How to Make Money During PA School

It's one of the first questions that comes up after an acceptance letter, because PA school is expensive. Once you add up tuition, fees, living expenses, and the surprises along the way, the number can feel overwhelming. (We also have a post on how to pay for PA school.)

The honest answer is that most people use loans to finance PA school because school itself is essentially a full-time job. You often have class from 8 to 5, followed by hours of studying, and then a clinical rotation schedule that changes every 4-6 weeks. Committing regular hours or your full attention to an outside job is really hard.

Some programs do not allow you to formally work at all. Mine required us to sign an agreement that we would not seek employment while enrolled. So before you commit to anything, check your program's policy. I have met students with a great PRN position they can pick up as needed, but always confirm it's okay with your program first.

A few low-commitment options worked for me during school and right after graduation, and any little bit helps with student debt looming.

Babysitting: I hadn't babysat since high school, but a family down the street needed help and I jumped on it. After the kids were in bed, I could study in a new setting with fewer distractions. Some of my favorite babysitters now are current PA, PT, and OT students.

Dog or house sitting: This can be even more flexible than babysitting. I get distracted in my own house because there's always laundry or dishes calling my name, so being somewhere else actually helped me focus. Try the Nextdoor app, a local Facebook group, word of mouth, or a Care.com account to find opportunities. And don't forget to bring your study materials!

I personally resold items toward the end of PA school to make a dent in my loans, and I even bought some things specifically to resell.

Books are an easy place to start. In The Pre-PA Club Facebook group, people are always reselling their used Personal Statement Guides and Interview Guides. Once you're accepted, you don't really need those pre-PA resources anymore. Tip: if you're shipping books, use Media Mail through USPS for the cheapest rate.

Textbooks from undergrad or PA school are another option. Passing them to peers locally is usually most lucrative, but there are also plenty of buyback websites. As of 2022, Amazon no longer buys textbooks back. One more tip: before you rent a textbook, compare the cost to buy it against the current buyback rate. Sometimes buying and reselling later makes more sense.

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A little extra money can ease the stress of PA school, but your studies have to come first every time. Pick something flexible, keep it light, and lean on free resources like our application timeline when you need a plan. If you want a roadmap for the costs ahead, our team is here to help you think it through.