Becoming a PA

[Duffle]

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SDN Members,

I'm currently a senior in highschool looking to pursue a career in the medical field. I believe I would like to become a PA but I don't know how to do so. I've read a few sites but they all say different things; Which one is legit?

How do I start out after graduating?
What are the steps on becoming a PA
How many years of school?
Is it expensive?


If you can throw any other advice in that would be helpful too. Thanks in advance and I look forward to hearing from you all.

 

[Jambi]

http://www.physicianassistantforum.com/forum353/

Go here and peruse the boards, If you still have questions then ask.

 

[Jambi]

I almost forgot, GO TO COLLEGE and finish an undergraduate degree regardless of what you do with your life. 👍

 

[Febrifuge]

Yup. Definitely do the college thing. And don't worry about it being a degree in Biology or whatever the "appropriate" pre-healthcare degree is supposed to be. Just make sure it has Biology in it (and math, and chemistry, and a little physics just for fun).

Plus, that way you'll be able to take your time, and figure out why PA is the best of the available options. (I mean, I know why it's best for me, but that's a different story.)

 

[melcal]

1. get a job in something medical that you can do during the summers & while in college: EMT, nurse's aide, patient care tech, phlebotomy, etc.
2. go to college & choose a major in something that you will ENJOY.
3. shadow PAs and other healthcare professions now and throughout college.
4. if you're still interested in the PA field after college, continue getting healthcare experience to make yourself a competitive applicant.
5. agree with above comments by Jambi, check out the link to the PA forum.
6. to answer your other questions, most programs are 2 yrs, some are 3 yrs.
7. yes, it's expensive.

 

[guetzow]

There are a few older state college programs that are not too expensive; Wichita State University, for example (Around 7K/year).

 

[wickliffe2]

you could always go to a 5 yr combined bs/ms program if you dont want to do 4 yrs of college and then 2 yrs of grad school