Pre-Physician Associate/Assistant
PAs (physician associates/physician assistants) are licensed clinicians who practice medicine in every specialty and setting. Trusted, rigorously educated and trained healthcare professionals. PAs are dedicated to expanding access to care and transforming health and wellness through patient-centered, team-based medical practice. ~ AAPA (American Academy of Physician Associates)
Learn more about what Physician Assistants (PAs) do at the American Academy of PAs and the Physician Assistant Life websites. Use the links below for more information on PA and clinical experience.
What classes do I need to take?
Physician Assistant (PA) program requirements vary widely. Know your PA program early on! Learn their course pre-requisites, clinical expectations, GRE and other requirements. A list of PA programs in the US and their prerequisites is found at the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) Program Directory.
Once you have decided on your PA programs, create your own excel spreadsheet of course pre-reqs and other requirements.
UM-Dearborn pre-requisite base courses for PA programs in MI
What is the national standardized test?
Not all PA programs require a national standardized test or score.
Some PA graduate programs require the ETS Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test (not any of the subject tests). The best way to prepare for the general GRE test is to use the ETS free test preparation material to prepare for the general GRE. Re-read what you just read. Free material! Don't buy prep material.
Some PA graduate programs require the Physician Assistant College Admissions Test (PA-CAT). The PA-CAT is the MCAT on steroids. It comprises General Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, Genetics, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Behavioral Sciences, & Stats. The best way to prepare for the PA-CAT is to use the supplemental tools on the PA-CAT URL.
What is the Clinical Competency expectation?
- PA programs have varied expectations of your knowledge of the PA role. However, a common theme is direct patient care (DPC) or patient care experience (PCE) hours.
- Typically, students fulfill DPC/PCE hours through work as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or a Medical Assistant (MA). See links below.
- ALL PA programs have a specific required number of DPC/PCE hours. This number is the minimum requirement. Most competitive applicants have 5 to 6 times that many hours.
- Check the DPC/PCE requirements for your top choice programs in the PAEA directory.
- PA programs expect that you have done paid work as a healthcare professional in a role that has significant patient interaction in the USA.
- Remember to document your hours!
- Reminder: healthcare experience is about learning and having depth of experience in the following areas:
- Physician or healthcare professional exposure
- Patient interaction
- Inter-professional experience (IPE)
- IPE: learning or working with people from two or more different professions or disciplines to improve patient care or community health
What else should I know?
You must learn and incorporate the Association of American Medical Colleges Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students in your prerequisite courses and extracurricular activities. PA programs are highly competitive, so one way to stand out is to have a high level of professional skills along with clinical and academic skills.
More information, such as what you should major in or how to handle repeats or withdrawals at UM-Dearborn, can be found in our FAQ section.