Students and Early Career FAQs

The PA profession is stable, recession-resistant, cannot be outsourced to another country, and can be financially rewarding. It offers employment in family medicine, emergency medicine, and a wide variety of specialties. It is also one of the fastest-growing professions in the country with many jobs available.

The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) provides excellent resources introducing the PA profession. Another good source of information is the book titled "So You Want to be a Physician Assistant" by Beth Grivett.

How would I prepare to become a PA?

It is recommended that you try to exceed the minimum requirements for application. This allows prospective students to submit a competitive application. In Ohio, a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and a Bachelor's Degree are required.

For those programs that require it, what are some examples of “health care experience”?

This may vary slightly depending on the program you are considering. Hands-on patient care/interaction experience and/or demonstrated healthcare-related volunteer work are commonly accepted; nursing, phlebotomy, physical therapist assistants, and many other roles are used. Please contact the program you are interested in to confirm your experience applies!

Each program has a specific deadline that can be found on our directory of Ohio PA programs. Most universities ask applicants to use the CASPA centralized application and may ask for additional applications to be completed after that.

What about letters of reference?

Select a reference that can outline your involvement in patient care and/or your volunteer activities. The letters of reference are an important component that the programs will use to evaluate your background and experience.

What can I expect once accepted into the PA program?

The length of the program is 24-30 months and the curriculum is rigorous. Employment is not recommended and the programs do not offer part-time, evening or weekend classes. Expect to take courses such as, but not limited to, anatomy, physiology, clinical medicine, pharmacology, medical ethics, patient evaluation, and practice rotations.

Find your study style and stick to it. It doesn’t matter how your classmates study, do what works best for you.

Please see the "Tips and Tricks for Ohio PA Students" entry for real advice from students in both phases of PA school! 

Due to restrictions set during COVID, shadowing a PA may be difficult in your area. Ask your local network for opportunities! OAPA is actively working to re-establish a mentor and shadowing program for students in Ohio.

State Chapter Student Representatives (SCSRs) developed these Tips & Tricks for their fellow PA students to help ease stress and provide support during didactic and clinical experiences. Choose which ones work for you!

• Make time for yourself, whether it is exercise, reading something not medical related, walking a pet. Do a little EVERY day.
• Try different way of studying. It can take several different tries to figure out a studying method that works for you. What you do may be completely different than someone else, AND THAT’S OKAY! If studying alone isn’t working, don’t be afraid to ask to join a study group.
• Create a study schedule and get a routine going. Habit always beats motivation.
• Regardless of the circumstances, be sure to get enough sleep, drink enough water, and eat enough food.
• Don’t get discouraged. These classes are hard, but you’re here for a reason. If you are struggling, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Professors are there to help you succeed. Rely on your friends, you are all in the same boat together.
• Be adaptable in your study methods! PA School is very different from undergraduate studies and even other master’s programs.
• Practice OSCE prep & physical exam skills with a group. This makes it fun and acts as an actual simulation.
• Know how you study or the style you learn best. Once you get that down, you’ll feel so much more organized.
• Your friends and family understand if you aren’t available to them as much due to studying, so don’t feel pressured to say yes to everything.
• Do not be afraid to use outside resources (aside from lecture slides and textbooks). You’ll be surprised to learn how much you know/can apply to the real work from what you’ve learned in class.
• Get outside as much as possible. Go on walks during breaks and after class as much as possible - it helps so much! Having the sun hit your face and being outside in nature can really change your mood and help deal with the stress of exams.
• Try finding one or two people to consistently study with. It can get overwhelming trying to study in large groups.
• Ask your instructors for clarification or help if you need it - that is what they are there for.
• Try to push yourself to study actively rather than passively. Explain concepts out loud as if you’re teaching someone else the content, quiz yourself with flashcards, and write down everything you can remember from a lecture without looking at notes.

The NCCPA will contact you via email 90 days before your scheduled graduation date. Your school is responsible for supplying the NCCPA with a graduation date.