Clinical experience
Each applicant must complete a minimum of 1,000 hours of clinical experience to qualify for application to the physician assistant studies. The most competitive applicants demonstrate mostly paid experiences in clinical environments with patient exposure. Certain types of clinical experience are more highly valued by the program than others. Broader experience with a variety of patients across the lifespan in a variety of situations and settings is considered stronger experience than narrowly focused technical experience.
Experience working in back-office medical records departments or other experiences with no patient contact is not acceptable.
A minimum of 1,000 hours, paid or volunteer, of (hands-on) patient-care experience is required. Historically, applicants who completed prior, direct clinical experience in a patient care environment are more successful in the program. Therefore, the most competitive applicants completed more than 1,000 hours of required minimum direct clinical experience. Examples of positions that provide this experience include:
- Behavioral therapist
- Certified nursing assistant (CNA)
- Chiropractor
- Dental assistants or dentists
- Dietitian or nutritionist
- EKG, radiology or X-Ray technician
- Emergency medical technician (EMT)
- Hemodialysis technician
- Home health and personal care aide
- International medical graduate
- Licensed vocational nurse (LVN)
- Medical assistant (MA)
- Occupational therapist (OT)
- Ophthalmic technician
- Paramedic
- Pharmacy technician
- Phlebotomist
- Physical therapist (PT) or physical therapy aide
- Psychiatrist
- Registered nurse (RN)
- Respiratory therapist (RT)
- Scribe
- Speech therapist (ST)
