Patient Care and Healthcare Experience for PA School
'GPA and performance in the prerequisites are undeniably very important but a meaningful HCE is a near second!' - Duke Physician Assistant ProgramClick To TweetToday we are going to tackle step 2 of my 5 steps to PA school series by taking a very detailed look at healthcare experience requirements for PA school.
Included, in this discussion is a side-by-side comparison of healthcare experience requirements of all PA programs in the United States.
PA is different from most other health professions in that to be competitive as an applicant it often requires a very large number of hours of paid healthcare experience.
But the question remains: How many hours of healthcare-related experience do you need to give yourself a competitive advantage along with a broad range of application options in the shortest amount of time?
What do you think?
Healthcare Experience Requirements for PA School
Below is a table comparing the hours of healthcare experience required and type of healthcare experience requested by the majority of Physician Assistant Programs in the United States.
Here are some of the fields that are typically accepted by most programs:
- Military Corpsman
- EMT or paramedic
- Combat Medic
- Registered Nurse (RN), BSN, LPN
- EEG or EKG technician
- Emergency room technician
- Physical therapy aide
- Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Medical Assistant (MA)
- Respiratory Therapist
- Dietician
- Phlebotomist
- International healthcare based mission trips
- Hospice
- Medical Technologist
- Licensed Practical Nurse
- Dental Hygienist OR Technologist
- X-Ray Technologist
- Physical/Occupational Therapist
- Medical Social Worker Mental
- Health Care Counselor
- Aide in Dialysis Unit
- Optometry Assistant
- Chiropractic Assistant
We have had many military medics as students in our program. This experience is a great foundation for the profession. - Elissa Love, BCM PA Program in Houston
Here are some activities that are typically not accepted by most programs:
- Taking care of a family member is not really clinical experience. You can mention it and talk about the clinical care you provided, but it's not really what PA schools are looking for. (Although you should take care of your family)
- Observation of any kind (i.e., shadowing a physician or PA)
- Conducting research
- Helping in the health center at a summer camp
- Medical records personnel or clerical worker in a medical office or hospital
- Pharmacy technician/clerk
- Training without employment (such as EMT/MICT, etc.)
- Healthcare experience which is part of a healthcare training program (i.e., clinical rotations, fieldwork, or internships)
- Providing first aid as a coach, scout leader, etc
See more detailed list at the end of this post
Here are some activities that are highly variable:
- Medical Scribe is one of those very gray areas in that it provides exposure but is not always hands-on. Many schools accept it and many don't.
- Working as a medical interpreter
- Volunteering
- Athletic trainer
"We strongly believe that HCE is a predictor of success because it readies the student for the clinical environment, introduces them to pathophysiology, and prepares them for the rigor of our program and the demands and high standard of our didactic and clinical years." - Case Western Reserve University
Healthcare Experience vs. Patient Care Experience. What's the difference?
In the CASPA experience section, you will be asked to enter both patient care and healthcare experience hours.
They sound like the same thing, but It's important that you understand the difference as you can only enter each experience once and schools may prefer one over the other.
Patient Care Experience (PCE): Experiences in which you are directly responsible for a patient's care. For example, prescribing medication, performing procedures, directing a course of treatment, designing a treatment regimen, actively working on patients as a nurse, paramedic, EMT, CNA, phlebotomist, physical therapist, dental hygienist, etc.
Healthcare Experience (HCE): Both paid and unpaid work in a health or health-related field where you are not directly responsible for a patient's care, but may still have patient interaction; for example, filling prescriptions, performing clerical work, delivering patient food, cleaning patients and/or their rooms, administering food or medication, taking vitals or other record-keeping information, working as a scribe, CNA (depending on the job description), medical assistant, etc.
To make it simple, think of patient care experience as hands-on patient care hours. Everything else is healthcare experience. It's also important not to "double-dip." You can enter your experience only once, but you can divide your experience hours from one job into both PCE and HCE.
For example, say you work at an interventional pain medicine clinic where you spend half your time at the front desk answering calls and the other half of your time as a patient care technician assisting in the surgery center. If you had 2000 hours of experience split equally, you would enter 1000 hours as HCE and the other 1000 hours as PCE. Problem solved!
"If one school accepts your experience as patient care experience, list it under patient care in CASPA. And the schools that don't count it as patient care let them make the decision to consider those healthcare hours so you don't jeopardize your chances at a program that does see them as direct patient care." - James Kim PA-S
According to the latest PAEA program survey and report, for those applicants accepted to PA school, the average student had 2,664 patient contact experience hours. Accepted students had, on average, 756 hours of “other healthcare experience”, 338 hours of community service, 2,155 hours of other work experience, and 94 hours of healthcare shadowing.
PA School Applicant Quick Tip:
Here is my healthcare experience prior to PA school
- Two years working hands-on as an outpatient and inpatient phlebotomist and lab technician at the University of Washington Hospital as an undergraduate and one year part-time in the outpatient clinic.
- Two years working for the Puget Sound Blood Center as a Senior Mobile Phlebotomist after graduation
- Three months working with special needs youth through Seattle Parks and Recreation
- One year working in medical records and shadowing with the PAs and doctors as a freshman at the UW (this is how I got my start in the hospital)
- Many hours volunteering in patient transport and at Seattle Children's Hospital
- Certification as an EMT (although I never worked as one so I guess this doesn't count, but it sounds good 🙂 )
Total hours: Upwards of 5,000 hands-on patient care hours + many as a volunteer
Take a minute (or thirty) to browse through the table and I will meet you again at the bottom for a heated discussion! (as well as the answer to the survey question above)
Table: Healthcare Experience Requirements by Physician Assistant Program (204 programs)
Physician Assistant Program | State | Healthcare Experience Requirement |
---|---|---|
Adventist University of Health Sciences | Florida | 2,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
Albany Medical College | New York | 1,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
Alderson-Broaddus University | West Virginia | Not required |
Anne Arundel Community College | Maryland | Preferred/recommended |
Arcadia University | Pennsylvania | 200 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Arizona School of Health Sciences | Arizona | Preferred/recommended |
Augsburg College | Minnesota | Preferred/recommended |
Baldwin Wallace University | Ohio | Preferred/recommended |
Barry University | Florida, Virgin Islands | Preferred/recommended |
Bay Path College | Massachusetts | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
Baylor College of Medicine | Texas | Not required |
Bethel University | Tennessee | Preferred/recommended |
Bethel University | Minnesota | 250 hours
Acceptable Experience: Not specified |
Boston University | Massachusetts | Not required |
Bryant University | Rhode Island | 2,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
Butler University | Indiana | Not required |
Campbell University | North Carolina | 1,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
Carroll University | Wisconsin | 150 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
CCNY Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education | New York | Not required |
Central Michigan University | Michigan | 100 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Chapman University | California | 1,000 hours
health care related work experience, paid or voluntary. |
Chatham University | Pennsylvania | Preferred/recommended |
Christian Brothers University | Tennessee | See Program Website |
Clarkson University | New York | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Concordia University | Wisconsin | 124 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Cornell University | New York | No minimum
200 hour recommended.Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
CUNY York College | New York | 200 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Cuyahoga Community College/Cleveland State University | Ohio | Preferred/recommended |
D'youville College | New York | 80 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
Daemen College | New York | 120 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Des Moines University | Iowa | 750 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Desales University | Pennsylvania | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Drexel University | Pennsylvania | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
Duke University Medical Center | North Carolina | 1,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
Duquesne University | Pennsylvania | Not required |
East Carolina University | North Carolina | See Program Website |
Eastern Michigan University | Michigan | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Eastern Virginia Medical School | Virginia | Preferred/recommended |
Elon University | North Carolina | 250 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Emory University | Georgia | 2,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
Franklin Pierce University | New Hampshire | See Program Website |
Gannon University | Pennsylvania | 30 hours
Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
Gardner Webb University | North Carolina | Preferred/recommended |
George Washington University | District of Columbia | 1,000 hours |
Georgia Regents University | Georgia | See Program Website |
Grand Valley State University | Michigan | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Harding University | Arkansas | 100 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (FIU) | Florida | See Program Website |
Heritage University | Washington | 1,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
High Point University | North Carolina | 200 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
Hofstra University | New York | 100 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Howard University | District of Columbia | 100 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Idaho State University | Idaho | Not required |
Indiana State University | Indiana | Preferred/recommended |
Indiana University School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences | Indiana | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Interservice | Texas | see program website |
James Madison University | Virginia | 1,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
Jefferson College of Health Sciences | Virginia | 500 hours
Acceptable experience not specified |
Johnson & Wales University | Rhode Island | 250 hours
Direct patient care in the United States and in an allopathic or osteopathic medical setting. |
Keiser University | Florida | see program website |
Kettering College | Ohio | Preferred/recommended |
King's College | Pennsylvania | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Lake Erie College | Ohio | 250 hours
At least 50 of the 250 hours must be from direct shadowing of a licensed physician assistant. Here is the form for PA shadowing. Although this form does not need to be used exclusively, all prospective students will need to retain documentation. Documentation must be available for verification. |
Le Moyne College | New York | 750 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Lenoir-Rhyne University | North Carolina | Not required |
Lincoln Memorial | Tennessee | Preferred/recommended |
Lock Haven University | Pennsylvania | see program website |
Loma Linda University | California | 2,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
Long Island University | New York | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Louisiana State University - New Orleans | Louisiana | 80 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Louisiana State University - Shreveport | Louisiana | 80 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
Lynchburg College | Virginia | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Marietta College | Ohio | Preferred/recommended |
Marist College | New York | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
Marquette University | Wisconsin | 200 hours
Acceptable experience not specified. |
Marshall B. Ketchum University | California | Preferred/recommended |
Mary Baldwin College | Virginia | see program website |
Marywood University | Pennsylvania | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
MCPHS University (Boston) | Massachusetts | Preferred/recommended |
MCPHS University (Manchester/Worcester) | New Hampshire | Preferred/recommended |
MCPHS University (Manchester/Worcester) | Massachusetts | Preferred/recommended |
Medical University of South Carolina | South Carolina | Preferred/recommended |
Mercer University | Georgia | 1,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Mercy College | New York | Preferred/recommended |
Mercyhurst University | Pennsylvania | 200 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Methodist University | North Carolina | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
MGH Institute of Health Professions | Massachusetts | see program website |
Miami-Dade College | Florida | see program website |
Midwestern University (Downers Grove) | Illinois | Preferred/recommended |
Midwestern University (Glendale) | Arizona | Preferred/recommended |
Misericordia University | Pennsylvania | Preferred/recommended |
Mississippi College | Mississippi | 1,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Missouri State University | Missouri | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
Monmouth University | New Jersey | 200 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
New York Institute of Technology | New York | 100 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Northeastern University | Massachusetts | 2,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
Northern Arizona University | Arizona | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Northwestern University | Illinois | see program website |
Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale | Florida | Preferred/recommended |
Nova Southeastern University, Jacksonville | Florida | Preferred/recommended |
Nova Southeastern University, Orlando | Florida | Preferred/recommended |
Nova Southeastern University, Southwest Florida | Florida | Preferred/recommended |
Ohio Dominican University | Ohio | 250 hours
Acceptable experience not specified |
Oregon Health & Science University | Oregon | 2,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
Our Lady of the Lake College | Florida | 1,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Pace University | New York | 200 hours
Acceptable Experience Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
Pacific University | Oregon | 1,000 hours |
Penn State University | Pennsylvania | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Pennsylvania College of Technology | Pennsylvania | see program website |
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine | Pennsylvania | see program website |
Philadelphia University | Pennsylvania | 200 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Quinnipiac University | Connecticut | see program website |
Red Rocks Community College | Colorado | 2,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
Rochester Institute of Technology | New York | Preferred/recommended |
Rocky Mountain College | Montana | 250 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions | Utah | 250 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
Rosalind Franklin Univ of Medicine | Illinois | Preferred/recommended |
Rush University | Illinois | see program website |
Rutgers University | New Jersey | Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Saint Catherine University | Minnesota | Preferred/recommended |
Saint Francis University | Pennsylvania | Preferred/recommended |
Saint Louis University | Missouri | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
Salus University | Pennsylvania | 300 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
Samuel Merritt College | California | see program website |
San Joaquin Valley College | California | see program website |
Seton Hall University | New Jersey | 100 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Seton Hill University | Pennsylvania | 300 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Shenandoah University | Virginia | Preferred/recommended |
South College | Tennessee | see program website |
South University | Georgia | Preferred/recommended |
South University, Tampa | Florida | see program website |
Southern Illinois University | Illinois | Preferred/recommended |
Springfield College | Massachusetts | see program website |
St. Ambrose University | Iowa | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
St. John's University | New York | Preferred/recommended |
Stanford University | California | 3,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
Stony Brook University | New York | 1,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
Sullivan University | Kentucky | 250 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
SUNY Downstate Medical Center | New York | A minimum of 225 hours of health-related experience |
SUNY Upstate Medical Center | New York | 1,000 hours
health care related volunteer or employment experience-direct patient care preferred. |
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center | Texas | 40 hours
Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Thomas Jefferson University | Pennsylvania | Preferred/recommended |
Touro College (Bay Shore) | New York | see program website |
Touro College (Manhattan) | New York | see program website |
Touro University - California | California | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
Touro University Las Vegas | Nevada | Preferred/recommended
Paid experience with hands-on patient care Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Towson University CCBC - Essex | Maryland | 800 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Trevecca Nazarene University | Tennessee | Preferred/recommended |
Tufts University School of Medicine | Massachusetts | 1,000 hours
Acceptable Experience Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
Union College | Nebraska | 480 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
University of Alabama at Birmingham | Alabama | Preferred/recommended |
University of Arkansas | Arkansas | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
University of Bridgeport | Connecticut | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
University of California-Davis | California | 1,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
University of Charleston | West Virginia | Preferred/recommended |
University of Colorado | Colorado | see program website |
University of Dayton | Ohio | 250 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant. |
University of Detroit/Mercy | Michigan | 1,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
University of Findlay | Ohio | Preferred/recommended |
University of Florida | Florida | Preferred/recommended |
University of Iowa | Iowa | 1,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
University of Kentucky | Kentucky | 1,050 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant. |
University of Missouri - Kansas City | Missouri | Preferred/recommended |
University of Mount Union | Ohio | see program website |
University of Nebraska | Nebraska | Preferred/recommended |
University of New England | Maine | 250 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
University of New Mexico | New Mexico | 1,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
University of North Carolina | North Carolina | see program website |
University of North Dakota | North Dakota | 5,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
University of North Texas HS Center Ft Worth | Texas | Not required |
University Of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | Preferred/recommended |
University of Oklahoma, Tulsa | Oklahoma | Preferred/recommended |
University of Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care |
University of South Alabama | Alabama | Not required |
University of South Dakota | South Dakota | Preferred/recommended |
University of Southern California | California | Preferred/recommended |
University of St. Francis | New Mexico | see program website |
University of St. Francis (Fort Wayne) | Indiana | 1,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
University of Tennessee Health Science Center | Tennessee | 1,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
University of Texas - HS Center at San Antonio | Texas | Preferred/recommended |
University of Texas - Medical Branch at Galveston | Texas | Not required |
University of Texas - Pan American | Texas | 50 hours
Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
University of the Cumberlands | Kentucky | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
University of the Sciences of Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | 400 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
University of Toledo | Ohio | Preferred/recommended |
University of Utah | Utah | 2,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
University of Washington | Washington | 2,000 hours acceptable but 4000 hours recommended
Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse | Wisconsin | see program website |
University of Wisconsin - Madison | Wisconsin | see program website |
Wagner College | New York | see program website |
Wake Forest University | North Carolina | 1,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care. Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care. Shadowing a physician or physician assistant |
Wayne State University | Michigan | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
West Liberty University | West Virginia | Preferred/recommended |
Western Michigan University | Michigan | 1,000 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
Western University of Health Sciences | California | see program website |
Wichita State University | Kansas | see program website |
Wingate University | North Carolina | 500 hours
Paid experience with hands-on patient care |
Yale University School of Medicine | Connecticut | Competitive applicants are recommended (but not required) to have a minimum of six months full-time healthcare employment, or 1,000 total hours of hands-on patient care experience and/or community service in a healthcare setting. (see website) |
If you found this table useful please share it with everyone you know :-). If you would like more info, updates from the blog and occasional free goodies please make sure to sign up for my email newsletter.
PA Program Experience Requirements by the Numbers
If you crunch the numbers, the table above reveals some very interesting facts:
- A total of 32 programs require 1,000 hours (11%)
- Only 8 of 288 PA programs nationwide require 2,000 hours (2.7%)
- Only 1 program requires no healthcare experience whatsoever (0.03%)
- A total of 84 programs label healthcare experience as preferred/recommended (35.29%)
- The rest are somewhere in-between (49%) with 59 schools (22%) requiring only 500 hours
What do you mean by healthcare "hours"?
Just in case you are wondering: 2,000 hours is the standard definition of one year of full-time work.
Simply put, there are 52 weeks in a year, assuming 2 weeks of vacation and a standard 40 hours of work per week: 50 x 40 = 2,000.
Thus, a school requiring 1,000 hours would mean you could work part-time for one year and meet the healthcare experience requirements.
On the others side of the coin, a school such as Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center which used to require 40 hours of health care experience means you could have worked one day and then quit. 😉
By now you may be saying "This is great news, Stephen, only 11% of schools require more than 1,000 hours of healthcare experience, I can take it easy!"
Not so fast!
If you have read my post "Who Gets Into PA School? Here’s What You Need to Know" you may have noticed that according to the latest PAEA Annual Report on Physician Assistant Educational Programs in the United States, on average, among matriculating students just above 1 year (roughly 2,300 hours) of prior experience is most common.
You can see the full breakdown below:
Just in case you are lazy curious I have included a list of links to PA programs which do not require healthcare experience (HCE) hours to apply.
PA programs in which no prior healthcare experience is required: 3 schools
Currently, there are 3 PA schools that do not require healthcare experience upon application.
PA programs with healthcare experience NOT REQUIRED but RECOMMENDED/PREFERRED: 84 schools
Currently, there are 84 PA schools that have no healthcare experience minimums but to be competitive it is preferred/recommended.
What constitutes healthcare experience (HCE)
As you can see from the table above, the acceptable experiential preparation requirements varies from school to school.
Most schools report accepting:
- Paid experience with hands-on patient care
- Volunteer experience with hands-on patient care
- Shadowing a physician or physician assistant as acceptable HCE.
Many schools don't accept shadowing or volunteer hours as acceptable HCE so, as always, you must check the school website and contact the PA program directly if you have any questions whatsoever.
In the PAEA graphs and tables above you may have noticed that HCE was broken down into 6 general categories. This is because CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistants) has 6 experience categories for reporting work and volunteer activities and the PAEA report is based on CASPA applicants.
Again, some PA programs will not accept HCE outside of the patient care experience category, although many do.
CASPA Reporting Work and Volunteer Experiences Categories
For a wonderfully detailed look at how to report work and/or volunteer experience in each of these categories I recommend you check out Paul Gonzales' amazingly thorough explanation on his blog "Trust me, I'm a PA Student".
The six CASPA reporting categories are as follows:
1. Patient Care ExperienceThis is the most important section. List experiences in which you are directly responsible for a patient’s care; for example: prescribing medication, performing procedures, directing a course of treatment, working on patients as an active EMT, etc.
2. Other Health Care Experience
You are working in the health or a health-related field but are not directly responsible for a patient’s care; for example, filling prescriptions, performing clerical work, delivering patient food, cleaning patient rooms, working as a “Candy Striper” or hospital volunteer, etc.
3. Health Care Shadowing
Time spent officially following and observing a health care professional at work.
4. Research
Research projects done in addition to classroom work; research should NOT appear as credit on a school transcript.
5. Community Service
Volunteer work done outside of the healthcare field; for example, working for Habitat for Humanity, tutoring children, participating in or working for a fundraiser walk or blood drive, etc.
6. Other Work Experience
Paid work done outside of the healthcare field; for example a retail or restaurant job.
Let's look at what some of the PA schools themselves are recommending for HCE:
Upstate Medical University’s Definition
Documentation of 1000 hours will be required prior to matriculation.
Preferred experiences: Military corpsmen or medic, nursing (ex. certified nurse assistant, nurses aide, RN, home health care aide), EMT’s employed full time (active hours only for EMT volunteers), paramedic, medical technologist, massage therapist, radiation therapist, respiratory therapist, phlebotomist, X-Ray technologist, medical imaging, clinical counselor, medical assistant, chiropractor, PT or PT aide, athletic trainer, New Visions, volunteer experience with direct patient care.
Acceptable: Shadowing a health care professional (200 hours maximum), Pharmaceutical Sales with patient contact, health-related research (will be reviewed on an individual basis), pharmacy technician (100 hours maximum).
Yale Physician Assistant Program Definition
Competitive applicants are recommended (but not required) to have a minimum of six months full-time healthcare employment, or 1,000 total hours of hands-on patient care experience and/or community service in a healthcare setting. Preference is given to applicants having experience that requires a period of training and results in direct (hands-on) patient care.
- Examples include: EMT, Paramedic, Registered Nurse, Medical Assistant, CNA, ER Tech, Physical Therapy Aide
- Hours associated with the completion of academic degrees, certifications, or training will not count
Evidence of community service (i.e., healthcare for underserved populations, medical mission trips) is highly valued.
Northeastern Physician Assistant Program Definition
Evidence of significant direct hands-on patient care experience is required in order for applicants to have a basic understanding of and comfort with patient care as well as a minimum level of clinical maturity. Strongest preference will be given to applicants who have approximately 2000 hours of hands-on patient care experience prior to applying to the program. Applicants with less than 2000 hours may also be given consideration depending upon the strength of their entire application.
- Hands-on patient care involves working one-on-one with patients and doing procedures that require touching patients yourself including, but not limited to:
- taking vital signs
- drawing blood
- doing EKGs
- changing bandages and dressings
- casting and splinting
- removing sutures and staples
- bathing and toileting
- A partial list of hands-on patient care positions includes, but is not limited to:
- certified nursing assistant
- medical/clinical assistant
- ER tech
- EMT doing more than patient transfer
- physical therapy assistant
- paramedic
- nurse
- physical therapist
- respiratory therapist
- medical corpsman
Full-time paid employment done after completing your bachelor’s degree is always most competitive!
Health Care Experience that is NOT ACCEPTABLE for PA School
Just as it is important to know what to report as HCE, it is equally important to know what not to report.
Below is an example from the Duke University. The following types of experience are NOT accepted toward the 1,000 hours of patient care experience as required by Duke.
- PA or physician observer or shadow
- non-clinical research assistant positions
- student clinical experience (student nurse, student EMT, student athletic trainer, or other health care student)
- student "intern" experiences, candy striper or junior volunteer positions
- CPR or ACLS instructor
- wilderness medicine instructor
- patient transporter
- pharmaceutical representative
- ski patroller
- lifeguard
- aerobics instructor
- unit clerk, insurance clerk
- medical secretary or other clerical positions.
Here is a list from South Carolina School of Medicine PA Program
Unacceptable forms of clinical experience include:
- Veterinarian Assistant
- Receptionist for Physician's Office
- Administrator or Business Manager for Physician’s Office
- Massage Therapist
- Chiropractic
- Acupuncture
- Aesthetician
- Dental Hygienist/Assisting
- Inpatient Patient Transport/Orderly
- Health Fitness Specialist
Does PA Shadowing Count Towards Healthcare Experience?
Applicants are encouraged to "shadow" a PA to become knowledgeable of the role of the physician assistant; More often than not this experience does not count as patient care experience, so as I always say, make sure to contact your PA program prior to submitting your application.
Two Thousand Hours
In his book Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking – Malcolm Gladwell identifies 10,000 hours (5 years of full-time work) as the amount of time it takes to become an expert in any given field.
You don't need to be a healthcare "expert" come application time but having a good number of HCE hours has big advantages.
When it comes to your PA school application and HCE it is important to focus on direct, hands-on patient care experience.
Although only 4% of schools require 2,000 hours or more, for the majority of PA school applicants, 2,000 hours (1 year) of direct, hands-on patient care experience is a good general rule of thumb.
- 2,000 hours of patient care experience places you close to the mean of 3,560 hours and above the median of 1,428 hours.
- It will make you much more competitive as an applicant and give you more options come application time.
- It will give you confidence in your decision to pursue PA as a career choice.
- You will have the necessary medical experience to sit comfortably in any interview situation.
- You will have the fuel for a killer personal statement.
My Healthcare Experience
When I applied to PA school back in 2004 I had roughly 5,000 hours of direct patient contact experience as well as quite a bit of work and volunteer experience both inside and outside the realm of healthcare. I accumulated this through work as a phlebotomist both as a student in the campus health clinic and then later after graduation while working in an outpatient mobile health setting.
Many schools at the time (specifically MEDEX and OHSU where I was hoping for acceptance) considered even this to be insufficient. I could have been patient and accrued more patient care experience and let more time pass but instead, I chose to throw a larger net and apply to schools that did not require so many hours. At the time many of these school were on the East Coast.
People write me all the time frustrated that their schools of choice won't give them the time of day. It is important to keep your options open, the wider the net you cast the greater your chances of catching a fish.
There are many ways to garner the patient care experience you need and the sooner you start the easier it will be to fulfill these requirements in a timely matter.
You should aim to have enough hours to be competitive, look at the median of accepted applicants, this is a good goal to have.
And most importantly it should not be seen as a burden to entry, it should be seen as an opportunity to get your hands wet in a field you love in preparation for a life of fulfilling work practicing what you love as a PA
Note:
This post is part two of my continuing series: The 5 Steps of PA School. To receive immediate updates when new posts are published sign up for the blog email.
Resources used for this blog post:
- Physician Assistant Healthcare Experience Hours Source: PAEA Program Directory
- The PAEA Annual Report on Physician Assistant Educational Programs in the United States
- The Physician Assistant SchoolFinder
View all posts in this series
- How to Write the Perfect Physician Assistant School Application Essay
- Prerequisite Coursework: How to Design the Perfect Pre-PA School Curriculum
- Healthcare Experience Required for PA School: The Ultimate Guide
- Secrets of Successful PA School Letters of Recommendation
- The GRE and PA School: The Pre-PA Advisor Series
Margaret says
Hi,
Would working as a Health Aide alongside a RN at a kids summer camp be considered health experience?
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Margaret,
There are so many variables that it is hard to say, my first impression is that this is something you could list additionally to other high quality, paid, hands on experience but I certainly wouldn’t use this as my primary source. I usually ask myself “does this experience allow me to suffer with my patients”? If the answer is yes, then you have found good hands on patient care experience, if the answer is no it doesn’t mean it isn’t valuable, it just means you are going to have to search to find ways to put yourself out there a bit more.
– Stephen
Nicole says
Is a CNA job in a hospital viewed as a more valuable experience than a CNA job in a nursing home or home health agency?
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Nicole,
This is a good question. On paper they will be equal, but the experience itself and how you portray that to the admissions committee in both the essay and the interview is what matters the most. So make sure to take every opportunity to you can to “engage in the suffering of your patients”. It is at these precious moments of great human vulnerability that we become the practitioners we were meant to be. Address that in your writing and with the admissions committee, this is what matters the most.
– Stephen
Katerina says
Hello Stephen!
I was working as a veterinary technician for a year and have about 1000 hours of experience. I was helping doctors during appointments and surgeries, was giving shots, filling prescriptions, checking glucose, drawing blood and etc. Would this experience be counted towards HCE hours? What do you think?
Thank you
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Katerina,
You are best to contact the specific PA programs you are applying to. But typically hands on patient care experience of the “human kind” is the type of experience schools both require and are looking for.
– Stephen
Garima says
Hey! Thank you so much for this post. I was wondering if these are the hours required by the time of application or before actually starting the program? Because I just recently switched from pre-med to pre-pa and I will be applying this coming April and I don’t have a lot of hours..only about 200 and so I would get more before I actually start the program if I get in so I was wondering if they consider that you are currently working or will be working on that gap year after graduation and before starting PA school when checking applications! Please let me know. Thank you 🙂
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Garima,
They are going to be looking at the hours you have already clocked in at the time of application, this is what you will be entering into your CASPA application as well.
– Stephen
Nicole says
I work at the YMCA as a wellness coach. We guide members through the process of finding a workout routine, and connect them with other resources in our facility. A large portion of the job is customer service based, but I do a lot of one on one fitness & wellness counseling with different members. Can I list this as healthcare experience? If not, how should I express this experience in my application so it is viewed as valuable experience?
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Nicole,
This is extremely valuable experience, working with people and customer service is a skill that is hard to teach and those who are good at it do very well by their patients. Unfortunately, it will probably not count towards HCE hours, but you should make it a point to discuss this in a creative way within your personal statement. Using an anecdote (client story) is often very effective way to get your point across without trying to make a list of all the ways it has helped you grow as a person, don’t belabor the point in your essay (which many people do), share a short story and then move on. Your essay is a great place to do this!
– Stephen
Phill says
Hi there!
I’m curious to know if my job as an IHSS (In Home Supportive Services) care provider would be considered HCE? It was a job paid for by Contra Costa County (East Bay Area, CA). I would have to regularly visit the private homes of seniors and assist them with their daily tasks such as housecleaning, meal preparation, laundry, grocery shopping, personal care services (such as bowel and bladder care, bathing, grooming and paramedical services), accompaniment to medical appointments, and protective supervision for the mentally impaired.
What do you think?
Thank you!
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Phill,
I would consider this HCE but my opinion doesn’t really matter. The best things you can do is to visit the PA school website of the schools you are interested in and see if they answer this question directly. If the answer is still unclear do not stop there, you must contact the program/s by phone. You want to make sure you have a concrete answer as each school has different requirements and different considerations when it comes to HCE so I can’t say for sure.
Best of luck on your research!
– Stephen
Brandon says
Hi,
I was just wondering if I can get some help if my current job counts as medical experience. Right now I am working as a medical aid at a senior facility. Where I provide medication to the seniors; orally, insulin injection, blood glucose level, diagnosing if an individual has an affection or needs the EMT, et. I also provide caregiving.
Thanks
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Brandon,
This should count as hands on patient care experience but, as always, if there is any doubt whatsoever it is best to contact the schools you will be applying to directly. Every school has different requirements and they are not always completely clear on the program website.
– Stephen
Emmy says
Hi, I have worked as a Legal Assistant at a personal injury firm but I was known as their Medical Records Analyst. From there, I accepted a job at Bactes Release of Medical Information and have been working there for a year now. I have direct access to Medical Information and understand the administrative side of the PA field well. The PAs I have shadowed stated that they wish they knew more about that since it is hefty part of their job. I hoping these experiences would count as HCE because I plan on applying this upcoming year. What do you think?
Matt says
Hi,
As a former ski patroller/EMT, I can tell you it’s excellent healthcare experience, loaded with direct patient care. I’m surprised you say it shouldn’t be listed as HCE. Duke IS the only program I’ve seen make that statement. I think you are seriously underestimating the dedication to medicine and patient care you’ll find in the men and women that ski patrol.
I will definitely be using it as HCE because I was an EMT on skis. My serious question is: how do I actually submit this time? Because it’s not in a hospital where you are more or less constantly around patients, it seems to be a bit trickier.
Thanks for your time!
Matt
Matt says
Just as a follow-up to my comment, I obtained 6 interviews and was accepted on my 2nd interview. Ski patrol experience as an EMT isn’t unacceptable as your site suggests. In fact it’s excellent experience, albeit unconventional. You shouldn’t be so quick to write off something you may not understand. That’s just my 2 cents. Thanks for your dedication and your excellent website.
Anne says
Hello, thank you for sharing this. Quick question, would working as a Home health care aide (specifically work for IHSS) count as paid hours in my application. Please let me know.
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Anne,
You should definately refer to the school(s) applicant section of their website or speak with someone on the admissions staff. Each school has a different opinion on what constitutes hands on patient care experience. This is especially important if you need this to cover your prerequisite HCE hours. You certainly don’t want to leave this to chance.
– Stephen
Paulina S says
I am currently working as a medical assistant, and am considering furthering my education and become a PA. My Bachelor of Science is in Business Management. Not clinical or medical at all, will that hurt my chances of getting into a PA program? If so, would taking science courses make up for that? Thank you.
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Paulina,
No, your BS in business management will not hurt your chances at all. As long as you complete all the necessary prerequisite coursework and show a strong aptitude for the sciences. Make sure you take the more advanced science courses as well, I discuss this a bit in my post about prerequisite coursework: . It is great you are getting tons of hands on medical experience working as an MA. This will help you to make strong contacts and become familiar with the healthcare system in general.
– Stephen
David Galvan says
Hello Stephen,
What would be the best route to go in regards to attaining HCE without having to get a certification? In other words, how would I go about volunteering and gaining HCE in direct patient care considering the fact that I just started college. Would hospitals just let me volunteer and interact with patients without any formal training?
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi David,
This is a great question, unfortunately I do not have a great answer. It depends on the school(s) you are applying to. Many of the schools we interviewed for our new book http://www.thepaessay.com/ mentioned that they would not even consider a candidate without paid health care experience. But, as you can see from the table some schools do not even require HCE hours. When I was a freshman in college I simply walked into the campus hospital (you could do this in any hospital) and asked them who I could talk to about volunteering. I think they had me volunteering that very same day. From there I met a lot of people in the hospital and the satellite clinics and that is how I picked up my first paid hospital position. Over the summer I looked up internships or programs in my community. That is how I found the special needs youth summer camp, which was a wonderful experience as well. You can also do a search online to find overseas volunteer opportunities. Depending where you live, they have opportunities in Mexico, Central and South America as well as Haiti and Dominican Republic on the East Coast. This type of experience may be enough for some schools. Just make sure you call the program(s) you are interested in and confirm this, so you know you are making the best use of your valuable time.
– Stephen
Molly flynn says
Hi Stephen,
I will be applying to PA school in the next few years. I’m currently a CNA with a pre-med degree. I will also be a certified surgical technologist in approximately 1 year. I plan on using that degree for about a year or two before applying for graduate school. I’m hoping my CNA experience as well as my surgical experience will give me a leg up in the competition.
I have no problem taking the time to rack up thousands of HCE hours. My biggest concern, though, is about the time limit on certain classes. I graduated with my undergraduate degree in December 2014. Some of the very important classes, like anat. & phys., will be close to 8 years old once I’m ready to apply to PA school. I am worried I will have to go back and retake several science courses.
How do applicants avoid this issue? Am I taking too much time finishing business?
Thanks
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Molly,
You do not need to worry about this, you have completed your prerequisites and you are now using them in the real world environment. The experience will speak for itself and you will taking Anatomy and Physiology as part of your didactic year of PA school. No need to worry and no need to repeat these courses or take “refresher” courses. You are certainly on the right track… Keep up the great work!
– Stephen
Eve says
Ok so I have a strange question–I am currently applying to PA school for the 2015-2016 cycle. Most (about 3,000 hours) have been “unofficial” by shadowing a PA, Surgeon, or PCP. In these hours, I have been allowed–under their direct supervision of course–to participate in procedures and even surgeries. How should I list these hours? So far in my application, I have given myself the title “medical volunteer”–I just want to make sure I am logging everything the way it should be. Any input would definitely help. Please and thank you.
Stephen Pasquini PA-C says
Hi Eve,
This is going to be tough. What I would suggest you do is contact a couple of the schools you are applying to directly and explain your situation, when you have them on the phone ask them this question. They will be able to guide you a bit better and make sure you are listing your activities in a way that it does indeed fit their definition of health care experience hours. “Medical Volunteer” may not be your best option and I am sure the admissions faculty can help you find the correct phrasing.
– Stephen