Physician Assistants provide healthcare services under the supervision of physicians. They should not be confused with medical assistants, who perform routine clinical and clerical tasks. Physician Assistants conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery and can write prescriptions in 47 states.They are formally trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive healthcare services as delegated by a physician.  

Pre-Physician Assistant is considered a designation at Texas Tech University; it is not a major. Pre-Physician Assistant students take the required courses in order to apply to a Physician Assistant Program. Pre-Physician Assistant students also have the option to major in any area they choose as long as they take the prerequisite courses required to enter a Physician Assistant Program along with the courses needed to earn a degree at Texas Tech University.

Regardless of which degree-granting major a Pre-Physician Assistant student chooses at Texas Tech, they will always have a PPHC Advisor on their team. If you have any questions whatsoever about being Pre-PA, contact your assigned PPHC Advisor today!

Prerequisite courses for the TTUHSC School of Health Professions Master of Physician Assistant Studies:

¹Biology is not a prerequisite for entry to the TTUHSC Physician Assistant program, but BIOL 1401, 1402, or 1403 is a prerequisite for Genetics (BIOL 3416). Please direct questions regarding Biology prerequisites to the Department of Biological Sciences.

²Biology and General Chemistry are not prerequisites for entry to the TTUHSC Physician Assistant program, but ZOOL 2403 or BIOL 1402, or equivalent, and CHEM 1305 or CHEM 1307 are prerequisites for Microbiology (MBIO 3400); BIOL 1402 or BIOL 1403 and BIOL 1404 are prerequisites for Principles of Microbiology (MBIO 3401) and CHEM 3305 is a pre- or co-requisite. Please direct questions regarding Microbiology prerequisites to the Department of Biological Sciences.

³General Chemistry is not a prerequisite for entry to the TTUHSC Physician Assistant program, but CHEM 1307/1107 and CHEM 1308/1108 are prerequisites for Organic Chemistry (CHEM 3305/3105); Biochemistry (CHEM 3310) has a prerequisite of Organic Chemistry II (CHEM 3306/3106). Please direct questions regarding Chemistry prerequisites to the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.

• Bachelor's Degree
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
• Shadowing of a Physician Assistant is strongly recommended
• Healthcare experience, life experiences, and community service are valued
• The required science courses must be completed within the previous 7 years of application
• Three letters of recommendation

While it is strongly encouraged to take science courses in a classroom setting, online courses will NOT be rejected.

For application and prerequisite information, please contact each professional program, checking their websites frequently.

To learn more about professional degree PA programs both in Texas and elsewhere, please visit the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) directory here.

PPHC Advisors have created a year-by-year PDF guide to being Pre-Physician Assistant.

• Texas Academy of Physician Assistants (TAPA)
• American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)