Admission to PA Program
General PA Program
Physician Assistant as a career
Helpful Information
Mixed Trivia
100

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?

100

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)


100

What career is closely related to Physician Assistants?

Nurse Practitioner

100

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.

100

most essential digestive organ

pancrease

200

What is the online application service for PA schools?

Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA)

200

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.  

200

Name two settings where you would be able to find a physician assistant.

physicians' offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing home, and more

200

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

200

What state has the largest number of PAs

New York

300

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

300

How does the first year in the PA program look like?

primarily focused on classroom learning, or the didactic year

300

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.

300

What is needed to be done every two years as part of the certification maintenance process?

100 hours of continuing medical education

300

what is the medical word for a lung collapse?

atelectasis
400

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!

400

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.

400

What is the median salary of a PA-C?

In 2023, PA median compensation increased to $127,000.

400

How to be a Competitive PA School Applicant

Apply Early

GPA

Healthcare and Patient Care Experience

Volunteering and Shadowing

Personal Statement

And more

400

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

500

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!

500

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

500

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 

500

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

500

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