Pre-Health Careers

Psychology is one of the most popular pre-health majors and serves as an excellent foundation for PA school, medical school, dental school, and optometry — whether you start at a four-year university or community college.

At community college:

• Complete Introduction to Psychology and Research Methods early
• Take Statistics and Biological Psychology as major prep
• Explore research assistant positions with CC faculty
• Consider abnormal psychology and developmental psychology courses

See our Psychology Transfer Guide and campus pages for Berkeley and UCLA psychology requirements.

Physician Assistant programs require a bachelor's degree, science prerequisites, and patient care experience (typically 1,000–4,000 hours). From community college:

• Complete science prerequisites: Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology
• Start accumulating patient care hours early — EMT, CNA, medical scribe, or volunteer
• Transfer to a four-year university to complete your bachelor's degree
• Maintain a 3.5+ GPA in prerequisite science courses
• Shadow PAs and physicians to demonstrate career commitment

Psychology majors can apply to PA school — you don't need a biology degree. Focus on completing the science prerequisites alongside your major courses. Apply through CASPA.

PA school prep: Our PA School Guide covers prerequisites, patient care hours, CASPA timeline, GRE/PA-CAT, and Casper.

Pre-med through community college is absolutely possible. Key steps:

• Complete pre-med prerequisites: Biology (with lab), General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry
• Transfer to a four-year university for upper-division coursework and research
• Take the MCAT after completing prerequisites (typically junior year)
• Build clinical experience through volunteering, scribing, or EMT work
• Pursue research opportunities at your CC and university

The MCAT is a ~7.5-hour exam covering biology, chemistry, psychology, and critical reasoning. Competitive applicants often score 510+. Apply to MD programs through AMCAS and DO programs through AACOMAS.

MCAT prep: Our complete MCAT Study Guide covers exam format, prerequisites, weekly schedules, official AAMC practice tests, third-party QBanks, review books, and test-day checklist.

Medical schools value diverse backgrounds. Your alternative education story, if framed positively, can differentiate your application.

Dental school (DDS/DMD) requires a bachelor's degree, science prerequisites, the Dental Admission Test (DAT), and evidence of manual dexterity and dental exposure.

• Complete biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and often physics and biochemistry
• Shadow dentists and document hours in dental settings
• Take the DAT — includes perceptual ability, natural sciences, reading, and quantitative reasoning
• Target a competitive academic average (often 20+ on the 1–30 scale)
• Apply through ADEA AADSAS; check each program's prerequisites

See ADEA GoDental for application timelines and school requirements.

DAT prep: Our DAT Study Guide covers exam format, PAT strategies, official ADA practice tests, and AADSAS application.

Optometry school (OD) leads to a Doctor of Optometry degree. All U.S. programs require the Optometry Admission Test (OAT).

• Complete biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and often microbiology or biochemistry
• Shadow optometrists in clinical and retail settings
• Take the OAT — covers biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, reading, physics, and quantitative reasoning
• Competitive total scores are often 320+ (scaled 200–400 per section)
• Apply through OptomCAS

Visit OptomCAS for school lists and application cycles.

OAT prep: Our OAT Study Guide covers exam format, physics review, official practice tests, and OptomCAS application.

Detailed guides: MCAT · PA School · DAT · OAT. Track prep dates and scores in the Professional School Exams tool.

Start building clinical experience at community college:

• Volunteer: Hospital, clinic, dental office, or optometry practice volunteering
• EMT certification: Many CCs offer EMT programs
• CNA program: Community colleges often host CNA certification
• Medical scribing: Paid clinical experience with physician interaction
• Crisis counseling: Relevant for psychology-focused healthcare paths

Research experience strengthens both transfer applications and professional school applications:

• Ask psychology and biology professors about research assistant openings
• Apply to summer research programs (many accept CC students)
• Present at undergraduate research conferences
• Consider independent research projects with faculty mentorship