What are the steps?
Started by OpticDean
Good morning! Glad to see your interest.
There is a wide variety of PA programs, and their prerequisites vary significantly.
Most are now masters programs, which require a bachelor's degree (doesn't necessarily have to be in science) and a list of prerequisite courses similar to med school: biology, chemistry, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, etc.
One thing that makes PA programs different from medical school is that they generally require 2000+ hours of experience in some patient-care position before you can apply.
Again, though each PA school is held to the same standards as far as the quality and type of training they provide to their students, each school is given a *great* deal of elbow room to decide exactly how to implement this.
More information about the profession is available on the AAPA website: www.aapa.org .
Best to you!
--Tim--
There is a wide variety of PA programs, and their prerequisites vary significantly.
Most are now masters programs, which require a bachelor's degree (doesn't necessarily have to be in science) and a list of prerequisite courses similar to med school: biology, chemistry, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, etc.
One thing that makes PA programs different from medical school is that they generally require 2000+ hours of experience in some patient-care position before you can apply.
Again, though each PA school is held to the same standards as far as the quality and type of training they provide to their students, each school is given a *great* deal of elbow room to decide exactly how to implement this.
More information about the profession is available on the AAPA website: www.aapa.org .
Best to you!
--Tim--
I have'nt seen that many master programs. The majority is still Bachelors Degree some are joint 3 year programs and i know 2 Associates degree programs. Also most that I seen require 200-1000 hrs. of community or work related experiance but the majority ask for 200 hrs.
Personally i dont think the master program will take off as some of you on this forum think. Main reason is the fact that many can obtain a medical degree just by doing 2 more years of school. I met many PA's that told me this.
So a 4-year degree will do anyone fine. If your considering master program, then why not medical school😕
Personally i dont think the master program will take off as some of you on this forum think. Main reason is the fact that many can obtain a medical degree just by doing 2 more years of school. I met many PA's that told me this.
So a 4-year degree will do anyone fine. If your considering master program, then why not medical school😕
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deleted6669
KENT- sorry to tell you this, but you are just wrong. 25% of pa programs now offer a masters and all new programs after 2008 are expected to do so as well with the vast majority of b.s. programs converting to masters over the next decade.it is rapidly becoming the standard. I teach for 3 programs ( an a.s., a b.s., and an m.s. program) and the 2 non-grad programs are planning to convert in the next 2 yrs to an m.s.
many applicants to a.s. and b.s. programs already have a b.s. degree so the obvious choice is to get an m.s. instead of a second b.s.
also most programs now require at least 1000 hrs of experience,prefereably work(not volunteer). some require as much as 2+ years.PASTED FROM A WEBSITE OF 1 LOCAL PROGRAM PREREQS PAGE:
Clinical Experience:
Minimum of two (2) years of recent, full-time equivalent, hands-on experience in the direct delivery of medical care to patients (approximately 4,000 hours); examples might be LPN, RN, Paramedic, Corpsman, OR
Current professional credentials and at least two (2) years of recent full-time experience in an allied health field, such as medical technology, X-ray technology, pharmacy, etc.
Clinical experience can be calculated up to the November 15th application deadline date. You must have the minimum two years fulltime equivalent experience by that date to be eligible to apply in this admission cycle.
one program in my area has an avg prior work experience of 8 yrs!
medical school is still 4 years + 3 yr residency minimum so by doing the m.s. you still save 5 yrs( assuming, like most competitive applicants you already have a b.s.)
many applicants to a.s. and b.s. programs already have a b.s. degree so the obvious choice is to get an m.s. instead of a second b.s.
also most programs now require at least 1000 hrs of experience,prefereably work(not volunteer). some require as much as 2+ years.PASTED FROM A WEBSITE OF 1 LOCAL PROGRAM PREREQS PAGE:
Clinical Experience:
Minimum of two (2) years of recent, full-time equivalent, hands-on experience in the direct delivery of medical care to patients (approximately 4,000 hours); examples might be LPN, RN, Paramedic, Corpsman, OR
Current professional credentials and at least two (2) years of recent full-time experience in an allied health field, such as medical technology, X-ray technology, pharmacy, etc.
Clinical experience can be calculated up to the November 15th application deadline date. You must have the minimum two years fulltime equivalent experience by that date to be eligible to apply in this admission cycle.
one program in my area has an avg prior work experience of 8 yrs!
medical school is still 4 years + 3 yr residency minimum so by doing the m.s. you still save 5 yrs( assuming, like most competitive applicants you already have a b.s.)
Another comment: even if you're attending a certificate-level PA program, in order to get the preparation you need, you are really getting the same masters-level education you get from the masters' programs. And you'll still need the same type of prereq's and experience. So might as well get the appropriate degree for your efforts.
Degrees converting from associate's or bachelor's to master's will not be changing the curriculum much... mostly just changing the prerequisites.
Degrees converting from associate's or bachelor's to master's will not be changing the curriculum much... mostly just changing the prerequisites.
The degree issue is one that is mostly about achieving respect and a level playing field with other allied health professionals like PT, OT, NP, etc... Most of these people have Master's Degrees now, so why shouldn't we? Most programs have changed or are changing their programs to award a Master's Degree with little more than an extra month doing research. There is just nothing different between a Master's program and a BS program, so why not just figure out a way to award a Master's. The only thing I don't like about the Master's transition is that it excluded so extremely fine applicants who have the basic pre-reqs but not anything near a degree. That is why some programs will accept you into a Master's program if you have all the pre-reqs and have something like 90 hours. And I think that is very reasonable. I got into PA school with the bare minimum pre-reqs. A&P, Biox2, Gchem x2, plus the few ancillary liberal arts and elective courses. That was in 1995. I slaughtered most of my classmates in grades even though most of them had their degree already from elsewhere, but my science GPA going in was 4.0, and total was like 3.8. So, as long as adcoms will still look at top-knotch applicants who lack a BS, I still like the Master's Degree best. Its nothing different than what is already done. PT students come in often with 90 hours and get an MS degree. I have a buddy in my medical school class now who is in the top 10%, and he did not get a degree before he came. he was an RN and had the pre-reqs and a total of 90 hours. He will never have had a BS and will be a physician soon!
hey! Just wanted to say thanx to emedpa and timerick for all the info given!! I am currently in a med tech program...just to get my feet wet in the medical field. I never had an interest in medical before...until I got a temp job working at Quest Diagnostics 3 1/2 years ago. I took to everything so quickly and developed such an interest...I knew I had to change my major to something medical. I started with med tech mostly b/c that is the only medical I had experience in. But now i see that I have a million and one options...and I'm incredibly interested in either PA or nursing. All the info given has been extremely helpful. Thank you!!
I am trying to find an answer as to what makes the PA profession so different from being a MD/DO.
If it is not about saving time in terms of education or practice, or about saving money on education, then what separates a Primary Care PA from a Primary Care MD.
I am aware of all the fine print that a PA is dependent on a MD/DO, and I know the duties a PA performs.
Basically, if you went to a PA school interview and they ask why do you want to be a PA instead of an MD, what would you say??
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