How to Get Shadowing Hours

How to Get PA Shadowing Hours: 4 Ways That Actually Work

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

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.

Last Updated: June 12, 2026

Your Pre-PA Bestie Blog - everything you need to know to become a PA in one place.

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.

In this post:

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.

In Our Experience

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!

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.

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

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. (Grab our free Healthcare & Shadowing Experience Log.)

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.

Free Healthcare & Shadowing Log → https://www.thepaplatform.com/free-download-healthcare-and-shadowing-experience-log/

Listen: Virtual Shadowing with Savanna Perry, PA-C: Dermatology (Part 1)

Shadowing shut down, so I brought you into my clinic instead.

Episode show notes & key takeaways

Shadowing shut down, so I brought you into my clinic instead.

Nobody could get shadowing hours in 2020, so I recorded this to give you the closest thing I could. This is part one of a walkthrough of what I actually do as a dermatology PA all day.

I go through the flow of a clinic day, what my patient interactions look like, the procedures I'm doing, and the parts of derm that surprise people. Efficiency is a much bigger deal than students expect, and I talk about how you balance moving quickly with actually taking care of somebody well.

I also answered a bunch of listener questions about the specialty and about becoming a PA in general.

What I cover

What a full day in a dermatology clinic looks like
Patient interactions and how visits are structured
Procedures I do regularly in derm
Balancing efficiency with thorough patient care
The parts of dermatology people don't expect
Your questions about derm and the PA path

Resources

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

Listen: Virtual Shadowing with Savanna Perry, PA-C: Dermatology (Part 2)

Part two of your virtual shadowing day in dermatology.

Episode show notes & key takeaways

Part two of your virtual shadowing day in dermatology.

In part one I walked you through the flow of a clinic day. Here I get into what I actually like about derm and what's harder than people assume.

The best part is that you can see it work. Somebody comes in with acne that's wrecking their confidence, and a few months later they're a different person. You don't get that kind of visible, fast feedback in a lot of specialties.

I also break down the difference between medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology, because they're very different jobs and the practice you join determines what your days look like. And I talk about patient expectations and how often I still explain what a PA is and what I'm qualified to do.

What I cover

What makes dermatology satisfying to practice
Treating acne and seeing visible results
Medical vs. surgical vs. cosmetic derm practices
How practice type shapes your daily work
Managing patient expectations
Explaining the PA role to patients

Resources

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

Need to Know:

Shadow PAs specifically, since most programs want PA shadowing rather than physician shadowing.
Aim for multiple specialties/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.

FAQ

How many shadowing hours do PA schools require?

It ranges from no set minimum to 100+. Most programs that specify want roughly 20-80 hours, with PAs specifically. Always check each program.

Does shadowing count as patient care experience (PCE)?

No. Shadowing is observation and is logged separately from PCE in CASPA. Programs want both.

Can I shadow a doctor instead of a PA?

Physician shadowing is useful, but most programs specifically want PA shadowing because they're checking that you understand the PA role.

Does virtual shadowing count?

Many programs accept some virtual hours, often with limits. Verify each program's current policy before relying on it.

How do I ask a PA to shadow them?

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.

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

CLOSING

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.