1 answer
Emma
Student
Orlando, Florida
1
Question
Updated
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How do you suggest getting competitive clinical hours to apply for PA school? #Spring26
I am going into my freshman year at the University of Central Florida this summer and am unsure how to get started on my clinical hours for PA school. #Spring26
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1 answer
Ghada Adel
Service manager
12
Answers
Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
Updated
Ghada’s Answer
That’s a great question—and it’s really good you’re thinking about this early because clinical hours take time to build.
The key is to start simple and consistent, not perfect.
Since you’ll be at University of Central Florida, here are the best ways to get real, competitive clinical hours:
Start with entry-level clinical jobs
These are the most common paths for pre-PA students:
Medical assistant (MA)
Certified nursing assistant (CNA)
Patient care technician (PCT)
Phlebotomist
These roles give you direct patient care, which PA schools care about most.
Volunteer (but be strategic)
Look into:
Hospitals near campus
Clinics or urgent care centers
Free/community health clinics
Try to get roles where you interact with patients, not just front desk work.
Use local resources
In Orlando, check:
Hospital career pages
Clinics hiring part-time
Networking on LinkedIn
Message people, ask about shadowing, or ask how they got started.
Shadow a PA
Even though it’s not counted as clinical hours, it’s important.
Helps confirm this is the right path
Strengthens your application
Be consistent over time
You don’t need to rush.
A strong application usually has:
1,000–3,000+ hours over time
That means:
A few hours per week starting freshman year = HUGE advantage
Real advice
Don’t wait for the “perfect” role.
Start with anything patient-facing, even if it’s small. Once you’re in, it’s much easier to move into better roles.
The key is to start simple and consistent, not perfect.
Since you’ll be at University of Central Florida, here are the best ways to get real, competitive clinical hours:
Start with entry-level clinical jobs
These are the most common paths for pre-PA students:
Medical assistant (MA)
Certified nursing assistant (CNA)
Patient care technician (PCT)
Phlebotomist
These roles give you direct patient care, which PA schools care about most.
Volunteer (but be strategic)
Look into:
Hospitals near campus
Clinics or urgent care centers
Free/community health clinics
Try to get roles where you interact with patients, not just front desk work.
Use local resources
In Orlando, check:
Hospital career pages
Clinics hiring part-time
Networking on LinkedIn
Message people, ask about shadowing, or ask how they got started.
Shadow a PA
Even though it’s not counted as clinical hours, it’s important.
Helps confirm this is the right path
Strengthens your application
Be consistent over time
You don’t need to rush.
A strong application usually has:
1,000–3,000+ hours over time
That means:
A few hours per week starting freshman year = HUGE advantage
Real advice
Don’t wait for the “perfect” role.
Start with anything patient-facing, even if it’s small. Once you’re in, it’s much easier to move into better roles.
Thank you so much! I will definitely use this advice.
Emma