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You are here: Home / Pre-Physician Assistant / CASPA Application / An Open Letter to all Graduates of Foreign Medical Schools and Others Interested in PA Programs in the United States

An Open Letter to all Graduates of Foreign Medical Schools and Others Interested in PA Programs in the United States

September 19, 2016 By Stephen Pasquini PA-C 21 Comments

an open letter to all graduates of foreign medical schools and others interested in pa programs in the united statesAfter reading a number of questions about acceptance into PA programs a prevailing theme has emerged.

Many international physicians stated that their interest in becoming PAs stems from dissatisfaction with the hours or volume of patients they are seeing in their own practices in their native countries.

So, what is my advice?

That you make an honest, soul-searching assessment of what it is you are seeking.

PAs are Not an MD Surrogate

If you have a prevailing feeling that your MD is a superior credential and that you will be functioning as an "MD Surrogate" in the US, then perhaps you don't fully understand the concept of a PA/supervising MD team.

Every good PA knows very well our limits in the scope of practice which have served us and our physician mentors very well for over 40 years.

We aren't, and never will be physicians!

Nor will you, if you practice as a PA within your scope of practice.

PAs Don't Always Have Regular, Predictable Hours?

physician assistant tired and exhausted

You may also want to investigate why you believe that coming to the United States to become a PA will ensure that your hours will be regular, predictable and better than what you have now.

Your hours will depend completely on the medical practice or hospital which hires you.

Expecting that as a PA you will have it easier than you have it as an MD may be a false assumption.

Many PAs work very long, grueling hours in emergency rooms, critical care, hospitals, public health facilities, family health care, community clinics and countless other fields in addition to volunteer work on their own time.

The person who inquired about coming to a US PA program because PAs in Canada are still new and not well respected might do well to step back for perspective.

R.E.S PA-C T

You Will Listen to Me

PAs in the US are the single most serially tested group of medical providers in the world.

We are currently changing a decades-old requirement for national board certification exams every six years to maintain our treasured "C" on our credential, indicating board certification.

But if you look closely at the environment which mandated our test schedule it reveals that we have been regularly asked to "prove" our knowledge, skills, and trustworthiness for those same decades.

Each of us went through some version of facing the "newness" question about what is a PA and scrutiny and occasional rejection by physicians, nurses, and patients.

And most of us will tell you the struggle to prove ourselves is hard.

And at one time it may have been necessary.

But now, for most situations, when you join a medical practice, your patients already know what a PA is and how we function with their physicians.

In Canada, your PA profession, though in comparative infancy to the US, needs great people to choose it, build its competence and support its growth rather than abandon it and go to already proven territory.

If you believe in rigorous academic and clinical training then wouldn't you want to be in the vanguard in Canada demanding that rigor?

The Good With the Challenging

Physician Assistants Get Respect

I treasure my life and work as a PA in California and Florida.

Anyone fortunate enough to come here as an immigrant looking for an opportunity to serve in the medical corps is warmly welcomed and will be honored by our ranks.

But when you choose this path to PA make sure you are seeing the good with the challenging and accepting that part of being in medical care.

Every place in the world demands a near-total commitment of time and the humility to be comfortable caring for impoverished people, people of every cultural and ethnic background, just as you are doing wherever you currently live.

Your challenges are the same as ours in that regard.

The United States PA programs are unparalleled in preparing a workforce to address the overwhelming problem of inadequate access to health care.

But we may not be a panacea for overworked, over-scheduled and feeling unappreciated, at times.

Sincerely, and with good wishes for your success,

- Martie Lynch BS, PA-C

Did You Know
Currently, 165 PA programs accept international students for a complete listing of these PA programs click here.  

The Long Road to Practice

img 0886

Today's post comes to us via the comments section and was written by physician assistant Margie Lynch, PA-C.

I receive many comments and emails from internationally trained doctors looking for career options here in the United States.

In fact, as an undergraduate, while working in the campus health clinic, I had the privilege of being trained by a foreign medical doctor from India who had transitioned to a laboratory tech in the United States.

The truth is, in many instances, a foreign medical degree is non-transferable and the barriers to practice prevent many highly skilled, well-intentioned international providers from coming to the United States. And like the MD I worked with, their skills and training may go to waste. This is a shame sad there are many clinics and hospitals in the US that would benefit from culturally competent bilingual practitioners.

And like the MD I worked with, their skills and training may go to waste. This is a shame sad there are many clinics and hospitals in the US that would benefit from culturally competent bilingual practitioners.

This is a shame as there are many clinics and hospitals in the US that would benefit from culturally competent, highly skilled,  bilingual practitioners.

International Barriers to Practice in the United States

According to this NY Times Article, the United States already faces a shortage of physicians in many parts of the country, especially in specialties where foreign-trained physicians are most likely to practice, like primary care. And that shortage has gotten exponentially worse since the passage of the affordable healthcare act in 2014.

For years the United States has been training too few doctors to meet its own needs, in part because of industry-set limits on the number of medical school slots available. Today about one in four physicians practicing in the United States were trained abroad, a figure that includes a substantial number of American citizens who could not get into medical school at home and studied in places like the Caribbean.

But immigrant doctors, no matter how experienced and well trained, must run a long, costly and confusing gantlet before they can actually practice here.

The process usually starts with an application to a private nonprofit organization that verifies medical school transcripts and diplomas. Among other requirements, foreign doctors must prove they speak English; pass three separate steps of the United States Medical Licensing Examination; get American recommendation letters, usually obtained after volunteering or working in a hospital, clinic or research organization; and be permanent residents or receive a work visa (which often requires them to return to their home country after their training).

The biggest challenge is that an immigrant physician must win one of the coveted slots in America’s medical residency system, the step that seems to be the tightest bottleneck.

That residency, which typically involves grueling 80-hour workweeks, is required even if a doctor previously did a residency in a country with an advanced medical system, like Britain or Japan. The only exception is for doctors who did their residencies in Canada.

The whole process can consume upward of a decade — for those lucky few who make it through.

Fighting Brain Drain

fighting brain drain in healthcare

The counterargument for making it easier for foreign physicians to practice in the United States — aside from concerns about quality controls — is that doing so will draw more physicians from poor countries. These places often have paid for their doctors’ medical training with public funds, on the assumption that those doctors will stay.

According to one study, about one in 10 doctors trained in India have left that country, and the figure is close to one in three for Ghana. (Many of those moved to Europe or other developed nations other than the United States.)

No one knows exactly how many immigrant doctors are in the United States and not practicing, but some other data points provide a clue. Each year the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, a private nonprofit, clears about 8,000 immigrant doctors (not including the American citizens who go to medical school abroad) to apply for the national residency match system. Normally about 3,000 of them successfully match to a residency slot, mostly filling less desired residencies in community hospitals, unpopular locations and in less lucrative specialties like primary care.

In the United States, some foreign doctors work as waiters or taxi drivers while they try to work through the licensing process.

The International Path to PA

Is PA a reasonable alternative to foreign-trained medical providers whose skills we desperately need here in the United States?

And just how many PA schools are eagerly opening their doors to these practitioners?

This, my friends, is a topic for another blog post.

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section down below.

Warmly,

-Stephen Pasquini PA-C

Resources

Are you or someone you know a foreign trained doctor or a medical provider looking to practice as a PA in the US? Here are some useful resources:

  • Here is a wonderful resource on the topic from the ARC-PA (they accredit US PA programs and determine who may sit for the PANCE exam)
  • Physician Assistant Forum - Foreign medical graduate
  • Dose of PA - From International Student to Physician Assistant
  • NY Times Article - Path to United States Practice Is Long Slog to Foreign Doctors

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About Stephen Pasquini PA-C

Stephen has been a family practice PA since 2004 and is the creator of The PA Life and Smarty PANCE Board Review websites. A National Health Service Corps Scholar and a graduate of The University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ (Rutgers) PA Program and the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. Stephen's goal is to provide one-of-a-kind online resources for those interested in or practicing in the PA profession, to promote better access to healthcare for all, and foster universal recognition/awareness of the PA profession. Read more about Stephen.

Previous Post: « Episode 41: The Audio PANCE and PANRE Board Review Podcast
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bhoomi says

    January 4, 2021 at 8:26 am

    hello,
    i am IMG from India. And I am green card holder of USA so,do i need to take TOFEL to apply for pa school? Can you send list of pa program which accept without TOFEL exam?

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      January 5, 2021 at 9:42 pm

      Hi Bhoomi, greetings from the USA! I created a PA school search site that allows you to filter by TOEFL requirements. Here is a list of the 55 programs in the USA that accept international students and don’t require the TOEFL: https://www.paschoolfinder.com/cat/toefl-not-required/

      You can use the category search function or the program search and sort tool to filter this even further if you would like. Let me know if you have any more questions whatsoever!

      Warmly,

      Stephen Pasquini PA-C
      http://www.smartypance.com
      http://www.thepalife.com

      Reply
      • Bhoomi says

        January 7, 2021 at 12:08 pm

        Thanks for your reply.
        I want to know, do you know any group of img work as pa, I want to be guided by previously experienced for my application.

        Reply
        • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

          January 19, 2021 at 10:54 am

          Hi Bhoomi, I am sure if you search the internet, social media, FB, forums, etc you will be able to find a group… Or maybe it’s time to create one!! If you do please share that here and I can send people your way.

          Stephen

          Reply
  2. Al says

    April 18, 2020 at 4:04 am

    Dear Stephen
    Thank you very much for giving such a comprehensive information. More importantly I thank you for sympathising and empathetic approach to FMG. People’s need to migrate are very complex; no one leaves his comfort zone and family unless he has a compelling reason. They are not there to steal anyone’s meal, just trying to get a better meal for themselves….as humans have done for millenia. I thank you for not making the FMG’s belittled, which is what they feel reading other resources on the web.
    Any chance PA schools offer some online courses, this could reduce the amount of time they have to spend in the actual premises. They can continue with their lives and study towards PA unless it is absolutely necessary to uproot themselves.

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      April 19, 2020 at 10:23 pm

      Hi AI, I appreciate your comment and sentiments! There is one fully online program that I am aware of, and that is the Yale PA program, although they only accept US residents. https://paonline.yale.edu/admissions/application-requirements/

      I am sure more programs will start adopting some form of distance learning. If anything comes out of this whole COVID-19 pandemic, it may be an understanding of how to administer an online curriculum and the value/flexibility it offers to both faculty and students. We see the same adoption in the clinic setting, as well. For now, though, I think online courses for international students to attend US PA programs may be sadly non-existent.

      Let me know if you find anything and I will be sure to share it.

      Stephen Pasquini

      Reply
  3. Kiran says

    February 26, 2020 at 10:59 pm

    Hi,
    I’m a foreign trained dentist. What are the pre-requisites needed for me to pursue PA?

    Reply
  4. Okullo Ceasar Innocent says

    April 27, 2019 at 9:11 am

    Holy Hell! WHAT HAVE READ HERE HAVE COMPLETELY BROKEN ME A PART FROM CONTINUING PURSUING MY CLINICAL MEDICINE AND COMMUNITY HEALTH IN AFRICA- YET I WAS HOPING OF FINISHING ABD GOIBGVTO US TO DO PANCE,THEN START PRACTICING…have realized have been building castles in the air.And the best thing to do is to cancel all am doing now here and go study my Medicine starting from any level accessible in US.Thanks all for your advice,it has helped from busting my ASS here for nothing doing medicine yet it won’t be recognized in US.

    Reply
  5. Paramjit Singh says

    April 17, 2019 at 2:14 pm

    To all international medical graduates, this is a sane and personal advice. If you want to be a PA don’t even think of doing your USMLEs as it will be a total waste of time and precious money and a sure road to mental and monetary bankruptcy. Start a PA program as early as you can and then you are set for life as the trend in US is more towards mid-level practitioners than MDs or DOs. Remember that this country runs and survives on just one thing and that is money. Nowhere does money play such a big role as in this country. So if you want to achieve the “American Dream” be money minded and just see $$$ only. It is stupid to even think that a foreign medical graduate is not fit to sit for a PA exam but this has more to do with money than anything else. So it is all a game of money. PA programs need your money before you can make any.

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      April 23, 2019 at 3:44 pm

      Hi Paramjit, although I agree with many of your sentiments about American greed and money/corruption in the US medical system I don’t think PA program requirements of foreign medical graduates is simply a “money grab.” It’s important for the PA profession (and our patients’ safety) that we have professional standardization and US medical schools and US PA schools must meet strict regulatory requirements which may or may not comply with those of foreign institutions. I do think it’s disappointing that a well-trained foreign medical doctor must meet such barriers to continuing their profession in the US. From what I have heard it involves retaking boards and completing residency training again in the US, which is not easy. It’s also quite difficult for a foreign trained MD to apply and be accepted into PA school in the US without appearing as though they are just “settling.” To better serve our patients it might be time to create less friction so that we can make sure well trained and highly qualified foreign graduates can put their hard work and skill to good use. It’s a shame otherwise.

      Stephen

      Reply
  6. AISSAOUI says

    December 23, 2018 at 2:06 pm

    GREETINGS.

    PLEASE SIR, HTIS IS MY CURRICULUM .

    I M PHYSICIAN FROM MOROCCO.
    BORN IN MOROCCO IN 11/28/1964.

    I M GRADUATE FROM UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE OF
    RABAT IN 1995.

    I WORKED
    WITH MINISTRY OF HEALHT OF MOROCCO SINCE 1998.

    I HAVE ONE YEAR OF EXPERIENCE
    IN NUCLEAR MEDICINE IN SWITZERLANDN ,SUISSE. LAUZANE ,

    WITHE THAOUSAND 1000 OF CASES
    OF SCINTIGRAPHIE OF BONE AND THYROIDE DISEAS

    2003.

    I HAVE LOT OF RESEARCHES IN EPIDEMEOLOGY IN
    2014 THAT S CAN VERY INTERSTE FOR

    YOUR UNIVERSITY

    I HOLD VISA TOURIST B1/B2.

    I WANT TO TRAVEL TO USA IN
    ORDER TO

    LOOKING FOR
    INSCRIPTION AND TO BEGAN WITH YOU AS PA .

    PLEASE TEL ME ABOUT FIRST STEP
    CAN I DO.

    Reply
  7. Peter markus de jesus says

    October 29, 2018 at 4:32 pm

    Good day my name is peter markus de jesus practicing in general pediatrics here in the philippines for 6 years now, im a greencard holder in the USA , and plan to take a path as a Physician Assistant, can you help me what steps and requirement do i need to prepare to accomplish , Thanks for the help and Godbless

    Reply
  8. Meena Konada says

    September 26, 2018 at 4:00 am

    Dear Stephen,
    I am an IMG from India practicing dermatology in India since 5 years .My Gre score is 298,AWA -3 ,IELTS -7 .I would like to join the PA program in USA and continue as a dermatology PA
    .Which schools are best to join ,Can I apply for the PA program 2019.
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      September 26, 2018 at 10:53 am

      Hi Meena,

      From the standpoint of the ARC-PA, individuals educated as physicians outside of the United States are not treated any differently than any other prospective PA student. To practice as a PA in the United States one must graduate from an ARC-PA accredited program and be certified by the NCCPA. If interested in applying to a PA program, such individuals should contact the PAEA for information on specific programs.

      Here is a wonderful resource on the topic from the ARC-PA (they accredit US PA programs and determine who may sit for the PANCE exam): http://www.arc-pa.org/frequently-asked-questions/non-us-health-care-professionals/

      Before you can work in the US, you must contact the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS International) to complete a visa screening program which, in part, will determine if your education was equivalent to that from a US PA Program. If your education is equivalent, you are eligible for a certificate that you can submit with your visa application to the US State Department. The State Department’s approval of your occupational visa may help you enter the U.S. but you are still not eligible to work as a PA in the U.S.

      To become a PA in the United States, individuals must also attend and graduate from an ARC-PA–accredited entry-level PA program and pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) administered by the National Commission on Certifying of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

      For information on PA programs contact the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA): https://paeaonline.org/ and the directory of PA programs here: http://directory.paeaonline.org/

      Eligibility criteria for taking the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) are available on the NCCPA web site: http://www.nccpa.net/

      Additional information on practicing as a PA in the US can be found at the American Academy of Physician Assistants’ (AAPA) website: https://www.aapa.org/

      To determine if an individual state allows non-US educated physicians to practice as PAs without additional education and national certification, you would have to contact the licensing bodies of the specific states.

      To find PA programs that accept International students:

      I would start by searching the PAEA directory website and click the box “Accept int’l applicants.” Currently, there are 138 programs that accept international students. From there you need to narrow down further based on requirements. I would then use my PA program picker table. You can narrow your search even further using all your variables: https://www.thepalife.com/pa-program-picker/

      Then, follow the links to the PA program websites and reach out to them personally. They will be able to guide you better than I since every program is a bit different. If you have any questions afterward just shoot me a reply.

      Stephen

      Reply
  9. Reynaud says

    May 15, 2018 at 8:46 am

    Hi, i’m a interne in haiti about to get graduate from medical school in a few months, i was wondering if i have a chance to Be accepted in the program as PA?

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      September 26, 2018 at 10:54 am

      Hi Reynaud,

      Here is a response I just left for another applicant I think it applies to your situation as well:

      From the standpoint of the ARC-PA, individuals educated as physicians outside of the United States are not treated any differently than any other prospective PA student. To practice as a PA in the United States one must graduate from an ARC-PA accredited program and be certified by the NCCPA. If interested in applying to a PA program, such individuals should contact the PAEA for information on specific programs.

      Here is a wonderful resource on the topic from the ARC-PA (they accredit US PA programs and determine who may sit for the PANCE exam): http://www.arc-pa.org/frequently-asked-questions/non-us-health-care-professionals/

      Before you can work in the US, you must contact the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS International) to complete a visa screening program which, in part, will determine if your education was equivalent to that from a US PA Program. If your education is equivalent, you are eligible for a certificate that you can submit with your visa application to the US State Department. The State Department’s approval of your occupational visa may help you enter the U.S. but you are still not eligible to work as a PA in the U.S.

      To become a PA in the United States, individuals must also attend and graduate from an ARC-PA–accredited entry-level PA program and pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) administered by the National Commission on Certifying of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

      For information on PA programs contact the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA): https://paeaonline.org/ and the directory of PA programs here: http://directory.paeaonline.org/

      Eligibility criteria for taking the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) are available on the NCCPA web site: http://www.nccpa.net/

      Additional information on practicing as a PA in the US can be found at the American Academy of Physician Assistants’ (AAPA) website: https://www.aapa.org/

      To determine if an individual state allows non-US educated physicians to practice as PAs without additional education and national certification, you would have to contact the licensing bodies of the specific states.

      To find PA programs that accept International students:

      I would start by searching the PAEA directory website and click the box “Accept int’l applicants.” Currently, there are 138 programs that accept international students. From there you need to narrow down further based on requirements. I would then use my PA program picker table. You can narrow your search even further using all your variables: https://www.thepalife.com/pa-program-picker/

      Then, follow the links to the PA program websites and reach out to them personally. They will be able to guide you better than I since every program is a bit different. If you have any questions afterward just shoot me a reply.

      Stephen

      Reply
    • Patrick Saint-louis says

      January 5, 2020 at 12:54 am

      Hello Reynaud, I am from Haiti too, I need more information can you call me 9084042719 or email me : [email protected]

      Reply
  10. Mohamed ahmed mohamed says

    December 11, 2017 at 1:46 pm

    I graduate from faculty of dentistry elmini university egypt

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      September 26, 2018 at 11:09 am

      Hi Mohamed,

      Here is a wonderful resource on the topic from the ARC-PA (they accredit US PA programs and determine who may sit for the PANCE exam) on the topic: http://www.arc-pa.org/frequently-asked-questions/non-us-health-care-professionals/

      Before you can work in the US, you must contact the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS International) to complete a visa screening program which, in part, will determine if your education was equivalent to that from a US PA Program. If your education is equivalent, you are eligible for a certificate that you can submit with your visa application to the US State Department. The State Department’s approval of your occupational visa may help you enter the U.S. but you are still not eligible to work as a PA in the U.S.

      To become a PA in the United States, individuals must also attend and graduate from an ARC-PA–accredited entry-level PA program and pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) administered by the National Commission on Certifying of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

      For information on PA programs contact the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA): https://paeaonline.org/ and the directory of PA programs here: http://directory.paeaonline.org/

      Eligibility criteria for taking the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) are available on the NCCPA web site: http://www.nccpa.net/

      Additional information on practicing as a PA in the US can be found at the American Academy of Physician Assistants’ (AAPA) website: https://www.aapa.org/

      To determine if an individual state allows non-US educated physicians to practice as PAs without additional education and national certification, you would have to contact the licensing bodies of the specific states.

      Stephen

      Reply
  11. Naomi says

    February 13, 2017 at 11:26 am

    Dear Stephen,
    Is it for a Canadian PA to work in the US?

    Thank you,
    Naomi

    Reply
    • Stephen Pasquini PA-C says

      September 26, 2018 at 11:00 am

      H, Naomi here is a great thread on this exact topic on the physician assistant forum: https://www.physicianassistantforum.com/topic/942-can-canadian-pas-practice-in-usa/

      The short answer is, to work as a PA in the US you have to pass the PANCE and in order to take the PANCE, you must have graduated from a program that the NCCPA deems accredited.
      So, either
      1) the NCCPA must recognize the accreditation process in Canada as equivalent to the one in the USA (In Canada it’s CAPA: http://www.caopa.net/ btw)
      or
      2) They must change the policy slightly

      Stephen

      Reply

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I just wanted to let you know that I got accepted into the RFU PA program! Thank you for all your help and support during the application process. Couldn’t have done it without you!

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Working with Sarah was a wonderful experience. She was prompt, attentive, and incredibly supportive throughout the process. Sarah never deviated from the authenticity of my essay. Even after she made vast changes, the essay still felt true to what I wanted to express. Thank you, Sarah! I would recommend this service to anyone applying to PA school.

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This was the most amazing experience! I felt so confident about my topic and essay after our meeting. Duke got back to me quickly and worked around my crazy schedule. The editing of the essay was professional and gave me insight I could not have received any other way. I only applied to one school because it is really the one I would like to go to the most and I got an interview!!! Thank you so much for all of your help!

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I just wanted to let you know I accepted a spot at the University of Dubuque’s PA program! I want to thank you for all your help and support in this process and for all the positivity you brought my way. Thanks for all you do and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with you! I would recommend you highly to anyone.

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Holy cow! I wanted to let you know I have been accepted to PA school.  I will be attending the Franklin Pierce Physician Assistant Program, Class of 2019 in West Lebanon, NH. I cannot thank you enough for being part of my journey.

If you are reading this you might have been like me skeptical and trying to find a way to write a stellar essay for your PA application.  I want to share with you my exceptional experience using this service.  First, do yourself a favor and BUY the eBook, “How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement.”  I read it twice. Once before I started my essay draft and then again during.  I cannot stress how helpful the book was in clearly stating what the Admissions Directors are looking for in an application essay.  Next, the book reviews how to formulate a proper essay with clear instructions, easy reminders of the writing process, and excellent examples of good and bad writing choices.  After several drafts of my essay, I made an appointment to work with Duke Pasquini, one of the authors of the guide, through the internet and via phone to help with editing and my length issue.  Duke’s professional experience and kind and straight forward demeanor allowed me to create a winning essay that was an authentic representation of me.  Not only did I receive an interview from my top choice of PA school I was accepted a week later into their Physician Assistant Program, Class of 2019.  Thank you, “PA Life” for being a part of my journey.

Michele Williams, PA-S

I am writing this because I wanted to share with you that I have been accepted to the University of Iowa PA program.  I would like to once again thank you for your insight and guidance while writing my personal statement, it came at just the right time.

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Susan did a fantastic job of editing my essay! She guided me and gave me suggestions for strengthening certain sections and equally took out weak parts. After I followed her recommendations, I really felt like I had an essay where every sentence mattered and reflected who I was. Thank you so much Susan for your help. I feel that I have a stronger essay because of your honest feedback and your help!

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This past June, you helped me formulate my personal statement for my PA school applications. After our video chat and countless hours editing my CASPA information, I submitted my application and was then given the opportunity to interview at five PA programs. To prepare for my interviews, I would read my personal statement over and over again to remind myself of why I wanted to be a PA. This helped me succeed in my interviews. I was accepted to a few schools, but have I have made my final decision to matriculate into the University of Texas Medical Branch PA program in July! I wanted to follow up after I made my final decision to thank you for helping me with an important step to achieve this amazing life goal. Several of my friends are applying this upcoming cycle, and I will definitely be passing along your information. Again, thank you so much!

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Sarah was super helpful and flexible in my schedule. Her editing really turned my essay around, and made me a much more confident applicant! I am so glad I utilized this service. I will keep you updated on my results for this round 🙂

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I wanted to tell you that I interviewed with MEDEX on Friday, got the call yesterday that I’m accepted! I also interviewed with Pacific University on and I felt that went VERY well too. I should hear from them any day now. I will keep you in the loop. I appreciate all your help and support!

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Excellent service! The editor did a great job of working with me to write my personal statement as I wanted. They also provide some pointers and tips on how to write which is good for supplemental essays and writing prompts.

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This is my third time applying to PA programs. With my first two attempts, I only had close friends, family, and peers help me with my personal statement. I never even thought about going through a professional personal statement review service until after I had failed to get into PA programs my second time around. My prerequisites are expiring soon and the thought of going through the entire process of applying a fourth time terrifies me. I was hesitant to purchase the one-on-one service but after going through it, I am so glad that I did. Sarah was my editor and she is incredible. She genuinely understands how frustrating yet exciting this process is. I submitted my initial personal statement to her and within a day, she had already gotten back to me with detailed feedback. She even goes as far as telling you how many characters she wants you to add in different parts of your essay – this was extremely helpful for me because I tend to be a little wordy sometimes rather than succinct. Sarah helped me to highlight my strengths, experiences, and reasons for why I have spent so many years pursuing the PA career. This is an incredible service and I highly recommend that you take advantage of it! I am still in the process of completing my supplemental applications but I am more confident now than I have been with my first two attempts!

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Sue was amazing! She was very quick at replying to my emails and looking over my paper and application. She was so helpful and has a way with words. I know I will continue to use her services throughout my application process!

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I just wanted to send you a quick email, letting you know that I finally got accepted into PA school! I will be attending Sacred Heart University in Connecticut and will be starting this fall. I could not have made it this far without your help! This was my third time applying and during my first two cycles, I didn’t think that I needed outside help. But this time around, I decided that I needed to change my tactic and I am so freaking happy that I did. Your guidance and advice on my personal statement absolutely made a difference. I had 6 interviews and got accepted into 4! You have helped changed my life and I am forever grateful. I have several friends who will be applying this cycle so I will be referring them to you!

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Vanessa, Pre-PA

I just wanted to reach out an let you that I actually got into PA school this year! Out of the 10 programs I applied to, 4 offered me interviews. The first interview wound up being my top choice and they offered me a spot. I accept and declined all my other interviews. So I am absolutely overjoyed!! I wanted to let you know though. Your editing and help, no doubt, helped me get through the initial phase. Thank you so much! I am truly grateful.

Deanna, Pre-PA

I hope this email finds you well. I would like to thank you for your help with my PA school personal statement. I’m glad to share that I did get into my top choice – Drexel!

Ashley, Pre-PA

I had an overall great experience working with Duke. He was open to my suggestions and provided great feedback on my essay. So far I haven’t gotten any interviews yet, but it is still early in the process. I will keep you updated when I get interviews. Steve

Steve Koehler, PA-S

I just wanted to update you that I got waitlisted for Drexel but accept to Dominican University of California. I still have other interviews coming up. Thank you for your help!

Karmen Wu, Pre-PA

A couple of months ago you worked with me on improving my personal statement. I wanted to reach out and let you know that it worked out! I got 5 interviews and so far have been accepted to 2. I am so so thankful for all your help as I don’t think it would have worked out without your amazing editing skills. Thank you for all you do! Not just me but for all the applicants you helped get accepted this year!

Matthew B. PA-S

This service was very helpful. My essay was edited and returned to me within a few days of me submitting it. The feedback was thorough and detailed. I am already planning on sending my essay for a second edit!

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Thank you so much for your assistance with perfecting my personal statement. This service is truly helpful. They were able to easily edit and help to convey exactly what was in my heart onto paper. I was accepted to my first choice PA program this week!!

Vincent, PA-S

Very helpful. I needed help figuring out what to cut and Sue was great at showing me what could go without sacrificing what I was trying to convey.

Dave, Pre-PA

Sarah was absolutely wonderful. She not only helped take my personal statement to the best level, but she also made it easy to understand why certain changes were better. In the end, she went through and used a highlighting method to show how we connected things to PA and skills that were good. This made it easier to visualize everything. I’d recommend Sarah to anyone applying to PA school that needs that extra push on their personal statements.

Taylor, Pre-PA

Sue was a huge help with my essay. Her edits made my essay sound much better grammatically and she pointed out some content problems I completely missed. She prompted me to write a few more paragraphs before her edit and added the information into my essay. That made a big difference. She was very knowledgable about what PA programs were looking for. I am really happy with your service. Worth every penny, THANKS!

Megan Stephenson, Pre-PA

Thank you for taking the time to edit my paper! The feedback was constructive and very helpful. I liked how you highlighted all the strong points in my essay. It made me feel reassured that my essay was heading in the right direction. I also liked how you told me exactly what I needed to add to make it stronger.

Juliana, Pre-PA

It was wonderful to work with The PA Life once again. I appreciated all of my editors’ feedback and creative writing style which was needed to keep the essay within the allowable character limit. I also appreciated how my editor, Sarah, took the time to discover more about me and worked to show those parts which I was unable to reflect myself. With Sarah’s help, the essay really came to life and was a true reflection of my work, personality, and aspiring goals. I’m grateful for all the work she put into helping me with this project!

Jacob, Pre-PA

Duke made some important modifications to my essay and offered several helpful suggestions. I appreciated his insight and a keen eye.

Ilina K. Pre-PA

I just want to thank you again so much for being so awesome and helping me perfect my statement. I promised you that I would let you know if I got into any programs, and I was offered interviews at all the five universities I applied to. And I got offered positions at my top two school choices shortly after I interviewed. I am so ecstatic to say that I will be going to my number one school choice. I know multiple factors contributed to this opportunity being offered to me and the personal statement was surely a big one. Thank you so much for all that you do. It was really a great investment to have you edit my paper. I hope you have a fantastic rest of your day!

Elisa, PA-S

The comments and edits made by Sue are exceptional! They’ve helped a lot in terms of helping me express my thoughts more clearly and effectively. It felt as if she was there with me, reading my thoughts and helping me with the entire process in person!

Amy, Pre-PA

I just want to follow up and let you know that I have been so fortunate enough to have conducted 3 interviews and received 3 acceptances, and I have decided to continue my educational journey at the OHSU PA program. I can’t thank you enough for all the help you’ve provided me, from helping me with my personal statement to mock interviews. I couldn’t have done this without your help, thank you.

Yomiyu Gafesu, PA-S

I just wanted to share that I got into USC! Woohoo!!! They just called me to share the good news. I’m feeling pretty shocked since that interview did not go as well in my head. I can’t believe I got into school during my first round of applications. This would not have been possible without you, and I really appreciate all the support you gave me throughout this process. ?

Tiffany, PA-S

Sarah was so helpful, accommodating my needs, and I would highly recommend her to a friend/peer. I love this company and the people that work here!

Erin Felter, Pre-PA

Ms. Edmondson was incredible! She provided great feedback and answered all of my follow up questions. I will keep in touch as to my interview offers.

Ashley, Pre-PA

We worked on my essays back in summer and oh, how much work it was! But it all paid off because I just got accepted into the school of my first choice! Thank you so much for your time and dedication to my success. I will also be glad to recommend your services to other pre-PA students at my school!

Jennifer, H Pre-PA

I came into this with a half written personal statement and not a lot of time left. I am beyond pleased with the work Sarah and I were able to accomplish together, and I’m so grateful to have gotten the chance to work with her. She has helped me so much with getting my writing to where I wanted it to be, and has instilled in me a great sense of confidence in myself and my abilities. I highly recommend this service to anyone going through the stress of applying! Keeping my fingers crossed as I submit my applications!

Celine, PRE-PA

Thank you so much for editing my essay and for your kind words. Your edits have definitely made it a stronger PS and I am proud to have it as a part of my application. Thank you for alleviating my stress on arguably the most nerve-wracking part of the CASPA app. You are incredibly talented and well-spoken, and any person that has you edit their essays is incredibly lucky! I will let you know if I have any questions, but I think each one of your edits are meaningful and super clear. I appreciate you shortening it and making it flow better. Thank you again!!!

Karina Kapani, Pre-PA

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for helping me with my personal statement. I have been accepted at Cornell, and will most likely be entering their program in March 2017. I have also received interview offers from Wake Forest, Duke, Pitt, Quinnipiac, Oregon Health Sciences, and Chatham so far. I am happy to share my success up to this point, because I would not be in this position without your guidance, wisdom, and talent.

I thoroughly enjoyed working with you, and I am profoundly grateful for your help. I wish you all the best in the future.

Stephanie Dwyer, PA-S

I had an excellent experience with this service. Deanna was thorough, attentive to my essay, and very easy to contact. She did a great job and I would highly recommend this service to anyone.

Grant, Pre-PA

Sue Edmonson has been a great help in ensuring my personal statement made sense and fit what information I was trying to convey. Her ability to find the pertinent parts in an essay and gain more information about me to make the essay seem relative to my pursuits was truly a Godsend. Would recommend her and your company to others. Thanks!

Christopher Ohsie, Pre-PA

I am so happy with the service Sarah provided! My personal statement turned out exactly how I was hoping it would!

Jennifer, Pre-PA

I was at a point where I kept reading my essay over and over again and not knowing what to change. After Sue looked over and thoroughly edited the essay, I had a completely new focus! I knew exactly what to tweak and her service really cleared up any uncertainty I had with my essay. I’m now much more confident as I finish up my CASPA applications!

Julia Spalding, Pre-PA

I really appreciated Carly’s attentiveness to my writing style and working to keep my message and content but working it in a way that reads easier. I appreciate her turnaround time, as well as priority deadlines for programs, are quickly approaching!

Jacob, Pre-PA

I just wanted to let you know that the majority of my interviews have gone really well! So far, I’ve received six interview invites and have interviewed for five schools. Midwestern (AZ) just got back to me a bit ago, and they sent me an acceptance email! I am beyond thrilled! I just wanted to thank you so much for your help! Your mock interview gave me a lot of confidence that I was able to carry into my interviews! I appreciated having the opportunity to practice my interview skills with you. I wanted to let you know just how much you’ve helped me with my application process (with my interviews, personal statement, and just my confidence in general)! Thank you so much for all of the advice over the past few months!

Sneh, PA-S

Carly did a fantastic job helping my personal statement create fluid and concise writing to help convey my experience! I highly recommend using this service even if you think your statement is solid because they will help make it better than you could have imagined! Thank you for everything.

Kelsey, Pre-PA

I am mind-blown by my editor Carly’s work. My original essay is like an ill-fitting suit. She hemmed and adjusted it in all the right places and now it looks perfect. I don’t think I’m a bad writer, but I don’t write often and I have spent the past 10 years of my life focused on health sciences. I may have never been able to do this on my own. Thank you thank you, I consider this essay service a bargain.

Rebecca, Pre-PA

The ease, frequency, and promptness of communication were some of the best aspects of this service. I found the review and revisions to be very thoughtful and explained in a way where I knew exactly how to apply them to my essay. I would 100% recommend the PA Life PS review to any applicant, and especially enjoyed working with Carly. I am hopeful my personal statement will gain the attention of PA programs I am applying to.

Charlie, Pre-PA

Sue is so incredibly kind! I needed so much help on cleaning up my personal statement and overall flow of the writing. She provided great insights and explanation.

Laila, Pre-PA

Just found your site today while trying to update my resume. Also, I have to recertify next year so your tests are great for a refresher course. I was in a specialty area of medicine so I now realize how much I forgot in the past 5 years. Thank you very much and I will pass on to other PAs.

Pattie Solomon PA-CNorTh Miami Florida

So far, I’ve received 3 interview invites from Chapman, Drexel, and Tufts!!! I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to Sarah for polishing my PS, supplemental essays and giving me lots of awesome tips for my upcoming interviews!!!

Audrey, Pre-PA

This review is long overdue, but my gratitude for how much The PA Life has helped me will never fade. Ms. Schultz went above and beyond to help me tailor my personal statement to my unique stories and qualities. She was open to my suggestions and often thought from my perspective instead of imposing her thoughts on my essay. I appreciate the time she took to help me create a personal statement that expressed my thoughts clearly and concisely. I am happy to report that I have been invited to interviews, and I’m on the waitlist for one of my top schools. If I don’t get in this cycle, I will be using the editing services again. Big shout out to Ms. Schultz!! Thank you for all your encouragement, patience, and support! I am honored to have the chance to work with you. 🙂

Amy, Pre-PA

Sarah did such an excellent job editing my personal statement that I wanted her expertise for my supplemental essays. I’ve had multiple interview invites so far. I’m so glad I used this service, and I’m so glad I had Sarah’s help! She really took my essays to a whole new level and had good suggestions. I’m recommending her to my peers.

Emily Crenshaw, Pre-PA

Kelly M. provided an exceptional experience with detailed recommendations. I am upset that I did not find The PA Life editing service sooner! I will be referring anyone I know applying to pa school to this platform!

Manny, Pre-PA

Sue was very quick to edit my essay and give feedback. Any questions were answered very promptly. I am very pleased with the service provided.

Brandon, Pre-PA

Duke helped me with my personal essay writing for PA school. He was very patient and helpful with me. I made lots of mistake on my Essay, but with Duke’s help I was able to write a sensible essay which was good enough to get Interview calls. I highly recommend his service.

Rajni M, Pre PA

Carly was extremely prompt and helpful! She helped edit my personal statement into something that I am extremely confident applying with!

Danielle, Pre-PA

I want to say thank you, first off for providing such a service. It was difficult having to write a personal statement and then have others critique it, when there is not a clear rubric to follow. I think having to write a personal statement is such an emotional process, and then having others edit it, can be a very harsh pill to swallow. Thank you for your edits, I have no doubt that this process will make my personal statement more compelling and hopefully a more competitive applicant.

Stephanie, Pre-PA

It was an absolute pleasure working with Sarah. She was prompt to respond, professional, and kind. Sarah is an excellent writer. I was consistently impressed with her edits and suggestions for my personal statement. After working with Sarah I feel confident that my final essay will be well-received schools and help me stand out as a candidate.

Leah, Pre-PA

Sue was extremely prompt and thoughtful in providing her comments, edits, and revisions. My essay had a good start but she helped me write it with admissions committees in mind. I will keep you updated on if I get interview invitations.

Kirsten, Pre-PA

I am so thankful that this editing service exists. The personal statement is incredibly important which is why I was so nervous about it. It took me two weeks to even get started because I was so nervous about writing the wrong thing. After Carly helped me with my essay, I am now so much more confident in it. Her edits were very thorough and showed that she had a really good understanding of what is important for a PA personal statement. Her email detailing her overall impression of my essay also showed she understood every single point I was trying to make and what kind of feeling I was trying to give to people reading my essay. This has been the most reassuring thing.

Angela, Pre-PA

Thanks to the PA life and Deanna I was accepted to ECU PA program this cycle. I’m starting my program next fall. I have been part of the PA life community and a member of the leadership team at the virtual pre-PA club with Deanna and others. I’m preparing a video presentation about how to become a PA for IMG. I’m a nontraditional app and abnormally normal applicant 😆. The video will be posted on the IMG space of the community. I’m so happy to share my experience and help pre-PA like me.

Shynar Johnson, PA-S

I was very pleased with this service. Writing has never been my strongest area. While I had the ideas that I wanted to convey I wasn’t able to articulate them as well as I’d hoped. Carly provided comments and suggestions without altering my central thesis. Any questions that I had were answered quickly and thoroughly. Any grammatical mistakes were also addressed which put my mind at ease. I would recommend The PA Life personal statement essay revision service to anyone applying.

Keith G, Pre-PA

I can’t begin to explain how thrilled I am to have stumbled on this service. Like many other PA applicants, I was unsure of whether I was on the right track with my personal narrative. Reading Stephen’s two different PA school application essays showed me how to come up with something unique and creative, but the private personal statement review really made my essay shine.

Duke was so kind and helpful in helping me understand what admissions committees look for in a strong essay. Our phone conversations were so thorough, as we read through and discussed every word in my essay. Sue’s guidance helped me cut out the fluff to reach the character limit.

Melissa T. Pre-PA

The feedback that I received through The PA Life editing service was more detailed than I expected! It gave me a clear idea of what direction I need to take in regard to my personal statement. I absolutely loved the edits!

Crystal, Pre-PA

Mr. Pasquini was very patient, accommodating and direct in his editing/advice. He was honest, in a way that I needed due to the importance of the letter. I even picked up a few tips to enhance my writing from our meetings. Great experience and will definitely recommend him to others!

Alana P. Pre-PA

Very prompt response and turnaround time. While I did not speak with Duke over the phone, his team’s edits were thorough, clear and very helpful. Highly recommended.

Dave H. Pre-PA

Duke really pushed me to write from the heart and explore my true reasons for applying to PA school.  I was very pleased with the outcome.  I haven’t yet received an interview, but my fingers are crossed!

Emily P. Pre-PA

Sarah is amaaaaaaaaaaazing!! She is super kind and helpful. My original essay was very long at about 9,000 characters and I had no idea how to trim it down. Sarah helped me decide what to include and eliminate from my personal statement while correcting many of my grammatical errors. She was a complete professional and very easy to work with. I would recommend Sarah and The PA Life personal statement revision service to everyone, they are absolutely wonderful!

Fariha, Pre-PA

Having my essay edited proved extremely helpful. I was having trouble connecting my thoughts, and the edit helped so much. I haven’t found out about acceptance yet. I’m just now about to submit my application!

Amber, Pre-PA

I worked closely with Duke and Sue for the revisions on my personal statement. They must have edited my original version half a dozen times before they felt it was good enough to send off and never made it seem like an inconvenience. They always responded to my e-mails within a 24-hour time frame but usually got back to me within a few hours. I am very pleased with how my personal statement turned out thanks to all of their time, ideas and direction. The service the PA Life provides is well worth the money spent!

Personal Statement Collaborative

Michelle Murphy, Pre-PA

Hi, I am beyond words to express how I feel, I got accepted, contingent on background check which I think is a formality. I want to say boldly that I am going to be a PA, thanks to you. You will be always blessed for the wonderful service you provide.  You were very kind and worked beyond what I thought could be offered. Thanks again!

Pavithra, Pre-PA

My experience with the PA Life personal statement collaborative was simply remarkable. My editor did an outstanding job making sure that my personal statement reflected my BEST work and addressed all of my concerns regarding the essay and other questions I had about my application. I can’t thank you enough for all the help I received during this process. Thank you!

Erika, Pre-PA

I wanted to share exciting news with you – I got accepted to UT Health San Antonio’s Physician Assistant program!!! I am so thankful for ALL of your work and talent that was put into my personal statement and supplemental essays. I could not have gotten through this process without you. I extend a thank you from my mother, Tammy, as well. We were so blessed to be paired with you. Your hard work and dedication to helping me as a Pre-PA student-led to success during the application process. I hope 2021 is treating you well and you have a blessed year!

Aubrey, PA-S

Carly blew away all my expectations. She not only suggested edits to refine the content, but she also made grammatical and structural changes that fine-tuned my essay and allowed it to flow. I came into the editing process feeling hopeless about my personal statement, but with her edits, I feel confident that it will stand out. On top of all that, Carly was very timely in editing and returning my essay – I got it back within a few days! I’m very pleased with her service and recommend it to anyone out there who needs a fresh, professional set of eyes on their personal statement.

Stephanie, Pre-PA

I am pleased to tell you that I have been accepted to PA school, starting in 2-weeks.? I appreciate everything you have done for me, from helping with my personal statement to preparing me for interviews. You have been with me since the beginning of the application process and I really wanted to thank you.

Shane, Pre-PA

This was my third time applying to PA school and I wanted it to be my last so I figured getting help with the essay would make a difference in my application. Paying for the one on one service was the best idea I’ve had to date. Sarah was great in that she literally combined three different essays I had written into one phenomenal essay! I literally have no idea how she did it. Sarah helped me focus all of my thoughts and experience down into one concise, yet personal essay. I truly think this will help me get into PA school!

Anna M. PRE-PA

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101 PA School Admission Essays

Admissions Directors Know What They Want. Shouldn't You? You’re slaving away at your personal statement, but can’t help wondering if anyone will read past the first line. A troubling thought, isn’t…

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How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement

What Makes This Book Unique? We have worked with 1000’s of applicants through our Personal Statement and Essay Collaborative and have interviewed PA school faculty and Admissions Directors from 12…

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