How to Log Patient Care Experience (PCE) Hours Abroad for PA School

Yes, You Can Earn PCE Hours Abroad—If You Do It Right

If you’re applying to physician assistant (PA) school, you already know how competitive it is. One of the biggest hurdles? Accumulating hundreds (sometimes thousands) of direct patient care hours. Also known as PCE.

But what if you’re planning to intern abroad? Does international experience count toward PA school requirements?

The short answer is: Yes—but with some important conditions.

In this guide, we’ll break down how to log PCE hours abroad effectively, what counts (and what doesn’t), and how to present your experience confidently on your PA school application.

> Explore Go-Elective Pre-PA and PA Internships Abroad 

What Counts as Patient Care Experience (PCE)?

The CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistants) defines PCE as work that involves direct, hands-on patient care. Common examples include:

• Taking vital signs
• Assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs)
• Administering medication (if certified)
• Performing wound care
• Drawing blood
• Working as an EMT, CNA, MA, or patient care technician

However, shadowing and observation—while valuable—are typically logged separately as healthcare experience (HCE).

Some schools have their own definitions of PCE vs HCE. Always check individual program requirements.

Can You Log PCE Hours From an Internship Abroad?

Yes, as long as the work you’re doing qualifies and is properly supervised.

✅ What typically counts:

• Helping take vitals under supervision
• Assisting with wound dressing, hygiene, or mobility
• Observing and assisting with medication administration (if trained)
• Working closely with patients during outreach or triage

❌ What doesn’t count:

• Purely observational shadowing
• Administrative tasks
• Volunteer tourism or non-clinical experiences
• Working beyond your skill level or legal scope

At Go Elective, we help interns engage in supervised, ethical patient care activities within their training level at public hospitals in Kenya and Tanzania.

5 Steps to Logging Your PCE Hours Abroad (The Right Way)

1. Know Your Role and Scope Before You Go

Most international internships—especially those structured through programs like Go Elective—are observation-heavy. But you can still gain PCE if you’re assigned hands-on tasks within your capability and training.

Ask before you begin:

• What tasks will I be allowed to do?
• Will I be supervised by licensed medical staff?
• Can I rotate through departments where patient interaction is possible (e.g., OB/GYN, pediatrics, general medicine)?

Don’t exaggerate your role—integrity is key in all healthcare applications.

2. Track Your Hours Accurately and Honestly

You’ll need to record:

• Start and end dates of your internship
• Total hours worked
• Average weekly hours
• Description of tasks performed
• Supervisor’s name, title, and contact information

 Create a spreadsheet or use a journal to log:

• Daily activities
• Departments visited
• Specific patient interactions (HIPAA-compliant)

Go Elective provides official documentation of your placement, including a summary of departments, hours, and supervisor details.

3. Separate PCE from Shadowing or HCE Hours

Admissions committees expect you to differentiate between shadowing and active patient care.

✅ Example log structure:

• PCE Hours: “Assisted with patient intake, took vitals, and helped patients walk post-op in orthopedic unit.”
• Shadowing Hours: “Observed physician during rounds in internal medicine.”

This distinction shows professionalism and a clear understanding of your experience.

4. Get a Letter or Supervisor Verification

Some PA programs ask for verification of PCE hours, especially if completed internationally.

Ask your supervising physician, nurse, or clinical officer to:

• Confirm your total hours
• Describe your responsibilities
• Highlight your professionalism and learning attitude

Go Elective can assist with formal evaluations, letters of recommendation, and hour confirmation upon request.

5. Explain the Experience in Your CASPA Application

When completing the “Experiences” section of CASPA:

✅ Be specific about what you did:

“Assisted nursing staff at a public referral hospital in Kenya. Took vitals, observed wound dressing, and assisted with patient mobility and hygiene under supervision.”

✅ Use the correct category:

• If hands-on: mark as Patient Care Experience
• If observational: mark as Healthcare Experience or Shadowing

✅ Be transparent and prepared to explain the experience in your personal statement or interview.

> Mentioning the unique global health context. without overselling, can help your application stand out.

Bonus: What If You’re Not Certified (CNA, EMT, etc.)?

Many students ask: Can I still earn PCE without certification abroad?

The answer is: Yes—but only if the activities still fall within what CASPA and your target programs recognize as PCE.

You don’t need to be a CNA or EMT to assist with:

• Vitals
• Patient positioning
• Intake forms
• Bedside assistance

However, always act within your abilities and never perform procedures without training or supervision.

Why PCE Abroad Might Be Even More Valuable

While some U.S.-based hours may seem more familiar to admissions committees, PCE earned abroad offers additional layers of value:

1. Cross-cultural communication
2. Adaptability in low-resource environments
3. Exposure to diverse healthcare delivery models
4. Increased cultural humility and awareness

Testimonial:

“Interning in Tanzania helped me build confidence in patient interaction, even with language barriers. I learned how to build rapport using presence and empathy.” – Pre-PA intern with Go Elective

Final Thoughts: Log It Right. Frame It Well. Let It Shine.

If done ethically and accurately, international patient care hours can be a powerful asset on your PA school application. The key is:

✅ Knowing what counts
✅ Logging it properly
✅ Backing it with documentation
✅ Framing it with insight and reflection

When you intern abroad with Go Elective, we help ensure your experience is not just meaningful—but measurable and ready for CASPA.

Ready to Earn Patient Care Hours Abroad?

Go Elective offers PA internships with:

✓ Public hospital placements
✓ Hands-on patient care under supervision
✓ Departmental rotation and hour documentation
✓ Cultural orientation and ethical guidance

Apply today to start gaining global patient care experience that counts.

Article Details

Categories

Recent Articles , Pre-health, Medical Electives,

Author: Go-Elective Abroad

Date Published: Jun 26, 2025