Direct-entry PA programs
Yes, some PA programs admit students straight from high school. PAEA calls these pre-professional programs: you start as a college freshman, finish prerequisites in an undergraduate phase, then move into the graduate PA phase at the same school. In PAEA's 2021–22 review of 273 programs, 22.0% had a pre-professional track. Not all of them guarantee a PA seat, and even where progression is guaranteed, you have to keep meeting GPA and other rules along the way.
How they work
- Length: PAEA says they vary from four to six years for both phases combined, and some run longer. You usually earn a bachelor's degree and then a master's.
- Who they're for: recent high school graduates, or students with some college credit but no degree (PAEA).
- Progression: you must finish all required coursework to advance to the professional phase, and programs set their own GPA, hours and professionalism rules.
Three examples
| Program | Format | Key rules |
|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac University (CT) | 4-year BS + 27-month master's | Admission to the undergraduate phase doesn't guarantee a PA seat. You must keep a cumulative and science GPA of at least 3.2, log at least 1,000 hours of direct patient contact by the fourth year, and earn EMT certification. Transfer students aren't admitted. |
| Gannon University (PA) | 5-year program | 58 seats per freshman class (up to three for transfer students entering as freshmen). Minimum high school GPA of 3.4, biology and chemistry with a B or higher, and oral and written interviews. SAT/ACT not considered for fall 2027. Its admissions page doesn't say whether progression to the graduate phase is guaranteed; ask. |
| Saint Francis University (Loretto, PA) | 3+2 accelerated | High school GPA of 3.7 or higher without test scores, or 3.5 or higher with an SAT of 1220+ or ACT of 25+. Acceptance alone doesn't hold a seat: seats go to deposits in the order received. The program says progression in the major is guaranteed for students who meet its requirements. Freshman entry only; no transfers. |
From each program's admissions page, checked October 2026. Deadlines for fall 2027 entry: Gannon October 15, 2026 (priority deadline, passed; later applicants may be considered for the waitlist case by case); Quinnipiac November 1 (Early Decision I, binding) or November 15 (Early Action, non-binding); Saint Francis November 16, 2026. Rules change; confirm with each program.
Pros and cons
- Pro: a clear path and, at some schools, a reserved or guaranteed seat if you meet every requirement.
- Pro: some, like Quinnipiac, build in patient care experience and PA shadowing.
- Con: you commit to a career at 17 or 18, and missing a GPA cutoff can mean leaving the track.
- Con: leaving or switching is hard. Some direct-entry tracks don't admit transfer students at all. Once you're in the graduate phase, moving to another PA program is rarely possible: in PAEA's review, 97.1% of programs didn't accept transfer students from other PA programs.
Questions to ask each program
- Is a PA seat guaranteed if I meet the requirements, or only an interview or preferred review?
- What GPA (overall and science) must I keep, and when is it checked?
- Do I need patient care hours or a certification before the graduate phase?
- What is the program's current ARC-PA accreditation status? (See how to choose a PA program.)
- What happens if I leave the track: which degree can I still finish?
Related guides
Free: the Patient Care Hours Starter Kit. A 3-step check for whether a job counts at your schools, CASPA's categories on one page, and a simple hours log. Built from the same program pages as this guide.
Get the free kit →Quick answers
Can you go to PA school straight from high school?
Yes, at some programs. PAEA calls them pre-professional programs: you start as a college freshman and move into the graduate PA phase at the same school, usually over four to six years. In PAEA's 2021–22 review, 22.0% of 273 programs had a pre-professional track.
Do direct-entry PA programs guarantee a seat?
Some do if you meet every requirement, and some don't. Quinnipiac says admission to its undergraduate phase doesn't guarantee a PA seat; to progress you need a cumulative and science GPA of at least 3.2, 1,000 hours of direct patient contact and EMT certification. Saint Francis says progression is guaranteed for students who meet its requirements, but being accepted there doesn't hold a freshman seat until you pay a deposit, and seats fill in the order deposits arrive.
How long are direct-entry PA programs?
PAEA says four to six years for the undergraduate and graduate phases combined. Saint Francis is a 3+2 (five years); Gannon is five years; Quinnipiac runs longer, at four years plus a 27-month master's (about six and a quarter years).
Sources (all opened October 2026)
- PAEA: Advisors and pre-PA students (pre-professional programs; 335 accredited programs as of August 2026): https://paeaonline.org/how-we-can-help/advisors
- PAEA Curriculum Report 6: prerequisites and admissions (program websites reviewed Oct 2021–Feb 2022): https://e1.nmcdn.io/assets/paea/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/PAEA-curriculum-2021-prerequisites-1.pdf
- Quinnipiac University: Entry-level dual-degree BS/MHS Physician Assistant, admissions: https://www.qu.edu/schools/health-sciences/programs/dual-degree/bs-masters-physician-assistant/admissions
- Gannon University: Physician Assistant admission requirements: https://www.gannon.edu/academic-offerings/health-professions-and-sciences/undergraduate/physician-assistant/admission-requirements/
- Saint Francis University: Physician Assistant Science (3+2) undergraduate: https://www.francis.edu/academics/degrees-programs/physician-assistant-science/pa-undergraduate