To become a physician assistant, what do I have to major in undergraduate in college?
Nursing, health sciences, biology, chemistry…etc.
Don’t major in nursing.
You can major in whatever your want, as long as you take ALL the prerequisite course for applying for PA programs. You can major in music, art, history, biology, urban studies, English, Japanese – IOW whatever you like. Just make sure you know ALL the courses that are required in order to be accepted to PA programs after you graduate.Here is a helpful website:
https://www.aapa.org/career-central/become-a-pa/
Why not nursing?
It’s redundant. Nursing is a professional degree.
I suppose you could, but it would not make sense if you want to be a PA. May even affect your PA acceptance. I don’t know, but you’d need to look into that.
If you choose to major in nursing then it would make more sense to go on to become a nurse practitioner (a nurse practitioner fills pretty much the same role as a PA, but gets there on a different route).
If you want to become a PA look up the classes required at some programs to get an idea what you need. Any major is fine but there are some prerequisite courses that must be taken. Also keep in mind that a number of non-direct entry PA programs like people to work in a medical relate field for a couple of years before applying (ex. my D’s friend worked as an EMT).
The safest approach would be to attend a school that offers a 5 year direct entry program that guarantees admission to the graduate phase if you have successfully gotten through the first three years of undergrad. Not all 5 year programs have that guarantee, so make sure you know whether or not the schools do. Otherwise, it is hard to go directly from undergrad to grad school for PA’s. My niece’s husband did, but that’s because he was an EMT and had the medical experience needed for grad school admissions.
In my daughter’s school, they only had a small number of openings for graduate admissions - enough to fill the vacancies from drop out/fail out from the direct entry program. Those spots were all filled by people who had been working for several years as techs, EMT’s, and therapists.
The problem with going from nursing as an undergrad to PA school is that you will not have the prerequisite courses. Nursing is a very different approach from the pre-PA program in colleges.
thank you! do you know of any schools that offer 5 year direct entry program that guarantees admission to the graduate phase?
Google gave me this: https://www.thepalife.com/direct-entry-and-dual-degree-bsms-physician-assistant-programs/
From the body of the article, you want the “competitive” column to be “no.”
A little late to the game, but you many of those direct entry programs may not offer the college experience you are looking for. If the goal is to get in, get out, and get in the workforce then I agree they may be a perfect fit, but what if you change your mind on not being a PA?
^^If one chooses a direct entry program at a traditional college, I see no reason why that person wouldn’t get a traditional college experience (they would just be there longer than most undergrads to complete the program). Many people attend traditional colleges to prepare for professional careers (ex. business, nursing, engineering, various therapy programs such as OT, PT, SLP to name a few).
^^
Not sure what you mean by missing out on college experience by being in a direct admit program. My kid was involved in extracurricular activities, had a very active social life, worked as an RA, went on several spring break trips, went to Europe twice with profs with an art history class and a church history class (even had a personal meeting with the pope- catholic school). She had friends who weren’t on the PA track.
Perhaps she wishes it hadn’t been so full of college experiences- thanks to generous scholarships she wouldn’t have needed student loans but took them for the trips! Paying for them now.