Today’s post is sponsored by Advanced eClinical Training!
One of the most important aspects of a physician assistant school application is direct patient care experience (PCE). As the process of applying to PA school has become more complicated with an increase in requirements and more competition, the quality of PCE is even more important than ever. While there are still positions that may not require a certification, investing in extra education and training is one way to stand out when trying to land a high quality patient care experience.
What is direct Patient Care Experience (PCE) and what “counts”?
Before diving into becoming a PA, it’s a good idea to make sure you like the daily responsibilities of taking care of patients. Working in a healthcare setting doesn’t always allow for patient interactions, which would be considered “healthcare experience.” These types of jobs include receptionist, front office or insurance work, pharmacy technician, and patient transporter just to name a few.
For a position to be considered “direct PCE” you are expected to have involvement in a patient’s care plan. Typically, you’ll be more hands-on with tasks such as taking vitals, phlebotomy, assisting with procedures, starting IVs, or administering medications. (This is not an exhaustive list, but just a few examples.) Many of these jobs will require additional training or certifications before you are hired into these types of positions, and some roles to search for include medical assistant (MA), certified nursing assistant (CNA), patient care technician (PCT), and emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
When considering what type of position to take, there are two main factors to look at - what your programs prefer and what you’ll actually be doing. Job descriptions can vary, so look beyond the title to what your daily roles and responsibilities would look like.
What kind of training, certifications, and qualifications are needed to work in a direct PCE job?
Obtaining healthcare care experience before PA school can be a difficult and stressful process. When I was looking for clinical certification programs, it was nearly impossible finding a program that met my needs for time, affordability, and flexibility. To become a CNA for my job at a rehab hospital, I ended up driving 1.5 hours each way every Saturday for 3 months and giving up spring break for clinicals. It was the closest option I could find that fit my schedule, but wasn’t ideal while balancing a full-load of science courses at UGA. There are places that may hire and train without a certification, but this will depend on your state and position. It will be more difficult to find a hospital or larger facility that is willing to hire without a certification.
Fortunately, Advanced eClinical Training (IG: @advancedclinicaltraining) is now offering fully online Allied Health certification courses designed specifically for Pre-PA students.
The certification training programs they offer are:
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT)
Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
The training programs can be completed in little as 8-12 weeks, but are completely self-paced with no due dates or time restrictions! Their programs consist of innovative learning modules including interactive assignments, real-life clinic simulations, classmate discussions, expert video lectures, and constant support/feedback from course instructors who are board-certified medical providers! Upon successfully completing the online training, students will sit for their program's certification exam to obtain nationally accredited clinical certifications and be credentialed to work in the diverse clinic and hospital settings!
After speaking with students who have completed the program, they were very happy with the program and stated they are quick to respond and approve submissions. By volunteering for in person experiences, you can put what you learn into practice. Definitely reach out and contact Advanced eClinical Training if you have any questions about the program.
Advanced eClinical Training is currently enrolling Pre-PA students for all of their online certification training courses! Use code PAPLATFORM to get $100 off and start gaining valuable clinical training before PA school!
How can I find a direct PCE position?
Once you’ve completed your certification, it’s time for the fun part, but finding a job and getting credentialed can take a little while. When deciding on a certification, look to see what types of jobs and requirements are most common for your area to make it easier when you start to look.
Most hospital websites and large facilities will have job postings at all times. Apply widely until you secure a position because you never know how long it will take to hear back. Cold-calling smaller offices or sending out a resume with a letter of intent is another great strategy as many places love to hire pre-health students.
Don’t forget the power of networking, and use any connections you have. Even if none of your family is in medicine, you never know if you tell your neighbor about your ambitions who they may know who can help you out. My rehab hospital CNA job was actually the result of one of my dad’s co-workers who had a connection and knew they were hiring extra help for the summer.
For more information on how you can complete an online certification to land a direct patient care job, visit Advanced eClinical Training.
