Physician Assistant

A physician assistant (PA), also known as a physician associate, practice medicine under the supervision of physicians and surgeons. They are formally trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive healthcare services, as delegated by a physician. PAs record progress notes, instruct and counsel patients, and order or carry out therapy. Physician assistants also may prescribe certain medications. In some establishments, a PA is responsible for managerial duties, such as ordering medical supplies or equipment and supervising medical technicians and assistants.

To be pre-physician assistant (pre-PA) means you are embarking on a course of study aimed at preparing you for application to Physician assistant (PA) programs. At NDSU, students preparing for PA school can choose from several majors that include the necessary pre-PA coursework. However, students can complete their bachelor's degree in nearly any major while completing the appropriate level of coursework for admission to PA school. Students are encouraged to select a major that will interest them, challenge them, and ideally have the flexibility to include pre-PA coursework.

Future Physician Assistants must complete a bachelor’s degree followed by a Master of Physician Assistant Studies graduate program.

Please be aware that pre-physician assistant is not an official major. Students are encouraged to select a major based on their area of interest. Most PA schools seek applicants with a strong foundation in the physical and natural sciences who have excelled in the prerequisites for admission. Stronger applicants will have taken upper-level coursework beyond the minimum requirements for admission.

  • 1 Year General Biology - BIOL 150/L, BIOL 151/L**
  • 1 Year General Chemistry - CHEM 121/L, CHEM 122/L**
  • 1 semester Organic Chemistry - CHEM 341/L**
  • 1 semester Biochemistry - BIOC 460**
  • 1 semester Microbiology - MICR 350/L**
  • 1 Year Human Anatomy & Physiology - BIOL 220/L, BIOL 221/L
  • 1 year English - ENGL 120 and upper division writing course (ENGL 324)
  • 1 semester of Calculus - MATH 146
  • 1 semester Statistics - STAT 330
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences - PSYC 111, SOC 110

*Although this coursework will meet the requirements for many schools, students should check for additional requirements of the schools to which they hope to apply.

**PA programs often list the highest level of prerequisite required without including the foundational courses required to prepare for the course. The above list accounts for these courses. To ensure NDSU students are eligible to apply broadly to PA programs, students are encouraged to take the major’s level science courses for biochemistry, biology, chemistry, microbiology, and organic chemistry. Completing non-major’s level coursework may limit the programs to which students will meet minimum prerequisite requirements.

  • General Physics - PHYS 211/L, PHYS 212/L
  • Genetics - BIOL/PLSC 315/L
  • Cell Biology - BIOL 370
  • Animal Physiology - BIOL 460
  • Immunology - MICR 470
  • Developmental Psychology - PSYC 250
  • Abnormal Psychology - PSYC 270
  • Medical Terminology - ASCI 125/ VETS 115

Applicants should consider volunteering at a local hospital or clinic to gain practical experience in medicine. Direct patient care is mandatory for most PA schools, which would include roles like taking vital signs, administering medication, charting, drawing blood, tending to personal cares, dressing wounds, etc. Some positions which may allow applicants to accumulate these hours would be CNA, PCA, Phlebotomist, and EM.

A well-rounded sampling of extra-curricular activities or work experiences, both related and unrelated to medicine, will help broaden an applicant's knowledge and development. Pre-PA students are encouraged to participate in student organizations at NDSU such as the Pre-PA Club and American Medical Student Association and Allied Health (AMSA). These organizations are run by students with similar career goals and provide an opportunity for others to discuss career plans and gather details about the professions they are interested in.

The Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) simplifies the process of applying to physician assistant programs. For a list of participating programs, look at the Participating Programs section at the CASPA website.

Here are some helpful websites to learn about the PA field, the application process and more:

Pre-Health Professional Advising

Email: jill.loddegreives@ndsu.edu Phone: (701) 231-5093 Page Manager