The minimum amount of patient care experience is 250 hours and is experience that involves contact with patients. It may be paid or volunteer work. Lab experience and work in a pharmacy is NOT considered patient care experience.
The PA program also likes to see applicants who have shadowed PAs; however, shadowing hours are not included in total patient care experience hours. These hours are self-reported and subject to audit at the program’s discretion.
Examples of patience experience include:
- Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Patient Care Associate
- Phlebotomist
- Nursing Assistant
- Medical Assistant
- Dietician/Nutritionist
- EMT
- Medical Mission Trips
- Medical Scribe
- Dental Assistant
- Respiratory Therapist
- Athletic Trainer
- Other experiences that require taking vitals, evaluating/triaging patients, bed side care, drawing blood, obtaining EKGs, etc.