Our new Physician Associate (PA) Studies program is designed to equip future health
care leaders with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in patient care.
This comprehensive program focuses on advanced clinical training, evidence-based practices
and interprofessional collaboration.
You will gain hands-on experience through clinical rotations, state-of-the-art simulation
labs and a curriculum that emphasizes primary care, patient-centered care and medical
ethics.
At TCU, you will become a highly skilled and compassionate Physician Associate, ready
to make a significant impact in the health care field.
PAs practice in every work setting. 51.8% in outpatient office or clinic; 40.7% in
hospital; 4.9% in urgent care; 2.6% in other*. (2024 AAPA Salary Survey. All data
based on clinically practicing PAs in the US.) *Other refers to a variety of work
settings including but not limited to schools/universities, rehabilitation facilities,
nursing homes and correctional facilities.PAs practice medicine in all specialties. 27.8% surgical subspecialties; 26.4% other*;
20.1% primary care; 13.2% internal medicine subspecialties; 7.4% emergency medicine;
3.4% no specialty; 1.7% pediatric subspecialties. (2024 AAPA Salary Survey. All data
based on clinically practicing PAs in the US.) *Other refers to a variety of work
settings including but not limited to psychiatry, hospice and palliative care, obstetrics
and gynecology, addiction medicine, pain management, public health and dermatology.
Gary Pérez, DMSc, PA-C
Meet the Founding Director of the Physician Associate (PA) Studies program at TCU.
To be considered for admission to the Department of Physician Associate Studies at
Texas Christian University, applicants must complete and submit:
CASPA application
TCU supplemental application
Official transcripts
Supporting documents on or before the published deadline
All prerequisite credits and receipt of the bachelor’s degree from an accredited college
or university must be completed prior to matriculation.
GPA minimums are based on a 4.0 scale
Overall GPA Minimum: 3.0
All course grades from undergraduate and graduate courses are used in GPA calculations.
Science GPA Minimum: 3.0
All science course grades from undergraduate and graduate courses are used in the
science GPA calculations.
Required Courses
English Composition
College Algebra or higher
Biology I with Lab
Biology II with Lab
Microbiology/Bacteriology
Biochemistry with Lab
Genetics
Chemistry I with Lab
Chemistry II with Lab
Organic Chemistry I with Lab
Human Anatomy with lab
Human Physiology with lab
Psychology
Statistics
Physics 1
Medical Terminology
Additional Requirements
Prerequisites must be completed prior to matriculation
Prerequisites effective with class matriculating in January 2027
Good standing with the college or university last attended or currently enrolled
Prerequisite courses must be passed with letter grade "C" or better
Prerequisites may be taken at any accredited college or university
TCU Physician Associate Studies does not consider most nutritional science courses
for our Biological Sciences course prerequisites
If Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry is a combined course, you must complete the entire
course sequence to receive credit for both courses
Classes taken at a community college must be on the general level, not at the introductory
level
Traditionally, successful candidates take 2-3 upper-level Biological and Chemical
Science courses per semester (junior/senior year), take a majority of upper-level
Biological and Chemical Science courses from a 4-year institution, and have minimal
courses completed via an online program
Advanced placement, credit by exam or pass/fail courses do not meet the requirements
Prior learning experiences (courses at another PA program or health care program),
continuing education, CME, foreign, and/or workforce credits are not counted to fulfill
prerequisite courses
Prerequisite coursework must be completed within the last 5 years of the application
submission deadline
All science courses must be designated for science majors
Appropriate fees must be paid to CASPA and TCU
Certification & Licensing
Graduate from an accredited PA program
Pass a certification exam
100 hours of continuing medical education (CME after every two years)
A recertification exam every 10 years
Information Sessions
Check back soon for details.
Accreditation
The Physician Associate Studies program at Texas Christian University has applied
for Accreditation-Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The Physician Associate Studies program anticipates matriculating its first
class in January 2027, pending achieving Accreditation-Provisional status at the September
2026 ARC-PA meeting.
Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource
allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet
enrolled students appears to demonstrate the program's ability to meet the ARC-PA
Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate
continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation
of the first class (cohort) of students.
Updates will be made to this site as they are confirmed. To learn more about TCU's
Physician Associate (PA) Studies program, submit the interest form at the top of this
page or email TCUPhysicianAssociateStudies@tcu.edu.
