Physician Assistants are essential healthcare professionals who work alongside physicians to provide top-quality patient care. As graduates of accredited PA programs, they are licensed to practice medicine under physician supervision, making a meaningful impact in a variety of medical settings.
PA School Prerequisites
The list below includes general prerequisite courses that many PA schools require for admission. Keep in mind that specific requirements can vary by school. Some additional courses, while not required, are highly recommended to strengthen your application.
Students are responsible for ensuring their UCSB (and other) courses meet each school's admission requirements.
CHEM 1A (4 units): General Chemistry
CHEM 1B (3 units): General Chemistry
CHEM 1C (3 units): General Chemistry
CHEM 2AL (2.5 units): General Chemistry Lab
CHEM 2BL (2.5 units): General Chemistry Lab
MCDB 1A (4 units): Intro to Biology I
MCDB 1B (3 units): Intro to Biology II--Physiology
MCDB 1LL (1.5 units): Intro to Biology I Lab
EEMB 2 (3 units): Intro to Biology II—Ecology and Evolution
EEMB 3 (3 units): Intro to Biology III
EEMB 2LL (1.5 units): Intro to Biology Lab II
CHEM 109A (4 units): Organic Chemistry
CHEM 109B (4 units): Organic Chemistry
CHEM 109C (4 units): Organic Chemistry
CHEM 6AL (3 units): Organic Chemistry Lab, Prerequisites: Chemistry 109A with a minimum grade of a C-; Chemistry 109B (may be taken concurrently)
CHEM 6BL (3 units): Organic Chemistry Lab, Prerequisites: Chemistry 6AL and 109A with a minimum grade of C-; Chemistry 109B
Note: Completing Organic Chemistry is necessary in order to meet prerequisites for Microbiology at UCSB. However, some PA programs may accept a combination of Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry to satisfy part of their Chemistry requirements. Check individual program requirements for clarification.
MCDB 131/131L, Prerequisites: MDCB 101A and either Chemistry 109A-B-C; or Chemistry 109A-B and MCDB 110
Note: Students also have the option of taking Microbiology at SBCC or another community college, but some programs may prefer prerequisites to be completed at a four-year institution.
MCDB 101A, Prerequisites: MCSB 1A-B, EEMB 2, and CHEM 1 A-B-C with a grade of C or better
Students may choose to take Genetics a community college, but some programs may prefer prerequisites to be completed at a four-year institution.
These courses are not offered at UCSB.
Courses will need to be completed outside of UCSB. Those living in the Santa Barbara/Goleta area often choose to take these courses at SBCC but the courses can be found at many community colleges. Reach out to our Pre-health advising team for recommendations.
PHYSICS 6A (3 units) and PHYSICS 6AL (1 unit): Introductory Physics with Lab
PHYSICS 6B (3 units) and PHYSICS 6BL (1 unit): Introductory Physics with Lab
PHYSICS 6C (3 units) and PHYSICS 6CL (1 unit): Introductory Physics with Lab
Students who complete the PHYSICS 1 series will need to take PHYSICS 1-2-3-4-5 and PHYSICS 3L-4L-5L to satisfy a full year of Physics with labs. If the major only requires courses through PHYSICS 4 and PHYSICS 4L, then you may enroll in PHYSICS 6AL to satisfy the final lab requirement.
Note: Mathematics 2A or 3A or 34A or AP Math AB Exam score of 3 or higher are required for Physics 6A. Math courses may be taken concurrently with Physics 6A. For more information on the UCSB Math Placement Test required for Math 2A or 3A, go to the Course Placement Information located on the Department of Mathematics website.
When applying to professional schools, completing a full year of math is a good rule of thumb.
For students without prior college-level math or AP Calculus scores:
- Recommended courses include Math 34A/34B, Math 3A/3B, or Math 2A/2B; and PSTAT 5A/5LS, with no preference between series.
For students with AP Calculus scores, throughly review the information below:
- Taking courses for "study list credit". Since UCSB doesn’t list AP exam scores and equivalencies on transcripts, students may need to take math courses for “study list credit” to meet this requirement. Study list credit allows students to retake courses already credited through AP exams. After completion of the course the grade appears on the transcript but doesn’t provide additional units or affect the GPA.
- Options for a student with credit for AP Calculus AB:
- Take Math 34A/3A/2A for study list credit, then Math 34B/3B/2B and PSTAT
- Take Math 34B/3B/2B, Math 4A & PSTAT
- Take Math 34B/3B/2B, a CC course in math (preferably Calculus) & PSTAT
- Options for a student with credit for AP Calculus AB & BC
- Take Math 34A/3A/2A & 34B/3B/2B for study list credit and PSTAT
- Take some combination of study list credit, CC courses & PSTAT
- Move on to higher level math (Math 4A/B, PSTAT 5A, PSTAT 120A/B)
- Options for a student with credit for the AP Statistics exam
- Take PSTAT 5A or 5LS for study list credit
- Take a CC course in statistics, or higher level statistics at UCSB (PSTAT 120, etc)
A combination of 3 UCSB courses taken in the Writing or English departments should fulfill the full year of English requirement for most California PA schools. Courses that satisfy GE Areas A-1 and A-2 will satisfy the English requirement.
Note: Courses that satisfy the GE Special Subject Area Writing requirement are not sufficient to satisfy the full year of English requirement.
PSY 1: Introduction to Psychology (5 units)
and
SOC 1: Introduction to Sociology (5 units)
Prerequisite courses listed are minimum requirements; however, most successful applicants will have exceeded the minimum requirements by taking additional upper division science courses. Examples of appropriate courses include but are not limited to:
- MCDB 101A - Molecular Genetics I: Prokaryotes (4 units)
- MCDB 103 - Cell Biology (4 units)
- MCDB 131 - General Microbiology (4 units)
Students planning to apply to PA programs should:
- Visit each PA program’s website for admission requirements.
- Make sure your courses meet each program’s prerequisites.
- Contact the schools directly if you're unsure about a course.
- Double-check that your UCSB (and other) courses meet specific program requirements.
- Work with our Pre-health advising team throughout the process.
Sample Pre-Physician Assistant Course Schedule, Years 1 & 2
The information below is intended to be a guide and is not intended to be strictly adhered to by all pre-PA students. Students should consult their major department and Pre-health advisors to determine the best schedule to fit their needs.
Year 1
Fall Quarter
Chem 1A
Math or Stats (see above)
GE or Elective
Winter Quarter
Chem 1B + 2AL
Math or Stats (see above)
GE or Elective
GE or Elective (optional)
Spring Quarter
Chem 1C + 2BL
Math or Stats (see above)
GE or Elective
GE or Elective
Year 2
Fall Quarter
MCDB 1A
Chem 109A
GE or Elective
GE or Elective (optional)
Winter Quarter
MCDB 1B
EEMB 2
MCDB 1LL
Chem 109B
Chem 6AL (may be taken later)
Spring Quarter
EEMB 3
EEMB 2LL
Chem 109C
Chem 6BL (may be taken later)
GE or Elective
Physician Assistant Preparation Checklist
These checklists are designed to serve as a general guide. There is no one-size-fits-all timeline for taking admission tests or applying to PA programs, and applicants are not penalized for applying at a particular time. We strongly encourage students to meet with a Pre-health advisor to develop a personalized plan that aligns with their individual goals and timelines.
- Visit Career Services to explore interests and learn more about your personal skills and values.
- Start taking intro sciences (General Chemistry sequence).
- Think about possible majors; study what you love!
- Connect with a Pre-health Staff or Peer Advisor.
- Consider volunteer opportunities (campus and community) during 2nd quarter.
- Go to your professors’ office hours.
- Explore student organizations.
- Start clinical experience (shadowing, EMT, etc.) during breaks and summer.
- Continue with next sequence of science courses (see "Sample Schedule" above).
- Stay involved in extracurricular activities (medical, volunteer, etc).
- Begin to think about becoming an officer in your organizations or explore other leadership opportunities.
- Begin research on professional schools, their requirements, and assess your competitiveness.
- Investigate GRE preparation options.
- Identify specialties you are interested in.
- BOTTOM LINE: Keep working and building on the opportunities and experiences you've established!
- Talk to your Pre-health advisor to narrow program options and assess competitiveness.
- Identify at least three individuals to write letters of recommendation.
- Keep working on the opportunities and experiences you've established.
- Schedule a mock interview with Career Services.
- Register for the GRE.
- Study for GRE and take it.
- Complete the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants. Click here for more information about the CASPA.
Note: If you plan to take a Gap Year, then taking the GRE and completing the application can wait until senior year.
If not taking a Gap Year:
- Submit Application(s) if you haven’t already.
- Wait to be contacted by the schools for interview.
- Continue with activities and professional experiences/shadowing.
- Talk with an advisor about an alternate path, if necessary.
- Finish degree requirements and GRADUATE!
If taking 1 or more Gap Years:
- Schedule a mock interview with Career Services.
- Register for the GRE.
- Study for GRE and take it.
- Complete the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants. Click here for more information about the CASPA.
Academic Requirements & Admissions Considerations
GPA
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 and a science prerequisite GPA of 2.7 are required, but a 3.0 or higher in both is typically expected for competitive applicants.
Transcript Review & Grade Trends
Admission committees consider more than final grades, including course load per quarter, P/NP grading, repeated courses, and withdrawals (W). If you are a student considering PA education as your next step, check out this resource to help make the decision and application process smoother.
GRE Scores
Official GRE scores are submitted electronically to CASPA directly from Educational Testing Services (ETS) using a special CASPA GRE code that is different for each program and different from the school's regular GRE code. Schools can only see scores that are sent with their code. Paper copies are not accepted. For more details go to CASPA's Official GRE Scores Overview page.
What you should know about the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
The GRE Consists of Three Sections
- Verbal Reasoning
- Qualitative Reasoning
- Analytical Writing
Students can choose a computer-delivered or paper-delivered form.
Testing Limits
- You may take the exam once every 21 days.
- You may attempt the exam up to 5 times within any continuous rolling 12-month period. This applies even if you cancel your scores on a previous test.
- You may take the paper-delivered test as often as it is offered.
Application Fees
- GRE fee is $205.
- Other fees may apply for rescheduling or canceling testing appointments.
- Limited number of Fee Reduction Certificates. Must meet eligibility requirements.
Total Exam Time
Total test time is approximately 3 hours, 45 minutes.
Study Time & Tips
Study Time Commitment: Plan for ~150 hours of preparation.
Reading and Reasoning Skills are Key: The ability to read, analyze and understand text is a crucial skill. Test takers are required to use reasoning skills to select the best answer. While your first choice may be correct, another option might be an even better.
Practice Tests: Take multiple full-length practice tests under test-day conditions.
PA School Application Timeline
Refer to this guide to understand what steps to take—and when to take them—during the year leading up to your application cycle.
Year-Around Preparation
The GRE test dates run year-round and can be taken any time, but be mindful of individual program deadlines. Click here for more details.
Note: Some programs have additional questions that need to be answered as part of the primary application while others may send separate requests to complete secondary questions.
Fall Quarter (prior to application cycle)
Reach out to individuals regarding letters of recommendation. Don't forget to follow up with them regarding your application process and deadlines to submit their letters of recommendations.
April
CASPA goes live in late April and closes in early April of the following year. Start early! The application process takes a while.
Your application is sent to programs only after you submit and pay. Each program has its own deadlines—keep track so you’re on time.
Pro Tips for PA Program Applicants
- Prepare Ahead: Gather your journal, resume, unofficial transcript, personal statement, and a list of relevant experiences to streamline the process.
- Proofread Thoroughly: Use proper grammar and have your written components reviewed by others.
- Request Official Transcripts: Follow UCSB Registrar's instructions and check your program's application guide to ensure proper submission.
- Fee Assistance Programs: Review eligibility for discounts on application services and entrance exams, and allow time to gather necessary documentation.
Things to Consider Before Applying
- GPA & Academics: Is your cumulative and science/BCP (Bio, Chem, Physics) GPA at or above 3.5? If not, you may want to explore post-bacc programs.
- GRE Score: Is your composite score at or above 301 (QR + VR)? If not, consider retaking the GRE.
- Shadowing Experience: Have you shadowed a variety of professionals in different healthcare settings?
- Clinical Experience: Do you have work or volunteer experience with direct patient contact?
- Volunteering (Non-Medical): Have you participated in community service or volunteer work outside of healthcare?
- Research: Have you engaged in undergraduate research?
- Other Involvement: Have you participated in student organizations, athletics, study abroad, or non-medical work experiences?
- Personal Statement: Have you completed a strong draft or final version?
- Letters of Recommendation: Have you requested letters and communicated your tentative application timeline to your writers?
Remember: Quality matters more than quantity. Long-term involvement is more meaningful than short-term experiences.
Explore Additional Resources
Websites & Podcast recommended by Students
Mappd.com: Pre-Med/Pre-PA Resources