Clinical Experience
Clinical experiences are an important way to explore the healthcare field and demonstrate ongoing interest in the profession.
Clinical experiences should include direct interaction with practitioners & patients but need not be at an advanced medical level. Students may gain clinical experience through a summer work position, part-time work during the academic year, a co-op, or a full time position after graduation, or volunteering in a healthcare setting. Schools typically do not require a certain number of clinical hours prior to matriculation. Rather, it is what you learn from your clinical experience and how you articulate this on your application that demonstrate your readiness for medical training.
Some students choose to obtain clinical experience by becoming a Certified Nurse’s Aide (CNA) or Emergency Medical Training (EMT). Please note that the value in this training is not receiving the certification, but rather, it is in the clinical experience that you gain from a position that allows you to use the certification.
Shadowing a Healthcare Professional
Clinical experience should also include shadowing hours with a licensed practitioner in the field to which you aspire. It is the quality of your shadowing experience, rather than number of shadowing hours, that allow you articulate your understanding of the profession. Shadowing also gives the opportunity to get to know a practicing professional, gain mentoring, and a letter of evaluation. Before you begin your Shadow experience, review the AAMC’s Guidelines for Clinical Shadowing Experiences.
While in-person shadowing experience with a licensed practitioner in the field to which you aspire is necessary, additional, virtual shadowing can also be of value. Consider beginning with virtual shadowing experience by visiting prehealthshadowing.com.
Many PA programs require an approximate number of hours of paid direct Patient Care Experiences (PCE) prior to applying. It is strongly recommended students obtain 2,000 hours of hands-on patient-care hours prior to applying. Examples of direct patient care positions include, but are not limited to, certified nursing assistant, PT aid, medical assistant, etc. Be mindful that some position hours (i.e. EMT transports) may not count toward your direct patient care hours as PA schools do not see these roles as 100% hands-on patient care experiences.
Students should review individual schools’ websites for more information on their clinical prerequisites as they vary greatly program-to-program.
UW-Madison Physician Assistant Program’s overview and definition of Patient Care Experience.
Shadowing a Physician Assistant
Clinical experience should also include shadowing hours with a licensed Physician Assistant. It is the quality of your shadowing experience, rather than number of shadowing hours, that allow you articulate your understanding of the profession. Shadowing also gives the opportunity to get to know a practicing professional, gain mentoring, and a letter of evaluation.
While in-person shadowing experience with a PA is necessary, additional, virtual shadowing can also be of value. Consider beginning with virtual shadowing experience by visiting prehealthshadowing.com.
Competitive veterinary school applicants typically have engaged in clinical animal experience. It is suggested that students engage in more than one area of veterinary medicine, with in-depth exploration of at least one. Students may gain animal experience through a summer work position, part-time work during the academic year, a co-op, or a full time position after graduation, or volunteering in a animal shelter.
Students should review individual schools’ websites for more information on their animal experience pre-requisites as they vary greatly program-to-program.
Shadowing a Veterinarian
Clinical experience should also include shadowing hours with a veterinarian. It is the quality of your shadowing experience, rather than number of shadowing hours, that allow you articulate your understanding of the profession. Shadowing also gives the opportunity to get to know a practicing professional, gain mentoring, and a letter of evaluation.
While in-person shadowing experience with a licensed veterinarian in the field to which you aspire is necessary, additional, virtual shadowing can also be of value. Consider beginning with virtual shadowing experience by visiting prehealthshadowing.com.