New York City

PA School Prerequisites in NYC

A complete breakdown of science prerequisites, GPA benchmarks, and patient care hour requirements for every NYC PA program — so you can plan your coursework strategically.

For a national overview of prerequisite courses, GPA expectations, patient-care hours, CASPA requirements, and testing policies, review our complete guide to PA school requirements.

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Common Prerequisite Courses for NYC PA Programs

Course	Notes
Biology I & II (with lab)	Required by all NYC PA programs. Must include lab component.
General Chemistry I & II (with lab)	Required by all programs. Some accept AP credit — verify with each program.
Organic Chemistry I (with lab)	Required by most programs. Some accept Biochemistry as a substitute.
Human Anatomy (with lab)	Required by all programs. Cadaver lab preferred at competitive programs.
Human Physiology	Required by all programs. Some accept combined Anatomy & Physiology.
Microbiology (with lab)	Required by most programs. Lab component preferred.
Statistics	Required by most programs. Biostatistics preferred.
Psychology	Required by some programs. Abnormal Psychology or Health Psychology preferred.
Biochemistry	Required by NYU Langone and some other programs. Increasingly common.
Medical Terminology	Required by some programs. Can often be completed online.

Dr. Tomei's Perspective

Most NYC PA programs have dropped the GRE requirement — do not spend months preparing for a test that most programs no longer want. Focus that time on building your PCE hours and strengthening your science GPA. If you have a weak science GPA, a strong post-bacc record at a reputable NYC institution can demonstrate academic recovery.

GPA & Requirements by Program

Program	Science GPA	Overall GPA	PCE Hours	GRE
Pace University	3.4 minimum	3.5 minimum	1,000+ required	Not required
Touro College	3.3 minimum	3.4 minimum	1,000+ required	Not required
CUNY School of Medicine	3.2 minimum	3.3 minimum	500+ required	Not required
NYU Langone	3.5+ competitive	3.6+ competitive	1,000+ strongly preferred	Not required
Wagner College	3.3 minimum	3.4 minimum	750+ required	Not required
Hofstra/Northwell	3.4 minimum	3.5 minimum	1,000+ required	Not required

Pace University: Strong emphasis on direct patient care. Biochemistry not required but recommended.

Touro College: More accessible GPA requirements. Community health focus valued.

CUNY School of Medicine: Most accessible NYC program. Strong preference for students committed to underserved communities.

NYU Langone: Most competitive NYC program. Biochemistry required. Elite stats expected.

Wagner College: More accessible than Manhattan programs. Good option for students with slightly lower stats.

Hofstra/Northwell: Northwell Health affiliation. Strong clinical training network.

Post-Bacc Options in NYC

If you need to complete prerequisites or improve your science GPA, NYC has excellent post-bacc options at every price point.

Columbia University Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Health Program

Morningside Heights, Manhattan

One of the most prestigious post-bacc programs in the country. Formal linkage agreements with medical and PA schools. Expensive but highly regarded by admissions committees.

Best for: Career changers and students with non-science backgrounds who need a complete pre-health curriculum.

NYU School of Professional Studies Pre-Health

Greenwich Village, Manhattan

NYU's post-bacc program provides access to NYU Langone and the NYU ecosystem. Strong advising and linkage opportunities.

Best for: Students targeting NYU Langone PA program or other NYC programs.

Hunter College / CUNY Post-Bacc

Upper East Side, Manhattan

The most affordable post-bacc option in NYC. CUNY system provides access to NYC Health + Hospitals and a strong pre-health advising network.

Best for: Students who need to minimize debt while completing prerequisites.

City College of New York (CCNY)

Harlem, Manhattan

CCNY offers individual science courses for post-bacc students at CUNY tuition rates. Flexible scheduling for working students.

Best for: Students who need to complete specific prerequisite courses rather than a full post-bacc program.

Fordham University Post-Bacc

Rose Hill (Bronx) and Lincoln Center (Manhattan)

Fordham's post-bacc program provides access to Bronx-area hospitals and the Fordham pre-health advising network.

Best for: Students interested in Montefiore and the Albert Einstein ecosystem.

How to Handle Prerequisite Gaps

A low science GPA from early in your undergraduate career can be addressed with a strong post-bacc record — upward trends matter

If you have a gap in prerequisites (e.g., no Biochemistry), take the course at a CUNY school to minimize cost

GRE is no longer required by most NYC PA programs — do not waste time on it unless a specific program requires it

If your overall GPA is below 3.0, consider a formal post-bacc program with linkage agreements rather than individual courses

Online prerequisites are accepted by some programs but not all — verify with each program before enrolling

Get Help Planning Your Prerequisites

Need help choosing PA programs and building a competitive application? MedTrack Mentors provides physician-led PA admissions advising, school-list strategy, essay guidance and interview preparation. Prerequisite courses and patient care hour requirements vary by program — always verify directly with each program before applying.

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