Howard University Physician Assistant Program
Washington, District of Columbia · Masters
Fees not published
2026–27 tuition-only planning estimate; required fees additional
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A closer look
Mission & approach
To educate and cultivate compassionate, competent, and culturally diverse physician assistants committed to increasing access to health care in medically underserved communities. The program will provide an exceptional educational opportunity and experience for professional and ethical students of high academic potential, with an emphasis on underrepresented minorities in medicine focusing on Black students and other minority students. The program faculty is dedicated to preparing, empowering, and training healthcare professionals who are inclusive in their delivery of care to meet the needs and have an impact on healthcare disparities in diverse populations.
Admissions insights
What this program looks for in applicants
GPA/science GPA, LORs, PCE (800 hrs within 7 yrs); preference: military veterans/reservists/dependents, Howard grads, HBCU grads.
Summarized from the program’s admissions information. Confirm current selection criteria with the program.
Program admissions informationHow this program interviews
Interview day includes an on-site writing assignment on a health care topic, a panel interview with admissions committee members, alumni, advisory board members, preceptors and faculty, and a group round table with the program director. In-person is preferred; virtual is reviewed for extenuating circumstances.
Source checked Aug 1, 2026. Interview formats and dates can change between cycles.
Program interview informationAdmissions & prerequisites
Admission requirements
Prerequisite coursework
Semester creditsReview each course, its lab, and the program’s policies. Your links are planning records; the program decides equivalency.
Courses shown as alternatives in the table are not all required. Confirm the accepted route with the program.
- Anatomy and physiology route: Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II with labs OR Human Anatomy with lab (separate-course route) + Human Physiology with lab (separate-course route)
- Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry: Organic Chemistry with lab OR Biochemistry with lab
| Course | Credits | Lab | Min grade |
|---|---|---|---|
General Biology I and II with lab2 course(s)Course notes & alternativesTwo courses, 4 semester credits each; both require lab. Science prerequisite within 7 years. | 8Semester credits | Required | C |
General Chemistry I and II with lab2 course(s)Course notes & alternativesTwo courses, 4 semester credits each; both require lab. Science prerequisite within 7 years. | 8Semester credits | Required | C |
| Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II with labs2 course(s) Two courses, 4 semester credits each, both with lab. The alternative is separate Anatomy with lab plus Physiology with lab; credits for the separate courses are not published. Science prerequisites must be within 7 years. | 8Semester credits | Required | C |
| Human Anatomy with lab (separate-course route)1 course(s) Alternative to combined A&P I and II; the credit minimum for the separate courses is not published. Science course within 7 years. | Not publishedSemester credits | Required | C |
| Human Physiology with lab (separate-course route)1 course(s) Alternative to combined A&P I and II; the credit minimum for the separate courses is not published. Science course within 7 years. | Not publishedSemester credits | Required | C |
Medical Terminology1 course(s)Course notes & alternatives2 semester credits; no recency limit stated. | 2Semester credits | Not required | C |
Microbiology with lab1 course(s)Course notes & alternatives3–4 semester credits. Science course within 7 years. | Not publishedSemester credits | Required | C |
| Organic Chemistry with lab1 course(s) Alternative to Biochemistry with lab; 3–4 semester credits. Science course within 7 years. | Not publishedSemester credits | Required | C |
| Biochemistry with lab1 course(s) Alternative to Organic Chemistry with lab; 3–4 semester credits. Science course within 7 years. | Not publishedSemester credits | Required | C |
Psychology1 course(s)Course notes & alternatives3 semester credits; no recency limit stated. | 3Semester credits | Not required | C |
Social Sciences (Sociology, Anthropology, African American Studies, Communication, or Philosophy)1 course(s)Course notes & alternativesOne 3-credit course from the listed choices. Confirm with the program that your course fits the category. No recency limit stated. | 3Semester credits | Not required | C |
Statistics1 course(s)Course notes & alternatives3 semester credits; no recency limit stated. | 3Semester credits | Not required | C |
Policies that can change your plan
- Minimum course grade
- C or higher; Pass/Fail is not accepted.
- Course age
- Science prerequisite courses within 7 years before admissions.
- Course alternatives
- A&P I and II OR separate Anatomy with lab plus Physiology with lab; Organic Chemistry with lab OR Biochemistry with lab.
- Prerequisite GPA
- 3.0 cumulative GPA and 3.0 prerequisite science GPA.
- Completion
- CASPA verified by Jan 15, 2027; up to 7 prerequisite credits may be pending.
- Confirm with the program
- The separate Anatomy and Physiology route has no individual credit minimum. Courses are listed as 3–4 credits, and the Social Sciences category needs course-level confirmation with the program.
Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and minimum 3.0 prerequisite science GPA. All Medical Core prerequisites must be completed in the United States, including for applicants with a foreign bachelor’s degree. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens must submit TOEFL (minimum 90), unless waived for English-official country or at least four years of U.S. study. Minimum 800 direct patient-care hours, paid or volunteer, current within 7 years; three recommendation letters. Current official checklist does not state a GRE rule.
When courses must be complete: CASPA verified by Jan 15, 2027; up to 7 prerequisite credits may be pending. Complete degree and final transcripts before enrollment.
Dates & application steps
Confirm with the program what CASPA processing status is required.
Know what the total includes
Published cost estimate
2026–27 tuition-only planning estimate; required fees additional$98,150 program + $19,052 program · Complete direct charges for the full program are not yet available
The $117,202 planning estimate is based on Howard's 2026–27 PA tuition rates for five regular semesters plus 11 summer credits. Required university and program fees are extra, and full charges are not yet available.
Curriculum & clinical training
Didactic coursework
The curriculum covers anatomy, physiology, assessment, medical science, pharmacology, diagnostics, surgery and research.
Clinical and culminating coursework
Clerkships include internal medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, behavioral/mental health, family medicine and an elective; capstone and summative courses accompany training.
The curriculum, last revised May 5, 2023, has 59 didactic and 46 clinical credits (105 total). The clinical schedule includes spring, summer I, summer II and fall.
The admitted class
Published class statistics describe the named cohort or population. They are not admission minimums or acceptance probabilities.
The program’s track record
Graduate outcomes
PANCE pass rates
See first-time program performance with clearly dated national context.
- First-time PANCE pass rate: 87%
No 5-year average yet
- Five-year first-time PANCE pass rate: Not available yet
Five-year first-time results are not yet available.
Accreditation history
ProvisionalSources you can open
Links to the program’s own pages and the official directories we use.
- Howard University program website
- Howard University PA prospective applicant requirements
- Howard University curriculum and clinical training
- Howard University program website
- ARC-PA currently accredited programs — sponsoring-institution directory
- Program contact page
About the U.S. News rank
The U.S. News PA rank uses the 2025 PA edition, matched to the listed program and campus. It reflects peer-assessed reputation, not admissions odds or a personal fit score. Programs without a separate entry are labeled “Unranked.”
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