Academic Prerequisites

General Requirements

  • All prerequisite coursework must be completed by the application deadline. Courses completed after the deadline will not be considered.
  • Applicants may apply with in-progress coursework, but applications will not be reviewed until final grades are received.
  • Prerequisites can be taken at any regionally accredited community college or university and receive a letter grade or a grade on a 4.0 scale.
  • Online courses may be acceptable, but applicants are responsible for verifying the accreditation statues of the institution before enrolling.
  • Each MEDEX prerequisite must be taken as a standalone, college course, separate from any certificate training or professional degree program.
  • Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses do not meet MEDEX prerequisites. All MEDEX prerequisites must be taken at the college level.

Required Prerequisite Courses

  • May be completed as A&P I + A&P II or as separate Anatomy and Physiology courses
  • Combined lecture/lab or separate lecture and lab formats accepted
  • Credit amounts vary by institution; MEDEX accepts the full sequence as awarded
  • Labs waived for the 2026-2027 application cycle
  • Labs required for the 2027-2028 application cycle

Courses should cover the structure and function of the human body. A comprehensive study will provide an in-depth knowledge of the skeletal, muscular, integumentary, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, reproductive, and nervous system specific to the human body.

Survey-level courses do not meet these requirements.

Courses should provide a foundational understanding of chemical principles as they relate to living systems. Biochemistry courses may include the study of biomolecules, enzymes, and metabolism. Organic chemistry courses should emphasize carbon-based compounds, functional groups, and reaction mechanisms.

Survey-level courses do not meet these requirements.

Microbiology course should cover microbial cell structure and function, including their roles in health and disease. Study of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites should be included. An understanding of transmission, immunity, response, control, and prevention.

Survey-level courses do not meet these requirements.

Course should cover probability, descriptive methods, sampling, inferences, interpreting data, hypothesis testing, and regression.

Survey-level courses do not meet these requirements.

Recommended Courses

In addition to the required courses, the following are highly recommended to help strengthen an application:

  • Genetics
  • Social Science (Sociology, Psychology, or Anthropology)
  • Medical Terminology
  • Biochemistry/Organic Chemistry Lab
  • Microbiology Lab

MEDEX has developed a list of commonly accepted courses from institutions in the WWAMI region and Hawaiʻi to help applicants prepare for application.

These are examples only and are not an exhaustive list of accepted courses. Courses not listed may still meet prerequisite requirements. Applicants with questions about specific coursework are encouraged to contact MEDEX Admissions. Commonly Accepted Courses from the WWAMI and Hawaii States .

Overall Prerequisite GPA Requirement

Applicants must have a minimum combined prerequisite GPA of 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale) across all prerequisite courses by the application deadline. Use the CASPA GPA calculator to determine overall prerequisite GPA.

Prerequisite Timeline

All prerequisite coursework listed above must be completed within seven (7) years of the application.

Overall GPA Requirement

An overall minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale is required (3.2 GPA recommended).

Bachelor’s Degree

A baccalaureate degree must be completed at a regionally accredited institution and conferred by December 31st of the year in which an application is submitted. 
MEDEX does not require a specific undergraduate degree for eligibility to the PA program. Applicants may hold a degree in any field, provided all academic prerequisite coursework is completed. While no particular major is required, applicants with stronger backgrounds in health-related sciences may be more competitive, as upper-division science coursework can help prepare students for the academic rigor of the MEDEX curriculum.
Common degrees among applicants include basic sciences (e.g., Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology), health training programs (e.g., Nursing, Athletic Training), and related fields (e.g., Public Health, Psychology, Pre-Medicine). These degrees are not required but often provide a strong foundation in health sciences that may strengthen an application.

GRE

MEDEX is not requiring GRE scores. Please provide if available. Scores will not be considered in the application process and will be for internal programmatic data-tracking only.

English Language Proficiency (ELP)

English language proficiency (ELP) is required for graduate study at the University of Washington. Please visit the UW Graduate School Policy 3.2: English Language Proficiency Requirements for more information. Applicants who choose to demonstrate proficiency using the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) should submit scores via their CASPA application prior to the application deadline using code #3709. Minimum TOEFL score is 4.5. If offered admission to MEDEX, each prospective student will then be required to apply to the UW Graduate School and non-native English speakers will be required to provide demonstration of English Proficiency.  

UW Graduate School

Do not apply to the UW Graduate School at this time. If accepted to MEDEX, you will then be asked to apply to the UW Graduate School. MEDEX will provide instructions about how and when to apply through Graduate Enrollment Management Services in an official acceptance packet. 
Be sure to review the MEDEX Northwest clinical experience prerequisites that all applicants must complete in addition to the academic prerequisites listed above.