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Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences

Physician Associate (PA) Studies

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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. According to the AAPA Salary Survey 51.8% work in outpatient or clinic setting, 40.7% work in a hospital setting, 4.9% work in unrgent care center setting and 2.6% work in other settings including but not limited to schools/universities, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes and correctional facilities.
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. According to the 2024 AAPA Salary Sruvey, 27.8% work in surgical, 20.1% in primary care, 13.2% in internal medicine, 7.4% in emergency medicine, 1.7% in pediatric, 3.4% did not designate a specialty and 26.4% work in settings included but not limited to psychiatry, hospice and palliative are, obstetrics and gynecology, addiction medicine, pain management, public health and dermatology.
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

Gary Pérez, DMSc, PA-C

Meet the Founding Director of the Physician Associate (PA) Studies program at TCU.

Learn More

Admission Requirements

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.