Your first patient care job
Pick a job that programs on your list count, then get the training it needs. CASPA names CNA, EMT and phlebotomist among its examples of patient care experience. Medical assistant and scribe are on its healthcare experience list, but the programs we checked count them under conditions. Whatever you choose, hours from your training course usually don't count, so your clock starts when the job (or accepted volunteer work) does.
Common first jobs, and how programs treat them
| Job | CASPA's example list | At the programs we checked |
|---|---|---|
| CNA | Patient care (or healthcare, "depending on job description") | Counted at every program we checked; UW MEDEX excludes nursing assistant work that's strictly help with daily living activities. CNA guide |
| EMT | Patient care | Paid EMT work counts; volunteer EMT hours depend on the program. EMT guide |
| Phlebotomist | Patient care | UNC Chapel Hill, Albany and UW MEDEX list it; Duke doesn't name it. Phlebotomy guide |
| ER tech | Not named; choose by your duties | UNC Chapel Hill, UW MEDEX, Charleston Southern and Yale list it. ER tech guide |
| Medical assistant | Healthcare | On the accepted lists of all five programs we checked, with conditions: UNC names only certified MAs, and front-desk work is excluded at several. MA guide |
| Scribe | Healthcare | All five programs we checked count it in some form, with different conditions (in-person vs. virtual, paid only, mostly hands-on at Quinnipiac). Scribing guide |
| Pharmacy tech | Not named; "filling prescriptions" is a healthcare example | Split: three of six programs count it, three don't. Pharmacy tech guide |
Programs decide what counts, not CASPA, and rules can change each cycle. Check each program on your list.
What the training takes
- CNA: federal rules require nurse aide training of at least 75 clock hours, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical training. States can require more.
- EMT: longer. Utah's EMS handbook, for example, says its EMT course is a minimum of 120 hours and says the national standards recommend at least 150.
- Other jobs: training and certification rules for phlebotomists, medical assistants, scribes and ER techs vary by state and employer. Ask each employer what it requires before you enroll in anything.
Hours from the course itself usually don't count toward patient care requirements. UNC Chapel Hill, Albany, UW MEDEX and Yale all exclude experience gained as part of training or schooling.
How to get started
- Check the accepted-job lists of the programs you're most interested in before you pay for a course, and note any paid-only rules. UNC Chapel Hill and UW MEDEX count only paid experience, with UW MEDEX's one exception for all-volunteer EMS.
- Ask for the job duties in writing when you're hired. Programs judge what you actually do with patients, not just the job title.
- Start a log on your first shift (paid, or volunteer where your programs accept it): dates, hours, duties and your supervisor's contact details. CASPA asks for all of them, and some programs, like UNC Chapel Hill and Notre Dame of Maryland, ask for signed verification, so get signatures as you go.
- Count hours you actually work, not course hours. If your job starts with a paid orientation, ask each program whether those hours count.
Related guides
- Patient care experience vs. healthcare experience
- How many patient care hours do you need?
- Does CNA count as patient care experience?
Free: the Patient Care Hours Starter Kit. A 3-step check for whether a job counts at your schools, CASPA's categories on one page, and a simple hours log. Built from the same program pages as this guide.
Get the free kit →Quick answers
What is the best first job for PA school patient care hours?
Choose one the programs on your list count. CASPA names CNA, EMT and phlebotomist as examples of patient care experience, and the programs we checked count CNA work; UNC Chapel Hill, Albany and UW MEDEX list phlebotomist, and UNC Chapel Hill, UW MEDEX, Charleston Southern and Yale list ER tech. Medical assistant and scribe count at some programs under conditions.
Do CNA or EMT course hours count toward PA school?
Usually not. UNC Chapel Hill, Albany Medical College, UW MEDEX and Yale all exclude experience gained as part of training or schooling, so count hours from the job itself (paid, or volunteer where your programs allow it).
How long is CNA training?
Federal rules require at least 75 clock hours, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical training. Some states require more.
Sources (all opened October 2026)
- CASPA Applicant Help Center: Experiences: https://help.liaisonedu.com/CASPA_Applicant_Help_Center/Filling_Out_Your_CASPA_Application/CASPA_Supporting_Information/2_Experiences
- 42 CFR 483.152: Nurse aide training requirements: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/section-483.152
- Utah EMS: EMT Student Handbook (Dec 2024): https://ems.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2024/12/EMT-Student-Handbook-December-2024.pdf
- UNC Chapel Hill PA Program: FAQ: https://www.med.unc.edu/healthsciences/unc-pa/admissions/frequently-asked-questions
- UNC Chapel Hill PA Program: Admissions requirements (2026–27): https://www.med.unc.edu/healthsciences/unc-pa/admissions/admissions-requirements
- Albany Medical College PA Program: Admissions: https://www.amc.edu/admissions/pa-program-admissions
- UW MEDEX Northwest: Clinical experience prerequisites (2026–27): https://familymedicine.uw.edu/medex/applicants/clinical-prerequisites
- Yale PA Program: Prerequisites, experience and skills: https://medicine.yale.edu/pa/admissions/prerequisites-experience-skill/
- Notre Dame of Maryland University: Patient care / PA shadowing hours form (2026–27): https://ndm.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Patient-Care-Shadow-Hours-Form-Template-26-27-1.pdf
- Quinnipiac University: Physician Assistant (MHS), graduate catalog: https://catalog.qu.edu/graduate-studies/health-sciences/physician-assistant-mhs