Usc pa program requirements

Extensive Curriculum Our extensive curriculum will give you the foundation you need to make sound medical decisions. Career Outlook As our health care system changes, PAs are seen as key components. Our Path Forward Expand all Our Mission To educate and train competent, compassionate, and collaborative PAs to deliver patient centered care as part of an interprofessional team.

Enroll diverse and highly-qualified students who reflect the dynamic population of South Carolina and the nation. Encourage life-long professional involvement, scholarly activity, leadership and service.

Maintain an overall graduation rate of 94 percent current Physician Assistant Education Association national average or better for entering University of South Carolina Physician Assistant students.

Maintain an accredited program with an innovative curriculum that prepares entry-level graduates for the contemporary practice of medicine. Important Information About Programs Leading to Licensure Each state has its own individual licensing boards along with their own Physician Assistant licensure requirements. Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

Demonstrate the knowledge to evaluate and manage common medical, surgical and behavioral problems in patients across the lifespan in a variety of healthcare settings. Length of a PA Program Physician assistant programs typically will range in length from years.

The layout of the program is as below! How much is this going to cost me? Schedule a Free Strategy Session. Interested in mastering medicine? Our graduates are trained not only for clinical excellence, but also in the breadth of competencies required to be professional leaders in this exciting career within the rapidly changing, medical environments of the 21st century.

PAs are educated in basic medical sciences and clinical disciplines, including human anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics and clinical laboratory medicine. Students can apply to PA school as they finish their final year of undergraduate study, although many PA applicants choose to earn a few years of work experience before applying more on this later. Suggested reading: PA vs. MD: The Biggest Differences. This is where applying to physician assistant programs becomes complicated.

PA school requirements vary with every program, so it can be overwhelming to decide what classes to take. Here is a list of science prerequisites almost guaranteed to be required by all PA programs:. General chemistry: Lecture: two semesters or three quarters Lab: one term.

Biology: Lecture: two semesters or three quarters Lab: one term. Microbiology: Lecture: one semester or two quarters Lab: one term. Anatomy: Lecture: one semester or two quarters Lab: one term. Physiology: Lecture: one semester or two quarters Lab: one term. Most PA schools require you to take the following non-science prerequisites as well:. English: Lecture: two semesters or three quarters. Statistics: Lecture: one semester or two quarters. Psychology: Lecture: one semester or two quarters.

Now, these are the minimum PA school requirements held by the majority of programs. But only completing these courses will limit your options and decrease your competitiveness as an applicant. For this reason, we highly recommend you take additional coursework to fulfill the stricter requirements of more selective PA schools. Make yourself a competitive PA school applicant by taking the following classes:.

Organic chemistry: Lecture: one semester or two quarters Lab: one term. Biochemistry: Lecture: one semester or two quarters Lab: one term. Medical terminology: Lecture: one semester or two quarters. Genetics: Lecture: one semester or two quarters.

Physics: Lecture: one semester or two quarters. Sociology or a different humanities course : Lecture: one semester or two quarters.

Foreign language: Lecture: two semesters or three quarters. Note: Foreign language requirements or preferences are likely from PA schools located in areas with diverse populations. When should you have all your prerequisites completed? And you must complete those courses prior to matriculating into the program. Note: Be careful with AP credits. Many PA schools will not accept them to fulfill course requirements, even if your undergraduate institution does.

Ready for the truth? Your major does not matter when applying to a physician assistant program. However, your choice of major will communicate something about you on your PA school applications. So, choose it wisely. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a major in preparation for PA school:.

Make room for your prerequisites. If the major you pick includes all your PA school requirements, great. Just be sure to fit them in. Choose a major that helps you maintain a high overall GPA. Most PA schools will consider your science, non-science, and overall GPA when evaluating your application. Consider healthcare-adjacent majors.