Do PA schools care about shadowing?

Most PA programs require, or significantly prefer, that applicants shadow physician assistants in the United States. As an aspiring physician assistant student, it is your responsibility to make the initial contact with the PA.

How many shadowing hours look good for PA school?

We recommend aiming for at least 100 hours, spread across various physicians and specialties, to provide a well-rounded perspective.

Can you get into PA school without shadowing experience?

Do I have to shadow a PA? Shadowing a Physician Assistant (PA) is preferred in the admissions application process. The selections committee defines shadowing as observing a PA in the care of patients, working alongside a PA on a day-to-day basis, or attending virtual shadowing opportunities.

Why is shadowing important for PA school?

Before shadowing, applicants to PA programs rarely have a chance to interact directly with patients. Through shadowing, you have the opportunity to see firsthand what it's like to work in different settings (clinical vs. surgery). This allows you to understand the limitations of what medicine can and can't do.

Does shadowing a PA count for medical school?

The answer is no, it does not matter who you shadow as long as you are shadowing a physician. Either an MD or a DO is perfectly fine to shadow. Medical schools absolutely do not care what specialty you shadow. However, shadowing other health care professionals is a critical mistake that some students make.

Watch this BEFORE you go Shadowing! - (Important Shadowing Tips)

How many hours of shadowing a PA is good?

We suggest a minimum of 50 hours of shadowing.

Is 40 shadowing hours enough?

There is no required number of hours and what is right for each medical school and each applicant will vary, but we suggest aiming for 40 to 50 hours of shadowing over your college career.

How many days should you shadow a PA?

Even if PA shadowing isn't a requirement for your specific program, you should shadow a physician assistant for at least 2-3 days. If you're already in PA school and you didn't do PA shadowing, you may need to complete this process to meet graduation requirements.

Do you need to shadow a PA for PA school?

PA schools look at many different aspects of a PA school applicant's background including the amount and type of direct patient care experience, shadowing experience with a PA or other healthcare providers, and the applicant's academic background including the GPA and the GRE or PA-CAT scores for schools that require ...

Does shadowing count as clinical hours for PA school?

Clinical experience is distinct from shadowing, primarily because you are performing more “hands-on” tasks. Only Physician Assistant programs require a specific amount of clinical experience hours for your application.

What is the easiest PA school to get into?

How do I get the most out of shadowing a PA?

What do PA schools look at the most?

References, personal remarks, understanding of the PA role, patient care experience, and college entrance exam test scores receive major consideration from most admissions committees. For more information about CASPA, see our CASPA page.

Is 70 shadowing hours enough?

We suggest a minimum of 50 hours of shadowing. 70-80 hours will provide what most schools view to be a very solid exposure and understanding. Top applicants typically have 100 hours or more of shadowing.

Is 120 hours of shadowing good?

Generally, a good range of shadowing hours is around 100 to 120. While the lowest shadowing hours considered is 50 hours below. When applying to multiple medical schools, it is best to check first the required number of shadowing hours. And from there, you now know your target shadowing hours.

Can I get into PA school with bad grades?

According to the 2020 PAEA report, students with a 3.1 GPA were in the bottom 10% of those accepted to PA school. It is not impossible to get into a PA program with less than a 3.0 GPA, but your options will be limited.

What GPA do PA schools look at?

Most PA schools have overall GPA and science GPA minimums of 3.0. Some are higher and some are lower, but the AVERAGE student accepted to these programs definitely has GPA scores over 3.0.

What are the benefits of shadowing a PA?

Shadowing allows students to see the challenges and rewards first hand of a surgical PA, gaining insight not only in surgical procedures, but be- coming involved from the initial patient assessment to the post- surgical care, enabling incredible continuity of patient care.

Should I wear scrubs to shadow a PA?

If you are in a outpatient setting, you may wear scrubs or business attire. It all depends on the clinical setting, so prior to your big day, if you aren't sure, definitely ask what they would prefer you wear. If you are still unsure, definitely err on the professional side – slacks, blouse, flats, button down shirts…

Can I wear scrubs to shadow a PA?

Business casual attire is typically what is expected. You may be asked to wear scrubs, particularly if shadowing a surgeon in the OR. If this is the case, the scrubs will likely be provided to you.

Does virtual shadowing count for PA school?

Virtual shadowing is a valuable addition to any CASPA application. It demonstrates your dedication and commitment to becoming a PA and your ability to adapt to new technologies and learning environments.

Is 100 hours of shadowing good?

If you want to put a number on it, around 100-120 hours is a good ideal range. Shadowing one doctor for one day will be approximately 10 hours, so if you can shadow multiple doctors for a total of 10 days spread over time, (even over a year or so if you start early), then you can easily hit your target.

Is 60 hours of shadowing good?

For shadowing experience alone, aim to have at least 100 or more hours. 100 to 200 hours will show you've taken the time to learn in a medical setting, especially if you also have a variety of other clinical experiences to discuss in the activities section of your application.

Is virtual shadowing accepted?

Both are absolutely valid ways to learn from professionals in your field. Both have pros and cons, but generally speaking, the activity of shadowing on the part of the student remains the same – just like during an in-person shadowing scenario, you will be a passive observer.