Non-Traditional Career Options for PAs Beyond the Clinic

By: Savanna Perry, PA-C

TL;DR

The PA profession is famously flexible, and your career does not have to mean full-time clinical practice forever. PAs branch into healthcare consulting, entrepreneurship and business ownership, per diem and locum work, education, industry, and more. These paths let you use your clinical training in ways that fit your life and interests.

Last Updated: June 12, 2026

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

What non-traditional paths can PAs actually pursue?

One of the best parts of the PA profession is flexibility, and that extends well beyond which specialty you practice. Plenty of PAs build careers that look nothing like the standard full-time clinic job.

A few directions worth knowing about:

- Healthcare consulting, where PAs advise organizations, companies, or startups using their clinical knowledge
- Entrepreneurship, where PAs start their own businesses, products, or practices
- Per diem and locum tenens work, which trades a fixed schedule for flexibility and often higher hourly pay
- Education and academia, teaching in PA programs or developing curriculum
- Industry roles in pharmaceutical, medical device, or health tech companies

None of these close the door on clinical work. Many PAs blend a clinical role with one of these on the side.

In this post:

Why do PAs branch into consulting or entrepreneurship?

Reasons vary, but a common thread is wanting more control. Some PAs are drawn to consulting because they enjoy solving bigger-picture problems and want variety beyond seeing patients day to day. Their clinical credibility is exactly what makes them valuable to the organizations they advise.

Entrepreneurial PAs often spot a gap, whether it is a product clinicians need, a service patients are missing, or a better way to do something they saw firsthand in practice, and decide to build it. Founding a company is a real leap, but PAs bring credibility, work ethic, and a deep understanding of healthcare that gives them an edge.

If either path calls to you, start small. Take on a side project, learn the business side, and talk to PAs already doing it before you make any big jumps.

In Our Experience

In our experience coaching pre-PAs and new PAs, a lot of people do not realize how many doors the credential opens until they are already in practice. We have seen PAs move into consulting, launch products, teach, and build flexible per diem lives that fit their families. The clinical foundation you build early gives you the freedom to pivot later, so it is worth knowing these options exist from the start.

Is per diem or locum work a good fit for you?

Per diem and locum tenens work appeal to PAs who value flexibility above a predictable routine. Instead of a set schedule, you pick up shifts or assignments, which can be great for parents, students working toward something else, or anyone wanting to control their own calendar.

The trade-offs are real, though. You typically give up the benefits and stability of a permanent position, and income can be less predictable. Many per diem PAs offset this with higher hourly rates. It can also be a smart way to sample different settings and specialties before committing to one.

If flexibility matters more to you than predictability right now, it is worth exploring. Just go in with a clear picture of how you will handle benefits, taxes, and the variable income.

Every Pre-PA Should Know...

A handy rule of thumb: one year of full-time work is roughly 2,000 hours, which is useful context whether you are stacking PCE hours or weighing per diem shifts against a salaried role.

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

Listen: Street Medicine with Tony Menacho, PA-C of Sacramento Street Medicine

No clinic. No exam room. He goes to the encampments.

Episode show notes & key takeaways

No clinic. No exam room. He goes to the encampments.

Tony Menacho is a PA working in family medicine and street medicine, and he founded Sacramento Street Medicine to bring care directly to people living unsheltered around the city.

What struck me most is how little of this is about prescriptions. It starts with showing up repeatedly until people trust you, and a huge amount of the work is psychosocial: connecting someone to housing, to food, to a phone number that will actually answer. The medicine happens once the relationship exists.

If you want to see what this profession can look like outside of a traditional practice, Tony's work is worth hearing about.

What we cover

What street medicine is and how Tony practices it
Founding Sacramento Street Medicine
Providing care in encampments
Building trust with people who've been failed by the system
The psychosocial side of care that goes past treatment
What this work gives back to the providers doing it

Resources

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

Need to Know:

PA careers extend well beyond full-time clinical practice
Healthcare consulting lets PAs advise organizations using clinical expertise
Many PAs launch businesses, products, or their own practices
Per diem and locum work trade stability for flexibility and often higher hourly pay
Education and industry roles are common alternative paths
Most non-traditional paths can be blended with clinical work, not just replace it

FAQ

Can PAs work outside of direct patient care?

Yes. PAs move into consulting, entrepreneurship, education, industry, and per diem work, among other paths, while still being able to keep a clinical role if they want.

What is healthcare consulting for PAs?

It is advising organizations, companies, or startups using clinical knowledge and healthcare experience, often on strategy, operations, or product.

Is per diem work worth it for PAs?

It can be, if you value flexibility. You usually trade benefits and stability for a flexible schedule and often a higher hourly rate.

Can PAs start their own businesses?

Absolutely. Many PAs found companies, create products, or build their own practices, drawing on their clinical credibility and understanding of healthcare.

Do I have to choose a non-traditional path right away?

No. Most PAs build clinical experience first, then explore alternative paths later, often blending them with ongoing clinical work.

What is locum tenens work?

Locum tenens is temporary or assignment-based work where a PA fills in at different sites, offering flexibility and exposure to varied settings.

CLOSING

You do not have to map out your entire PA career before you even start, and you are never locked into one lane. Build a strong clinical foundation first, stay curious, and know that consulting, entrepreneurship, per diem work, and more are all on the table later. When you are ready to explore what fits you, our resources can help you think it through.

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

Non-Traditional Career Options for PAs Beyond the Clinic