Currently there are 104 accredited PA programs. The typical PA program is 24-27 month long and requires entrants to have at least two years of college and some health care experience. Admission to entry-level Physician Assistant training programs is competitive. There are approximately 8-9 applicants per seat in a PA program. Admissions committees are very selective and are looking for successful completion of specific prerequisite courses, strong academic performance, quality letters of recommendation, and experience, paid or volunteer, in the field.
Most programs also require experience in a health care setting.
The average matriculant to PA programs has a mean GPA of 3.4, and approximately 2 years of health care experience. The following list of UCLA courses is recommended for pre-physician assistant students. This list is NOT a comprehensive list of prerequisites for all physician assistant programs. Requirements may vary widely from program to program. Students maintain responsibility for verifying course selection with individual PA programs.