How to Get PA Shadowing Hours: 4 Ways That Actually Work
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By: Savanna Perry, PA-C · Last updated June 12, 2026
Most PA programs want to see that you've shadowed PAs specifically, commonly somewhere between 20 and 100+ hours, ideally across more than one specialty. The four ways that actually work are using your personal connections, cold-calling clinics in your area, joining PA organizations, and supplementing with virtual shadowing.
How Many Shadowing Hours Do You Need for PA School?
It varies widely by program. Some don't set a number, many recommend 20-80 hours, and some applicants aim for 100+ to be safe. Check each program on your list, and note that most want you shadowing PAs specifically, not physicians, and prefer exposure to more than one specialty or setting.
Programs care because shadowing shows you know what a PA's day actually looks like, including the paperwork, late patients, and no-shows, not just the exciting parts.
How Do You Use Personal Connections to Find Shadowing?
Start with who you already know: family friends who work in clinics or hospitals, physicians you've seen for years, classmates' parents, former teachers. Ask everyone, because the worst thing that happens is they say no!
Don't be afraid to reach out to people you haven't talked to in a while. This is your future career, and a slightly awkward message is a small price to pay. A re-connection through an old acquaintance is still one of the most common ways students land their first shadowing day.
Does Cold-Calling Clinics Actually Work?
Yes, but it's a numbers game. Search clinics in your area, call, and ask two questions: "Do you have a PA on staff?" and "Do they allow students to shadow?" Expect plenty of nos and the occasional odd request (some offices ask for a resume, so just send it).
Also check hospital websites for formal shadowing programs, and try emailing faculty at PA programs near you because they often know which local PAs welcome students.
Which Organizations Help You Find PAs to Shadow?
Join AAPA and your state's PA organization at minimum. Many maintain directories or forums of PAs who volunteer to host shadowing students, and state chapters sometimes circulate shadowing requests by email. If you're interested in a specific specialty, that specialty's PA organization is worth joining too.
Membership also gives you something to mention in applications and interviews, and it shows you're already engaging with the profession.
Does Virtual Shadowing Count for PA School?
Many programs began accepting some virtual shadowing hours in recent years, and several organizations now run live virtual shadowing sessions for pre-PA students. It's a useful supplement, especially if you're in a rural area, but it shouldn't replace in-person shadowing. Verify each program's policy, since some cap virtual hours or require in-person experience alongside them. ⚠ VERIFY current list of programs' virtual shadowing policies before publishing
Listen: How to Find Shadowing Hours
Episode 2 of The Pre-PA Club tackled this exact question, and it is still one of the most-asked things in our inbox. Play it while you work through your call list.
Shadowing is one of those boxes almost every PA program wants checked, and it's also one of the hardest to figure out when you don't know a single PA.
In this episode I'm walking through exactly how to find shadowing hours from scratch. I start with the people you already know, because you'd be surprised how often someone's cousin or neighbor turns out to be a PA. Then I get into reaching out on social media, and I tell you about the cold calling I did to medical offices back when I was in your shoes.
It's awkward. Do it anyway. Most people say yes.
What I cover
Why programs care about shadowing and how many hours you actually need
Starting with your existing network before anything else
How to message a PA on social media without being weird about it
Cold calling offices and what to say when someone picks up
What to do when you keep getting turned down
How to get the most out of the hours once you're there
Resources
Follow The Pre-PA Club: Apple Podcasts · Spotify · All episodes
In undergrad, I remembered a high school teacher whose daughter had gone to PA school, so I sent her an awkward Facebook message. She ended up giving me some of the most valuable insight I got as a pre-PA. Later I cold-called my way through Athens, GA, and got one yes out of dozens of calls. That yes turned into a weekly dermatology shadowing spot with an awesome PA. The nos don't matter because you only need a few yeses!
Track every shadowing hour as you go: date, PA's name, specialty, and hours. CASPA asks for details, and reconstructing them a year later is miserable.
Shadow PAs specifically, since most programs want PA shadowing rather than physician shadowing.
Aim for multiple specialties and settings.
Use connections first, then cold-call clinics, then PA organizations.
Virtual shadowing can supplement, but verify each program's policy.
Log every hour with names and dates as you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
It ranges from no set minimum to 100+. Most programs that specify want roughly 20-80 hours, with PAs specifically. Always check each program.
No. Shadowing is observation and is logged separately from PCE in CASPA. Programs want both.
Physician shadowing is useful, but most programs specifically want PA shadowing because they're checking that you understand the PA role.
Many programs accept some virtual hours, often with limits. Verify each program's current policy before relying on it.
Keep it short: who you are, that you're pre-PA, what you're hoping to learn, and your availability. Offer to send a resume and to follow their facility's requirements.
The Bottom Line
Getting told no over and over is discouraging, but every accepted PA student went through the same thing, and even a few hours of quality shadowing will strengthen your application and your interview answers. Start with one ask today, whether that's a text to a connection or a call to a local clinic.
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