Physician assistants are licensed medical professionals who practice medicine in collaboration with or under the supervision of a medical doctor
Physician assistants can perform most of the functions a primary care physicians
Take medical histories
Perform physical exams
Diagnose and treat illnesses
Assist in surgeries
Interpret laboratory tests
Physician assistants are passionate about medicine and are committed improving healthcare access by serving to aid doctors in their practice
The primary difference between physician assistants and doctors is that physicians assistants do not work autonomously, and they are not licensed to perform surgery
What is PA school?
PA School is modeled after medical school curriculum, including training in basic science and clinical education training
In the clinical phase, PA students gather about 2,000 hours of clinical rotations
PA school typically lasts about 27 months
a master’s degree is often granted upon completion
How much does PA school cost?
The average tuition cost for PA school is approximately $71,000
What are career outcomes like for Physicians Assistants?
The PA profession is one of the fastest growing careers in the country
Demand is so high that 75% of graduating PAs receive multiple job offers immediately
Physician assistants work in every medical setting, including hospitals, medical offices, nursing homes, and workplace clinics
Owing to their vocational skills and medical knowledge, physician assistants are paid very well
The average PA is paid ~$100,00 per year
How competitive are PA school admissions?
While not as competitive as medical school, PA school is both rigorous and competitive
According to matriculant data from CASPA, the PA school application service, the profile for a typical matriculating PA student is as follows:
3.36 GPA
50th percentile for verbal, quantitative, and writing sections on the GRE
Thousands of hours of clinical experience
What can I do to be a competitive PA school applicant?
One of the most important application components is clinical experience
In many cases, PA students will have more than 3,000 hours of clinical experience prior to admission
In some cases, PA applicants may need up to 3 years of post-undergraduate clinical work experience in order to amass a sufficient number of clinical work hours
The University of Maryland’s Health Professions Advising
Office recommends 1,000+ hours of clinical experience prior to applying
Demonstrate academic success in biology, physics, chemistry, and social science courses
For more information about which courses you should take as an undergrad in order to meet PA school admission requirements, visit the Reed Yorke Health Professions Advising Office’s web page on pre-PA coursework.
Score competitively on the GRE (~50th+ percentile in all categories)
Look for scribing positions and shadowing opportunities
How can I apply to PA school?
General Timeline
Applications open in the spring
Applications due at the end of summer
Interviews begin in the fall/winter
Acceptances released in the winter
Matriculation in the following summer
Check with graduate schools of interest for specific timelines
Components
Transcript/Coursework
GRE score
PA school narrative that explains your career goals/interests and how PA school will help you achieve them
For more information on constructing an effective and convincing PA school narrative, read this article from Inside PA Training.
Letters of recommendation
For more information about selecting appropriate recommenders, visit the University of Maryland’s Health Profession Advising Office’s web page on letters of recommendation.
Interview Tips
Demonstrate your personality, creativity, and motivation for applying to a PA program
Demonstrate strong verbal communication skills
Be able to describe all items from your application, especially your clinical experience
Ask specific questions about the PA program
For more advice on how to nail a PA school interview, read this piece from a former PA school applicant