PA admission question

[nev]

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Hi,
I have a question about the admission setup in PA school. I am thinking of getting an associate degree in nursing and then apply to PA school.With that associate degre I will have about 120 credits. Do you think that with this achievement, I can convince the admission council to consider me as somewhat as a bachelor degree holder? I am planning to do this because getting an associate degree in nursing will be cheaper than getting a bachelor's degree in nursing.(I'm trying to save money for PA school)


Thanks
Nev

 

[djquick83]

Why become a nurse at all ? Cant u major in Bio or chem or something. Just take the required classes to meet admission requirements. Nursing is more of a career option, not a stepping stone to be considered for preparing to get into PA school.

 

[deleted6669]

Why become a nurse at all ? Cant u major in Bio or chem or something. Just take the required classes to meet admission requirements. Nursing is more of a career option, not a stepping stone to be considered for preparing to get into PA school.

have to disagree with you here...the standard"stepping stone" prep for pa school has traditionally been emt, paramedic, resp. therapist, or rn. olther health careers are acceptable at some institutions but with any of the above careers, a bs degree, and a decent gpa one can get into any pa program in the country.

 

[gunthesm]

For the PA programs I applied to, they all required a Bachelor's degree regardless of how many credits you have. If you really don't want to invest in a B.S. then contact your schools of interest and ask them straight out if you would accept the associate's degree with 120 hours. Otherwise, I would hate to waste two or more years on a degree that wouldn't even count. It's best to err on the side of caution! Best of luck!

 

[nev]

thanks everyone.....I guess i'll do a B.S in nursing.

Nev

 

[djquick83]

have to disagree with you here...the standard"stepping stone" prep for pa school has traditionally been emt, paramedic, resp. therapist, or rn. olther health careers are acceptable at some institutions but with any of the above careers, a bs degree, and a decent gpa one can get into any pa program in the country.

They are preferred over most of their applicants because of experience, but that doesnt mean that they have to go to nursing or EMT in order to make it as a PA. Most nurses or EMTs choose to go the PA route later on for other reasons and decide to make a career change. That doesn't mean that they became EMT's or nurses to be considered for the PA program. Hope it makes some sense. Its kind of like saying I wanna flip hamburgers in order to step up in life one day and manage/own my own McDonalds. If you wanna be a manager, get a business degree.

 

[deleted6669]

lots of folks ( me included) go/went medic, rn, resp therapist,etc IN ORDER TO GET EXPERIENCE FOR PA SCHOOL......
I became an emt in high school, worked as an er tech through college where I met pa's in the er. all pa's at that time were former nurses, corpsmen, medics, etc so I went to medic school after graduation from college, did that for 5 yrs then went to pa school. medic was never the end goal just a step on the ladder to pa.

 

[djquick83]

Now dont get me wrong, but doesnt that kill lots of time in your life to just become a PA. Five years as an EMT, then 2.5 yrs for PA. Thats like 7.5 yrs total, when it could have been done in 4 by applying to a school that offered a B.S./B.A. in Physicians Assistant Studies. I applied to PA schools and made it to all of them, just having the basic requirements as a premed major. Also volunteered in ICU for three years and had a recommendation for a PA. Thats all I needed.

 

[deleted6669]

Now dont get me wrong, but doesnt that kill lots of time in your life to just become a PA. Five years as an EMT, then 2.5 yrs for PA. Thats like 7.5 yrs total, when it could have been done in 4 by applying to a school that offered a B.S./B.A. in Physicians Assistant Studies. I applied to PA schools and made it to all of them, just having the basic requirements as a premed major. Also volunteered in ICU for three years and had a recommendation for a PA. Thats all I needed.

times have changed....10-15 yrs ago that wouldn't have gotten you in. most schools used to REQUIRE prior significant medical experience.
it was actually 9 yrs:
bs #1 4 yrs
paramedic 1 yr
bs #2 in pa 3 yrs( there were only a handful of ms programs when I went to pa school, maybe 3, and I didn't want to live in any of those places.)
ms in pa 1 yr (postgrad )

 

[fotografe]

Consider doing the ADN, and while you are working as an RN completing the BSN. You probably don't have many more classes to do after that. Many places have RN to BSN completion programs, and many of those are online. The added bonus, your employer may pay for the BSN classes. You can still save a lot of money AND get your BSN.

thanks everyone.....I guess i'll do a B.S in nursing.

Nev

 

[lawguil]

Hi,
I have a question about the admission setup in PA school. I am thinking of getting an associate degree in nursing and then apply to PA school.With that associate degre I will have about 120 credits. Do you think that with this achievement, I can convince the admission council to consider me as somewhat as a bachelor degree holder? I am planning to do this because getting an associate degree in nursing will be cheaper than getting a bachelor's degree in nursing.(I'm trying to save money for PA school)


Thanks
Nev

I can see the value in becoming a nurse before going to PA school. I say this because I work with college students who sometimes have all the intentions in the world of going on to obtain a graduate degree such as becoming a PA, but when everything unfolds, they decide they want to work for a year, travel, or just make some money. So that is what they attempt to do and often times they never go back for the advanced degree or its many years later. A degree in nursing gives you a trade and prepares you for successful matriculation into a PA program. I would encourage you to complete a BSN ASAP as going to school while working doesn't always happen that easily. If you get your BSN now, you'll have it behind you and a masters as a PA will become far less an obstacle.
I haven’t seen many students that are successful in being accepted into a masters program without completing a BA/BS degree. Remember, the admissions will have plenty of candidates to choose from who will have completed their degree with decent grades and experience. You would have to have an exceptional resume to be considered at most schools without the BS/BA. Good luck, L.

 

[nev]

Thanks for the advice. However, I am deciding on pursuing a BSN first and then try to get into PA school. I wouldnt want to be a NP anyway ...so PA school is where I want to go!

Nev

 

[Docgeorge]

Nev, why not get both? UC Davis grants both a PA and NPcert. There is one caveat though, if I rember right, to get admitted to UC Davis you first had to go and find a doc who would hire you providing you graduated. This info is a few years old so it may have changed since then.