PA School Prerequisites in Texas
Every prerequisite course Texas PA programs require — from Biology and Chemistry to Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry. Plus GPA benchmarks, community college policies, and how to plan your schedule.
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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Book my free auditRequired Prerequisites for Texas PA Programs
Biology with Lab
8 credits (2 semesters)Required by: All Texas PA programs
General Biology I and II with lab. Must include lab component. Community college prerequisites are widely accepted at Texas PA programs.
General Chemistry with Lab
8 credits (2 semesters)Required by: All Texas 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 Texas PA programs
Some Texas programs require only one semester of Organic Chemistry. Check each program's specific requirements. Lab component typically required.
Biochemistry
3–4 creditsRequired by: UT Southwestern, Baylor, most Texas programs
Biochemistry is increasingly required by competitive Texas PA programs. UT Southwestern and Baylor both require it. Take it before applying.
Microbiology
3–4 creditsRequired by: All Texas 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 Texas PA programs
Human Anatomy is required by all Texas 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 Texas PA programs
Human Physiology is required by all Texas PA programs. Some programs accept a combined Anatomy & Physiology sequence. Check each program's requirements.
Statistics
3 creditsRequired by: Most Texas PA programs
Biostatistics or general statistics. Required by most Texas PA programs and increasingly important for evidence-based medicine. Can be taken at a community college.
Psychology
3 creditsRequired by: Most Texas PA programs
General Psychology or Abnormal Psychology. Required by most Texas PA programs. Demonstrates understanding of the psychological dimensions of patient care.
Medical Terminology
1–3 creditsRequired by: Some Texas PA programs
Not required by all programs, but recommended. Can often be completed online. Demonstrates preparation for clinical training.
GPA Benchmarks for Texas PA Programs
| Program | Minimum GPA | Competitive GPA | Science GPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| UT Southwestern PA | 3.2 | 3.5+ | 3.4+ |
| Baylor College of Medicine PA | 3.2 | 3.6+ | 3.5+ |
| UT Health San Antonio PA | 3.0 | 3.4+ | 3.3+ |
| Texas Tech PA | 3.0 | 3.4+ | 3.2+ |
| UT Health Tyler PA | 3.0 | 3.3+ | 3.2+ |
| UNTHSC PA | 3.0 | 3.4+ | 3.2+ |
Dr. Tomei's Perspective
Community College Prerequisites in Texas
Texas is one of the most community-college-friendly states for PA school prerequisites. Most Texas 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.
Texas community colleges (Austin Community College, Houston Community College, Dallas College, San Antonio College) are widely accepted for PA school prerequisites.
Community college prerequisites are generally accepted at all Texas 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 Texas PA programs but not all — verify before enrolling in online courses.
Grade replacement policies vary by program — some Texas PA programs recalculate GPA using the most recent grade, others use all attempts.
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.
Learn About PA AdvisingNeed 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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