Applicant Requirements
1. Academics
- Applicants are required to have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 or greater.
- Applicants are required to have a cumulative science GPA of 3.25 or greater on all coursework.
- Applicants are required to complete the Grade Record Exam (GRE) and achieve a minimum score of 300 from a combined best score in the verbal and quantitative sections of the test (the writing component is not included). An official test score must be submitted directly to CASPA (use code #0532) prior to October 1. Without an officially posted score, the applications will not be reviewed. These scores are believed to indicate sufficient academic ability for successful completion of the program. We do NOT include the written portion of the test in the required 300 or greater.
Due to large numbers of applicants, not all students meeting the minimum requirements will receive an interview. Candidates should endeavor to obtain the highest GPA and GRE scores possible. With any grades lower than a B, the applicant should retake the course in order to reflect a grasp of the material and a capability of rigorous course work. Entering students of the last three years have significantly exceeded the minimum requirements.
Physician Assistant program applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution at the time of matriculation into the graduate program. While any undergraduate major is acceptable, biology or chemistry majors will be the best prepared for the rigorous demands of the program.
Prerequisite Courses
Applicants must successfully complete all of the following program prerequisites, regardless of the undergraduate degree or major. No online or hybrid science prerequisites will be accepted. Science courses labeled as "Survey" will not be accepted. You may use online course options to complete psychology requirements and/or medical terminology.
- Human Anatomy and Physiology with lab – 8 semester hours
- General Chemistry I and II with lab – 8 semester hours
- General Psychology – 3 semester hours
- Microbiology with lab – 3 or 4 semester hours
- Developmental Psychology (Growth and Development or Lifespan) – 3 semester hours
- Medical Terminology – minimum 1 semester hour/certificate
No online or hybrid science prerequisites will be accepted. Science courses labeled as "Survey" or "Introductory" will not be accepted (for clarification, please contact us for approval). You may use only online course options to complete psychology requirements and/or medical terminology.
- Due to continued restrictions related to COVID-19, the Admissions Committee at Trevecca's PA program has updated its admissions policy related to the acceptance of online or hybrid science prerequisites. Please visit our website at www.trevecca.edu/pa. Click on the Admissions tab. Once on the Admissions tab, please click on the link titled: "Read our COVID-19 Admissions Policy Addendum" to review the updated policies. These updated policies supersede all previous COVID-19 policy addendums.
Abnormal Psychology cannot be substituted for the Developmental Psychology prerequisite. Child Development or Lifespan Psychology is considered a substitute for Developmental Psychology. It is important that normal psychological development across the lifespan be covered in the course. We do not accept Immunology, Genetics, or Cellular & Molecular Biology for the Microbiology prerequisite, although these classes are recommended as additional courses. Mammalian Anatomy can satisfy the Human Anatomy requirement.
Due to the competitiveness of the selection process, all applicants are encouraged to take as many additional upper-level science courses as possible. Not only do the courses provide information on academic performance, but they also assist in preparation for the rigorous program. The successful completion of 2 or more of the following courses will assist in your application competitiveness:
- Organic Chemistry
- Immunology
- Pathophysiology
- Genetics
- Molecular or Cellular Biology
- Biochemistry
Beginning with the current cycle:
Any science prerequisite class taken seven years prior to the month of May of your matriculate year will require a "refresher" course. A "refresher" course is qualified by repeating the full course or, in the case of a 2-semester course, repeating at least one-half of the course. An applicant may only be exempt from taking a "refresher" course if they have consistently worked in an academic or commercial setting (as a chemist or biologist: see below), where the material covered was utilized on a routine basis. A description of specific course exemptions is included below. When in question, repeating the course is recommended. Please contact the program for clarification on specific courses if needed.
Pending Courses:
For an applicant to present themselves most competitively, it is mandatory that 2 or less required courses be pending for the spring semester prior to matriculation. This allows the Admissions committee the ability to accurately assess the applicant’s academic performance at the time of an interview.
2. Patient Care
All applicants must log at least 250 hours of Direct Patient Care. All direct patient care hours must be logged at the time of submitting your application. This allows the admissions committee to process your application at first review and schedule earlier interviews. In the opinion of the PA program faculty, past medical experience provides a framework upon which students can build and facilitate the expansion of the fund of medical knowledge. We do not accept updates sent directly to the program.
Positions that qualify for Direct Patient Care hours include: Medical Assistant, Patient Care Technician, Surgical Technician, First Assistant, Scribe, CNA, LPN, RN, EMT/Paramedic, OT/PT or OT asst./PT asst., AT-C, Phlebotomist, RT, ER Technician, Lab Technician (if phlebotomy or direct patient care is the majority of job description), Clinical Pharmacy Technician -with high percentage of patient exposure, and Clinical Dietician. Positions that do NOT qualify are Personal Care Assistant, non-certified Pharmacy Technician-without clinical exposure, Unit Clerk, Camp Counselor, Counselor, and Social Worker. Clinical hours obtained while working towards a prior degree are not to be submitted in the application as Direct Patient Care. Direct Patient Care hours should be obtained while an employee in one of the above accepted clinical positions. In addition, we will accept hours accrued under “volunteer” status in any of the above, accepted position titles.
3. Shadowing of a Physician Assistant
Shadowing of physician assistants is required for admission. Applicants should log a minimum of 10 hours at the time of application. This provides a sufficient insight as to the role and duties of practicing physician assistants, and is believed to be an accurate indicator of an individual’s desire and commitment to the profession. Shadowing may be logged from multiple physician assistants. All hours logged should be obtained via direct clinical observation and not on the basis of a personal relationship. Mission field shadowing can be utilized as long as you were working alongside a PA in a medical setting. Please do not duplicate shadowing hours as Direct Patient Care hours. The program does not accept updates via email.
4. References
A total of 3 recommendations are required. One recommendation must be by a physician assistant. This PA should be one whom the applicant has worked alongside in a clinical setting through observation, shadowing or prior work experience.
5. Background Statement
Through the CASPA portal, an applicant must self-report any misdemeanor, felony, and/or dismissals. If at a later time an incident is discovered that was not reported, the applicant is subject to possible revoking of an offer or acceptance into Trevecca’s PA Program. A certified background check will also be performed prior to matriculation and any positive report is also cause for the revoking of an offer or acceptance.