Many students begin to feel a sense of panic when they near the end of their undergraduate degree. What comes next? Do I have the experience I need? Will I be prepared for the next steps? For those hoping to continue their education to become a physician assistant, the prospect of life post-graduation can be daunting, filled with the challenges of PA school admission, graduate degrees, certifications, and required clinical hours.
Proper knowledge of physician assistant education requirements can prevent panic later on. Here’s a simple guide to knocking out your PA program admission requirements so you can reach your goals and thrive in your career.
What is a PA?
The terms physician assistant and physician associate (PA) are used interchangeably to refer to a healthcare provider that works alongside a physician. PAs can serve as primary care providers without the hassle or expense of medical school and a lengthy residency.
Physician assistant is a highly paid occupation, averaging over $60 per work hour, and it’s one of the most in-demand professions across all careers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 27% increase in PA employment in the next decade, which is remarkably faster than the national average. PAs enjoy flexibility, excellent job security until retirement, and a fulfilling career that focuses on the welfare of others.
Physician Assistant vs. Medical Doctor
Education is the main qualification that distinguishes a physician assistant from a medical doctor. While a PA can begin working after three to four years of grad school and a minimum number of clinical hours, medical doctors must have four years of graduate education, plus three to seven years of residency.
Because of the different academic requirements, PAs must work alongside and under the supervision of a physician, while a medical doctor has the option to open their own practice. However, the strenuous and expensive nature of medical school can make a physician assistant position much more appealing from the outset.
Should you attend medical school or PA school?
Physician Assistant vs. Nurse Practitioner
The difference between a physician physician associate and a nurse practitioner (NP) is less distinct. Both PAs and NPs are required to have a graduate education but not a residency. In their practical careers, PAs are more focused on the diagnosis and treatment of disease according to the traditional medical model. At the same time, NPs provide total care for the patient, including emotional, physical, and mental well-being.
Tackling Your Pre-PA Program Requirements
Many PA programs have an extensive list of prerequisites for admission, so it’s important to get a head start on your goals as early as possible. Different programs will require different artifacts and qualifications, but most follow the same basic pattern for admission. Here are four vital ways to prepare for success in your PA school application.
1. Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree
One of the first physician assistant education requirements is completing your bachelor’s degree in a life sciences-focused major. Most PA schools require a GPA of 3.0 or more. Earning your undergraduate degree from an institution that offers the best prerequisites can boost your chances of admission and help you throughout your graduate degree. The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) recommends that potential PAs include these common physician assistant prerequisites in their undergrad education:
- Anatomy/Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Biology/Microbiology
- Chemistry/Organic Chemistry
- Genetics
- Medical Terminology
- Statistics
2. Accumulate Experience Hours
PA programs usually require a minimum number of experience hours to apply. Most ask for around 1,000 hours, but there is variation from program to program. Take every opportunity to complete your hours earlier, but if you still need to fill hours after your undergrad, Pre-PA Certification programs can help you gain built-in clinical experience.
There are two main types of experience hours you can earn:
- Healthcare experience (HCE) is clinical work in which you are not directly responsible for a patient’s care, such as a lab assistant or medical technician.
- Patient care experience (PCE) puts you in a position to directly care for the patient. Some examples include paramedics, medical assistants, registered nurses, sports trainers, certified nursing assistants, medics, medical corpsmen, and more.
3. Submit Your Application
Once you’ve earned your bachelor’s degree with the right prerequisite courses, it’s time to complete your PA program application. The Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) is the most common system that PA schools use for submission. However, you can ask about the application process at the school of your choice.
Collecting all of the necessary artifacts for your application before you begin gives you the best chance of being fully prepared. Your application will ask for several important items to gather in advance, including your transcripts from both undergrad and grad school, several letters of recommendation, an audit of your experience hours, and a 5,000-character personal essay.
4. Prep For Your Interview
The last step before your entrance into PA school is the interview process. To help your interview go smoothly, you can ascertain the interview style of your chosen program, practice answering questions with friends, and utilize online guides for helpful interview tips.
Enhancing Your Academic Credentials
The application process for physician associate programs can be daunting, no matter your experience or prior education. If you’re still feeling unprepared for PA school, don’t panic—there are a variety of pre-PA program options to enhance your academic credentials and boost your chances of success.
What is a pre-PA program?
A pre-PA program is a post-baccalaureate education option for those seeking to attend PA school. Most programs take somewhere between one and two academic years and give you a competitive edge in your academic journey. Practically, pre-PA programs offer built-in clinical experience and certification, and many include the option to convert it to a master’s degree.
Keck Graduate Institute’s Pre-PA Certificate
The Pre-PA Certificate at Keck Graduate Institute is the perfect blend of graduate-level curricula with practical skills like teamwork, public speaking, and more professional competencies to help you be at the forefront of healthcare solutions and succeed in PA school.
KGI’s program can help you earn additional experience hours, complete any outlying prerequisites for your application, differentiate yourself from other applicants, and achieve a higher level of preparedness for your physician associate program. The regular fall and spring terms offer up to 560 clinical hours, with a total of 800 hours available for students to complete if they choose to continue through the summer term.
Attending PA school is not out of reach, no matter your experience. KGI’s Pre-PA Certificate can help you take the next step after your undergrad degree to reach your education and career goals.
