Feb
18
Pros and Cons of being a Physician Assistant
ByI received an email from someone considering the PA profession. The person was wondering about PAs and NPs and the pros and cons of being a PA. I sent him a reply and I am adding it here.
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I have enjoyed being a PA and find these items to be the PROs:
- the pay has progressed from so-so to excellent
- acceptance and understanding of the profession is very good and has made being a PA very pleasant
- the working conditions are great and you get to work with the best and the brightest most of the time
- the work is challenging everyday, although some of it is routine, the responsibility never is
- I get thanked for what I do much more than 10% of the time
- I am delegated as much responsibility as I can accept. I have worked in clinical medicine my entire career
- there is great flexibility in what a PA can do. It is generally no hard to find a place to work if you choose to relocate. American PAs are sought after in Great Britain
The CONs
- I have to get at least 50 hours of CME a year. You can get junk but high quality is expensive and time-consuming
- You will never be “independent”. Even if you own the practice – you have to hire a doctor to be the supervisor and medical administrator
- Your skills should be as good as an M.D. but you will always be paid less.
- You have to take and pass a National Certifying Exam every 6 years.
The first time that I was treated by a PA I was a bit uneasy. I thought, “who is this guy”? PA’s do not seem as rushed. Bruce has a kindness/calmness about him which is something that I appreciate greatly at this point in my life. My time has come. I am going to be the best me that I can be.
Peace and greetings,
I finished Howard University’s PA program in 2000 and did my MPAS at the University of Nebraska while working full-time. I love being a PA! I share the same “cons” as those listed in the above comment. At times, it can irk me a bit when a doctor may disregard what I have to say. However, they usually don’t know about PAs (this only happens very rarely). I have worked very hard to become exceptional in my field (Internal medicine w/ a specialty in HIV medicine). I am working towards a doctorate in Health Education (DHEd), plan to get certified as a health education specialist and continue to lecture and write about health care topics. Thus far, being a PA has gotten me on television (a co-host talking about community health issues), paid as guest lecturer, radio spots talking about HIV, and a published author in a peer reviewed journal. I am currently completing a book about the PA field. I would recommend being a PA to anyone who loves clinical medicine but does not want to spend the next 12 to 15 years of their lives in school/training only to accrue >$250,000.00 worth of school loans and end up working for a hospital or HMO.It’s a great career accompanied by a great life. My patients really appreciate me and I feel well-respected by my peers and supervisors. I work at a small out-patient clinic which is within walking distance from home. I make about $95,000.00/year. My days are usually quite relaxing. I see on average 4 to 6 patients per day (we’re supported by a government grant). You can’t ask for much more job satisfaction than that. Here’s my number if anyone wants to call me for questions. (202)549-7136
Thanks for your story, info and contributing to The PA Path website!
Elizabeth,
What has been the most challenging aspect so far for you at Emory?
Hey Shaun, thanks for your question.
I think the most challenging aspect has been keeping endurance. The nature of PA training is very quick. At times I will spend a whole weekend preparing for an exam, take the exam, then turn around and put in the same amount of hours for another exam a day later.
It is very challenging but it is one of the few things in life that I think is worth that much time and commitment.
Please feel free to ask any more questions.
Elizabeth,
I agree with you about it being one of the few things in life worth the time and commitment. I try to keep that same mindset as I continue to work my way towards my Bachelors degree and prepare for applying to PA school in the distant future. It seems so far away but I have to stay focused on the big picture. I have a couple more questions for you. How many classmates do you have that are married with children and what is the age range of your classmates? Thanks for all your responses, I find them both informative and inspirational.
Thanks,
Shaun
Good Evening,
Could any of you tell me what life is like being a PA? I’m not *quite* sure if this is for me – but it’s one of my top options. One of the reasons I’m attracted to this is because I can get a very good medical training (The human body is SO interesting), without having to work insane hours. How many hours a week does the average PA work?
Thank you,
Alexander
It is very different depending on your area of concentration. I worked as
an independent contractor for years and worked 12 hour shifts in ERs
and Urgent Care clinics. It was up to me how much I worked. I think
most full time jobs are 40 hours of patient contact per week and up
to 10 hours more per week of admin time with charts and paperwork.
I’m considering P.A school. but I am wondering how demanding it is. Will I still be able to take a day off to go to my kids field trip? Will I be home on time to take them to soccer practice? Or can I expect it to be as demanding as a doctor.
Very Demanding. No, it is like any professional school, you are on their
schedule until you finish.
Ifound this book at Barnes and nobles about PA Getting-into-the-Physician-Assistant-School-of-Your-Choice by Andrew-J-Rodican
But i still dont know wich are the states that dont required a bachelors degree. Im going to keep looking around and i would contact to this site later.althout i would like to know if theres such a thing like PA in England
I think there may be a school or two that still does an associates degree
but I am not sure they are approved schools. You have to graduate from
an approved course and pass the national exam to practice in every state
now. There are PA’s in the UK, they hire American PA’s now but are training
their own. Canada and Australia are also starting training programs.
Rodican’s book is one of the best to help you prepare for the interview.
It is one Laura recommends and used herself.
I believe Malcom X College in Chicago, IL has a PA program that accepts an Associates along with a couple of years experience in health care and a list of prerequisites fulfilled. That’s where I’m hoping to apply in the future.
Malcom X College and Stronger Hospital are changing the program there
according to their website. You need 47 hours of college credit and 1000
hours of direct patient care experience to apply. I wish you well in your
journey. Is there anything You need to assist you?
I have applied to multiple pa programs this year, should I wait and see if I get accepted to more than one program or should I just go to the first school I am accepted to?
You won’t get in without an interview. If you get into your number one school
then go with it. Otherwise, wait to see. I received my acceptance to Duke (1976)
after I received acceptances to 2 other schools. I went to Duke. but at least I knew
I had some options. If your number one school does not interview you, you aren’t getting in there.
If a couple of your second tier schools come through, then again you have options.
Hi Bruce,
I am currently taking the pre-reqs required for PA school. I have not shadowed anyone yet and I really need some more exposure to the medical field to make sure that this is the right decision. As of now, my interests are leaning towards areas in critical care (ER, ICU,etc.). What do you recommend as the best source of healthcare experience that will both help me make that the right choice and also satisfy the requirements of experience hours for PA programs?
Thanks,
Elliot
Elliot,
If you want to know if medicine is for you get your feet wet. Take a basic EMT class at your local
community college. Most have some ER time required where you watch what is happening in codes
and do supervised vital signs etc… After you have spent some hours in the ER where there will
almost certainly be a PA or two to talk to about the profession, you will have a better idea.
You might also want to read my report “Is the PA Path Right for YOU?”
It will be available soon under the Pre-PA tab. Good Luck.
Hey Bruce! I hope I am not too late to comment on this post. I am a senior in college and I graduate in like 3 weeks with a degree in kinesiology. Every since I’ve discovered the PA profession I’ve felt as if it would be right for me. But here’s my concern. I don’t have the best GPA. I can contribute having to work and pay bills and trying to balance that along with life and a full load of classes (15 hours or more a semester). I have a 2.5. So this semester, I found out a how to balance the madness and I have all A’s as a result so far (better late than never I guess. So here’s my question(s):
What should I do to prove that I can handle the demanding course load of a PA program? Should I go back to school after I graduate and re-take classes, or should I major in science and try to do well in that?
Also, I am currently doing an internship at a place that offers both imaging and services provided by nurse practitioners and a physician. So I was wondering what should I do as far as getting the required healthcare experience? I also volunteer in the ER at this hospital, but I don’t know if it’s enough.
Any other info you would like to share would be great! Thanks so much!
Hi Myla, thanks for commenting here.
I think you should look at what PA programs interest you.
There are a number of programs that do not require a set number of hours
of experience. Six months full time is 1000 hours.
You need a very strong Science GPA and good GRE scores.
Then if you can get PA’s that attended the program you
are applying to,to give you some strong recommendations
so much the better.
My advice is to take Organic Chem II with a lab if you only took
Organic I, and to take extra courses like Embryology, Cell Bio,
Immunology and Microbiology with a lab, and Genetics. The
website of the program you are applying to will give you
a list. Show you can ace 15 hours of science taken in
one semester. It is best to call and talk to someone
in the programs that interest you. Get their advice.
Keep track of the person you talk to and next day send
them a brief handwritten thank-you note. Keep a file on
every school and when you get an interview there, look up
that person and introduce yourself and say Hi again. It is
a good idea to keep your name in their mind.
So, 1. get some better grades, 2. Take the GRE and do well
3. Talk to someone at PA programs that interest you for
their recommendations
4. Thank that person in writing and keep a record of it
5. When you visit the program for an open house or an
interview, say hello to people you have talked to on the phone.
Consider asking if the hospital would hire you even at minimum wage
for 3-6 months. Talk to the PA’s in the ER and ask them what you
would need to do to qualify for a recommendation from
them. Ask early so they can be aware of you and what your
work is like. Good luck on your PA Path.
Thanks Bruce for your swift and comprehensive response. I really appreciate what you are doing here for aspiring PAs and wanted to let you know that we appreciate it. I now have the courage to give it another try. Thanks!
Myla, you are most welcome. What do you think is the most pressing need you have besides
good advice?
Hmmm. I guess I am just really uncertain about my future. I really want this, but afraid to give it a try because of my GPA. I really love helping those in need, and I feel like this would be a perfect fit.
Myla, you don’t get the chance if you don’t try. Pick three schools, One top level, one middle and one lower and go for it. Read to top schools web sites for your state or region, then look at
smaller schools and then at programs like Dade county and others that only offer an associates degree. You can get a masters later online from a place like Nebraska. Don’t give up before you try if you really want it. The only thing that happens is they all say no. Then you look at alternatives. I didn’t get in my first year, but I did more school and applied again. You do not know until you try. You only lose a little money if you don’t get in. Good Luck on your PA Path.
Hi Bruce, I just finished my Junior year at UCLA while pursuing an Anthropology B.S degree. However, I applied to USC for their Health & Humanities major because it interests me more and pertains more to my career goals. My question is, do you think I should go to USC? If I stay at UCLA, it will take me 2 more years to graduate. If I go to USC, it will take me 3 more years to graduate. Timing really, is not a problem for me. I am just leaning towards USC because they have a PA program, and I feel that I will better my chances of acceptance by having more resources at USC (i.e. easier to get LORs because of the smaller class sizes). What do you think?
Hi Tawny, You are attending a great school. Congratulations on that and on wanting to become a PA. There are 4 important factors that get you an
interview and the interview is what gets you accepted. It is a given you did all the prerequisite courses plus some and got a 3.0 or better science GPA.
It is a given that you did well on the GRE. It is a given that you have great references from health care professionals (at least one PA). And it is a given that you
have some health care experience in the quantity the school specifies (1000 hours is just 6 months full time work). The one way you set yourself apart is
in your essay. Why do you want to be a PA is the question on CASPA. If the school has a supplemental, it usually revolves around “Why do you want to
attend this PA Program?” The interview gets you in. Where you went to school is unimportant if you got the prerequisites done. I always tell Pre-PA’s that
if you delay getting in to PA school, every year you delay costs you $75000 (that is the lower end of salaries for PA’s). Money is not everything.
Doing things that excite you is. USC won’t give you and edge, the things I have mentioned above will. If the curriculum at USC will help make you
a better PA do it, but don’t go to get an edge, it won’t help.
So, If I plan on applying to Duke, it will not be looked down upon by the admissions committee if I transfer to a lower tier school.. say, UCI? (I also have the option of going there)
I guess I should explain why I’m transferring. Before my Junior year I was in a major that I was moderately content with, but not really satisfied in. During my Junior year, I found out about Physician Assistance and that was when it hit me that I really wanted to study a health-related major. If I stay at UCLA, I will have no choice but to earn a degree in Anthropology, which feels more like an obligation, really. I don’t really want to be an Anthro major. So, I can go to UCI and study Public Health or USC and study Health and Humanities. I personally want to go to UCI because the academics is less intense there, so it will grant me more time for extracurricular activities like shadowing a PA at the nearby hospital and obtaining my EMT certification to work during the school year.
I am beginning to understand that it is not where I go, but what I do there that is important. But, I am also wondering how it will look if I transfer to UCI (if I ultimately decide to go there)? Will they know I went to a ‘less academically rigorous’ school, and will it matter?
Hi Bruce. I find myself in same exact situation as Myla W (previous comments). Unfortunately, I have so much uncertainty in my mind due to my low GPA and low quality of health care experience, (and time constraint). I’m majoring in Exercise Science and with a minor in Biology. Do you think if it’s better if I retake science courses at a county college because it’s cheaper than retaking them at my university? I’m thinking of getting into other health care jobs to better determine my choice in becoming a PA, such as Cardiac rehab or EKG which my major offers. Generally, do all PA programs look for good GRE and GPA and some health care experience or do they look for more?
Why do you think it’s important to get the person at the program to know you well, especially when they have tons of applicants?
I am an upcoming senior and I am planning to enroll in an EKG course in my major which is taught by a PA. It seems to be an excellent opportunity for me to get close to her. Who would be the best people to get a LORS? I have a PA, a physics professor, and a biology TA. I want to get more LORs that would bring an impact in my application.
I was also wondering if it’s possible for me to try to get into accelerated BS/PA programs (traditionally for high school students). I figured this would be similar to retaking all the courses I should have and get right into the PA program. Do you think those programs would accept students who already have a BS degree?
Any other relevant information you’d like to add would be helpful! Thanks for everything you’ve done!
Hey Bruce,
I would like to thank you so much for all your advice. I am a sophomore at Georgetown University and I recently took interest in becoming a Physician Assistant. I have not taken any science courses yet, I have just been completing my pre-requisites for Georgetown. I know I need to take Chemistry and Bio and I looked at P.A. programs for George Washington University and Touro College. I have no idea where I should go for my P.A. Program. I am a resident of New Jersey so I looked at UMDNJ and Seton Hall; however, their programs take 3 years. Do you have any recommendations? I also volunteered in the Emergency room for 5 weeks two summers ago. Could I count those hours for experience? Also, where could I get more experience hours? Any advice you could give would be very helpful. Thanks!
Mital,
You will need to retake any classes you got less than a 2.0 in but most science courses need a 3.0. Upper division courses carry the most weight so most community college courses are going to be weighted as LIGHTER. Remember, Organic Chem, Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology all need to be done with a lab. If your A&P grades (8hours) are less than 3.0 retake them. With your major you will be better prepared than most for the first year. The key here is getting a great academic performance. You are in school, concentrate on that. There are hurdles for you to jump but sprinters at the world class only jump one hurdle at a time. Take each hurdle as it comes. Create a time line of what needs to be done by April of the year you want to apply (you begin PA school a year later). During the post graduate time you can get plenty of experience. Go ahead and become an ECG tech. That is something that will get you in the system. Ask your PA instructor after the class if you can shadow her. Don’t just ask, give her a very brief resume and write your first 500 word essay on why I want to be a PA, (CASPA is gong to require it). Always look sharp and just be yourself, don’t try to impress her with anything except hard academic work. Give her your 1/2 page resume, your paragraph and a cover letter asking if you can shadow her and why you picked her. You will need 3 letters of reference, getting them from PA’s makes you look really good as those that have been through it know what it takes. I don’t think another undergrad program is what you need. You just need to do well in the science courses you are taking now. Finish your degree. work hard! Get good grades and boost your science GPA with some extra courses, maybe post grad. There are some good programs out there that don’t require the GRE. I have a list and all the specs in my membership program. Look at that and see if it is for you. It is 20 weeks long, but you can just take it as long as you wish, there is no obligation to stay 20 weeks. The alternative is to hire me as a coach for an hour and ask me some specific questions in advance and then meet with me for an hour by phone. Glad to help where I can. I don’t think I meant that you should get to know program staff but that any contact you have with them be memorable for them. If you are qualified, admission to the PA program is more emotional – we are humans – our “gut” reaction is emotional and often correct! You want them to want you. So, create a good impression with whom ever you meet.
Hey Stephanie,
You are welcome. If you see a recurring theme in what I advise it is to create a time line. Put all the courses you need for PA school on a time line. Every school requires Anatomy w/lab 4 hours and Physiology w/lab 4 hours or a combined 2 semester course of 8 hours w/lab. They all want Organic Chem with a lab and Biochemistry. Most want microbiology with a lab and statistics but many now require a course in Bio-satistics. Most want some courses in developmental Psychology and upper division science courses. To be competitive you need a 3.2 or greater science GPA and greater than a 3.0 overall. That needs to be your focus. Experience can be gotten during the application period which is a year long. Consider a course to become one of these during the summer – this list is from a PDF from the U of SD PA program
Nuclear Medicine Technician
Ultrasound Technician
Registered Nurse
Medication Aid
Respiratory Therapist
Occupational Therapist
Psychologist
EMT-I&B
Radiology Technician
Licensed Practical Nurse
Certified Medical Assistant
Certified Athletic Trainer
Certified Psych/Mental/Behavioral Health
Provider
Certified Surgical Technician
Pharmacist
Nurse Aid
Paramedic
Medical Lab Technician
Physical Therapist
Phlebotomist
MRI Technician
Respite Care/Hospice Care
OR Technician
Dental Hygienist
Speech Therapist
Military Medical Corpsman
Dental Technician
Radiology Aid
Audiologist
Alcohol/Drug Rehab Counselor
Social Worker
Restorative Technician/Behavioral Health
Technician
Respiratory Therapy Aid
Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy is a short course, nurses aid is short, EMT-basic is short. so is phlebotomy school. You want to do something that will get you some exposure to PA’s and they to you. If not, you will need to shadow them for a couple of weeks – I suggest more than one so you see how primary care and specialty work is done. Do some shadowing first so you know better if this is all worth while. See my comments to Mital below about how to do that. That volunteer work experience does count so you need to keep track of your hours since CASPA requires an accounting of where and when. As I told Mital, I have a coaching program and a membership program to help you prepare. Consider one of those to help you become clearer and focused on the right thing at the right time.
Thank you for your wonderful advice. There is another part I want to know is that at the time I apply, when does interview takes place? I want to get all my experience hours and courses ready by the time I apply so this will take at least 2 more years before I enroll in a PA program.
Also, the part you mentioned about taking science courses in post-grad, what do the admission do with the 2 grades I’ve earned in a same course? Do they avg them out or disregard the lowest grade? My University starts out a new GPA once I start taking more courses after graduation. I hope this is okay.
Hi Bruce,
I am currently a Junior at Pitt with a 3.85 GPA in a science major. I am very proud of my GPA and have worked very hard for it, yet everywhere I have been reading has been saying your GPA does not mean as much as your personal essay, patient care hours, and volunteer work. I have about 500 hrs patient contact as a paid EMT and virtually no volunteer work. Do I still have a chance of getting into a nationally ranked PA school? Or do you recommend taking a year off and building on my “extras” such as patient care hours, volunteer work and pa shadowing. I have heard it is so competitive that everyone has a 3.85 now.Thank you.
-Nicole
Hey Nicole, thanks for stopping by. This is a good question. By-the-way, I grew up around Pittsburgh back in the stone age. Lived here since I went to Duke in 1976. But to get to your question. You have much to be proud of and in top 25 schools you would be a top candidate based on your GPA. Here is the thing, there are about 15+ applicants for every seat. Just on GPA you would be a #1 candidate! It shows you are a serious student another + and that you can carry a heavy load and do well yet another +. So you make that cut on every level. You already have 500 hours of paid experience as an EMT +++, major pluses for you.(500 more and you are a top applicant to every top 25 school except one – Utah) So you are now being looked at with the cream of the crop. GRE scores are going to matter, but you can take a prep course and you will do well, to get your grades you have to test well. You show and intense interest in medicine with your EMT work. You do need some shadowing time, but here is what you do, write your first draft of why you want to be a PA and a cover letter, and take it to several PA’s.(Do you know any in ER’s where you transport patients? Start with them) Tell them you are interested, that you have some experience but want to see PA’s in action up close. Ask each one to follow them for 4-5 shifts in clinic. Be prepared to buy them a coffee and after your first shift ask them about their experience of deciding, applying, what school was like and how they did. If their school prepared them for the real world of medicine etc… Them you will have some good ideas about what to ask on visits to the PA programs you want to apply to. PA has several in the top 25. Look at the US News list from last year, it is free on line. You can volunteer if you want, but following primary care PA’s around will give you exposure to the front lines. The things that make you really stand out much more are your references and your essay. Begin working on your essay now. Then, when it comes time to submit, you are ready. Look around on here, I am upgrading and adding products all the time. I will have a specific essay writing course by the end of the summer. You may want to look at that and when you apply you may want to hire me to help you for an hour. Go to my Facebook page by the same name, like it and sign up for my email list. I will be sending out some videos on these topics just to that list and I post them on Facebook also. Good luck and keep in touch as you travel on your PA Path. Also look at my app featured in the blog for iPhone and iGoogle and soon for Android. It will keep you up to date with all I do.
Thank you for the advice! I certainly do not want to waste hundreds of dollars by applying if I do not have a chance. I think the PA profession is great and I hope to get into a good program. I will certainly contact you for help if I land an interview for any of my programs. Thanks again.
Hi Bruce!
I would also like to thank you for all your amazing and thoughtful advice. I found a PA forum on line and even the posts in the Pre-PA program were met with really pretentious and rude responses from current PAs. Such as, “Well if you don’t know this you should just go home and forget about applying to PA school.” It left a bad taste in my mouth and so I very much appreciate your kind and generous attitude.
I believe my question is a little different than what some have asked, so hopefully there isn’t unnecessary overlap.
I have a degree in English from a private university and graduated with a 3.775 GPA in the Honors Program. I am starting my Post Bac Pre Health Certificate in a few weeks so that I can then go on to apply for PA school. I am soon to be married soon and will not be able to just move just anywhere for school. A lot depends on my boyfriend’s job since he will be helping support me while I’m in school. Because of this I know that I will either be attending PA school in Oklahoma or Texas. If the schools in these states are not among the “best” or top ranked, but I do very well in the program, will I still be able to get a job of my choice or will I be less desirable for employment?
Also, have you met a lot of people like myself who are wanting to transition into health but are coming from a completely opposite background (such as English)? I personally feel my skills learned as an English major will benefit me greatly when I apply for PA school but I am a little worried that the schools might judge me for doing a 180.
As of now, I have, literally, ZERO health care experience. I don’t want to sound stupid and just cold call hospitals for volunteer work, so is there a good entry level volunteer position you’d recommend for people who don’t have EMT training etc. It will take me 2 years to get all my pre reqs compelted so I figured I have 2 years to volunteer as much as I can and learn as much before applying for PA school.
Thank you so much for your help and time!!
Congratulations on your decision. You could have made an easier one but most people have come from other careers traditionally. College majors have never mattered much, just that prerequisites were complete and other areas like experience were gained. Schools are looking for bright candidates who know they like health care. can handle a difficult academic load, and understand what a PA is and does and how they fit into the health care team.
You need to know why you want to be a PA and you need to have a 20 sec elevator pitch that is polished. You need to be able to expand that with stories in written form. You will need to take the GRE. It has changed, its an hour longer and constructed in a way that makes guessing very difficult. Scoring is in one point increments instead of 10 so the scores will be lower and I think much lower. 1100 combined score was good before but I doubt just dividing by 10 is going to be accurate. Anyway prepare to take it.
As for schools, Texas has 3 and Oklahoma one in the top 25. Except for Pan American, any of the schools in Texas and both schools in Oklahoma will be great. Pan American is particularly to train Hispanics for health care in south Texas.
I would apply to a phlebotomy program at a hospital, They usually train their own nursing assistants and their own phlebotomists. (did I spell that correctly English major?) Either of those would give you what you need. “In the old days” “in a galaxy far far away” some people supported themselves in PA and med school by drawing blood for the first round at 4AM. I grew up on a dairy farm and found it much easier work. It is great experience. You can get assigned just to the ER because you want to be where PA’s work so you can observe and understand and also get a reference. I have given lots of advice on this on the Physician Assistant group on Facebook.
You will eventually want to become part of my membership Program here on the PA Path. Wait a few weeks as it is in evolution. Which ever state you are in, become an associate member of the state PA society. It is a category for sales people and others, in school you will be a student member but you are going to want to shadow PA’s and this is a good way to do it. Treat shadowing experience like a paying job. approach it the same way. I tell people this is a way to vet your “why I want to be a PA” essay. Everyone is expected to have good grades and good GRE scores. Your references and essays set you apart. Your interview performance gets you in. Good luck on your PA path!
Tawny, Sorry for the delayed response. If you go to a 4 year college, get good grades in science curriculum for science majors and do the shadowing and get experience, you will be a good candidate and no one will “look down on your grades. If you go to a “better” school but take easy courses, even with good grades, you are not going to be accepted into a rigorous science program. Get good grades in upper division courses in science intended for science majors (they are all going on to some grad school), get experience and get a good GRE score. A strong recommendation from a PA, good experience in health care, and good performance in your essay writing and interview will get you in. Go have some academic fun in a tough major you like and do well in.
Hi Bruce,
Thank you for the great advice! I feel a lot more confident with my decision to pursue becoming a PA. Fall semester begins in 4 weeks for me so I don’t think I will be able to take one of the courses just yet; however, I am going to see if I can volunteer at the Georgetown hospital and shadow a PA there. Does that sound like a good idea? Also, you mentioned the application process is a year long. Would that be during my junior year or senior year? Thanks a lot!
CASPA opens in April each year. Most schools have an application deadline of 1 Nov or 1 Dec. A tip on getting accepted as many schools have rolling admissions is to get your app e-submitted by the first of May. There are some tricks to getting that done. One is to begin working on your essay now. Use it with a cover letter to get your shadowing experience. You may want to check with the Hospital about a phlebotomy course. They usually train their own people and it is a way to get experience with patients. Lots of PA’s work in ER’s, as Hospitalists, and in surgery so look around and shadow several. Good Luck on your PA path. (Apply your senior year or the spring after graduation to allow you to get more quality experience.)
Dear, Bruce
My name is Ryan and I am conducting a survey to as many Physician Assistants as possible.I am assessing what I want to do with my life. I am interested in becoming a P.A. and specializing in the Emergency Medicine. I noticed in the comments that you were an independent contractor and worked in ERs so I have one main question to ask. “As a Physician Assistant do delegation agreements place restraints on your abilities to perform certain tasks on patient care and or trauma care/advanced life support in the Emergency Department? What are the pros and cons of being a P.A. in the E.D. in comparison to the other medical staff that team the E.R.?”
A little bit of background about myself. Medicine started for me when I took EMT courses out of high school. I loved every second of it from the basic patient care to the trauma. I ended up not making a career out of being an EMT because I wanted to know more and perform at a higher level. Now I am an undergraduate seeking to find what will satisfy me, being a part of an advanced medical team working with trauma.
Thank you for all of the help.
Hi Ryan, I would have to answer your question “That Depends”. I spent most of my time in small hospitals (less that 40K visits per year). There the MD’s quality varied greatly. So did PA experience and ability. Major problems were stabilized and sent to local trauma centers. I have never worked in Trauma centers so I can not speak to the experience there. Two good resources are SEMPA.org and APPAP.org.
As for my experience, I was considered someone who knew his limitations. I considered my roll to be to keep the patients waiting, rolling in and their workups started while the physician was busy with a code. If a second code arrived it was my responsibility but we had very experienced nurses and a great resp dept. to help.
If you want to work in a major trauma center, you need to specialize after PA school. You need to attend a PA program that gives you a masters degree and then get into a PA residency for EM. See those references. In smaller ER’s you can get by with your basic training and ACLS, PALS and ATLS. In smaller rural ER’s you are the person as they are often staffed by PA’s only.
I don’t know how PA’s are integrated into trauma teams, but you might want to think about Trauma surgery to get a place on the Trauma teams in big hospitals. For me, I did want I had to and I can tell you stories about injuries to people that stood my hair up as I was the first to assess them and begin resuscitation in the ER. That was not my desire. The way I was valuable where I worked was in seeing as many patients as I could while the physician was accumulating the time with one patient. I made a very good living working nights on weekends and holidays. It was part-time meaning 3 shifts a week so I worked in 2 places 5-6 nights a week for a long time. I did not want a limelight position, so it was fun and I was needed and paid very well.
Check with the above resources. You question has spurred me to find some Trauma PA’s and get them to give me an interview.
Thank you very much for taking your time to answer my questions and giving your valuable information. I have looked at the SEMPA.org website and found very basic information outside of being a member but nothing that really describes “The Life of a Trauma / Emergency Medicine PA”. Also I have looked into APPAP.org and have found some very interesting “residency” or fellowship programs. I am very much in support of you finding Trauma PA’s and interviewing them and if you do please let me know of the results and or please pass on my email ryan.parsons58@gmail.com. Thank you again what you do is very nice and helpful to everyone.
Hi Bruce!
I am looking into becoming a PA because I like working with people and I have always had a love for gross anatomy. I would love to be a surgical or trauma PA.
Right now I work for a major pharmaceutical company in molecular diagnostics as a research associate. I currently run all lab-associated operations, am clinical liaison, and technical lead for our current PCR-based assay, which is due to hit market in 2015. I am also part of the company’s “High Potential Program” – I was hand-picked by our global executive committee to be part of a specialized training program for career development. I am 25 and have been with the company for almost 3 years. I am currently enrolled in UC Berkeley’s Post-Bac program, but I am struggling with getting good grades because of my demanding roles at work. I am afraid of getting overlooked as an applicant to a PA program because I do not have good grades (B/C average). I also do not have any volunteer experience. How can I showcase that I know more than what the classroom tests? What can I do to stand out?
Thanks for your time and help!!
Michelle, thanks for trusting me. I hear your pain. You are an accomplished person. You can lead a team and get things done. That is because you give it all you have. It is and has been your number one concern. You are going to be there (where you currently work) if you don’t get those grades up. The number one item on admissions to PA school is GPA – it is the first cut. The last 60 hours particularly. Slow done on the courses. This isn’t a sprint, it is a marathon and like a marathon you have to prepare and execute if you want to hit the finish line in your first attempt at running one.
The essay and interview can explain a lot but you need an over all 3.0. Anatomy and Physiology with lab need to be a solid B for all 8 hours. Biochemistry and Microbiology the same. Look carefully at the prerequisites of the programs you want to attend. Put them on a spread sheet, completed or not, B or not.
Here are UC Davis PA program prerequisite courses:
1. Human Anatomy with lab recommended within 5 years of application deadline
2. Human Physiology with lab recommended within 5 years of application deadline
3. General Chemistry with lab
4. Microbiology or bacteriology with lab
5. Algebra, Calculus or Statistics
6. English Composition
7. Two courses in Social Sciences (e.g. Psychology, Sociology or Cultural Anthropology)
I bet you have most of those in your undergrad program. I bet you have good grades in them.
Which of those do you still need? Which are you going to have to repeat? On your spread sheet list when you will do it.
OK, you have a plan for getting the courses you need done, you will be great at the rest I bet. Decide though just how bad you want it. Listen to the new recording on the landing page for this site. Do the 5 minute exercise. What did you learn? What do you need to do? Let me ask you but do not answer! Do you make more that $75K a year?
That is the lower 25th percentile of all PA’s. Do you make more than $105K That is what most PA’s in the area you want to work in make after about 5-7 years experience. That isn’t the only benefit, that is one that helps pay off the $100K you will borrow for school. Decide which benefits you want most, and then pursue those but let go of the ones you want least. It’s tough to decide, that is why the little benefits exercise on the mp3 will help you. Best wishes on The PA Path or which ever path you choose.
Hi Bruce,
I was looking for PA forums and came across this website,where I found your suggestions and advice. Thank you very much for such a dedicated approach. My concern is I can’t decide whether PA profession and I are really compatible. I have 0 medical experience unless working at the doctor’s office as a receptionist counts as some……. My father is a doctor and since my grandma became bed bound in 2004 I had to submerge into the medical field, trying to help her,which in a way opened up my mind and helped me realize that I do like this field (medicine). Moreover I find it extremely interesting and fascinating…..however the reason I still can’t decide if I should truly pursue PA program is I’m afraid it’s little late for me since I’m 31 now…..by the time I’ll graduate I’ll be 35 or even 36……. Honestly, I don’t know much about PA job and maybe that’s why can’t really make my mind up. I’ve read about PA programs and jobs online but still have questions. Btw, don’t want to look stupid or immature but I assume not everyone knows exactly what he wants to do in future…….
( I am from Uzbekist and a perm resident and live in NY.)
My question is if I apply for PA program in NY what are the best schools I should seek acceptance from? How long does it take to actually start working as a PA after graduating 4 years of school? Is it hard to find a job for beginners? What do I need to pay attention to while choosing a specialty (he/she wants to do in future*)?
Thank u in advance, Bruce
Umida, you are not too old to start. Age 36 isn’t too late to earn a good income and gives your 30-40 years to practice, long enough to be useful, create a retirement and have a rewarding career.
You live in a state with the most PA programs and also the least expensive one in Tuition. You probably want to attend a program that will give you a BS in PA studies and take a distance learning
opportunity to get a masters a year or two later. There is a projected shortage of 90K PA’s. New PA’s have plenty of places to work and you can expect to make $70-80K per year as a new grad. That
isn’t big money in NY state but I bet better than you make as a receptionist. I suggest you get some experience shadowing a PA. To get that experience, find a couple of places where PA’s work, in offices
where you might have referred patients in the past is a place to look – orthopedics, dermatology, pediatrics, urgent cares also. Then get the name of the PA, check the medical board to be sure they are in
good standing (this is public info in most states and is available on the medical board website) then write a couple of paragraphs about why you want to be a PA and a cover letter requesting the opportunity to
shadow this person for specific hours on specific days ( but indicate flexibility) this allows them to say yes or no. They don’t have to look at and consider 10 different things or make any decisions except yes and no.
After you have watched and asked questions (watch one day then write down all the questions you can think of, prioritize them into your top 5 and write them down and give them to the PA you are shadowing and
ask if they would discuss them with you if there is time.)then you can decide yes it is worth my time to check out these programs and visit some of them. Here are programs in NY that offer a BS entry level degree.
D’Youville College, Daemen College, Hofstra U, Mercy College, RTI, Sophie Davis School, St. John’s, Touro in Manhattan and Bay Shore, Wagner College and York College-CUNY(the least expensive). Things you want to
know is the PANCE pass rate (92% and above is great)and job placement opportunities (good clinical rotations will usually yield a job offer or two), if you will need to pass a TOEFL exam (since you are not native to the US, it will depend on how long you have been here and where you went to HS)
My advice is not definitive and is the best I can give based on what you have told me and what my research has shown. If you really think you are going to do this, you may want to consider my “Get Accepted” program
It is $5 a week for 20 weeks and you can find all the info on the first page. You can also hire me as a coach, see the word coach on the black navigation bar near the top of this page. Good luck on your PA Path.
First off Bruce I don’t know how you are able to keep up with all of these posts and perform your duties as a PA. Either way you reply quickly and answer everyone’s questions thoroughly. I too, like many others, are looking into a PA program. I’m currently a paramedic of a large metropolitan city and have for the last 8 years or so. Besides a paramedic certification, I also have my instructor card in BLS, ACLS, PALS, PEEP and general Paramedic EMS Instructor. I writing to you to see if there are any ” bridge ” programs, like the current Medic to RN program. If not, my next question is… how hard are the PA classes? I have read that they say you shouldn’t work during the clinicals and/or class but I’m the only one working in my house and I have to be a financial provider to my family and maintain medical insurance. What are your thoughts?
Nick, You may want to look at the U of ND program. It is based on the old Medex model and I have talked to some folks who did the program who are doing well in ER medicine. It is the only one that would let you work as you studied as it is field based, not university based.
They accept a new class every 2 years. Other programs are all univ based and there is no advanced standing even if you transfer from another program. I hear what you are saying about being the financial provider and having insurance, I was married and had 2 kids when I got out of the military and went back to college and PA school. It was tough. I had the GI bill that helped us but only 458 dollars a month. Duke had an indigent student program then so that is how we survived medically.
You obviously like to learn and to teach. The average PA salary is about 82K per year. Some make less and some more depending on the region and the specialty they work in.
You have to look at your hours, income, long term opportunity and what you want to do for the remainder of you career. As for me I work a 50-55 hour week in Urgent care. When I was in
primary care I did 65-75 for many years. It feels like I am on vacation most of the time right now. Doing this is lots of fun. I hope this helps you some.