Pre-Physician Assistant (PA) Program
Alma offers a very competitive physician assistant pre-professional program, with the chance to take an excellent human anatomy course with human cadaver dissection, and the chance for hospital volunteering and mentoring by a PA.
Students generally select a major in Biology or Integrative Physiology and Health Science, although other degrees are possible as long as the general pre-PA requirements are met. Because substantial chemistry is required, many students also complete a chemistry minor (usually consisting of CHM 115, 223, 224, 230, BCM 321 and one additional CHM course).
As a general rule, the preparation for pre-PA follows that of pre-medical preparation. Not all programs require physics, so students are urged to become familiar with on-line resources about specific school programs. The schools in Michigan are listed below, where you will find individual school requirements and often a list of the equivalent Alma College courses.
Many programs require substantial hours of direct patient care (from 100 to 1000 hrs). Volunteer and shadow hours may not necessarily be counted. Students might consider acquiring a CNA and working at a care facility to acquire those hours.
Contact the biology or the IPHS department for additional assistance in developing a four-year plan for achieving your goals!
PA programs in Michigan (all currently at the master’s level)
Central Michigan University
Physician Assistant Program
1222 Professional Bldg.
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
Phone: 989/774-2478
Grand Valley State University
Physician Assistant Program
301 Michigan Street, NE, Ste. 200 CHS
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone: 616/331-3356
University of Detroit Mercy
Physician Assistant Program
4001 West McNichols Road
Detroit, MI 48221
Phone: 313/993-2474
Wayne State University
Department of Physician Assistant Studies
259 Mack Avenue, Ste. 2590
Detroit, MI 48201
Phone: 313/577-1368
Western Michigan University
Physician Assistant Program
1903 West Michigan Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5138
Phone: 269/387-5314
Other sites of interest:
American Academy of Physician Assistants: Includes general national and international policy positions, lists of PA programs by state
Physician Assistant Education Association: (formerly known as the Association of Physician Assistant Programs) home of CASPA, the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants
