If you have three, four, or even five months until you start PA school, here are three things you can do right now to make sure you are prepared for when you walk in the door.
How to Be a Better PA Part 1: Nurses, Lab Techs, and X-Ray Technicians
This is part one of a special three-part podcast series by Joe Gilboy PA-C on becoming a better PA. Part one is all about building amazing relationships with our nurses and ancillary staff. You may be thinking to yourself, “Hey Stephen, I thought this podcast was about the PANCE and PANRE.” “How does talking about […]
PA Programs with a 100% 5-Year PANCE Pass Rate
When deciding which PA school to attend, PANCE pass rates often enter the discussion. Although I agree that five-year PANCE pass rates reflect well on a PA program, I don’t believe they should be the most important part of your PA school decision matrices. Many factors can affect a PA programs PANCE pass rates, and […]
Don’t Make This Critical PA School Interview Mistake!
Practice, practice, practice, for your PA school interview! But whatever you do, don’t sound rehearsed. We all know how important practicing is before interview day, but make sure you remember that memorizing answers is the kiss of death! In many ways, practicing is about confidence. When you’ve seen and heard the questions before, you’ve considered […]
Laos: The Birthplace of the U.S. Physician Assistant?
This is part nine of a ten-part series by documentary filmmaker Adam Halbur on the PA model around the world. Today we go back to where some may say the PA profession first got its start. The country of Laos. Reincarnation: Returning to the Birthplace of the U.S. Physician Assistant This blog will be brief, as was […]
Podcast Episode 85: Ten Mixed Multiple Choice Questions
Welcome to episode 85 of the Audio PANCE and PANRE PA Board Review Podcast. Join me as I cover ten PANCE and PANRE Board review questions from the SMARTYPANCE course content following the NCCPA™ content blueprint (download the FREE cheat sheet). Special from today’s episode: Download your copy of the Free Trello Smarty PANCE NCCPA™ Blueprint […]
Who’s Your Average PA? Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Meet Melissa Mean. She is a 38-year-old female physician assistant working in New York State, earning $123,080 per year. She holds a master’s degree in physician assistant studies with a bachelor’s of science in biochemistry from Penn State University. She works 40.3 hours per week in an office-based family medicine practice. She is not bilingual […]
Cardiac Pharmacology Part One: The Audio PANCE and PANRE Episode 84
Welcome to episode 84 of the Audio PANCE and PANRE PA Board Review Podcast Today we welcome back PA board review expert Joe Gilboy PA-C as he covers the exceptionally important topic of cardiac pharmacology. Below you will find a downloadable audio version of this podcast as well as links to resources mentioned in today’s episode. […]
Why Choose PA Over NP? Here’s the Perfect Answer
A common PA school interview question that stumps many well-intentioned PA school interviewees is “Why did you choose PA over NP?” This is a classic question that you must be prepared to answer. Do you have an answer? How to answer the PA vs. NP interview question without being offensive Here is a clip from […]
How Much Money do Physician Assistants (PAs) Make?
Physician Assistant Salary and Compensation “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill How Much do PAs Make? According to the latest NCCPA data, the average projected salary of certified PAs in 2023 is $117,381 per year or $56.43/hour ($115,470 in 2022), and the […]
31 (NEW) CASPA PA School Personal Statement Examples
Several years ago, I published a blog post titled 31 Physician Assistant Personal Statement Examples, which has been viewed over half a million times. The chance to read other people’s PA school essays proved so enticing that we even wrote a book about it. It’s called 101 CASPA PA school personal statement examples and is […]
What are Three Things You Wish You Could Say to Your Pre-PA Self?
Life is full of regrets because life is full of choice. I have collected a few regrets over the years, and if I were a betting man, I would guess you have some as well? Regrets come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes it’s insignificant like choosing the wrong entree at a restaurant. Sometimes it’s […]
How to Answer Tricky PANCE and PANRE Test Questions Part 2: Podcast Episode 83
Welcome to episode 83 of the Audio PANCE and PANRE PA Board Review Podcast Join me as we welcome Joe Gilboy PA-C back again to cover best practices that make answering even the toughest PANCE and PANRE Board review questions (and EOR exam questions) a breeze! Below you will find interactive audio with clips covering the […]
What’s Your #1 Personal Statement Struggle?
Are you struggling to write your PA School personal statement? Are you afraid your essay doesn’t stand out, it’s over the character count, or worse yet, it doesn’t even answer the simple question: “Why do I want to be a PA? Well, you are not alone! This year, as part of our PA school collaborative […]
The Australian Physician Assistant: The PA Model Around the World
This is part eight of a ten-part series by documentary filmmaker Adam Halbur on the PA model around the world. Today we take a captivating look into the life of Australia’s pioneering physician assistants. Holy Hell!: The Aussie PA’s determination If I learned anything about physician assistants from Australia, it is that the profession can […]
Made by PA: Rapid and Reliable ECG Interpretation With The EKG DDX App
Hello, fellow and future PAs! My name is Craig Hricz, and I am a PA with over 20 years of emergency medicine experience who transitioned into formal PA education about six years ago. I am fortunate to be able to continue to work clinically. This combination of clinical and classroom experience led me to what […]
How to Write the Perfect Physician Assistant Cover Letter
Whether you are applying to PA school, to your first PA job, or you are a seasoned PA interested in an exciting new career possibility, you are likely worried most about constructing an effective resume. But, one of the most overlooked and underrated components of the application is the cover letter. Like the PA school […]
You Have 625 Words and 2.5 Minutes to Get Into PA School: Use Them Wisely
The average person’s reading speed is about 250 words per minute. The CASPA personal statement allows a 5,000-character count (about 625 words). Therefore, a full-length statement would take an average of 2.5 minutes to read. If a PA program received 1,000 applications meeting or exceeding minimum screening qualifications, reading all of these personal statements would […]
How to Answer the Hardest PANCE and PANRE Test Questions: Podcast Episode 82
Welcome to episode 82 of the Audio PANCE and PANRE PA Board Review Podcast Join me as we welcome Joe Gilboy PA-C back again to cover best practices that make answering even the toughest PANCE and PANRE Board review questions (and EOR exam questions) a breeze! Below you will find interactive audio breaking down each […]
Podcast Episode 81: Internal Medicine EOR Cardiology Questions
Welcome to episode 81 of the Audio PANCE and PANRE PA Board Review Podcast. Join me as I cover ten internal medicine rotation EOR content blueprint questions from the Smarty PANCE physician assistant board and rotation review website. Special from today’s episode: Check out the new Smarty PANCE Internal Medicine Rotation (EOR) Review Course Download […]
7 Rules You Must Follow While Writing Your PA School Essay
You know you’re in a war, right? PA school, once a bastion for rebels looking to buck the normal medical school model is now more competitive than ever. The CASPA application is full of standard metrics like GPA, GRE scores, prerequisite requirements, and college transcripts which make it hard to differentiate yourself from the pack. […]
How to Study for Your PANCE: Podcast Episode 79
If you can’t see the audio player click here to listen to the full episode. Podcast Episode 79: How to Study for Your PANCE Welcome to episode 79 of the Audio PANCE and PANRE PA Board Review Podcast. In this episode 35-year PA veteran and PANCE/PANRE board review expert Joe Gilboy PA-C shares his top […]
12 Secrets to Writing an Irresistible PA School Personal Statement
In our book “How to write your PA School personal statement,” we interviewed twelve PA school administrators from twelve top-ranking PA programs across the country in search of answers to a simple question: What do PA school administrators want to see in your PA school essay? The results of this search, summarized in the first […]
Can the PA-CAT® Exam Predict PA School Success?
With over 1115,000 PAs actively working in the US and a projected increase of 37% through 2025, it is fair to say that the PA profession is growing. Along with a burgeoning clinician demand for PAs, there is an even more significant burden placed on PA academic programs to recognize those individuals best prepared for […]
The Indian Physician Assistant (PA): Past, Present, and Future
The Indian PA: Past, Present, and Future This is part eight of a nine-part series by documentary filmmaker Adam Halbur on the PA model around the world. Today we take a fascinating look into the real-life of India’s pioneering PAs. The Chicken Came from the Egg or Miles and Miles to Go before We Go […]
The Worst PA School Interview Question Ever!
Picture yourself rocking through your PA school interview when one of the interviewers asks… The. Worst. Question. Ever. It’s been jokingly referred to as a buzzkill, but it can have serious adverse effects on an interview, undermining confidence and scattering coherent thoughts. What is it? Take a listen to Pre-PA Taylor Hill answer the question in a […]
Podcast Episode 77: The Audio PANCE and PANRE Board Review Podcast
Welcome to episode 77 of the Audio PANCE and PANRE PA Board Review Podcast. Join me as I cover ten PANCE and PANRE Board review questions from the SMARTYPANCE course content following the NCCPA™ content blueprint (download the FREE cheat sheet). Special from today’s episode: Download your copy of the Free Trello Smarty PANCE NCCPA™ […]
The 5 Best Books for Aspiring Physician Assistants
Are you looking for the best books on how to get into PA school? The sheer number of books and resources for those interested in PA school or wishing to learn more about the PA Professions has grown in lockstep with the PA profession. While the timeless classic The Ultimate Guide to Getting Into Physician […]
South Africa’s Clinical Associate (Clin-A): The PA Model Around The World
This is part seven of a nine-part series by documentary filmmaker Adam Halbur on the PA model around the world. Today we take a fascinating look into the real-life of South Africa’s pioneering PA-like clinical associates. South Africa’s Clinical Associate (Clin-A) Starting with programs at Walter Sisulu University and the University of Pretoria (2008) and […]
Mastering Your PA School Interview: Tone Matters
In your PA school interview, there will inevitably be answers that tempt you to go negative. Don’t do it! Resist the urge to throw someone under the bus – no matter how much they may deserve it. There will be several questions where you’ll be inclined to be pessimistic. Describe a situation where your work […]
