Wake Forest PA prerequisites: 7 courses, 3.2 GPA, 1,000 hours & 2027 cycle dates

If you are planning around Wake Forest PA prerequisites, you are looking at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine PA Program, a 24-month Master of Medical Science (MMS) offered on two campuses, Winston-Salem and Boone. The >program page and >accreditation page note ARC-PA Accreditation-Continued status, with the next validation review around September 2032. The list is short but specific: molecular genetics, a biochemistry course that is not a survey, and medical terminology catch more applicants than the core sciences.

Quick answer: Wake Forest’s PA program lists seven prerequisite areas, and every prerequisite needs a grade of C or above. PrereqCourses lists a UIU course for each area: BIO 282, CHEM 151 (or CHEM 251), CHEM 330, BIO 270 with BIO 275, BIO 210, MATH 220 and EXSS 170. Credit appears on a UIU transcript. PrereqCourses does not guarantee that Wake Forest will accept any course, and admission decisions rest entirely with Wake Forest.

This guide walks through each course, the grade and transcript rules, what Wake Forest does not publish about online labs, the GPA, GRE, and patient care hour floors, and the deadlines for both the current and the next cycle. If you are still building your general plan, our overview of PA school prerequisites is a good companion.

Where self-paced coursework can fill a gap, PrereqCourses offers courses through Upper Iowa University (UIU), which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Credit appears on a UIU transcript. PrereqCourses does not guarantee that Wake Forest will accept any course, and admission decisions rest entirely with Wake Forest.

Table of contents

• Wake Forest PA prerequisites at a glance
• The course details that trip people up
• Labs, online courses, and older coursework
• Wake Forest PA program GPA, GRE, and hours
• Wake Forest PA school deadlines
• How to fill missing Wake Forest PA prerequisites with UIU courses
• How Wake Forest compares
• FAQ
• Next steps

Wake Forest PA prerequisites at a glance

Wake Forest’s >admission requirements page lists seven prerequisite areas. Each is one semester unless noted, and hours are shown as minimums.

Every prerequisite needs a C or above, reflected as a final course grade on a college transcript. A C minus is not accepted. Courses must come from an accredited institution in the United States or Canada.

The course details that trip people up

The questions usually come from the less common items and from how Wake Forest counts hours.

Molecular genetics for Wake Forest PA prerequisites

Wake Forest wants “a molecular-based genetics course,” and it states that a social based genetics course will not meet the requirement. If your genetics class focused on heredity in society, ethics, or population topics, check the syllabus for coverage of DNA, gene expression, and molecular methods before you count it. See online genetics for PA school for more.

Biochemistry, no survey courses

Wake Forest says “a survey or combined course will not meet this requirement.” A course that blends organic chemistry and biochemistry in a single semester, or a general, organic, and biochemistry survey, will not count. You need a dedicated biochemistry course of at least three semester hours. See online biochemistry for PA school for how to read a biochemistry course description.

General or organic chemistry

Only one semester of chemistry is listed, with at least three semester hours. Wake Forest also accepts one semester of organic chemistry in its place.

A&P full year, six semester hours

Wake Forest asks for one full academic year of human anatomy and human physiology, at least six semester hours. You can meet it with one semester of anatomy and one of physiology, or with two semesters of combined A&P. Wake Forest notes that “lab hours will not be counted towards prerequisite course credit hour requirements,” so ask admissions how a combined lecture and lab course is counted.

Medical terminology and transcript grades

Medical terminology is one course, and Wake Forest does not list a minimum number of hours. The key detail is the transcript. Wake Forest asks you to contact admissions before enrolling in an online course that does not result in a course grade on a college transcript. A credit bearing course with a letter grade is the safer path.

Labs, online courses, and older coursework

Wake Forest writes, “We also recommend that prerequisite courses be completed with a lab, if applicable. Lab hours will not be counted towards prerequisite course credit hour requirements.” So labs are recommended. They are not listed as required, and they do not add to your hour totals.

An online lab policy is not listed. The admissions pages do not say whether Wake Forest accepts or rejects online labs or online science courses in general. The only online statement covers medical terminology. Email paadmit@wfusm.edu with the syllabus for any online course you plan to take, and confirm the course in writing before you enroll. For a broader look at how programs handle this, read can you take PA school prerequisites online and our guide to online PA school prerequisites.

Older coursework has no hard expiration, but Wake Forest says it “strongly recommend[s] that applicants repeat any prerequisite course that was completed before 2021.” Treat that as a strong recommendation rather than a rule, and weigh it seriously if your sciences are older.

AP and CLEP credit are not listed on the admissions pages. Ask the program before relying on AP or CLEP for any prerequisite.

Wake Forest PA program GPA, GRE, and hours

GPA. Applicants need a total overall GPA of 3.2 or higher, as calculated by CASPA at the time of application. Applications with a verified total GPA below 3.2 are not considered, and GPA updates after submission are not accepted. A minimum science GPA is not listed. For context, the Class of 2028 averaged a 3.74 total GPA and a 3.74 science GPA.

GRE. The GRE General Test is required, taken within five years of the application deadline. For the 2026 to 2027 cycle, that meant no earlier than Oct. 1, 2021. Scores go through CASPA using code 5923, and official scores must be posted by Oct. 1. A PA-CAT option is not listed. Our guide to the GRE for PA school in 2026 covers planning and score timing.

Patient care hours. Wake Forest requires at least 1,000 hours of healthcare employment or other direct patient contact, completed by Oct. 1 of the application year. In prior cycles, accepted applicants reported between 1,404 and 7,896 hours, and the Class of 2028 averaged 2,620. Shadowing PAs is encouraged, but it does not count toward the required hours.

References and withdrawals. You need at least three references submitted through CASPA, and one must come from a health care professional. Wake Forest also notes that a competitive candidate has fewer than two total undergraduate course withdrawals.

Other gates. The program accepts U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Your bachelor’s degree must be finished by Dec. 31 before enrollment, and a master’s or doctoral degree also meets the requirement. The application is CASPA plus a supplemental application with a $100 fee. Interviews are rolling and virtual for the 2026 to 2027 cycle.

The Class of 2028 drew 1,517 applicants for 87 seats. If you are earlier in the process, how to get into PA school lays out the bigger picture.

Wake Forest PA school deadlines

Wake Forest publishes dates for two cycles. The Class of 2030 dates are marked as subject to change.

As of Oct. 14, 2026, the Class of 2029 application deadlines have passed. If you already applied, your remaining deadline is Dec. 31, 2026 for every prerequisite and your degree. You may apply with courses in progress as long as they are finished by that date. If you have not applied yet, the Class of 2030 cycle is your realistic target. The >how to apply page says early submissions are prioritized, and the >admission FAQs say the program expects to finalize decisions in February.

For budgeting, 2026 to 2027 tuition is $47,837 per 12-month year on both campuses. The >costs page lists total first-year cost of attendance at $102,912 for Winston-Salem and $103,924 for Boone.

How to fill missing Wake Forest PA prerequisites with UIU courses

If you are missing one or more Wake Forest PA prerequisites, PrereqCourses offers self-paced, online courses with credit from Upper Iowa University. UIU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. PrereqCourses is not the accrediting body, and Wake Forest decides which courses count. Send the syllabus to paadmit@wfusm.edu and confirm a course in writing before you enroll.

Courses are about $675 (3 credit) or $695 (4 credit with lab), and course materials are separate. Courses start on the 1st of each month, and the next start is Nov. 1, 2026, with registration closing about Oct. 22.

Self-paced course length varies, so build in a margin.

How Wake Forest compares

Every PA program writes its own list. See Duke PA program prerequisites, another North Carolina option, and Emory PA prerequisites in the Southeast. For other well known programs, read Yale PA program prerequisites, USC PA prerequisites, and Stanford PA prerequisites.

FAQ

Do Wake Forest PA prerequisites require labs?

Labs are recommended when applicable but not listed as required, and lab hours do not count toward the minimums.

Can I apply with courses in progress?

Yes. You can apply with prerequisites in progress, as long as all of them and your bachelor’s degree are finished by Dec. 31 before enrollment.

Is the GRE required for Wake Forest PA?

Yes. The GRE General Test is required within five years of the application deadline, with official scores posted through CASPA (code 5923) by Oct. 1.

Does shadowing count toward patient care hours?

No. Wake Forest encourages shadowing PAs, but shadowing does not count toward the 1,000 hour minimum.

Does Wake Forest accept online prerequisites?

A general online course or online lab policy is not listed. Do not assume online labs are accepted or rejected. Email paadmit@wfusm.edu with your syllabus and get written confirmation before enrolling.

Next steps

1. Compare your transcript against the seven Wake Forest PA prerequisites, and flag any survey biochemistry, social genetics, or courses taken before 2021.
2. Check your CASPA GPA against the 3.2 floor and count your direct patient contact hours.
3. Email paadmit@wfusm.edu with the syllabus for any course you plan to take, and wait for a written answer before you pay.
4. If you plan a Nov. 1 start on PrereqCourses, register by about Oct. 22, 2026.

Admission and acceptance of any course always rest with Wake Forest, so confirm first and plan your Wake Forest PA prerequisites with care.