You likely already know that one of the components of a competitive PA school application is patient care experience. Not only does it demonstrate you have actually worked in healthcare and are familiar with the medical setting, but also that you have experience caring for patients and a foundation of skills that PA schools can build on. But what are great patient care positions to aim for to set your application up for success and help you stand out from thousands of other applicants? Glad you asked because that is what we are talking about today!

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of finding the perfect patient care experience (PCE) position, let’s reiterate why PCE is crucial for PA school applications. PA programs want to see that you’ve got real-world experience working with patients. It’s not just about acing your prerequisites or scoring high on the GRE (although those things certainly help). Nope, what really sets your application apart is hands-on experience with patients – that you have real life experience with actual patients and that this time has confirmed your passion for patient care and becoming a PA. Without actually working with patients and performing patient care, how would you know for sure that this is a career you will actually enjoy? But if you’ve walked the walk, it backs up your talk. In other words, if you demonstrate roles where you care for patients, it’s much easier and genuine to claim that you want to become a PA and have a career based around patient care. If you’ve never worked with patients, this is much harder to convey to PA schools.

Similarly, PA schools love seeing PCE on your CASPA because they know what you need to be success in PA school. On your first day of PA school, you hit the ground going full speed boogie! PA school is intense and very fast paced. Meaning, you don’t have time be learning medical terminology or figuring out the basics. These are things you should know before your first day of PA school. If you have PCE background, then it’s pretty much a given and assumed that you understand the foundations that PA schools can then start building on. So, all this to say, PA schools really value patient care experiences.

Now, here’s where things get interesting: it’s not about the job title, it’s about the job description. Let’s break it down. See, when PA programs talk about PCE, they’re not just looking for fancy titles like “Certified Nursing Assistant” or “Medical Assistant.” Nope, what they’re really interested in is what you’re doing in that role, what your daily duties and responsibilities are. Are you getting up close and personal with patients? Are you performing clinical tasks like taking vitals, administering medications, or dressing wounds? That’s the stuff that makes a position PCE-worthy.

What you do on the daily in your position is super important and how you are going to set yourself apart from the crowds of other pre-PAs. The things you specifically do each day can make your CASPA app shine and “wow” PA schools. This is especially important when writing your CASPA paragraphs for your PCE. A medical assistant in Ohio does different things than a medical assistant in Florida, and a medical assistant in dermatology does vastly different duties than a medical assistant at a cardiology office. In the same way, PA faculty only know their own perspectives of an MA, meaning they don’t know what you do every day in your role unless you specifically tell them! So in your CASPA paragraphs, be very specific about your strongest hands on patients clinical skills! Remember, it’s not about your title…it’s about what you actually do in your role!

So now, let’s talk about three excellent PCE positions that’ll make your application shine:

1. Medical Assistant (MA): MAs can have a huge variety of tasks and clinical skills depending on the specialty and setting. In this role, you’ll get hands-on experience with duties such as performing vital signs, administering injections, splinting, wound care, assisting with procedures, and so much more – all crucial skills for a future PA.

2. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic: If you thrive in high-pressure situations, EMT might be the gig for you. As an EMT, you’ll be the first line of defense in emergencies, providing critical care to patients in need. You may be performing CPR, administering life saving medications, such as epinephrine or narcan, or stabilizing trauma patients. It’s fast-paced, it’s adrenaline-pumping, and it’s fantastic PCE.

3. Patient Care Technician (PCT): PCTs are are very versatile and duties depend on the setting, but expect things like performing EKGs, phlebotomy, splinting, and even performing CPR if you are in the ER setting. It’s a hands-on role that’ll give you a well-rounded experience in patient care.

So, there you have it – three excellent PCE positions to kickstart your journey to PA school. Get out there, get hands-on, and show those admissions committees what you’re made of. With the right experience under your belt, you’ll be well on your way to becoming the next generation of stellar PAs.