts of preparation and study time, so it is never too early to begin. Typically, students prepare to take the GRE in the spring of their junior year, so it is important that necessary coursework be completed by this time.
Biology and Anatomy Courses
- BIOL 1107/L: Principles of Biology I/Lab (4)
- BIOL 1108/L: Principles of Biology II/Lab (4)
- BIOL 2251/L: Anatomy and Physiology I/ Lab (4)
- BIOL 2252/L: Anatomy and Physiology II/Lab (4)
- BIOL 2260K: Foundations of Microbiology (4) or BIOL 4240: Biology of Microorganisms (4)
Chemistry and Biochemistry Courses
- CHEM 1211K: Principles of Chemistry I/Lab (4)
- CHEM 1212K: Principles of Chemistry II/Lab (4)
- CHEM 3401: Organic Chemistry I/Lab (4)
- CHEM 3402: Organic Chemistry II/Lab (4)
- BCHM 3200: Principles of Biochemistry (3) or BCHM 5201: Biochemistry I/Lab (4)
Mathematics Course
- MATH 1401: Elementary Statistics (3)
Additional courses to consider
- BIOL 3134: Cell and Molecular Biology (3) (for PCOM)
- PSYC 1101: Intro to General Psychology (3)
- HDFS 2137: Lifespan Development (3)
- PSYC 3101: Psychological Disorders (3)
- HLTH 2130: Medical Terminology (3)
*Please refer to each school’s prerequisite requirements for specific information.
Rather than simply having experience shadowing a PA or as a volunteer, most PA programs expect accepted applicants to matriculate having significant “hands-on” experience working in a hospital or other clinical setting. In fact, competitive applicants often have at least a 1000 hours of experience prior to matriculation, with some PA programs requiring up to 2000 hours.
The best experiences bring you in direct contact with patients, and occur in established settings associated with hospitals or clinics. Indeed, many schools prefer that you spend time in a variety of clinical settings such as rehabilitation, acute care, emergency medicine or pediatrics rather than observing just one type of practice setting. Check with the individual schools for requirements, as some are stricter than others.
PA-CAT – (Physician Assistant College Admissions Test)
The Physician Assistant College Admission Test (PA-CAT) is a specialized discipline-specific exam that is designed to measure applicant knowledge and application in key prerequisite science subjects typically required for PA school.
Note – Augusta University’s Physician Assistant Program students can select between GRE and PA-CAT. The PA-CAT is required For Morehouse School Of Medicine.
Cost: $228.00
Length of Test: 4.5 hours
Score Range: 200 to 800
Test/Retest Policy: The PA-CAT can be taken every 6 weeks with a max of 3 times over the course of 12 months.
Testing Dates and Fees
The PA-CAT tests the following:
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- General Biology
- Biochemistry
- General and Organic Chemistry
- Microbiology
- Behavioral Sciences
- Genetics
- Statistics
GRE – (Graduate Record Examination)
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a graduate-level admissions exam used by graduate level programs to uniformly compare all applicants irrespective of academic background or country of origin.
Cost: $220
Length of Test: 3 hours, 45 minutes
Score Range: 260 – 340
Test/Retest Policy:
Applicants may take the General Test:
- Once every 21 days
- Five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period
This applies even if you canceled your scores on a test taken previously. The retaking of a test policy will be enforced even if a violation is not immediately identified (e.g., inconsistent registration information).
There are five Physician Assistant programs in Georgia. Specific admissions requirements are available on each school’s website:
- Emory University School of Medicine
- Augusta University College of Allied Health Professions
- Mercer University College of Health Professions
- South University Master of Science in Physician Assistant
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Medical Programs in US: Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) and Physician Assistant Education Association Program Directory
