PA School Prerequisites in Georgia
Every prerequisite course Georgia 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 Georgia PA Programs
Biology with Lab
8 credits (2 semesters)Required by: All Georgia PA programs
General Biology I and II with lab. Must include lab component. Community college prerequisites are widely accepted at Georgia PA programs.
General Chemistry with Lab
8 credits (2 semesters)Required by: All Georgia 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 Georgia PA programs
Some Georgia programs require only one semester of Organic Chemistry. Check each program's specific requirements. Lab component typically required.
Biochemistry
3–4 creditsRequired by: Emory, Morehouse, most Georgia programs
Biochemistry is increasingly required by competitive Georgia PA programs. Emory and Morehouse both require it. Take it before applying.
Microbiology
3–4 creditsRequired by: All Georgia 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 Georgia PA programs
Human Anatomy is required by all Georgia 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 Georgia PA programs
Human Physiology is required by all Georgia PA programs. Some programs accept a combined Anatomy & Physiology sequence. Check each program's requirements.
Statistics
3 creditsRequired by: Most Georgia PA programs
Biostatistics or general statistics. Required by most Georgia PA programs and increasingly important for evidence-based medicine. Can be taken at a community college.
Psychology
3 creditsRequired by: Most Georgia PA programs
General Psychology or Abnormal Psychology. Required by most Georgia PA programs. Demonstrates understanding of the psychological dimensions of patient care.
Medical Terminology
1–3 creditsRequired by: Some Georgia PA programs
Not required by all programs, but recommended. Can often be completed online. Demonstrates preparation for clinical training.
GPA Benchmarks for Georgia PA Programs
| Program | Minimum GPA | Competitive GPA | Science GPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emory PA | 3.2 | 3.5+ | 3.4+ |
| Morehouse College of Medicine PA | 3.2 | 3.6+ | 3.5+ |
| Augusta University PA | 3.0 | 3.4+ | 3.3+ |
| Mercer University PA | 3.0 | 3.4+ | 3.2+ |
| South University PA (Savannah) | 3.0 | 3.3+ | 3.2+ |
| PCOM Georgia PA | 3.0 | 3.4+ | 3.2+ |
Dr. Tomei's Perspective
Community College Prerequisites in Georgia
Georgia is one of the most community-college-friendly states for PA school prerequisites. Most Georgia 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.
Georgia community colleges (Georgia Piedmont Technical College, Atlanta Technical College, Augusta Technical College, Savannah Technical College) are widely accepted for PA school prerequisites.
Community college prerequisites are generally accepted at all Georgia 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 Georgia PA programs but not all — verify before enrolling in online courses.
Grade replacement policies vary by program — some Georgia 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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