Tmcdonald Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Hello everyone, I am currently a senior in college in MD with a communication degree and a 3.2 GPA, but I have recently decided that I would like to pursue a PA career after working at my local hospital. I do not have any of the science prerequisites that I would need to go straight into PA school, so I have decided that I would need to do some type of Post Bacc program in order to be eligible for PA school. However, I was wondering if the military would be a viable option for me to gain the prerequisites that I would need in order to go into PA school at an affordable rate. I understand that there are PA programs that the military does provide and I would love to do those programs once I gain all the prerequisites that I needed. So basically my questions are the following: 1) Can I gain the prerequisites I need for a PA program in the military or do I need to have those prior to enlisting? 2) What is the application process like and what would be my best course of action? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpshoe Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 When I was enlisted, I had time to do some prereq work while I was deployed. I waited until I got out to do the coursework with labs though which is a good chunk of it. If you go into the military in a medical position, your health care experience will seriously give you a leg up on the competition. I will say though, it is not a decision to make lightly. Your entire life will change completely from the day you enlist. You won't be around friends or family for a good amount of time. You're going to be devoting at least 4 years which means putting off PA school for 4 years. Yes, the GI bill would be great for helping pay for school, ut that is hardly a reason to join. It is a decision that is yours and yours alone to make, but it's a tough one so weigh your options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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cop to pa Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 So, military medical training grants a lot of credits for their programs (I had over 70 credits). However, these have no grades, or labs, are not entered into CASPA, and are accepted by programs on a case by case basis. I retook medical terminology, A&P and the like, because those programs that were willing to take them would only assign a C grade to it, driving down my GPA. There is a military PA program. It is highly competitive. I wouldn't could on it as a guarantee. Taking college courses, specifically ones that require labs and physical on campus presence is job and base dependent, with concerns about field work and deployment tossed in. Maybe it works, maybe not. You already will be receiving a Bachelor's. Have you considered a commission as an officer? It would likely be non-medical. Have you considered taking the classes you need at a community college while you work for a few years, then applying for one of the military's scholarships to pay for civilian PA school, and duty after graduation? There are a lot of options open to you. As a prior enlisted, I can say that the enlisted route is not a shortcut to PA school. Valuable knowledge and experience, but not a shortcut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmcdonald Posted October 26, 2015 Author Share Posted October 26, 2015 So, military medical training grants a lot of credits for their programs (I had over 70 credits). However, these have no grades, or labs, are not entered into CASPA, and are accepted by programs on a case by case basis. I retook medical terminology, A&P and the like, because those programs that were willing to take them would only assign a C grade to it, driving down my GPA. There is a military PA program. It is highly competitive. I wouldn't could on it as a guarantee. Taking college courses, specifically ones that require labs and physical on campus presence is job and base dependent, with concerns about field work and deployment tossed in. Maybe it works, maybe not. You already will be receiving a Bachelor's. Have you considered a commission as an officer? It would likely be non-medical. Have you considered taking the classes you need at a community college while you work for a few years, then applying for one of the military's scholarships to pay for civilian PA school, and duty after graduation? There are a lot of options open to you. As a prior enlisted, I can say that the enlisted route is not a shortcut to PA school. Valuable knowledge and experience, but not a shortcut. Thanks for the reply! I am honestly not familiar with the military at all, so I would be very open to hearing all of my options if you would be willing to explain them.Currently, I am also looking at post bacc programs because I like the model but the cost is extremely off putting. Does the military offer something similar to a post bacc model, but cheaper or no cost? I do know for certain that I want to become a PA, but the only thing standing in my way would be the prerequisite I need to apply to any PA program. I would consider enrolling as an officer if it would allow me to take the prerequisites I need to apply to a military PA program. Ideally, I would like to find a way to take those prerequisites through the military because I feel that it might help me get into a military PA program (I could be wrong) and allow me to do a full schedule instead of a few classes here and there through community college. So basically is this possible? And if it is possible how exactly would I be able to accomplish this? Would I just do military training like you did? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmcdonald Posted October 26, 2015 Author Share Posted October 26, 2015 When I was enlisted, I had time to do some prereq work while I was deployed. I waited until I got out to do the coursework with labs though which is a good chunk of it. If you go into the military in a medical position, your health care experience will seriously give you a leg up on the competition. I will say though, it is not a decision to make lightly. Your entire life will change completely from the day you enlist. You won't be around friends or family for a good amount of time. You're going to be devoting at least 4 years which means putting off PA school for 4 years. Yes, the GI bill would be great for helping pay for school, ut that is hardly a reason to join. It is a decision that is yours and yours alone to make, but it's a tough one so weigh your options. Hello and thanks for the reply! So if I enlisted and explained to the recruiter that I wanted to work with the military for a year or two in order to get my prerequisites ( I am assuming I would be working a military job along with this) then go through PA school with the military, would they still make me devote 4 years before PA school? I am completely willing to serve time in the military as a PA, but I would rather not spend 2-3 extra years to get the prerequisites I would need in order to join a PA program. Is there anyway around this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cop to pa Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Tmcdonald, I think I get where you're coming from. The answer is no. The military is a job, not a prep for what you want. You will do what you are told and when you are told to do it. Any off duty education is on your time, at a civilian college, and you will get little support from your command for it. And, you do not get to just quit, even if you get into PA school. I would highly recommend you spend a few hours online researching the military in general on this forum and elsewhere. From what I'm reading, it is NOT what you are hoping it is and you will be severely disappointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmcdonald Posted October 26, 2015 Author Share Posted October 26, 2015 Tmcdonald, I think I get where you're coming from. The answer is no. The military is a job, not a prep for what you want. You will do what you are told and when you are told to do it. Any off duty education is on your time, at a civilian college, and you will get little support from your command for it. And, you do not get to just quit, even if you get into PA school. I would highly recommend you spend a few hours online researching the military in general on this forum and elsewhere. From what I'm reading, it is NOT what you are hoping it is and you will be severely disappointed. Ok great thanks. I will do some more research on my own and try to get in touch with a recruiter around where I live to see my options. I do completely understand though that if I did all of this through the military that I would need to do what they wanted and I would not be able to leave. Not that I would want to quit. I would be too grateful haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpcglobal Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Tmcdonald, I am a former Army Recruiter (last 2 years in the healthcare field) The Army Medical Department DOES have a PA program. It is called the Inter-service Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/ipap/ http://www.usarec.army.mil/armypa/ipap_requirements_app_info.shtml (read the MILPER message for details http://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/amedd-categories/medical-specialist-corps-jobs/physician-assistant.html http://amsc.amedd.army.mil/65DPA.html There are several links that will list the requirements. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. jbotto@globalmso.com You can contact your local AMEDD recruiter and they will have info on the IPAP, and your local non-prior service recruiter about enlistment or Commission if you have a 4yr degree. Good luck Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UFPA824 Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 TimMcD, Going into the military while simultaneously trying to get your pre-reqs will be tough and I do not recommend it. You can always go into the military after PA school to pay it via loan forgiveness, or you can apply for the Navy HSCP before you start school. My advice: Start getting healthcare hours (CNA, MA, Medical Scribe, EMT) and take your pre-req courses at a local Community College or University that has the classes you need at times that work for you. After you complete your pre-reqs and gather at least 500 hrs, starting applying to schools. Once you are admitted apply for the Navy HSCP and if that does not work out join the military after PA school to help pay back your loans. Goodluck - B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpcglobal Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 TimMcD, Going into the military while simultaneously trying to get your pre-reqs will be tough and I do not recommend it. You can always go into the military after PA school to pay it via loan forgiveness, or you can apply for the Navy HSCP before you start school. My advice: Start getting healthcare hours (CNA, MA, Medical Scribe, EMT) and take your pre-req courses at a local Community College or University that has the classes you need at times that work for you. After you complete your pre-reqs and gather at least 500 hrs, starting applying to schools. Once you are admitted apply for the Navy HSCP and if that does not work out join the military after PA school to help pay back your loans. Goodluck - B UFPA824 and TMcdonald, Why join the military AFTER PA school? You waste all that time and money going to PA school. The military WILL give you the pre-reqs you need for PA school. They have programs that are better than ANY civilian program. Not only the education, but the work ethic, and leadership you learn while in the career you love. While attending the PA program you are a commissioned officer. As far as being in the military while getting your pre-req's being "too hard", that is not true at all. I was in the Army AND went to school for an AA, BA, AND my Master's degree. Oh by the way, I even took classes while deployed to Afghanistan as a military police. Granted, your lab classes are more difficult, but military units ARE able to work around your education. Especially if you are a Combat Medic, you get ALL the training you need. Then there are PA programs that the military PAYS for you to go to. Question you need to ask is: 1. Do you want to pay for a PA program AND not get paid while attending the program; join the military and HOPEFULLY you can get a loan repayment program (LRP) OR 2. Have the military pay for your education AND get paid for it too. I am very partial to the military route, because I am a 15 year Vet with first-hand the benefits they have AND I was a regular recruiter and a healthcare recruiter the last 6 years (2009-2015) If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caleb_jo Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 Joe, I would have to disagree with you on many different levels. TMcdonald is a senior in college. He is so close to being able to apply to a civilian PA program without having to go into the military first... The first few years of the military is just getting use to the military... Many people do not or cannot even get TA to go to school for the first few years of the military.. In that amount of time even if he a had a couple of prereqs, he could knock those out and be accepted into a civilian PA school. First point. The military does not "give" you your prereqs. Your SMART transcript from schools while in the military does not include a letter grade which schools require. Take my example, who went through Corpsman school, Surgical tech school, and Urology Tech school while in the military and got little to nothing for those schools at a real university. Case in point, you must take all of your prereqs at an accredited college. Second Point. The military only has one PA school. IPAP, which is an all service PA school offered to military service members. Besides the Army, this program is only offered to active duty members. Most of these members have been in the military for several years with several deployments. In the Navy, you must also be an E-5 or above* This can take on average 5 years to do. Also, the IPAP program is not the best program nor has it ever been. Not to say that it is not a great program ( have friends that went the program), but not the best. Civilian programs are just as good. Personally, I chose to go to a civilian PA program because I wanted to see sicker patients and get an overall broader experience (because Im not always gonna be in the military). **While in the program, you are NOT an officer. You are the rank you were accepted as. You do not commission until after you pass the PANCE.**** Last Point: I spent 9 years enlisted before I went to PA school. I was interested in IPAP at first but decided to go to a civilian program. I was an E-5 and applied to the Navy HSCP. I was accepted and made rank (you get paid full E-6 pay while in PA school) which ultimately worked out better for me (better than if I applied to IPAP). Its a great program! I get to go to school fulltime, not wear a uniform, and not be hassled. In my opinion, McDonald would be best served applying to a civilian program and apply to a program such as HSCP if interested in the military. This is time best served by him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpcglobal Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 Great thing about America is we can have our own opinions...Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UFPA824 Posted November 24, 2015 Share Posted November 24, 2015 TmcMcdonald, Your chances of getting accepted into PA school will definitely be better with prior military experience (PA programs love their veterans). If you take the military path it will take longer before you start PA school. Just have to weigh the pros and cons and the path you want to take. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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