Careers · Guide

What is PA school like?

By The Prereq Club, a pre-PA student and her mom (not PAs or admissions advisers). Every figure below names its source and the month we checked it: October 2026.

Short answer

PA school has a classroom (didactic) phase, then a clinical phase of supervised rotations. AAPA describes programs as about 27 months (three academic years), and PAEA's 2021 program survey found a median of 27 months, ranging from 24 to 40. AAPA says students complete more than 2,000 hours of clinical rotations, and ARC-PA requires that clinical preceptors enable students to meet program-defined learning outcomes in seven areas, from family medicine to behavioral and mental health.

The two phases

  • Didactic phase: AAPA says students take courses in basic medical sciences, behavioral sciences and behavioral ethics, on a curriculum modeled on medical school.
  • Clinical phase: supervised clinical practice experiences, usually called rotations. AAPA lists disciplines including family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, general surgery, emergency medicine and psychiatry.

Seven areas ARC-PA requires students to learn

Under ARC-PA's 6th edition Standards (B3.06), preceptors must enable students to meet program-defined learning outcomes for:

  1. Family medicine
  2. Emergency medicine, including emergent care
  3. Internal medicine, including elderly patients
  4. Surgery, including pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative care
  5. Pediatrics, including care for infants, children and adolescents
  6. Women's health, including prenatal and gynecologic care
  7. Behavioral and mental health care

Programs decide how rotations are structured, so ask whether each area is its own rotation. Programs also must publish a policy that students aren't required to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors (A3.08), and a policy for student travel to required rotation sites.

Program length varies

AAPA describes programs as about 27 months (three academic years), and PAEA's 2021 survey of programs found a median of 27 months, with a range of 24 to 40. Commonwealth University's program, for example, lists 24 months in PAEA's directory. Check each program's length, start month and calendar.

After graduation

Graduates of an entry-level PA program that was ARC-PA accredited when they enrolled can apply to take the PANCE, the national certifying exam. Passing earns NCCPA certification and the right to use PA-C while certification is maintained; each state licenses PAs separately.

How to get a real picture of a program

  1. Ask for a sample schedule for the didactic year and the rotation calendar.
  2. Ask where rotations are, whether you'll need to relocate or travel for any of them, and for the program's written travel and clinical-site policies.
  3. Talk to current students at interviews or info sessions about workload and support.

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Quick answers

How long is PA school?

AAPA describes programs as about 27 months (three academic years), and PAEA's 2021 program survey found a median of 27 months, ranging from 24 to 40. Check each program.

What rotations do PA students do?

ARC-PA's Standards require that preceptors enable students to meet program-defined learning outcomes in seven areas: family medicine, emergency medicine, internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, women's health, and behavioral and mental health care. AAPA says students complete more than 2,000 hours of clinical rotations.

Do PA students have to find their own rotations?

ARC-PA requires programs to have a policy stating that students aren't required to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors.

Sources (all opened October 2026)

Rules can change from one cycle to the next. Before you count on any of this, check each program's own admissions page or email the program. This guide is educational only and isn't admissions advice.