Physician assistant (PA) programs are known for being rigorous and competitive, often favoring applicants with hundreds or even thousands of hours of direct patient care experience. But in recent years, more schools have begun rethinking this approach.
This year, a growing number of accredited PA programs across the U.S. do not require previous healthcare experience to apply. These programs are opening new doors for aspiring PAs from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, including career changers, recent graduates, and those with limited clinical exposure.
Whether you're looking for a path into the healthcare field without traditional patient care hours or hoping to gain hands-on international experience to strengthen your application, this guide will show you how to make your PA dream a reality.
> Explore Go-Elective Pre-PA and PA Internships Abroad
The traditional PA applicant profile often includes experience as an EMT, CNA, medical assistant, or phlebotomist. While this kind of clinical exposure remains valuable, schools are realizing that prior experience doesn't always equate to future potential.
Instead, many institutions are shifting their admissions strategy to attract candidates who demonstrate:
As a result, more programs are rethinking rigid prerequisites and adopting holistic admissions models that weigh academics, personal statements, recommendation letters, and interviews as heavily—if not more so—than healthcare hours.
These programs create pathways for individuals who’ve taken alternative routes, whether transitioning from teaching, business, or public service. without penalizing them for not working in a clinic or hospital.
By welcoming students with non-traditional backgrounds, PA cohorts become richer in thought, culture, and problem-solving ability—mirroring the diversity of the patient populations they will serve.
Applicants can now showcase who they are beyond a resumé of clinical titles. These programs emphasize intellectual readiness, service experience, and alignment with the mission of the PA profession.
While hands-on experience is valuable, many programs now believe it can be acquired during training, not necessarily before. This gives students a level playing field and makes the profession more accessible.
The list below features a selection of U.S. PA programs that, as of the most recent admissions cycle, do not require clinical hours for application. Applicants are still encouraged to verify details directly on each school's official admissions website.
One of the few top-tier public institutions offering a PA program without a clinical hour requirement. UC Davis is known for its commitment to serving rural and underserved communities.
A hybrid program offering flexibility for students across the U.S., Yale's online PA track waives clinical hour requirements in favor of rigorous academic preparation and community impact.
This program prioritizes applicants committed to primary care and community health. No healthcare experience is needed to apply.
Welcomes applicants with academic strength and a desire to serve. Prior healthcare work is optional, not required.
This program emphasizes a strong didactic curriculum and provides intensive clinical experience during the PA school years—no pre-existing hours necessary.
A top-tier medical institution that accepts students without previous clinical experience, focusing instead on leadership potential and intellectual ability.
For a full, updated directory of accredited PA programs and their admission criteria, consult the PAEA Program Directory.
Whether you’ve worked in education, customer service, research, or the nonprofit world, focus on how your experiences demonstrate empathy, adaptability, leadership, and communication—core skills for any PA.
Your personal statement is your chance to show why you're choosing the PA path and how your background has prepared you. Be honest, introspective, and specific. Use stories, not just statements.
Ask for recommendations from people who can speak to your character, intellect, and interpersonal skills—not just your academic credentials. Professors, volunteer supervisors, and employers are all valid.
If you can’t find domestic shadowing opportunities, international internships like Go Elective’s PA placements allow you to observe real hospital care across multiple departments. These experiences can deepen your understanding of medicine and strengthen your interview narrative.
Participation in health-related academic projects or service organizations can also demonstrate your commitment and help substitute for traditional clinical experience.
Admissions committees value applicants who understand health disparities. By participating in global health internships, you show initiative and commitment to service.
Go Elective offers immersive, ethical, and impactful pre-PA internships in Kenya and Tanzania, designed specifically for students with limited or no prior healthcare experience.
Intern alongside local PAs, doctors, and nurses at high-volume hospitals like Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, witnessing patient care across departments such as emergency medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, surgery, and obstetrics.
Understand the realities of healthcare delivery in low-resource settings. Learn about diseases rarely seen in Western clinics and the public health strategies used to manage them.
You’ll gain insight from experienced professionals and work with diverse teams—helping you develop cultural humility and adaptability, both of which are highly valued by PA programs.
Whether you’re applying in the upcoming cycle or preparing for future admissions, you can choose a placement that fits your timeline—from as short as 2 weeks to as long as 3 months.
We manage the logistics—placement, housing, airport transfers, meals, and safety—so you can focus on learning and growing. Our team is on the ground to guide you every step of the way.
Use online courses, flashcards, or apps to familiarize yourself with anatomy, procedures, and pharmacology. Many Go Elective interns report a huge boost in their confidence after seeing these concepts applied in real time.
Participate in mock patient interviews or role-plays, especially if you’ve never interacted with patients before. These skills are often tested in PA school interviews and during rotations.
Your internship abroad will expose you to complex and often improvisational medicine. Take notes, ask questions, and reflect on what you see—this curiosity is exactly what admissions committees love.
The Go Elective team and your hospital supervisors are there to support your growth. Request feedback on your professionalism, curiosity, and performance. These insights can inform both your personal development and your PA applications.
In 2025 and beyond, becoming a PA is more achievable than ever—even if you don’t have thousands of hours in a hospital. Admissions committees are looking for resilience, empathy, intelligence, and commitment—traits that can come from many different paths.
If you’re eager to gain real-world clinical exposure while contributing meaningfully to global health, Go Elective can help bridge that gap.
Explore our pre-PA programs, apply now, or reach out to schedule a call with one of our coordinators to talk through your goals.
This is your moment. Take the next step toward the PA career you’ve been dreaming of. Your future patients are waiting.
Recent Articles , Pre-health, Medical Electives,
Author: Go-Elective Abroad
Date Published: Jun 14, 2025
Go Elective offers immersive opportunities for medical students, pre-med undergraduates, residents, nursing practitioners, and PAs to gain guided invaluable experience in busy hospitals abroad. Discover the power of study, travel, and impact.