Pre-PA Advisors and Clubs Toolkit
Whether you advise aspiring PAs or lead a pre-PA student organization, this kit provides the information, resources, and tools that your pre-PAs need to succeed. Find classroom-ready resources on the PA profession, becoming a PA, PA school applications, and early-PA skill development. Plus, find tools for starting a new pre-PA student organization at your institution!
Learn About AAPA
Introduce Your Pre-PAs to Membership
This presentation walks your pre-PAs through the steps to becoming a PA, what to expect in PA school, and how AAPA supports the PA profession. Learn about AAPA’s pre-PA member benefits, including top resources, opportunities to get involved, and preparation for PA school applications.
Live Presentation Available!
AAPA offers a live virtual presentation to introduce your pre-PAs to the profession, steps to becoming a PA, and why it’s important they begin their career with their national organization’s strength behind them. Contact Rebecca Jacobs at [email protected] to schedule.
Pre-PA Resources
PA Profession Info
Introduce your pre-PAs to their future profession with AAPA’s free, ready-to-print fact sheets, and issue briefs.
AAPA Pre-PA Membership
Pre-PA members can join our online community, find a mentor, participate in live events, attend virtual webinars, and more. Pre-PA clubs can purchase Group Membership to ensure these resources are accessible to all!
Areas of Practice Guide
Help your pre-PAs choose their future specialty with this interactive collection of data, personal perspectives, networking and job opportunities, CME, and other tools and resources.
Career Resources
Let your pre-PAs jump-start their search for experience, build networking and interview skills, overcome setbacks, manage finances, and prepare for PA school. Start in AAPA’s Career Central, where you’ll find free resources like the Pre-PA Record Keeper, resume and CV guides, the PA Money Sense Interactive Budget Guide, and much more.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resource Center
AAPA is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the PA profession and has developed a resource center to better assist our members. Explore webinars, CME, student scholarships, and other resources developed and curated for PA students, PAs, and patients.
Engage With AAPA
Become a PA: Pre-PA Workshop at AAPA Conference
The Become a PA: Pre-PA Workshop is a dynamic, all-day event at the AAPA annual conference — the world’s largest conference for PAs, PA students, and pre-PAs. The workshop includes a profession overview, a glance into PA programs, curated panels, a resource fair, and small group sessions with PAs and PA students.
PAs Go Beyond
Learn more about PAs and how PAs Go Beyond, show your PA pride, and celebrate National PA Week, held each year from October 6-12.
Huddle
AAPA’s members-only online community, where students can match with a mentor, meet experts, build a professional network, and get to know PA students across the country.
Five Tips for Starting a New Pre-PA Club on Campus
In clubs across the country, we often see a range of leadership roles, typically falling into these categories:
- Organizational Management (ex. President, VP, Treasurer)
- Member Management (ex. Secretary, Diversity Chair)
- Member Experience (ex. Event/Social Chair, Volunteer Chair, Public Relations Chair)
(Schools may require certain organizational leadership.)
There is no requirement for pre-PAs to become a member of AAPA or another pre-PA organization, but membership in a national organization like AAPA can help them find new opportunities and become a competitive applicant for PA school.
Pre-PA clubs may choose to require membership dues to help cover the cost of running events, inviting new speakers, and spreading club awareness. Sometimes these dues will also include national or state chapter fees. Consider including AAPA Pre-PA Membership in your member dues, or encourage members to sign-up on their own. Consult your institution for policies regarding membership dues.
Your institution may provide support for students and student organizations. Here are some places to seek support:
- Advising Services (ex. planning your schedule, applying to PA school, finding shadowing experience.)
- Financial Aid Office (ex. calculating the cost of attendance, loan support, scholarship guidance.)
- Career Services (ex. mock interviewing, resume review, personal statement editing, networking.)
- Student Activities Office (ex. student org. support, membership dues, by-laws and constitutions.)
- Health and Wellness Center
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Center
- Office of Disability or Accessibility
- International Student Office
The best way to prepare to become a PA is to get connected! Spreading the word about local and virtual pre-PA events is a great way to engage your members and support their journey. AAPA hosts live events year-round for pre-PAs to learn about areas of practice, mingle with peers and mentors, build essential career skills, and connect with practicing PAs and current PA students.
Depending on the needs and interests of your members, you can help them earn patient care experience from a local healthcare event or gather a group of members for a CPR certification course. Whether you are planning a PA program visit, hosting a fundraiser, building lab skills, or joining an AAPA virtual webinar, live opportunities will engage and excite your members.
Although PA school application requirements are well-defined, admission is highly competitive. Pre-PAs will be expected to complete prerequisite coursework, a minimum number of experience hours, and entrance exams prior to admission. They may also be expected to submit supplemental applications, provide a financial deposit, and attend interviews. Understand the requirements with the PA School Application Timeline and Checklist. A complete list of PA programs and their requirements is available via the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA).
Sign Up for Pre-PA News
Advisors and Club Officers
Complete this form to sign up for communications from our membership team about upcoming pre-PA opportunities.
Pre-PAs
If your pre-PAs aren’t ready for membership, encourage them to create a free AAPA account with limited access to resources, including the Areas of Practice Guide and registration for live webinars. By creating an account, nonmember pre-PAs will also sign up for occasional communications from AAPA.