Touro University - California PA Program: Requirements, Tuition & Stats

Who This Program May Be A Good Fit For

  • More forgiving on GPA: The average accepted overall GPA (3.43) is in the lower quarter nationally, which makes this a realistic target for applicants whose numbers are the weakest part of their file.

  • The minimum is not the target: The stated minimum GPA is 3, but the average accepted is 3.43, a gap of 0.43. Meeting the floor gets you screened in, not admitted.

  • Experience-heavy: A 1,000-hour patient care minimum is at or above the national 75th percentile. Plan on a year or more of full-time work before you apply.

  • Longer runway: At 33 months, this is a longer program than average. Check whether the extra time buys a dual degree, a bridge/undergraduate component, or additional clinical time.

  • Higher cost: In-state tuition of $139,950 is in the most expensive quarter nationally. Worth weighing against your expected starting salary and loan burden.

  • Apply early: Admissions are rolling, so seats come off the board as the cycle goes. An application submitted in the first few weeks is worth more than the same application submitted in month four.

  • Recency matters: Prerequisites expire after 6 years for anatomy and physiology. Older science coursework may need to be retaken.

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Program Details

Touro University - California is located in California. The details below come straight from the program and are re-checked on a rolling basis.

At a glance

  • Location: California

  • Institution type: Private

  • Program length: 33 months

  • Class size: 61 students

  • Start month: January

  • Application deadline: November

  • Rolling admissions: Yes

  • In-state tuition: $139,950

  • Average overall GPA: 3.43

  • Average science GPA: 3.33

  • Minimum overall GPA: 3

  • Minimum science GPA: 3

  • Minimum PCE hours: 1,000 hours

  • Letters of recommendation: 3

  • First-time PANCE pass rate: 95%

  • Accreditation status: Continued

Admission requirements

  • GRE: No

  • PA-CAT: No

  • CASPer: Yes

  • TOEFL (international applicants): No

  • Supplemental application: No

  • Shadowing: No

  • Letters of recommendation: 3: One letter must be from a licensed healthcare provider (PA, MD, DO, or NP); One letter from a supervisor or manager; The source of the remaining letter is up to you (e.g., professors, mentors, colleagues). We do not accept reference letters from friends, family, the applicant's healthcare provider, or patients/clients.

  • Patient care experience: 1,000 hours minimum

  • Interview format: Mixed format with one-on-one and group interactions

Prerequisites

  • Minimum prerequisite grade: C

  • Prerequisite expiration: 6 years for Anatomy and Physiology

  • In-progress prerequisites accepted: No

  • AP or CLEP credit accepted: Yes

Required coursework

  • Biological Sciences - 8 semester/12 quarter units (including labs) (may be comprised of general biology, genetics, immunology, embryology, etc.)

  • Chemistry - 8 semester/12 quarter units (including labs) (may be comprised of inorganic, organic, and biochemistry)

  • Human Anatomy - 4 semester/5 quarter units (including labs) (must be completed within 6 years of acceptance to the program)

  • Human Physiology - 4 semester/5 quarter units (including labs) (must be completed within 6 years of acceptance to the program)

  • Microbiology - 3 semester/4 quarter units (lab not required)

Cost

  • In-state tuition: $139,950

Want to compare your stats to this program? Pre-PA Bestie is a free, always-updated PA program database where you can save schools and see how your numbers line up. Check out Pre-PA Bestie.

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Listen: inside the Touro University - California PA program

We have talked with people connected to this program on The Pre-PA Club podcast. Press play to hear it directly from them.

Episode show notes, takeaways & chapters

I had the privilege of engaging with Joy Moverley, the program director at Touro University, California, whose extensive insights greatly enrich our understanding of PA education. Joy emphasizes the uniqueness of Touro's joint PA and public health program, which equips students with a distinctive skill set to address social determinants of health. She highlights the importance of lifestyle coaching in diabetes prevention, a critical component of their curriculum, which prepares students to educate patients effectively. Furthermore, we discuss the program's commitment to inclusivity and community engagement, ensuring that future PAs are well-prepared to serve diverse populations. This episode is a valuable resource for pre-PA students seeking to navigate their educational pathways and understand the nuances of applying to PA programs.

What we cover

  • Touro University offers a unique joint degree program in PA and public health, differentiating it from other PA programs.
  • Students at Touro University become certified lifestyle coaches through the Diabetes Prevention program, enhancing their patient education skills.
  • The program emphasizes a public health and social justice framework in patient care, ensuring compassionate healthcare delivery.
  • Joy Moverley shares her journey from physical therapy to becoming a PA, highlighting the importance of self-reflection in career choices.
  • Touro University focuses on providing a comprehensive education that includes lifestyle medicine and holistic patient care.
  • Prospective students are encouraged to articulate their genuine motivations for pursuing a PA career in their applications.

Chapters

  • 0:15 – Introduction to Joy Moverle
  • 1:50 – Starting the Pre PA Academy
  • 9:48 – Navigating Career Paths in Healthcare
  • 13:58 – The Transition from Student to Colleague
  • 23:34 – Finding Your Personal Mission in Medicine
  • 32:21 – The Future of PA Education
  • 37:02 – The Evolution of PA Education and Career Opportunities

Listen: Inside Touro University's Pre-PA Master's Program with Alyssa

A master's program that gets you a guaranteed PA interview.

Episode show notes & key takeaways

A master's program that gets you a guaranteed PA interview.

Touro University has a master's in medical health sciences that does two things at once. It shores up your science foundation, and if you finish it successfully, you get a guaranteed interview for their PA program. That's a real option if your GPA is holding you back or you need to prove you can handle graduate-level coursework.

Alyssa came on to walk through it. She originally thought she was going into dentistry before switching to PA, and this program is what got her pointed in the right direction. She covers what the curriculum actually looks like, how the workload compares to undergrad, and what the support from faculty has been like.

If you're weighing a master's or post-bacc as a next step, listen to how she thought about it.

What we cover

  • How Touro's master's program works and what it covers
  • The guaranteed PA program interview upon completion
  • Alyssa's switch from dentistry to PA
  • What the curriculum and workload are like
  • Faculty support and the academic environment
  • Whether a master's makes sense as a GPA repair option

Resources

Program Contact

Program information last verified June 30, 2026. Requirements change, always confirm directly with the program before applying.

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