Embarking on a career as a Physician Assistant (PA) in the United States is a commendable goal for International Medical Graduates (IMGs). However, as of 2025, evolving immigration policies have introduced new challenges to this journey. This comprehensive guide provides IMGs with essential insights into the PA application process, credential evaluations, prerequisite coursework, English proficiency requirements, healthcare experience acquisition, visa considerations, and strategies to craft a competitive application amidst the current immigration landscape.
About Stephen Pasquini PA-C
The 10 Best Cities for PAs to Move to in 2025
Discover the top 10 cities where physician assistants thrive in 2025! With PA jobs ranked #2 in healthcare and #4 overall by U.S. News, these professionals enjoy median salaries of $130,020+ and 28% projected growth. Find out which cities offer the best balance of high salaries, job availability, and affordable housing—from Baltimore’s exceptional 53% salary-to-home price ratio to Hartford’s overall winning combination.
Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) Strategies for PA School: A Comprehensive Guide
Preparing for PA school interviews can feel overwhelming, especially when facing the unique challenges of Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs). Unlike traditional interviews, MMIs involve a series of short, focused interactions at various stations, each designed to assess different aspects of your abilities. Whether it’s handling ethical dilemmas, behavioral questions, demonstrating communication skills, or thinking critically […]
How to Answer Behavioral Questions in Your PA School Interview
In this post, we share expert strategies and real-life examples to help you master these tricky questions. You’ll learn how to use the STAR method to structure your answers, tailor your responses to the specific program, and showcase your unique skills and empathy.
From Mock Interviews to PA Practice: Tolu Fannon Shares Her Journey
Gain valuable insights from Tolu Fannin, a practicing PA who shares her journey from being a pre-PA student to a mock interviewer. Learn tips for gaining experience, selecting a program, excelling in school, and thriving in your PA career.
The Most Important Reports and Data on Physician Assistants (PAs)
Navigating the wealth of information on physician assistant trends can be daunting. In this blog post, we delve into the most recent reports from PAEA, NCCPA, and AAPA, providing a distilled summary of crucial data. From salary insights to educational trends, we cover the essential statistics and developments shaping the PA profession today. Whether you’re a current or aspiring PA, this post is your go-to resource for staying updated on the latest in the field. Bookmark this page for easy access to the most current and relevant PA information.
How Much Does it Cost to go to Physician Assistant (PA) School?
So you are considering PA school? Great, now how are you going to pay for it? With the average undergraduate education debt prior to PA school at $36,300 and the average anticipated debt load from PA school at $112,500, it’s probably time to ask the next logical question: With an average undergraduate debt of $36,300 before […]
How to Change PA Specialties: Pain Management, Family Practice, Dermatology
Watch the Virtual Shadowing REPLAY featuring Cassie McGee, PA-C, as she shares her journey from Pain Management and Family Practice to Dermatology. Gain valuable insights into the life of a practicing PA and explore the reasons behind her specialty switch. Don’t miss this engaging Live Q&A session, full of personal experiences and professional wisdom, perfect for aspiring PAs and healthcare enthusiasts.
I’ve Been a PA for 18 Years, and Still, Nobody Knows What I Do for a Living
After 18 years as a physician assistant, I still struggle to explain my profession to patients. Join my frustrating yet amusing journey to convey my medical role. I’ll share my failed attempts and proposed solutions, including ideas like getting a PA character on Grey’s Anatomy. Together we can reshape the landscape of healthcare, one understanding at a time.
Everything You Need to Know About Being a PA (and then some)
The ultimate guide to the PA profession – Navigate every aspect from certifying bodies like NCCPA and PAEA to data on applicants, programs, rotations, certification, salary, and the growth of PAs. Learn critical stats on PA schools, the PA job market, and new developments shaping the role of physician associates globally.
Who Gets Into PA School in 2025? Here’s What You Need to Know
Leslie Mean is a 25-year-old single white female who presents to the PA school admissions committee on her second attempt to get into PA school. She has a 3.6 overall GPA and a 3.5 science GPA. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, had an SAT score of 1,200, and a GRE score of […]
Crafting the Perfect Letter of Recommendation for Your PA School Applicants
The Importance of Prioritizing Character Over Credentials As a preceptor and mentor for PA school applicants, I am frequently asked to write CASPA letters of recommendation. For years, when writing letters of recommendation, I had a specific process that I followed. First and foremost, I only agree to write letters for individuals whom I know […]
What is a PA? How to Nail This Not-So-Easy Interview Question
“Can you tell me what a PA is?” This is a simple question with a complex answer – It is one of the most common questions posed during a PA school interview. We will teach you how to navigate this question by deep-diving into the essence of a PA and offering guidance on how to answer this question in a personally meaningful and authentic way during an interview.
Will AI Phase Out Physician Assistants? Not on My Watch!
Will PAs Survive the Upcoming AI Revolution? As a seasoned PA, I’ve seen many changes sweep across the medical field. Advancements in technology, shifts in healthcare policy, and evolving patient expectations have continuously reshaped our profession. But there’s a new buzzword on the block: Artificial Intelligence (AI). Like an overzealous cloud, the question that hovers […]
The Ultimate June Checklist for PA School Applicant Success
In June, PA school applicants can focus on finalizing their applications, preparing for interviews, and networking with PAs. This checklist outlines the most important tasks to complete in June for a successful PA school application.
Why Our Program? How to Answer This Common Supplemental Essay and Interview Question
Why our program? As you begin your PA school application process, one of the most common supplemental essay and interview questions you may encounter is, “Why our program?” This is an opportunity for you to explain why you are specifically interested in attending that particular college or university and why it is a good fit […]
50 PA School Supplemental Essay Prompts You Need to Know
If you are applying to PA school, you know that writing a strong personal statement is not enough. You also need to craft compelling supplemental essays that showcase your fit for each program and highlight your unique strengths and experiences. Supplemental essays are extra questions asked by individual PA programs to find out more about […]
ChatGPT Answers the Top 46 PA School Applicant Interview Questions
Just be yourself! This is the one piece of interview advice we have all heard a gazillion times. Maybe you heeded this advice but failed to get into PA school. Or, maybe, like many, advice to “just be oneself” while examining one’s greatest weaknesses doesn’t’ bode well for confidence? Be myself? But who’s that exactly? […]
How to Add Virtual Shadowing to Your CASPA Application
In this blog post, I provide tips and resources for finding and completing virtual shadowing experiences and how to effectively include them in your CASPA application for PA school.
Here’s What a REAL PA School Interview Looks Like (in 2024)
Are you applying to PA school in 2024? Here are the interview details from an accepted PA school applicant. This is an email I received from one of our mock interview clients. He describes in detail the elements of his PA school interview and how he successfully approached each portion. I am sharing it with […]
The Ultimate PA School Applicant Logbook – Track HCE, PCE, Volunteer Hours, Schools, Costs (and more!)
As applicants to PA school, we have a lot on our plate. Between prerequisite coursework, health care experience requirements, shadowing, volunteering, and more – it’s a lot to keep track of! This is where The Ultimate PA School Applicant Logbook comes in. This logbook was designed by PA school applicants (who know the process intimately!) […]
Personal Statement Panel Review (Replay)
We successfully launched our first large group live event on April 28, 2022, to celebrate the opening of CASPA! Just as AdComs are not uniform in how they react to personal statements, neither is our team! In this personal statement panel review, we analyze essays from clients who have been accepted into PA school to illustrate […]
PA School Reapplicant Personal Statement Checklist
Are you reapplying to PA school and wondering if you should update or rewrite your PA school essay? There are a few reasons to update your personal statement as a reapplicant. For one, AdComs at the schools where you’ve previously applied can compare your essay with the prior year’s personal statements. Secondly, after a year, […]
PA School Reapplicants: How to Rewrite Your PA School Essay for Guaranteed Success
Are you reapplying to PA school after not gaining acceptance in the last round? What will you do with your old personal statement? Toss it completely? Change a few details and cross your fingers? The answer is somewhere in the middle. What should you do with your original PA school personal statement as a PA […]
Physician Assistants: What We Are and What We Are Not
Physician assistants are not assistants to doctors or just nurse practitioners with a different title. In this article I outline what PAs are and what we are not. How we differ from other medical professions and our similarities. Learn all about the PA profession and see if maybe it’s right for you.
How to Squash PA School Interview Day Stress (4 Simple Steps)
A four-step plan to ease your mind and boost your confidence ahead of the big day. Imagine you’ve landed an interview at your dream PA program. But once you enter the interview room, you freeze up. Your mind goes blank, and you lose access to all those thoughtfully crafted answers you’ve prepared. Needless to say, […]
How to Choose the Best Undergraduate Major to Get into PA school
You already know that the best PA programs want applicants with an excellent GPA and a solid background in healthcare and science. But if you’re not sure what major to choose, this guide will help you decide!
Sticker Shock Alert! This is The Real Cost of Applying to PA School in 2024
PA students will encounter a number of costs along the way to enrolling in physician assistant/associate (PA) school. Here’s a look at what these costs are and some ways you can save money on your PA school application.
Podcast Episode 90: Ten PANCE, PANRE, and Rotation Review Questions
Welcome to episode 90 of the Audio PANCE and PANRE Physician Assistant/Associate Board Review Podcast. Join me as I cover ten PANCE, PANRE and EOR review questions from the Smarty PANCE Instagram/Facebook page and the smartypance.com board review website. Special from today’s episode: Follow Smarty PANCE and The Daily PANCE Blueprint on Instagram Follow Smarty […]
Little Big Men: The Rise of Kenya’s Clinical Officer
This is part ten of a ten-part docuseries of PAs around the world. Today we travel to Kenya and meet the dedicated pioneers and healthcare heroes who would become Kenya’s first Clinical Officers (CO).
