Baylor PA prerequisites at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) come down to 10 required courses, a minimum 3.2 overall GPA and 3.2 science GPA, and one rule that shapes every plan: all laboratory courses must be completed in person. The program is a 30-month Master of Science in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, and it admits a class of 40 each year.
Applications go through CASPA and must be verified by 11:59 p.m. ET on Aug. 1. The Aug. 1, 2026 deadline for the 2026 to 2027 cycle has passed, so anyone starting coursework now is planning for the next cycle, with an expected Aug. 1, 2027 deadline.
This guide covers each course, the rules that disqualify courses, online options, GPA, interviews and dates. PrereqCourses.com offers online courses through Upper Iowa University (UIU), which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). PrereqCourses can help with a few of BCM’s non-lab courses, and we explain the limits plainly below. BCM approves coursework only in writing, so email paprogram@bcm.edu and confirm each course before you enroll.
Bachelor’s or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university; seniors may apply if the degree is finished in May of the enrollment year
Citizenship
U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of and throughout enrollment
GPA
Minimum 3.2 overall and 3.2 overall science, calculated by CASPA
Required courses
10 areas, 37 to 38 semester hours depending on how you take Anatomy and Physiology
Labs
Required for Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, General Chemistry I and II, and Organic Chemistry; all must be in person
Science-major rule
Science courses must be intended for science majors, not nursing, allied health, kinesiology or exercise science
Grades
C or higher; C- is not accepted; letter grades only
Recency
Science courses no more than 7 years old; non-science no more than 10 years old, as of the Aug. 1 deadline
Tests
No test required per PAEA; GRE, PA-CAT and CASPer are not listed on BCM’s pages
Healthcare hours
Encouraged but not required (BCM’s wording)
Letters
Three letters of recommendation through CASPA
Deadline
CASPA verified by 11:59 p.m. ET on Aug. 1
Finish courses by
May of the year you enroll
Program start
June (June 2027 for the current cycle)
One caution: BCM’s admissions page still says its “published admissions requirements reflect the 2025-2026 application cycle only,” while the application process page describes the 2026 to 2027 cycle. The rules in this guide come from those posted pages, so confirm current requirements with BCM before you enroll.
About the Baylor College of Medicine PA program
The BCM PA program is a 30-month Master of Science degree. Students spend a 13-month didactic phase (two semesters) in the classroom and then a 17-month clinical phase (three semesters) that includes a Master’s Paper project. The program home page lists ARC-PA accreditation status as Accreditation-Continued, with the next validation review expected around June 2029. The curriculum page has the course sequence.
BCM’s FAQ says the program receives over 1,500 applications each year, interviews 150 applicants and offers positions to 40.
BCM describes itself as “an independent medical-sciences university located in the Texas Medical Center in Houston.” It is not affiliated with Baylor University in Waco. The program offers virtual information sessions rather than campus tours.
The report shows 100% of the classes of 2021 to 2024 ultimately passed, and 89% of the class of 2025 had passed as of the report date.
The 10 required courses
BCM’s prerequisites page and Self-Appraisal Checklist list the same courses. Quarter hours are in parentheses.
Course
Semester (quarter) hours
Lab
Anatomy with lab
4 (5)
Required, in person
Physiology with lab
4 (5)
Required, in person
Or Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs
8 (10)
Required, in person
Microbiology with lab
4 (5)
Required, in person
Genetics
3 (4)
Not listed
General Chemistry I with lab
4 (5)
Required, in person
General Chemistry II with lab
4 (5)
Required, in person
Organic Chemistry with lab
4 (5)
Required, in person
Psychology or Sociology
3 (4)
n/a
Expository Writing/English Composition
3 (4)
n/a
Statistics (must include ANOVA)
3 (4)
n/a
The minimum coursework cannot be waived.
Anatomy and Physiology
Take separate Anatomy and Physiology courses with labs (4 semester hours each), or a combined Anatomy and Physiology I and II sequence with labs (8 hours). Every lab must be in person, and the combined route needs both halves.
Microbiology and Genetics
Microbiology needs 4 semester hours with an in-person lab. Genetics needs 3 semester hours, and a lab is not listed for it on BCM’s main prerequisite list. BCM’s Texas community college table lists BIOL 2416, a lecture and lab course, so a lab version is fine, but the main list asks only for the hours. Our guide to online genetics for PA school explains what a typical course covers.
General and Organic Chemistry
You need General Chemistry I and II, each with an in-person lab, plus one Organic Chemistry course with an in-person lab. BCM’s prerequisites page says “Organic Chemistry with lab,” while the Self-Appraisal Checklist says “Organic Chemistry I with lab.” Either way, it is one 4-hour course. Upper-level coursework may be considered for General Chemistry if you email paprogram@bcm.edu first.
Psychology or Sociology, English Composition and Statistics with ANOVA
The three non-science courses are 3 semester hours each:
Psychology or Sociology. BCM’s table accepts several psychology courses plus introductory sociology.
Expository Writing/English Composition. The first or second composition course is accepted.
Statistics. The course “must include Analysis of Variance/ANOVA.” Many introductory statistics courses stop before ANOVA, so read the syllabus first. BCM’s Texas example is PSYC 2317. See online statistics for PA school applicants for what to look for.
Rules that disqualify courses
A course can match by name and still not count:
Science majors only. BCM says all science courses “MUST be intended for science majors ONLY (NOT nursing, allied health, kinesiology or exercise science majors). No exceptions.”
C or higher. A C- is not accepted, and the minimum coursework cannot be waived.
Letter grades. All prerequisite coursework must be completed for a letter grade at a regionally accredited U.S. institution. Community colleges are accepted.
Recency. Science courses can be no more than 7 years old, and non-science courses no more than 10 years old, as of the Aug. 1 application deadline. BCM explains that “a course must have been completed in/after Fall of the year of expiration.”
AP credit. BCM’s two statements do not match. The prerequisites list says “AP credit for prerequisite coursework will NOT be accepted. No exceptions.” The same page later says “AP credit for a prerequisite course is not accepted unless the credit resulted in a letter grade on your official transcript.” If you rely on AP, email paprogram@bcm.edu and get BCM’s answer in writing.
Transfer credit. BCM’s online course note says, “We do not accept AP or transfer credit for any prerequisite requirement.” BCM does not explain what it means by transfer credit here. Its FAQ separately says the program does not accept transfer students. Before you enroll in any course, including a UIU course, email BCM PA admissions at paprogram@bcm.edu and ask how this sentence applies to your plan.
Written approval. Coursework can only be approved in writing by the BCM PA program, “not CASPA or any other entity.” Questions about prerequisites are answered only by email, and BCM asks you to allow two weeks for a reply.
Tip: To apply the recency rule, count back from the deadline year. BCM says “a course must have been completed in/after Fall of the year of expiration.” We worked out this example ourselves; it is not a BCM figure. For an expected Aug. 1, 2027 deadline, a science course (7 years) would need to be completed in or after fall 2020, and a non-science course (10 years) in or after fall 2017. That 2027 date is expected, not posted, so recheck the math once BCM confirms the next cycle.
BCM also publishes a table of accepted Texas community college courses, labeled for the 2025 to 2026 cycle.
Which Baylor PA prerequisites you can take online
BCM recognizes online lecture courses but not online labs. The lab rule:
“All laboratory prerequisites must be done in person, not through distance learning (with the exception of labs completed online between Spring 2020 and Fall 2021, which will be accepted).”
And the online course note:
“Distance learning or online courses obtained through regionally accredited institutions in the U.S. are recognized to meet prerequisite requirements.”
Put together, here is how the Baylor PA prerequisites sort out:
Online is an option (no lab involved): Genetics, Psychology or Sociology, English Composition and Statistics with ANOVA.
Lab must be in person: Anatomy, Physiology (or A&P I and II), Microbiology, General Chemistry I and II and Organic Chemistry.
COVID window: BCM accepts online labs completed in spring 2020, summer 2020, fall 2020, spring 2021, summer 2021 and fall 2021. Online labs before or after that window do not count.
GPA. BCM requires a minimum 3.2 overall GPA and a 3.2 overall science GPA on a 4.0 scale. CASPA calculates both from all transcripts, and BCM does not adjust them after verification. The FAQ puts the matriculant mean at 3.7, with a range of 3.2 to 4.0. PAEA lists a matriculant science GPA of 3.5. A separate prerequisite GPA minimum is not listed.
Tests. The PAEA directory lists no required standardized test. BCM’s pages do not list the GRE, PA-CAT or CASPer. If you are deciding whether to sit for the GRE for other schools, see GRE for PA school in 2026.
English proficiency. Non-native English speakers need a TOEFL iBT score of 80 with at least 20 in each section, or an IELTS score of 6.5.
Healthcare experience. BCM is direct about this: “There are no requirements for patient care experience, healthcare experience, or shadowing hours.”
Other items. You need three letters of recommendation through CASPA and the BCM supplemental fee by Aug. 1. BLS certification at the healthcare provider level (American Heart Association or American Red Cross, not online-only) is not required at application. Admitted students need it, valid through June of the year after matriculation. BCM strongly encourages a medical terminology course.
How BCM reviews applications and interviews
BCM does not use rolling admissions. The FAQ says “all applications are screened, and interview invitations are extended at the same time on a yearly basis.”
The review has four steps:
Administrative review.
Faculty screening (Screening Index).
Interviews (Interview Index).
Committee decision (Decision Index).
Invitations for November interviews go out in October, and you have seven calendar days to accept. Up to 150 applicants are interviewed. The 2026 interviews were held virtually on Nov. 4 to 6. After an orientation day, you interview individually with three faculty members. Within two weeks, the top 40 applicants are offered admission by phone. Others receive their general rank position and the option to stay on a wait list. Offers depend on finishing all prerequisites and passing a criminal background check.
Deadlines and timeline
Milestone
Date
2026 to 2027 cycle opened
April 30, 2026
2026 to 2027 CASPA deadline
Aug. 1, 2026 (passed)
2026 to 2027 interviews
Nov. 4 to 6, 2026 (virtual)
Current cycle program start
June 2027 (per PAEA)
Next cycle opens
Expected April 2027 (BCM: applications open “yearly in April”)
Next CASPA deadline
Expected Aug. 1, 2027
Next cycle program start
Expected June 2028
Finish prerequisites
By May of your enrollment year (expected May 2028 for the next cycle)
BCM says the Aug. 1 deadline applies “for each admissions cycle,” so we list Aug. 1, 2027 as expected. The next cycle’s dates are not posted yet; confirm on CASPA and BCM’s site.
The deadline means received and verified by CASPA by 11:59 p.m. ET on Aug. 1, with letters, official transcripts, the CASPA fee and the BCM supplemental fee. BCM’s FAQ recommends submitting at least two weeks before the deadline so CASPA has time to verify. See our CASPA application timeline.
You can apply with courses in progress, but every prerequisite must be done by May of the year you enroll. BCM says that missing that date forfeits your seat.
How to fill Baylor PA prerequisites with UIU courses
PrereqCourses offers self-paced online courses through Upper Iowa University, which is accredited by the HLC. Credit appears on a UIU transcript, and courses start on the first of every month. Because BCM requires in-person labs, our fit for this program is limited. We can help with three of the 10 required courses plus the medical terminology course BCM encourages. BCM decides whether any course qualifies, so email paprogram@bcm.edu with the course description and wait for a written answer before you enroll. Allow two weeks for a reply.
Please note: any prerequisite requirements listed on a UIU syllabus apply only to full-time UIU students. Students enrolling through PrereqCourses.com are exempt from those syllabus prerequisites.
What we do not offer for BCM. Our lab science courses use online labs, and BCM requires every lab to be completed in person. That means we cannot help with Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, General Chemistry I and II or Organic Chemistry for this program. Plan to take those at a local college or university with in-person labs.
Statistics is also a gap. BCM’s Statistics course must include ANOVA. Our MATH 220 Elementary Statistics description and syllabus do not list ANOVA, so we do not present it as a match for BCM. Look for a statistics course whose syllabus names ANOVA, or ask BCM before using any course that does not.
About EXSS 170. The course carries an exercise science prefix. BCM’s science-major rule applies to its science prerequisites, and medical terminology is not one of them. If you plan to list it on CASPA, include it in your email to BCM. See online medical terminology and online English composition for PA school for more detail.
Sample plan for the next cycle. Courses start on the first of every month, so you can stage online lecture courses around in-person lab terms at a local school.
Step
Plan
Now
Map your transcript to BCM’s 10 courses, check grades and recency, and email paprogram@bcm.edu about every course you are considering
Next
Register for in-person lab courses at a local college for the coming term, starting with chemistry if you need the full sequence
Looking for Baylor University’s accelerated nursing program instead? Baylor University is a different school from Baylor College of Medicine, so see our Baylor ABSN prerequisites guide.
No, with one exception. BCM requires all laboratory prerequisites to be completed in person. Online labs completed between spring 2020 and fall 2021 are accepted because of the COVID pandemic. Online lecture courses from regionally accredited U.S. schools are recognized.
What GPA do Baylor PA prerequisites require?
BCM requires a minimum 3.2 overall GPA and a 3.2 overall science GPA, both calculated by CASPA. The matriculant mean is about 3.7. Each prerequisite needs a C or higher, and a C- is not accepted.
Does BCM require the GRE?
The GRE is not listed on BCM’s pages, and the PAEA directory lists no required test. The PA-CAT and CASPer are also not listed.
Do I need healthcare hours?
No. BCM says there are no requirements for patient care experience, healthcare experience or shadowing hours. These experiences are encouraged and considered in review if you have them.
How old can my prerequisite courses be?
Science courses can be no more than 7 years old and non-science courses no more than 10 years old, as of the Aug. 1 deadline. For an expected Aug. 1, 2027 deadline, our worked example is science courses completed in or after fall 2020 and non-science courses in or after fall 2017. Confirm with BCM.
Does Statistics need ANOVA?
Yes. BCM’s Statistics requirement says the course must include Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Check the syllabus before you enroll, and email paprogram@bcm.edu if ANOVA is not clearly listed.
Is the Baylor College of Medicine PA program part of Baylor University?
No. BCM describes itself as an independent medical-sciences university in the Texas Medical Center in Houston and is not affiliated with Baylor University in Waco.
Next steps
Download BCM’s Self-Appraisal Checklist from the prerequisites page and compare it with your transcript.
Flag any course below a C, any online lab taken outside spring 2020 to fall 2021, and any course past the 7-year or 10-year limit.
Check that your Statistics course included ANOVA and that your science courses were designed for science majors.
Email paprogram@bcm.edu with course descriptions for anything you plan to take, and allow two weeks for a written reply.
Register for in-person lab courses locally and online lecture courses once BCM confirms them.
Watch CASPA in April for the next cycle and plan to submit at least two weeks before the expected Aug. 1, 2027 deadline.
