Will I be accepted to a PA program if I don''t have the pre-reqs from my underegrad?

Applying to College
1

I’m missing most of the science courses required by PA programs and I already have a bachelors of science degree. Can I take those missing pre-reqs at a community college? Do PA programs allow that? If so, will that affect my chances of getting in?

I also read somewhere that PA programs check your undergraduate science and overall GPA. If I can take community college courses, how will it factor that they check undergraduate GPA when I took it after my undergraduate degree?

Thank you!

2

Yes, you need to take science courses.
Besides all science courses for prereqs, you may need health care experience, too.
Your community college may have health science track, or its own PA program.
See https://www.aapa.org/career-central/become-a-pa/
if you haven’t already, it’s a resource for PAs. Many people have followed similar route as you describe, changed careers. It takes more time and hard work. Good luck.

3

You have to send transcripts from all colleges that you have ever attended. If I for some reason went back to school, I would have to send 5 transcripts.

4

Thank you for the advice. I will definitely consider taking classes at community college, since you stated that I can take those classes at a CC and could still enter PA school.

I was wondering: if I had a 3.0 GPA, could me taking courses at community college boost my GPA for a better chance to get into PA school?

Thank you!

5

Thank you for the advice. I will definitely consider taking classes at community college, since you stated that I can take those classes at a CC and could still enter PA school.

I was wondering: if I had a 3.0 GPA, could me taking courses at community college boost my GPA for a better chance to get into PA school?

Thank you!

6

Not sure which PA schools you are targeting but the majority of the schools I am familiar with require a minimum 3.5 GPA and a 1000+ hours of hands on paid direct patient care prior to application.

7

You’ll need to see admissions requirements. For example, University of Maryland Baltimore counts all grades in GPA, including classes taken more than once, and also calculates a Science GPA.
See https://graduate.umaryland.edu/mshs-pa-umb/Admission-Requirements-/Prerequisites–/

Many schools use centralized website for the PA application
“ All repeated course grades are counted in the CASPA GPA calculation. For information on how CASPA calculates GPAs, please go to their Frequently Asked Questions Web page at https://portal.caspaonline.org/caspaHelpPages/frequently-asked-questions/. ”

Also need” Applicants must also complete three (3) Letters of Recommendation, a Personal Statement and Patient Contact Experience history (a minimum of 1400 hours is preferred) in the CASPA application.”

Patient Contact Experience must be a paid position. You may need a four month certification class to become EMT, for example. https://graduate.umaryland.edu/media/Graduate-School/Documents/PA-Admissions-Booklet.pdf