Major kudos for making it this far to become a physician assistant or physician associate (PA)! Though this journey has been long, we’re excited to help you survive what’s to come. Give yourself a pat on the back and follow our ultimate guide on how to survive PA school.
What is PA school like?
PA school can be very busy and demanding at times, but it’s 100% worth it. On average, PA programs are 2 years long. The first year is spent in the classroom where students expand their medical knowledge in subjects like anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and microbiology.
The second year is clinic-based. PA schools require students to complete an average of 2,000+ hours of clinical rotations where they’ll gain hands-on experience in emergency medicine, family medicine, pediatric medicine, internal medicine, and more.
How to prepare for PA school
Preparation is the key to success in PA school! We have answers to a list of the most pressing PA questions asked by students. Follow these tips to ensure you’re ready to hit the ground running from your very first day at PA school.
Brush up on the basics
Nailed down your prerequisites? Great! Don’t forget to brush up on medical terminology, anatomy, and pharmacology before you start PA school. These are amongst the most challenging, in-depth subjects you’ll encounter and need to know throughout your program.
Build your mental stamina
It takes time to get back in the swing of things. Whether you’re returning from an exciting summer vacation or some brief time off, prepare to learn before the first day of PA school. Prime your brain with concise reading sessions from a textbook, a set of flashcards, or YouTube videos covering need-to-know medical facts.
Start your routine now
Before PA school, you should have a set weekly routine. Grab your favorite planner and get a schedule going for class, study time, exercise, daily chores, and everything in between. Building habits takes time, and you won’t have much of it when you start school. So, start now!
Try out these additional 5 helpful tips for success as a PA student.
PA study habits to establish
You may think you know how to study, but it’s a different ballgame here. Walk through how to study in PA school with us.
Stay organized
You wouldn’t leave milk out of the fridge, would you? Keep things organized and in their rightful place beyond just your home life. For example, physical or digital notes are necessary and helpful in PA school as long as they’re neatly and smartly organized. Create a labeled or color-coded system to organize your notes and keep them easily accessible. Your future self will thank you for it.
Avoid distractions
Create or find a space you feel comfortable studying in. If you love to study in an active environment, make sure it isn’t too loud or distracting. You need to keep calm, focused, and ready to learn. Try out a few places to find which works best for you.
Experiment with new study methods
Diversifying your study routine keeps things fresh and fun. If your go-to study method is starting to get old, try something new. Methods like memory palaces, mnemonics, diagrams, or concept maps are great to use in PA school. Who knows? You may find a new favorite study method that surprises you.
Tips for studying in PA school
Now that you’ve got a few study habits down, it’s time to get into the actual studying.
Always start with a challenge
Focus on what you’re struggling with first. You need more time in weak areas to learn and master them. It may feel like a hurdle to start with, but you can always take a break if needed. Alternate between your weakest and strongest areas to keep it exciting.
Utilize spaced repetition
Learn it and forget it is a thing of the past. Spaced repetition is a tried and true study method where you review information over increasing intervals of time to improve long-term memory and recall. Bake this in your study routine to maximize your medical knowledge.
Keep high-yield PANCE topics top of mind
All roads lead to the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE)! As you study throughout school, don’t forget about it. Carve out time to include PANCE questions regularly in your study routine and familiarize yourself with exam questions and material early.
Study tools to use in PA school
Beyond your textbooks and lecture notes, check out these top tools used by PA students.
Picmonic
Picmonic for PA school transforms dense medical facts into unforgettable picture mnemonics. Designed to improve memory recall and boost test scores, there are 1,800+ mnemonics and 21,000 facts for PAs.
It’s a comprehensive tool that can be used anywhere from daily studying to exam prep. With features like spaced repetition, unlimited quizzing, personalized playlists, and a personalized dashboard, it’s truly beloved by students and a must-have for PA school.
Anki
Anki is a free open-source flashcard program. It’s designed to be media-rich and handle large card decks made by PA students just like you. Picmonic’s Anki Deck Add-on even allows you to view topics quickly alongside high-yield facts, images, videos, and more. Just hover and see the Picmonic pop-up window.
TrueLearn
TrueLearn is perfect for PANCE prep! It has a PANCE SmartBank with 800+ PANCE practice questions mapped to the exam’s content blueprint. With high-quality explanations and a performance dashboard, subscribers are ready to pass the PANCE.
Note Taking Apps
Digital note-takers, this one’s for you. Notability for iOS or macOS is a note-sharing platform that students use to annotate PDFs, record lectures, and take digital notes. If you’re not an iOS user, GoodNotes is also a widely used app available on Windows, Android, and web browsers to annotate PDFs, combine written and typed notes, and move around items. Keep organized with a handy notes app, and you’re good to go.
Now you’re ready for PA school!
