Clinical Experience
Gaining clinical experience is one of the most important steps on your journey to becoming a physician associate. These hands-on opportunities allow you to work directly with patients or support healthcare teams in real-world settings. Each role offers a unique insight into patient care and the PA profession - helping you develop critical skills, grow your understanding of medical environments, and fulfill the patient care experience (PCE) requirements for PA school applications. This page outlines various ways to build experience and offers guidance on how to get started.
Direct patient care hours involve hands-on interaction with patients, such as taking vitals, performing procedures, or assisting with daily care. These experiences are highly valued by PA programs because they show your ability to work directly with patients and contribute meaningful to their care.
Shadowing allows you to observe practicing PAs and other providers, understanding their various roles within the medical team. While it isn't hands-on, shadowing helps you confirm your interest in the PA profession and learn how PAs interact with the healthcare team in real-time.