Health Care Experience
A minimum of 1 year (approximately 2,000 hours as of the November deadline) of health care experience in a position of responsibility is expected of all applicants.
Preference is given to candidates with health care experience that involves direct (hands-on) patient care. Volunteer work, community service, and direct experience working with physician assistants will also be taken into consideration.
Health care experience is evaluated on:
- whether or not the experience is direct patient care or health care-related
- the total number of hours
- the setting
- the patient population
- the level of supervision
- the description of the duties
- how recent is the experience (must be within the past 10 years to be considered)
Applicants are encouraged to be very detailed in their description of health care positions in their CASPA application.
Shadowing experience, although highly valued, does not count toward the total number of hours. Applicants should enter any shadowing or intern types of opportunities under the health care related area of their CASPA application.
Types of Health Care Experience
- medical assistant
- emergency medical technician (EMT)/paramedic
- peace corps volunteer
- lab assistant/phlebotomist
- health care-related technician
- clinical research assistant
- community health worker
- certified nursing assistant (CNA)
- physical therapy aide
- medical technologist
