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Pre Pa resource gate

Check out the free resources and must-know links below as you prepare for the journey of a lifetime.

Jump To: Introduction to the PA Profession, Beginning Your School Search, Applying & Interviewing, Acceptance/Waitlist/Rejection and Matriculation 

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Want access to even more exclusive resources and templates? Stay tuned for our Patreon announcement!

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A Reminder from the host: While I try to ensure all the links work/resources remain updated, I make no promises that a broken link hasn't accidentally snuck in so please contact us if you encounter any faulty links or outdated information.  As always, please remember the information on PASPAC is simply what helped us succeed and is not intended to be used as medical or legal advice. 

Introduction to the Physician Assistant Profession

Intro to Prfesson

Maybe you've been interested in the PA profession your whole life or maybe you're just getting your feet wet and want to learn more. To learn more about the profession see the resources below.

What is a PA?

Generally speaking, a Physician Assistant is a highly trained licensed clinician, that works collaboratively in a team-based setting to increase healthcare access, with the ability to diagnose, treat, and manage patients in a variety of specialties ranging from primary care to neurosurgery and everything in between. See these links to learn more:

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PA vs. MD

There are many similarities and differences between the two professions that are important to know before choosing which is the best path for you. While the PA profession education is grounded in the medical practice model and much of our scope of practice is similar (depending on your supervising physician and state laws), the requirements for MDs for schooling, length of schooling, residency requirements, student expenses, and [mostly] fixed specialty are some key differences. It is also important to remember that Medical Doctors practice independently under their licenses, while PAs practice in collaboration with MDs. 

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PA vs. NP

While PAs and NPs (Nurse Practitioners) are both considered Advanced Practice Providers and share some key similarities, it is important to understand their differences between choosing one field vs. another. 

PA Salary and Growth 

Currently, the average income for a Physician Assistant is listed as $121,00 in 2021 on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (see here) , however this depends a lot on your state and your specialty (for example, in California some PA salaries can be as high as $192,400 (see here). Not only that, but employment is expected to grow 31% between 2020-2030.  Check out these reports below to see additional resources based on specialty & location

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Beginning Your PA School Search

Search

To learn more about the searching for the best PA school for you, check out the resources below. If you've already chosen your schools, go to the section regarding preparing your applications and interviews. 

List of US Based Schools

See the lists below which provide information regarding schools located within the United States and territories

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List of Non-US Based Schools

See the list below which provide information regarding PA organizations and/or programs located outside of the United States and territories (keep in mind, in order to work in the US as a PA, you are required to complete education from an ARC-PA accredited program and pass the NCCPA. International students can check with World Education Services to see if they qualify for matriculation)

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Comparing Programs

Check out some of these great comparison generators between programs:

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Program Comparison Templates

Create your own program comparison with use of these templates:

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Applying and Interviewing

Apply/Intevew

To learn more about the searching for the best PA school for you, check out the resources below.

If you've already heard back from your PA school or are waiting to matriculate, scroll down.

Becoming a Competitive 
Applicant

Gone are the days of asking others to provide their credentials they had before being accepted into PA school - check out these resources to see for yourself what constitutes as a competitive PA to give you a general idea. Keep in mind these are just competitive goals and do NOT necessarily mean you need to meet these goals for acceptance. Don't forget to familiarize yourself with your specific desired program for their minimum requirements vs. average accepted student credentials. 

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Applying

Most US based PA schools utilize CASPA (Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants) for their application process. See resources for CASPA below. If a program is registered with CASPA, you must use CASPA to apply. If your program does not use CASPA, check their individual website for instructions regarding their application process. 

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Personal Statement and Letters of Recommendation

For help with formatting, editing, or reviewing your personal statement and/or Letters of Recommendation (LOR) see resources below.

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Interview Prep

Try to come up with your own answers to a variety of different interview questions prior to the big day. You should be prepared, but not sound rehearsed. Typically, the best way to do this is to think of how you would answer certain questions (ex. "Tell me about yourself") or briefly jot down some key interview moments in your life and practice your delivery with a friend or via mock interviews. 

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Acceptance, Waitlist, Rejection, and Matriculation 

Accptance & More

The stress of waiting is over, now it is time for the next steps regardless of the outcome.

Next Steps Following Acceptance or Waitlist

First thing is first -- CONGRATULATIONS! Getting into PA school (or on the waitlist) is no easy task and your accomplishment deserves to be celebrated. Keep an eye out for your program's emails for specifics next steps, but here are some resources that can help you prepare:

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Next Steps Following Rejection (and not letting it get you down!)

First thing is first - do NOT get down on yourself. The overall acceptance rate into PA school is ~31%... aka YOU'VE STILL GOT THIS. Some programs allow you to contact them and ask how to make your application stronger for their next cycle, but in case you'd like some general info - check out these resources below and gear up for another cycle! 

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Matriculation Study for Eager Upcoming       PA-S1s

We'll be the first one to tell you to use your time before matriculation to RELAX. However, we also understand that you're excited to get started. Just in case you cannot be swayed into relaxation, see below for some pre-matriculation reviews to prepare for your first semester. 

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