4 answers
Maliha
Student
Kennesaw, Georgia
1
Question
Asked
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What career route should I go for PA school?
My goal is to get into PA school and become a physician assistant. I currently work at a senior care facility as a front desk receptionist, but there are openings for caregiver positions. I’ve emailed a few PA programs to ask whether the caregiver role would count as patient care experience. Two programs said it would count, while one said it would not, and I’m still waiting to hear back from others. I don’t have a CNA certification, and honestly, caregiving is not something I’m very interested in. I would prefer a role where I could take vitals and perform more clinical tasks. I’ve applied to medical assistant positions that do not require certification, but I haven’t had any luck, and getting a CMA certification is very expensive. I’m unsure whether I should take the caregiver opportunity to begin gaining patient care hours (that may possibly not count) or wait for a position that is more closely related to medical assisting and get certified. I would really appreciate any honest advice.
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3 answers
Sarah Cockrell, MBA, MSCM
Organizational Development
11
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Sarah’s Answer
Since you’ve already confirmed that some PA programs will accept the caregiver role as patient care experience, I would seriously consider taking it, especially if your goal is to begin accumulating qualifying hours now. Even if it’s not your ideal position, it provides relevant healthcare experience, exposes you to patient care, and strengthens your resume while you continue pursuing medical assistant or other clinical roles. Before accepting, make a list of PA programs that recognize caregiver experience and focus your applications on those schools.
In the meantime, continue applying for MA positions and explore lower-cost certification options through community colleges or employers that offer tuition assistance.
Sometimes the fastest path isn’t the perfect job, it’s the one that gets you moving toward your long-term goal while keeping future opportunities open.
In the meantime, continue applying for MA positions and explore lower-cost certification options through community colleges or employers that offer tuition assistance.
Sometimes the fastest path isn’t the perfect job, it’s the one that gets you moving toward your long-term goal while keeping future opportunities open.
Godfrey Magawe
Clinical officer nephrology
149
Answers
Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya
Updated
Godfrey’s Answer
Great concern.PA is a very good career if you are interested in medical career.
Absolutely there are other direct links to attaining PA certificate other than first branching to either CMA ,LPN or others.
You can get direct entry to PA colleges after attaining your first bachelor degree and it would be appropriate if have a health science degree to make it easy for admission I to a PA college.
Again it would be appropriate if have majors in science subject in your senior grade like biology, mathematics, chemistry and physics.I presume that would be a better path if you don't wanna go the CNA way to be a link to PA career path...thanks and wish you the best of luck
Absolutely there are other direct links to attaining PA certificate other than first branching to either CMA ,LPN or others.
You can get direct entry to PA colleges after attaining your first bachelor degree and it would be appropriate if have a health science degree to make it easy for admission I to a PA college.
Again it would be appropriate if have majors in science subject in your senior grade like biology, mathematics, chemistry and physics.I presume that would be a better path if you don't wanna go the CNA way to be a link to PA career path...thanks and wish you the best of luck
Suraayah Hunter
Independent Consultant
36
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Suraayah’s Answer
Maliha, you’re already doing something deeply meaningful: you’re shaping your future with intention and purpose. You’re asking thoughtful questions, reaching out to Physician Assistant (PA) programs directly, and paying attention to what aligns with your interests. That level of self-direction is a powerful foundation for any healthcare career. Your work in a senior care facility shows that you’re dependable, patient‑centered, and comfortable in a healthcare environment—qualities that translate beautifully into the PA path.
Since you know you want hands-on clinical experience rather than caregiving, you can build your route in ways that reflect your strengths and the type of PA you envision becoming. In Georgia, many PA programs—including Emory University, Mercer University, South University, and Augusta University—accept patient care hours from roles where you take vitals, assist with procedures, or support clinical workflows. You have more options than the traditional Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) route, and you can think creatively about where those hours come from.
Sports medicine centers, athletic training rooms, and physical therapy clinics often hire aides who take vitals, assist with therapeutic exercises, and help manage injuries. These roles count as patient care experience for many PA programs and give you exposure to orthopedics and human performance—areas where PAs play major roles. Kennesaw State University and nearby sports performance facilities frequently hire early-career applicants for these positions.
Clinical research is another strong path. Large systems like Emory Healthcare, Wellstar Health System, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta hire research assistants who collect vitals, monitor participants, and support clinical trials. These hours often count for PA programs and give you experience with advanced medicine, interdisciplinary teams, and real-world patient interaction. Some research programs connected to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) human performance labs or United States Department of Defense (DoD) studies hire civilian assistants to collect physiological data. These roles expose you to aerospace medicine, trauma physiology, and human performance—fields where PAs work in specialized capacities.
If you want structured training without the cost of a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) program, consider short certifications such as phlebotomy or electrocardiogram (EKG) technician. They’re far more affordable, take weeks instead of months, and lead to roles that almost all PA programs accept. Hospitals across Georgia hire phlebotomists and EKG technicians with minimal prior experience once certified, and these roles give you direct patient contact and strong clinical exposure.
Private practice clinics—family medicine, urgent care, dermatology, cardiology, orthopedics—often hire medical assistants without certification and train them internally. These environments allow you to build relationships with physicians and PAs who can mentor you, write strong letters of recommendation, and help you understand clinical reasoning. Relationship-building is one of the most powerful parts of PA preparation, and you’re already demonstrating the initiative needed to cultivate those connections.
The caregiver role isn’t a wrong step—it’s simply not aligned with the type of PA you want to become. You’re doing the right thing by aiming for a role that lets you take vitals, observe providers, and grow clinically. You’re thinking strategically, and that’s exactly how strong PA applicants build their path.
Your future doesn’t have to be limited to what’s immediately available. You can explore sports medicine, clinical research, federal healthcare, private practice, or even NASA-adjacent human performance studies. You’re already showing the mindset of a future PA: intentional, curious, and committed to choosing environments that help you grow.
Good luck!
- Dr. Hunter
1. Identify the clinical environments that match your interests—sports medicine, physical therapy clinics, clinical research units, private practice offices—and begin targeting roles that involve vitals, patient interaction, and procedure support.
2. Contact local systems such as Emory Healthcare, Wellstar Health System, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and Kennesaw State University’s sports performance programs to inquire about entry-level clinical or research assistant positions.
3. Enroll in a short, affordable certification such as phlebotomy or electrocardiogram (EKG) technician to open doors to hospital-based roles that almost all Physician Assistant (PA) programs accept as patient care experience.
4. Apply to private practice clinics—family medicine, urgent care, dermatology, cardiology, orthopedics—that frequently train medical assistants internally and provide direct exposure to providers, procedures, and clinical reasoning.
5. Build relationships with PAs, physicians, nurses, and clinic managers in the environments you pursue; these connections often lead to mentorship, shadowing opportunities, and strong letters of recommendation for PA programs.
Since you know you want hands-on clinical experience rather than caregiving, you can build your route in ways that reflect your strengths and the type of PA you envision becoming. In Georgia, many PA programs—including Emory University, Mercer University, South University, and Augusta University—accept patient care hours from roles where you take vitals, assist with procedures, or support clinical workflows. You have more options than the traditional Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) route, and you can think creatively about where those hours come from.
Sports medicine centers, athletic training rooms, and physical therapy clinics often hire aides who take vitals, assist with therapeutic exercises, and help manage injuries. These roles count as patient care experience for many PA programs and give you exposure to orthopedics and human performance—areas where PAs play major roles. Kennesaw State University and nearby sports performance facilities frequently hire early-career applicants for these positions.
Clinical research is another strong path. Large systems like Emory Healthcare, Wellstar Health System, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta hire research assistants who collect vitals, monitor participants, and support clinical trials. These hours often count for PA programs and give you experience with advanced medicine, interdisciplinary teams, and real-world patient interaction. Some research programs connected to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) human performance labs or United States Department of Defense (DoD) studies hire civilian assistants to collect physiological data. These roles expose you to aerospace medicine, trauma physiology, and human performance—fields where PAs work in specialized capacities.
If you want structured training without the cost of a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) program, consider short certifications such as phlebotomy or electrocardiogram (EKG) technician. They’re far more affordable, take weeks instead of months, and lead to roles that almost all PA programs accept. Hospitals across Georgia hire phlebotomists and EKG technicians with minimal prior experience once certified, and these roles give you direct patient contact and strong clinical exposure.
Private practice clinics—family medicine, urgent care, dermatology, cardiology, orthopedics—often hire medical assistants without certification and train them internally. These environments allow you to build relationships with physicians and PAs who can mentor you, write strong letters of recommendation, and help you understand clinical reasoning. Relationship-building is one of the most powerful parts of PA preparation, and you’re already demonstrating the initiative needed to cultivate those connections.
The caregiver role isn’t a wrong step—it’s simply not aligned with the type of PA you want to become. You’re doing the right thing by aiming for a role that lets you take vitals, observe providers, and grow clinically. You’re thinking strategically, and that’s exactly how strong PA applicants build their path.
Your future doesn’t have to be limited to what’s immediately available. You can explore sports medicine, clinical research, federal healthcare, private practice, or even NASA-adjacent human performance studies. You’re already showing the mindset of a future PA: intentional, curious, and committed to choosing environments that help you grow.
Good luck!
- Dr. Hunter
Suraayah recommends the following next steps: