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.
- GRE will no longer be required beginning with the 2024-2025 CASPA Cycle
- While any undergraduate major is acceptable, it is recommended that applicants supplement any degree outside of biology or chemistry with additional upper-level science courses to be competitive. Accepted applicants average 3 - 4 additional upper-level science courses.
Applicants should present a competitive application by demonstrating academic rigor through a high GPA, and challenging coursework. With any grade lower than a B in a prerequisite course, it is highly recommended that applicants retake the course to reflect mastery of the material and a capability to succeed within a rigorous program. Students entering the last three years have significantly exceeded the minimum admissions requirements. Due to the large number of applicants, not all students meeting the minimum requirements receive an interview. For example, the statistics for the cohort of 2026 include the following ranges and average:
• Undergrad cumulative GPA: range 3.37 - 4.0 with average 3.77
• Overall science GPA: range 3.27 - 4.0 with average 3.68
Prerequisite Courses
Applicants must successfully complete all of the following program prerequisites, regardless of the undergraduate degree or major.
- Human Anatomy and Physiology with lab – 8 semester hours (see note under pre-requisite course substitutions)
- 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. (See COVID Policy Addendum for exceptions.)
Pre-Requisite Course Substitutions:
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. Comparative or Mammalian Anatomy and Physiology are not considered acceptable substitutions for Human Anatomy or Human Physiology.
Additional Upper-Level Science Courses:
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, they also assist in preparation for the rigor of the program. The successful completion of these additional courses will assist in your competitiveness.
• Organic Chemistry
• Immunology
• Pathophysiology
• Genetics
• Molecular or Cellular Biology
• Biochemistry
Expiration of Science Courses:
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 two-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 in the course 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.
Science prerequisites with their exemption criteria:
• Chemistry: Academic or Commercial Chemist
• Anatomy/Physiology: Academic or Commercial Human Biologist
• Microbiology: Academic or Commercial Biologist/Microbiologist
Pending Courses: For an applicant to present themselves most competitively, it is mandatory that two or fewer required science courses be pending for the spring semester prior to matriculation. This allows the admissions committee to have the ability to accurately assess the applicant’s academic performance at the time of an interview.
2. Patient Care
All applicants must log a minimum of 250 hours of direct patient care. 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 PA program faculty's opinion, past medical experience provides a framework on which students can build and facilitate the expansion 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), certified pharmacy technician with hands-on patient care and clinical dietician.
Positions that do not qualify are personal care assistant, clerical pharmacy technician, 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
Shadowing of physician assistants is required for admission. Applicants must have logged a minimum of 10 hours at the time of application. This provides 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 with a PA in a healthcare setting and not on the basis of a personal acquaintance. Mission field shadowing may be utilized if you were working alongside a PA in a medical setting. Please do not duplicate shadowing hours as direct patient care hours. The program will not accept hour updates via email.
4. References
A total of three recommendations is required. One recommendation must be from a PA, MD, DO or NP. This medical professional 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 an incident is discovered not reported after submission of the application and/or acceptance into the program, 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 acceptance.