Why I Decided to Go Back to School for PA

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

It is never too late to pursue PA school, even years after college and while working full time. This is one career changer's story of leaving her comfort zone, balancing prerequisites with a full-time job, and proving that the hardest part is simply taking the first step.

Last Updated: June 12, 2026

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How does someone end up on the path to PA from a different career?

Plenty of future PAs do not start out planning for medicine at all. Taylor, who works as a medical assistant alongside Savanna, originally dreamed of a career in broadcast journalism and majored in public relations, with friends signing her yearbook predicting she would end up on a morning show. She came from a family with no medical background and was not interested in medicine growing up.

Near the end of college she realized PR was not the right fit, and after some time job hunting and a stint in food service, a roommate connection led to an interview with a local dermatologist. That is one of the most valuable post college lessons: networking is everything. She started at the front desk, gradually spent more time with patients, and discovered that the clinical side of dermatology was the most enjoyable part of her day.

In this post:

What finally pushed the decision to go back to school?

After becoming a full time medical assistant for a PA, Taylor hit the top of the ladder at her job and was content there for a while. For years she thought about going back to school but found it intimidating and feared it would be too much. One of her biggest weaknesses, by her own admission, is a love of comfort, and she knew her job well and did it well.

This year she finally decided it was time. She did not want to look back in five years and regret not taking a leap into the unknown. Single, without children, and without student loans, she asked herself what she was really waiting for. The honest answer was nothing, and so she began, even with a full time job and science classes that were a decade behind her.

In Our Experience

This is a guest post from Taylor, a medical assistant who works alongside Savanna and decided to pursue PA school as a career changer. In our coaching, we see her story play out again and again: non traditional applicants worry they have waited too long, when in reality their work experience and maturity often make them stronger, more compelling candidates.

What does it take to balance prerequisites with a full-time job?

Going back was nerve wracking. Taylor had been out of college for six years, her last science classes were ten years old, and she was working full time, so the obvious question was how to juggle it all. Her answer was simple: one step at a time. In September she started, and two classes into the eight she needs, she is still standing.

It has taken serious time management, including a trusty planner, plus saying no to dinners with friends and weekends away, and reminding herself that this season will pass. For anyone wondering whether they can do this later in life, her experience is proof that it is possible. The real world is harder than it looks, time management matters, and it is never too late to chase a dream. The first step is the hardest, but it is always worth it.

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

Career changers often bring years of hands-on healthcare experience and life maturity to their applications, which can make a non-traditional path a real strength rather than a setback.

Free Application Timeline → https://www.thepaplatform.com/services/free-application-timeline/

Listen: Medical School to PA School - Interview with Courtney

Courtney spent a year in medical school before she switched to PA.

Episode show notes & key takeaways

Courtney spent a year in medical school before she switched to PA.

That's a hard call to make once you're already in, and she's honest about how she got there. We talk about why she started down the medical school path, what made her stop, and how she ended up in PA school instead.

She also went on to do a PA residency in critical care, so we get into whether that's something you should consider.

What we talk about

Why Courtney chose medical school first
What that first year actually looked like
The moment she realized PA fit her better
Making the switch and applying to PA school
What a PA residency in critical care involves
Whether a residency is worth it as a new grad

Resources

Follow The Pre-PA Club: Apple Podcasts · Spotify · All episodes

Listen: 2nd Career PA - HR to PA Student with Cierra Pennal

Cierra spent five years in human resources before going back to medicine.

Episode show notes & key takeaways

Cierra spent five years in human resources before going back to medicine.

Medicine was her first love. She talked herself out of it, built a career somewhere else, and then couldn't stop thinking about it. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.

The logistics are the hard part and she doesn't sugarcoat them. She knocked out prerequisites while working full time. She volunteered. She scribed. Nights, weekends, whatever fit. Career changers don't get a clean runway - you build the new thing while the old one is still running.

What I'd add is that HR gave her skills most applicants don't have. Difficult conversations. Reading people. Handling conflict without escalating it. Those transfer directly to patient care, and she knows how to say so.

What we cover:
Leaving HR to go back to medicine after five years
Fitting prereqs around a full-time job
Getting healthcare experience through volunteering and scribing
Translating non-clinical skills into something admissions values
Handling doubt from yourself and from other people
What she'd do differently if she started over

Resources

Follow The Pre-PA Club: Apple Podcasts · Spotify · All episodes

Need to Know:

It is never too late to start the path toward PA school
Networking can open doors you never expected, like a first healthcare job
Leaving your comfort zone is hard but often the most rewarding choice
Balancing prerequisites with full time work takes serious time management
Saying no to some social plans is part of the short term tradeoff
Non traditional and career changer applicants can be very strong candidates

FAQ

Is it too late to become a PA after working in another field?

Not at all. Many PAs are career changers who pursued the profession years after college, and their experience often strengthens their applications.

Can I complete PA prerequisites while working full time?

Yes, though it takes strong time management and some sacrifices. Taking classes one or two at a time while working is a common approach for career changers.

Do old science classes count for PA school?

Many programs prefer prerequisites taken within a certain timeframe, so applicants returning after years away often retake key science courses. Check each program's policy.

How important is networking on the path to PA school?

Very. Connections can lead to first healthcare jobs, shadowing opportunities, and mentorship, as Taylor's story shows when a roommate's connection opened the door.

What is the hardest part of going back to school?

Often it is simply deciding to start and leaving your comfort zone. After that first step, the logistics become more manageable with planning and persistence.

Are career changers competitive PA applicants?

Yes. Maturity, real world experience, and accumulated healthcare hours can make non traditional applicants especially strong candidates.

CLOSING

Going back to school later in life is daunting, but as Taylor's story shows, the hardest part is simply taking that first step. If you have been waiting for permission to chase the PA dream, consider this it. When you are ready to map out your own path back to school, we would love to help you take that first step with confidence.

Pre-PA Counseling → https://www.thepaplatform.com/services/pre-pa-counseling/

Why I Decided to Go Back to School for PA