Physician assistants are taught at educational programs located primarily in university schools of medicine and allied health. Most physician assistant programs require 24-28 months to complete, although programs vary in length. Most programs require applicants to have completed a minimum of three years of college prior to admission and to have had previous health care experience. Most successful applicants to PA programs have earned a bachelor’s degree as the majority of PA programs are at the graduate level.
Prerequisite course requirements vary from school to school. Students are encouraged to consult with their advisor, determine which physician assistant programs are of interest, and pattern their course work to fulfill these specific program requirements.
In order to be licensed in Idaho, physician assistants must have a baccalaureate degree. The health science studies degree (see Department of Health Studies) is very compatible with the requirements of most physician assistant professional schools. Check out the American Academy of Physician’s Assistants website, or the CASPA.
Advisor | Email | Position and Department | Phone | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenda Hill | ghill@boisestate.edu | Director, Pre-Professional Studies | 208-426-3832 | HSR 124 |
| Erin Colburn | erincolburn@boisestate.edu | Pre-Health/Pre-Professional Advisor | 208-426-2454 | HSR 123 |
| Howard Wiley | howardwiley@boisestate.edu | Pre-Health/Pre-Professional Advisor | 208-426-3732 | HSR 122B |
Pre-Physician Assistant Course Work
Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 101, 102 | English Composition | 6 |
| Arts, Humanities, and University Foundations Courses (determined by professional school or degree choice) | 6-12 | |
| Social Sciences (determined by professional school or degree choice) Suggested courses: COMM 101, PSYC 101, SOC 101 | 6-12 | |
| BIOL 100 OR BIOL 191-192 May be required or recommended by professional school | Concepts of Biology OR General Biology I-II | 4-8 |
| BIOL 227, 228 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 8 |
| CHEM 111, 111L - 112, 112L | College Chemistry I and II with Labs | 8 |
| CHEM 301/302 OR 307/308, 309/310 | Organic Chemistry and Lab | 5-10 |
| *CHEM 350 | Fundamentals of Biochemistry | 3 |
| HLTHST 101 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| MATH 143-144 OR MATH 147 Depends on math requirements at professional school or degree choice | College Algebra and Analytical Trigonometry OR Precalculus | 5 |
| MATH 254 OR PSYC 295 | Applied Statistics with Computers OR Statistical Methods | 3-4 |
| PSYC 301 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| TOTAL | 69-91 | |
| *May be required or recommended by different programs | ||