Physician assistants (PAs) are integral members of today’s healthcare teams, providing care across nearly every medical specialty, From primary care and emergency medicine to surgery and psychiatry. Their training mirrors the medical school model, emphasizing broad, generalist knowledge that prepares them to diagnose, treat, and manage patients alongside supervising physicians.
But academic excellence alone isn’t enough to succeed in PA school or as a practicing PA. Clinical experience, especially through pre-physician assistant internships, plays a crucial role in preparing students for both the application process and their future careers.
Here are eight compelling reasons why every aspiring PA should complete an internship before applying to PA school.
> Explore Go-Elective Pre–PA and PA Internships Abroad
A structured PA internship is your first introduction to the pace and professionalism of clinical work. You’ll learn:
These soft skills—punctuality, teamwork, composure, and etiquette—are hard to develop in a classroom, yet they’re essential for every healthcare professional.
Internships allow you to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Whether you're studying anatomy, pharmacology, or diagnostics, working alongside licensed professionals helps you:
Internships that include 100–200+ hours of supervised exposure are particularly valuable, as many PA programs require substantial hands-on experience with direct patient care.
A major transition in any clinical career is adapting to the demands of full-time patient care. As an intern, you’ll learn how to:
This experience prepares you to thrive in the fast-paced world of healthcare and demonstrates your reliability to future employers.
PA programs are becoming increasingly competitive. Internships help you stand out by:
Having direct clinical experience on your resume shows that you’re not only qualified—but ready to contribute.
Many hospitals and clinics use internships as informal trials for future hires. If you perform well during your internship:
Some interns are even hired directly into full-time roles after graduation because of the trust they’ve built with the clinical team.
Physician assistants must collaborate across multiple teams and explain complex medical information to patients of all backgrounds. Internships help you:
The only way to develop these interpersonal skills is through real interaction—not simulation.
Confidence comes from experience. Completing a PA internship will help you:
Knowing how clinics operate and what your future responsibilities might look like empowers you to enter interviews, and your next phase, with poise.
Bonus:
While entry-level PA salaries are already competitive, candidates with clinical experience often:
Internship experience signals to employers that you're job-ready and brings more value from day one.
Pre-PA internships are available both locally and internationally. Some students find placements through:
At Go Elective, our pre-physician assistant internships in East Africa offer immersive experiences in high-volume teaching hospitals. Interns rotate through departments like pediatrics, surgery, and internal medicine while shadowing licensed clinicians and contributing to meaningful care delivery.
Whether it’s for admissions prep, skill development, or building confidence, pre-PA internships are one of the most important investments you can make in your future. They provide clarity, sharpen your abilities, and show PA programs that you’ve taken the initiative to understand the role deeply and firsthand.
Ready to take the leap? Explore our global health internships to get started.
Author: Go-Elective Abroad
Date Published: Jun 16, 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.