PA programs that don't require HCE

[tour9196]

I was helping a friend look up a bunch of PA schools that didn't require HCE, and went through all the caspa schools (not the 9 that don't have accreditation). Thought this might be useful for some people. As a side note, I did notice a good chunk of them only require 100-200 hours of paid experience.

Links to the school requirements and the state is listed. Some didn't mention HCE and might of been mentioned somewhere else, so double check to make sure. If they said they require HCE, its not on this list, and most of them "strongly recommend HCE' or is factor into their final decision.

 

http://ab.edu/sites/default/files/pdfs/PA%20Brochure_083112.pdf - WV

http://www.augsburg.edu/pa/program-prerequisites/ - MN - 1,000 hours recommended

http://www.bw.edu/admission/pa/ - OH - 40 hours shadowing

http://www.bethelu.edu/academics/colleges_and_schools/college_of_health_sciences/mspas2/acad/prostu - TN - 40 hours shadowing

http://www.chatham.edu/mpas/requirements.cfm - PA

https://www.cuw.edu/Programs/physicianassistant/admission.html - WI

http://www.tri-c.edu/programs/physicianassistant/Pages/Default.aspx - OH

http://www.daemen.edu/academics/divisionofhealthhumanservices/physicianassistant/faqs/Pages/default.aspx - NY

http://www.dmu.edu/pa/admission-requirements/ - IA - BUT 9 credits in psychology...

http://www.evms.edu/education/masters_programs/physician_assistant_program/admissions_information/admissions_requirements/ - VA

http://www.franklinpierce.edu/academics/gradstudies/programs_of_study/mpa_admission_reqs.htm#fin_support - NH

http://www.isu.edu/PAprog/admissions.shtml - ID

http://www.indstate.edu/amr/physician-assistant/admissions.html - IN

http://www.keiseruniversity.edu/graduateschool/pa/arequirements.php - FL

http://www.lmunet.edu/dcom/pa/criteria.shtml - TN

http://gradprograms.lhup.edu/PA/DesktopDefault.aspx?pid=18&tabid=0 - PA

http://www.marietta.edu/departments/Physician_Assistant/admissions/admission_prerequisites.html - OH

http://www.mcphs.edu/admission-and-aid/graduate-applicants/how-to-apply/physician-assistant-studies-mpas - 250-500 recommended

http://www.midwestern.edu/programs-and-admission/il-physician-assistant-studies.html#Admission Requirements - IL

http://misericordia.edu/misericordia_pg_sub.cfm?sub_page_id=4023&subcat_id=108&page_id=990 - PA

http://www.missouristate.edu/pas/admiss.html - MO

http://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/pa/prospective-students/admissions/patient-care.html - IL - 1000 highly recommended

http://www.nova.edu/chcs/pa/fortlauderdale/requirements.html - FL - 3 locations, experience plays a factor for an interview

http://francis.edu/pa-graduate-admissions/ - PA

http://www.physician-assistant.su.edu/physician-assistant-studies/admissions-new/physician-assistant-studies-requirements/ - VA

http://www.southuniversity.edu/nursing-and-health-professions-programs/physician-assistant-studies-degrees/savannah-admissions.aspx - GA - HCE strongly recommended

http://www.stjohns.edu/academics/undergraduate/pharmacy/programs/pa/admission.stj - NY - nothing mentioned

http://www.ttuhsc.edu/sah/mpa/prereq.aspx - TX - Highly recommended

http://www.uab.edu/shp/cds/academic/graduate/spa/spaadmissions - AL

http://www.findlay.edu/academics/healthprofessions/physicianassistant-ma/Pages/Program-Requirements-.aspx - OH

http://www.utoledo.edu/med/grad/pa/prospectus.html#ad_req - OH

http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/medicalschool/education/degree_programs/PAProgram/prospectivestudent/Pages/Prerequisites.aspx - CO

http://shrp.umdnj.edu/dept/primary_care/paweb/admissions/index.html - NJ - Highly recommended

http://www.mountunion.edu/admission-requirements - OH - Preferred

http://www.unmc.edu/alliedhealth/pa_admission.htm - NE - Doesn't metion

http://unthsc.edu/education/pasp/Admissions.cfm - TX - Highly recommended

http://www.ou.edu/content/tulsa/pa/admission.html - OK - Strongly recommended

http://www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/pa/admissions.html - AL - Not mentioned

http://keck.usc.edu/en/Education/Academic_Department_and_Divisions/Physician_Assistant_Program/Admission_Requirements.aspx - CA - Preferred

http://shp.utmb.edu/PhysicianAssistantStudies/ProspectiveStudents.asp - TX - Recommended

http://portal.utpa.edu/utpa_main/daa_home/hshs_home/pasp_home/pasp_admissions/admissions_prerequisites - TX

http://www.westliberty.edu/physician-assistant/admissions/prerequisites/ - WV

http://prospective.westernu.edu/physician-assistant/faqs-14/ - CA

http://webs.wichita.edu/depttools/depttoolsmemberfiles/pa/Program%20Info/InformationPacket.pdf#page=3 - KS

http://www.paprogram.yale.edu/admissions/prerequisites/experience.aspx - CT

[wesr_gordon]

Awesome list, thanks for doing this!

[uscbigdawg]

Post deleted

[chickitabanana]

I think it would be in your friend's best interest to get some HCE before applying to PA school/becoming a PA. Another year off before applying is nothing in the course of a lifetime. Here are some reasons why:

 

1. You may not think you're learning anything as a MA/PCT/CNA/EMT, but you are. I was surprised at how much I picked up as an MA once I started PA school. Writing down med lists? Yeah, just being familiar with the names of medications and what they are use for helps more than you realize when it comes time to learn pharmacology.

2. HCE gives you a ton of practice learning how to interact with patients. When you're a second year student, starting clinical rotations can be scary enough. If you're not even comfortable talking to patients yet how can you really take the time to learn about their condition?

3. If you've never done any HCE how do you even know if you'll like being a PA? It's one thing to shadow and watch what a PA is doing and another to actually get your hands dirty and do certain (sometimes gross) things yourself. A friend of mine wanted to be a PA until she passed out every time she saw blood. Now she's a pharmacist instead. Get my point?

4. When you're a new grad PA-C, finding a job is tough. Please don't be fooled into thinking you're going to just apply to 2-3 jobs near where you live and land them all and have your choice of dream job. It varies, of course, depending on your location and what specialty you want to go in to. Any HCE experience you've had PRIOR to PA school is helpful. I have a job in cardiac surgery that I landed as a new grad (which is pretty difficult because most jobs want PAs with minimum 1-2 years experience, especially surgical fields). I don't doubt that having 2 years working as a MA in a cardiology office plus a year experience working in cardiac rehabilitation helped me land it. I have friends working in the Emergency Dept who were EMTs for years before PA school and their starting salary is a little higher than a typical new grad because the hospitals value their prior HCE.

5. PA school is two of the hardest years of your life. I'll say it and I know others will agree. Anyone who wants it badly enough to go through such a rigorous program should be willing to get the HCE the rest of us had to. Part of my HCE was working for free because the office didn't have enough money to pay me until the following year. Did it upset me that I was working for free and living at home while the rest of my friends I graduated college with had jobs in a big city nearby, their own apartments, money to go on vacation, etc? Yes. However, now I have a job that I'm so excited about every day so I know that almost a year of working for free was worth it to have a career that I'll love for 30 years. Don't short change yourself just because you want to get to the finish line faster. The schools will still be there 2 years from now and having HCE will open more doors to where you can apply and where you'll be accepted.

[Joelseff]

I think it would be in your friend's best interest to get some HCE before applying to PA school/becoming a PA. Another year off before applying is nothing in the course of a lifetime. Here are some reasons why:

 

1. You may not think you're learning anything as a MA/PCT/CNA/EMT, but you are. I was surprised at how much I picked up as an MA once I started PA school. Writing down med lists? Yeah, just being familiar with the names of medications and what they are use for helps more than you realize when it comes time to learn pharmacology.

2. HCE gives you a ton of practice learning how to interact with patients. When you're a second year student, starting clinical rotations can be scary enough. If you're not even comfortable talking to patients yet how can you really take the time to learn about their condition?

3. If you've never done any HCE how do you even know if you'll like being a PA? It's one thing to shadow and watch what a PA is doing and another to actually get your hands dirty and do certain (sometimes gross) things yourself. A friend of mine wanted to be a PA until she passed out every time she saw blood. Now she's a pharmacist instead. Get my point?

4. When you're a new grad PA-C, finding a job is tough. Please don't be fooled into thinking you're going to just apply to 2-3 jobs near where you live and land them all and have your choice of dream job. It varies, of course, depending on your location and what specialty you want to go in to. Any HCE experience you've had PRIOR to PA school is helpful. I have a job in cardiac surgery that I landed as a new grad (which is pretty difficult because most jobs want PAs with minimum 1-2 years experience, especially surgical fields). I don't doubt that having 2 years working as a MA in a cardiology office plus a year experience working in cardiac rehabilitation helped me land it. I have friends working in the Emergency Dept who were EMTs for years before PA school and their starting salary is a little higher than a typical new grad because the hospitals value their prior HCE.

5. PA school is two of the hardest years of your life. I'll say it and I know others will agree. Anyone who wants it badly enough to go through such a rigorous program should be willing to get the HCE the rest of us had to. Part of my HCE was working for free because the office didn't have enough money to pay me until the following year. Did it upset me that I was working for free and living at home while the rest of my friends I graduated college with had jobs in a big city nearby, their own apartments, money to go on vacation, etc? Yes. However, now I have a job that I'm so excited about every day so I know that almost a year of working for free was worth it to have a career that I'll love for 30 years. Don't short change yourself just because you want to get to the finish line faster. The schools will still be there 2 years from now and having HCE will open more doors to where you can apply and where you'll be accepted.

 

Best post of the year! This should be stickied for all the posts wanting to skirt HCE.

 

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[Acebecker]

I would cabbage onto what was posted above: prior HCE will make you a better PA right out of school. I've known those with crap HCE and those with excellent HCE. The ones with better HCE are better providers out of school. It shows.

[sstrell1]

I agree with chickitabanana. The students in my program that have had HCE prior to applying are a lot more ahead in some ways. If you're a strong applicant (high GPA, volunteering, leadership) don't let lack of HCE discourage you from applying. With that being said, you should do a lot of shadowing with not only PA's but nurses and doctors as well to know what you're getting yourself into.

[whoRyou]

My question is WHY would anyone want to 'skip' HCE. I really do not understand this concept at all. Everyone here practically wants to be a PA. So, that means you are going to have to get your hands dirty. If you don't want to do the hard and dirty work -then move on and get out! It is really that simple. I'll do it for you and become a PA and you can sit on the sidelines, how about that?

[tour9196]

Thanks for the input! I fully agree with the above statements. Anyone going to PA school should get HCE before applying to insure this is the correct career path. I personally have 5k+ years in a major hospital and it has influenced me to become a PA. As for my friend, we have had many conversations in which I suggested many things that were mentioned in this thread. But I wont bring in my friends personal story into a web forums or try to answer why.

[Joelseff]

Thanks for the input! I fully agree with the above statements. Anyone going to PA school should get HCE before applying to insure this is the correct career path. I personally have 5k+ years in a major hospital and it has influenced me to become a PA. As for my friend, we have had many conversations in which I suggested many things that were mentioned in this thread. But I wont bring in my friends personal story into a web forums or try to answer why.

 

You got 5000 yrs wow impressive! Lol j/k I know what u meant...

 

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[uscbigdawg]

I'll just say that one program director (not a counselor) flat out told a room of applicants that at their program HCE was a NON-FACTOR in your selection to their program.

 

Rich

[KCMA79]

I'll just say that one program director (not a counselor) flat out told a room of applicants that at their program HCE was a NON-FACTOR in your selection to their program.

 

Rich

 

Then I would have serious concerns about that program. I don't care what kind of rep it has.

[greenmood]

We were all doing so well ignoring this thread... and letting it sink to the 9th page where it belongs.