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Pre-Physician Assistant

Physician assistants (PAs) work as part of a health care team directed by and under the supervision of a physician to provide health care services. A supervising physician and state law determine a physician assistant's duties. Aspiring PAs should investigate the laws and regulations in the states in which they wish to practice.

If you are interested in working as part of a health care team, you should consider studying to be a physician assistant (PA). Grand View’s pre-physician assistant preparation program will prepare you for a PA program through a health-related major such as biology.

Why Grand View?

  • Research opportunities and assistance in pursuing internships
  • Highly individualized advising
  • Small classes taught by faculty who are recognized as accomplished teachers and researchers
  • State-of-the-art facilities and instrumentation

Degree Level:

Pre-Professional Prep

Program Type:

Major

Format:

Full Time

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Student Testimonials

Dr. Bonnie Hall

“Dr. Hall helped me get back to Grand view.” - Blaze Kahikina

“I have been struggling with multiple health issues throughout this semester. Dr. Hall has gone above and beyond to make accommodations for me and to look out for me academically, physically, and emotionally. She is constantly pushing students to get the very best out of their education and creates inspiration in the daunting field of biochemistry. Because of Dr. Hall I have a greater love for biochemistry and for research. She has introduced me to multiple wonderful opportunities to help me grow and become a better scientist. Dr. Hall is a true inspiration to me and I can't describe in words how appreciative I am for all of her help and support. Thank you for being such an amazing mentor!” - Alli Rupert

“Dr. Hall helped me with my academic processes, like my class scheduling, change of major when I needed to, critical advising about biochemistry, and many more.” - Abubakar Barau

“She encouraged me and gave me confidence to get things done when I didn't think I could do it. She understood me, but also didn't let me take the easy way out.” - Grant Weldon

“She talked me through it when I felt lost in what major I wanted to pursue. She was honest and supportive of what I wanted to pursue and helped me feel at peace with my decision. She also helped by writing a recommendation for a scholarship. I really appreciate everything she has done for me and she really deserves to be recognized for it!” - Alexa Pinos

Jori Avery

“Jori always takes the time to listen to my concerns and help develop a plan of action. She is knowledgeable and loves to share her wisdom. She was recently a student herself so she relates well to students here at GVU.” - Allyssa Angle

Dr. Corbin Zea

“Dr. Zea is always willing to help with more than just classes and is very easy to get along with and talk to. He gets to know students on a personal level rather than just as another student.” - Tyler Henze

“Dr. Zea is my advisor but has also been my professor for multiple classes. He always makes time for me even outside of his office hours. He is also one of the most enthusiastic professors I know.” - Sunnie Baumgartner

“Dr. Zea brings a whole other level of enthusiasm to his classes that you don't see from other professors. This makes classes more enjoyable and easier to learn.” - Elma Omanovic

Program Details

Recommended Courses
The prerequisite courses required by most medical schools include:

ENGL 101 - English Composition, SPCH 126 - Speech
BIOL 101, 101L, 102, 102L - General Biology (8 hours with lab)
BIOL 220 - Medical Terminology
BIOL 165 / 335 - Human Anatomy, BIOL 165 / 335 - Physiology, BIOL 256 - Microbiology, and BIOL 360 - Genetics
CHEM 111, 111L, 112, 112L - General Chemistry (8 hours with lab)
CHEM 321 , 321L, 322, 322L - Organic Chemistry (8 hours with lab)
MATH 241 or 261 - Statistics or MATH 212 / 231 - Calculus
PSYC 101 - Intro to Psychology, PSYC 320 - Abnormal Psychology and one additional psychology course (9 credits)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to become a Physician Assistant?
The length of the program is typically two years.

Besides the prerequisite courses, how else should I prepare to apply to Physician Assistant School?
Direct patient contact hours are a very important element in your PA school application. Start early so you can accumulate the required 750+ hours by the time you graduate.

Do I need to take the GRE to apply to PA School?
Most schools require a GRE score, however, some may accept an MCAT score- or  neither. Check the requirements of the schools you are interested in.

Alumni Spotlight

Grand View alum, Amy McGraw is now a Physician's Assistant at Unity Point. While at Grand View University, Amy majored in Biology and was able to take all of the medically-related coursework. She found gross anatomy, immunology and histology to be especially helpful in her graduate studies at Wingate University PA program in 2016. Located in Wingate, North Carolina, Wingate University is approximately one hour south of Charlotte, North Carolina. According to Amy, "the upper level coursework at Grand View was challenging enough to prepare me for the rigorous PA coursework" at Wingate.

Thanks to Grand View, Amy felt prepared for PA school and partially attributes her success to her undergraduate time at Grand View. "GVU Biology faculty knew what it took to maintain a school-life balance for PA school, and were helpful in getting that point across to students," Amy recalls. "They [faculty] didn't sugar coat how difficult it would be. They also helped me see the rainbow in the storm when I was having a hard time, and encouraged me at every step."

As a non-traditional student, Wingate University's PA program fit exactly what Amy was looking for in a school. She found the admissions counselor and staff to be extremely kind, especially with the many questions Amy had about the PA program. With her prior classes, Amy was successful in passing her boards and procuring jobs following graduation. 

For students looking at different undergraduate programs, Amy says, at Grand View "...you aren't just a number, or a warm body in a seat. The class sizes are small enough to develop those relationships with people, and your professors get to know you well," she says.

Picture caption: Ryan (GV alum), Mason (son), and Amy McGraw at Amy's PA school graduation in 2016.

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Tuition & Scholarships

At Grand View University, your tuition supports instruction delivered by knowledgeable and experienced faculty who uphold our tradition of exceptional teaching. Additionally, we are dedicated to offering a high-quality education at the most affordable cost.

Transfer Credits

No matter what major you’re thinking about, you may be able to transfer in as many as 75 credits from a community college or junior college. If you have an A.A. or A.A.S. from an Iowa community college, you will be automatically admitted at junior status.

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