PA School Prerequisites in Colorado
Every prerequisite course Colorado PA programs require — from Biology and Chemistry to Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry. Plus GPA benchmarks, community college policies, and how to plan your schedule.
Required Prerequisites for Colorado PA Programs
Biology with Lab
8 credits (2 semesters)Required by: All Colorado PA programs
General Biology I and II with lab. Must include lab component. Community college prerequisites are widely accepted at Colorado PA programs.
General Chemistry with Lab
8 credits (2 semesters)Required by: All Colorado PA programs
General Chemistry I and II with lab. Must include lab component. Strong performance in chemistry is a key indicator of PA school readiness.
Organic Chemistry with Lab
4–8 credits (1–2 semesters)Required by: Most Colorado PA programs
Some Colorado programs require only one semester of Organic Chemistry. Check each program's specific requirements. Lab component typically required.
Biochemistry
3–4 creditsRequired by: Most Colorado PA programs
Biochemistry is increasingly required by competitive Colorado PA programs. The University of Colorado and Regis University both require it. Take it before applying.
Microbiology
3–4 creditsRequired by: All Colorado PA programs
Microbiology with or without lab depending on the program. Covers bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites — directly relevant to PA clinical training.
Human Anatomy
3–4 creditsRequired by: All Colorado PA programs
Human Anatomy is required by all Colorado PA programs. Lab component strongly preferred. This is one of the most important prerequisites — strong performance signals readiness for PA school anatomy coursework.
Human Physiology
3–4 creditsRequired by: All Colorado PA programs
Human Physiology is required by all Colorado PA programs. Some programs accept a combined Anatomy & Physiology sequence. Check each program's requirements.
Statistics
3 creditsRequired by: Most Colorado PA programs
Biostatistics or general statistics. Required by most Colorado PA programs and increasingly important for evidence-based medicine. Can be taken at a community college.
Psychology
3 creditsRequired by: Most Colorado PA programs
General Psychology or Abnormal Psychology. Required by most Colorado PA programs. Demonstrates understanding of the psychological dimensions of patient care.
Medical Terminology
1–3 creditsRequired by: Some Colorado PA programs
Not required by all programs, but recommended. Can often be completed online. Demonstrates preparation for clinical training.
GPA Benchmarks for Colorado PA Programs
| Program | Minimum GPA | Competitive GPA | Science GPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado PA | 3.2 | 3.5+ | 3.4+ |
| Red Rocks Community College PA | 3.0 | 3.3+ | 3.2+ |
| Regis University PA | 3.2 | 3.4+ | 3.3+ |
Dr. Tomei's Perspective
Community College Prerequisites in Colorado
Colorado is one of the most community-college-friendly states for PA school prerequisites. Most Colorado PA programs explicitly accept community college prerequisites, which makes it easier and more affordable to complete your coursework. Here is what you need to know.
Colorado community colleges (Community College of Denver, Red Rocks Community College, Arapahoe Community College, Front Range Community College) are widely accepted for PA school prerequisites.
Community college prerequisites are generally accepted at all Colorado PA programs — verify with each program before enrolling.
If you take prerequisites at a community college, aim for A grades. A B in a community college science course is less impressive than an A at a four-year university.
Some programs prefer prerequisites taken at four-year universities for upper-division courses like Biochemistry and Microbiology.
Online prerequisites are accepted by some Colorado PA programs but not all — verify before enrolling in online courses.
Grade replacement policies vary by program — some Colorado PA programs recalculate GPA using the most recent grade, others use all attempts.
Need Help Planning Your Prerequisite Schedule?
Planning your prerequisite coursework to maximize your science GPA while building patient care hours is one of the most complex parts of the pre-PA journey. Dr. Tomei can help you build a plan.
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