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