So, you’ve decided you want to become a PA. 🎉
Cue the excitement, the Pinterest boards, and… the moment you look up PA school prerequisites and feel your eye start twitching.

Don’t worry—while the lists look intimidating, most programs require a pretty similar set of classes. And once you know the basics, it’s way easier to plan your undergrad schedule (and avoid that heart-dropping moment when you realize you’re missing ONE course right before applying).

Let’s break it down.

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1. Anatomy & Physiology (A&P) – The PA School Classic

Almost every program requires two semesters of A&P with labs. This is your foundation—it’s like the Netflix pilot episode that sets up the whole series. Schools want to know you understand the human body from head to toe (literally), because you’ll be building on this in every PA class.

Pro tip: If your school offers Human A&P instead of just “Anatomy” or “Physiology,” go for it. It’s usually the safer bet for meeting prereqs everywhere.

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2. Biology – Your Science Starting Point

A full year of general biology with labs is common, and some schools may tack on extra requirements like microbiology (also with lab). Biology is where you learn the basics of life—cells, genetics, bacteria—and these concepts pop up all the time in PA school.

Heads up: Some programs also want upper-level bio courses, so check before you stop at Bio 101.

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3. Chemistry – The Subject Everyone Loves to Hate

Most schools want a year of general chemistry (with lab) and often a semester or two of organic chemistry or biochemistry.
Yes, organic chemistry can be… painful. But think of it as your endurance training—it shows programs you can handle challenging science.

Pro tip: If a school accepts biochemistry instead of organic, take biochem. It’s often more clinically relevant and, for most students, slightly less soul-crushing.

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4. Psychology – Because Patients Aren’t Just Bodies

Psychology is a common prereq, and many programs also recommend (or require) Developmental or Abnormal Psychology. Understanding human behavior is huge for patient care—you’re not just diagnosing symptoms, you’re treating people.

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5. Statistics – Yes, Math is Still a Thing

Statistics is a frequent requirement because in PA school, you’ll be reading research, evaluating evidence-based practices, and maybe even doing your own projects.

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6. Medical Terminology – The Language of Medicine

Most schools require it, others just recommend it—but either way, it’s worth taking. Medical terminology is like learning the secret code of healthcare. Once you speak it, everything in clinic starts making way more sense.

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7. English / Writing – Communicating Like a Pro

You might be surprised, but many programs require English composition courses. Why? Because charting, writing patient notes, and communicating with colleagues is a huge part of being a PA. Clear, professional writing matters.

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How to Avoid the “Oops, I’m Missing a Class” Moment

• Start Early: Make a master list of your top programs and highlight overlapping prereqs.
• Ask Admissions: When in doubt, email the school to confirm a course will count.
• Plan Ahead: Some classes (like Organic Chem) have prerequisites of their own—don’t get caught in a scheduling chain reaction.

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The Bottom Line

Most PA schools have very similar prerequisite requirements—you just need to get organized early. Knock out your sciences, cover your psychology, sprinkle in some math and writing, and get that patient care experience.

And remember—this is just the starting line. The real fun (and challenge) comes when you start applying strategy to your school list so you can target programs that match your stats and experience.

👉 Want to make sure you’re picking the right PA schools for YOUR stats?
Watch our free masterclass on How to Choose the Best PA Schools for You and take the guesswork out of your application strategy.