Pre-Physician Assistant
January 8, 2025 2025-12-09 16:11Pre-Physician Assistant
Step Toward PA Training
Pre-Physician Assistant
Prepare for a career as a physician assistant.
Pre-Professional Program in Physician Assistant
The Pre-Physician Assistant Advising Track is not a major — it’s a layer of specialized advising that you add to any academic program at the University of Lynchburg. Physician assistant programs admit students with many different majors, but nearly all require a demanding foundation in the biological and chemical sciences, combined with significant hands-on patient-care experience. This track ensures you complete the right prerequisites, build the required clinical hours, and understand the competitive application expectations for PA programs.
Whether you major in Exercise Physiology, Biomedical Science, Public Health, Psychology, or another discipline, the Pre-PA Advising Track provides detailed guidance on prerequisite planning, clinical hour requirements, GRE expectations (if required), letters of recommendation, and the CASPA application timeline. You’ll work closely with faculty advisors who understand national PA admissions standards and can help you prepare for the rigorous academic and experiential expectations of the profession.
Our goal is to help you become a strong, well-prepared applicant with the academic background, patient-care experience, and professional competencies needed to succeed in a PA program.
How to Declare a Pre-Physician Assistant Advising Track
To join:
- Contact the Office of Academic Advising.
- Request to declare the Pre-Physician Assistant Advising Track.
- You will be assigned a faculty advisor who specializes in PA preparation.
Declaring ensures you receive accurate prerequisite sequencing, clinical hour planning, and application support.
Recommended Majors
You may pursue the Pre-PA Track with any major, but common choices include:
- Exercise Physiology (BS)
- Biology – Biomedical Science (BS)
- Public Health (BS)
- Psychological Science (BS)
Students in other majors are welcome, provided they plan their prerequisites carefully.
Prerequisite Courses for PA School
Physician assistant programs commonly require:
Core Sciences
- Biology (2 semesters with lab)
- Anatomy & Physiology I and II
- General Chemistry (2 semesters with lab)
- Microbiology
- Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry (varies by program)
Additional Requirements
- Psychology (including Developmental or Abnormal Psychology)
- Statistics
- Medical Terminology
- English Composition
Some programs may also require Genetics, Nutrition, or upper-level biology electives.
Recommended Lynchburg Courses
Based on your provided materials:
- BIOL 113, 114
- CHEM 111, 112, 221, 222
- PHYS 161–162 or PHYS 141–142
- PSYC 111, PSYC 241
- ENGL 123W
- Recommended: Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Genetics
Patient-Care & Clinical Experience
PA programs typically require hundreds to thousands of hours of direct patient-care experience. Competitive applicants often pursue roles such as:
- Emergency medical technician (EMT)
- Certified nursing assistant (CNA)
- Medical assistant
- Patient care technician
- Physical therapy aide
- Rehabilitation technician
- Phlebotomist
Shadowing a certified PA (or multiple PAs) is also strongly recommended.
What Jobs Can I Get With Pre-Physician Assistant?
Graduates typically continue their education in PA programs to become physician assistants. Job titles include:
- Physician Assistant: $105,000
- Surgical Physician Assistant: $110,000
- Emergency Medicine PA: $115,000
- Dermatology PA: $120,000
- Orthopedic PA: $112,000
- Family Medicine PA: $100,000
- Pediatric PA: $98,000
- Internal Medicine PA: $102,000
- Oncology PA: $110,000
- Cardiology PA: $115,000
- Hospitalist PA: $105,000
Salary and job projections come from national averages in the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other sources, including Glassdoor, Indeed, and industry-specific posts and publications. The data is meant to provide you with an idea of career options and salary ranges, not as a guarantee of obtaining these positions after graduation. These represent national averages and may vary by source and time frame collected. Actual salaries vary by region. Some jobs may require additional training or graduate education.
DuAnn Kremer, PhD, ACSM EP-C
