An Overview of PA School

This is a quick overview of PA School: The phases, my course breakdown, and other general information. I can definitely post more in-depth content if there is an interest in how I studied, prepped for different courses, and what I experienced on rotations! 

Program Length: 27 months 

Class Size: 46 

Program Phases: Two

• Didactic: In-classroom learning (building your fund of knowledge)
• Length: 15 months 
• Clinical: Clinical rotations (putting your fund of knowledge into practice)
• Length: 12 months 

Didactic Courses: 

• Semester 1: Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Professional and Psychosocial Issues of Physician Assistant Practice, Physiology, Principles of the Medical Interview, Hematology Fundamentals, Clinical Pharmacology I, Evidence-Based Medicine 
• Semester 2: Human Gross Anatomy, Dermatology Fundamentals, Otorhinolaryngology and Ophthalmology Fundamentals, Orthopedics and Rheumatology, Neurology Fundamentals 
• Semester 3: Clinical Pharmacology II (A), Pulmonary Fundamentals I, Cardiovascular Fundamentals I, Gastroenterology Fundamentals
• Semester 4: Clinical Pharmacology II (B), Pulmonary Fundamentals II, Cardiovascular Fundamentals II, Nephrology and Genitourinary Fundamentals, Endocrinology Fundamentals, Essentials of Surgery, Essentials of Emergency Medicine, Essentials of Pediatrics, Essentials of Behavioral Medicine, Essentials of Obstetrics and Gynecology 
• What else happened during didactic: OSCEs, physical exam labs and competencies, skills labs,  cadaver lab, trauma lab, ACLS/BLS certification/re-certification, volunteering

Clinical Rotations: Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, General Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, Women's Health, Behavioral Medicine, Elective I, Elective II, Graduate Seminar

• Electives: For my elective rotations, I chose Orthopedics and Dermatology, but there were plenty of others to chose from - pediatric subspecialties, nephrology, urology, vascular surgery, interventional radiology, an additional rotation in the specialty you are interested in, cardiology, ICU/critical care,  urgent care, etc. 
• Graduate seminar was the culmination of our education, as well as helped to bridge the gaps from PA student to practicing PA. We had review sessions of general medicine, lectures on contract negotiation, loan repayment, and general finances, Q&As with recent graduates, and how to go about obtaining our licenses. 

Tuition Cost: $90,330

• Important note: This is literally just the cost of the courses and does not include the cost of rent, fees (membership to AAPA, ACLS cert, BLS re-cert, parking passes, criminal background check, drug screen), diagnostic instruments (stethoscope, otoscope, ophthalmoscope, tuning fork, reflex hammer), white coat, textbooks (+ other helpful resources), and whatever else your university will charge you for. When totaling this all together, the cost of my Physician Assistant education was around $150,000. 
• Side note: There is nothing wrong with taking out student loans - most people do not have the funds for this education just sitting in their bank accounts. Knowing you have the money available to cover tuition costs + rent payments will give you peace of mind (and some programs do not allow you to work while in school, making it difficult to have easily expendable cash on hand). 

There is definitely so much more I could discuss about my time in school - please reach out with any questions or if you want additional information!