Admission to PA Program
What is the personal statement or essay question that most school applicants are required to submit?
Why are you interested in being a Physician Assistant?
What standardized tests do some PA programs require for admission?
The GRE-Admission Exam (some programs use this standardized exam, so check with the PA program to see if it is required)
What career is closely related to Physician Assistants?
Nurse Practitioner
What exam must you pass to become a certified PA?
To become a certified PA, you must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), a computer-based, multiple-choice test comprising questions that assess general medical and surgical knowledge.
most essential digestive organ
pancrease
What is the online application service for PA schools?
Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA)
What is the minimum degree required to apply for PA school?
A four-year undergraduate degree is required from an accredited U.S. college/university.
Name two settings where you would be able to find a physician assistant.
physicians' offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing home, and more
How many shadowing hours are recommended before applying for PA program
On average, applicants are expected to have about 40 hours of shadowing experience. Top applicants often have over 100 hours of shadowing
What state has the largest number of PAs
New York
What is the minimum overall GPA and overall science GPA required to get considered for PA school?
An Average of bachelor's-degree G.P.A. of 3.0
An average of 3.0 G.P.A. in all science prerequisite coursework is required
How does the first year in the PA program look like?
primarily focused on classroom learning, or the didactic year
What are some duties of Physician Assistants?
Physician assistants are trained to perform medical histories and physical exams, order and interpret diagnostic tests, formulate diagnoses and management plans, write prescriptions, counsel patients and assist in surgery.
What is needed to be done every two years as part of the certification maintenance process?
100 hours of continuing medical education
what is the medical word for a lung collapse?
What is the minimum number of hours usually required for direct patient care experience?
Between 1000-2000 hours.
Competitive applicants have an average of 2000-4000 hours. The more hours you get, the better!
How does the second year in a PA program look like?
Second-year students are in classes about one week per month on campus. The other weeks of the quarter students work in an assigned clinical setting.
What is the median salary of a PA-C?
In 2023, PA median compensation increased to $127,000.
How to be a Competitive PA School Applicant
Apply Early
GPA
Healthcare and Patient Care Experience
Volunteering and Shadowing
Personal Statement
And more
What is the name of the device used to measure blood pressure, composed of an inflatable cuff to collapse and then release the artery under the cuff in a controlled manner? Also known as a blood pressure cuff
sphygmomanometer
List 5 some experiences that fulfill direct patient care hours.
Nursing (RN, LVN, CNA)
Emergency Services (EMT, Paramedic, EMS)
Surgical tech
Physical Therapist (Aide)
Medical Assistant
Patient Care Assistant
Phlebotomis
Medical scribe, Lab assistant (some schools may accept as direct patient care hours and some may count as healthcare experience hours
And more!
List 5 common prerequisite courses required for PA school
Anatomy & Physiology
Biochemistry
General Biology
Microbiology
General Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
English Composition/Writing
Genetics
Medical Terminology
Psychology (general)
Statistics
Calculus
What is the re-certification examination you need to take?
Physician Assistant National Recertifying Exam (PANRE)
By the end of the 10th year of the certification maintenance cycle, PA-C designees must have passed a recertification exam
Name PA school in Florida (as much as you can)
AdventHealth University
Barry University
Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida International University
Florida State University
Gannon University-Ruskin
Miami-Dade College
Nova Southeastern University, (Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Orlando)
South University (Tampa, West Palm Beach)
University of Florida
University of South Florida
University of Tampa
Which medical term comes from the Greek word for “without breathing” and is included in the name of a condition where a person experiences brief pauses in breathing while they’re asleep?
apnea