If graduation is near, no doubt you are excited and
justifiably proud of what you have accomplished. There are a
number of things you need to begin thinking about in preparation
for seeking a position in clinical practice. Because the process
of finding a job can seem overwhelming at first, we have
assembled a checklist of some important items to aid you in
organizing and being successful in your job application
process.
Register to take the PANCE. Don't forget that
the NCCPA requires a 7-day waiting period after your reported
graduation date (provided by your PA program director) to verify
your program completion. If the NCCPA does not receive
verification within 72 hours of your originally reported
completion date, you will be automatically withdrawn from the
exam window. Employers will want to know that you have registered
for the PANCE and when they can expect that you will be eligible
for a regular license.
Determine which state(s) you think you might
want to work in and do research to learn about the specific state
laws and temporary licensure requirements for newly-graduated or
about-to-graduate physician assistants. Much of this information
is available online, and it is important to understand that the
50 states vary considerably in terms of whether they offer a
temporary license so you can begin work before your PA
certification is finalized, how long it will take for that state
to process your temporary license, and what documentation you
must submit to that state in order to secure temporary
licensing.
Assemble a permanent file for storing all of
your professional documents, such as school transcripts,
diplomas, specialty exam score reports, references, curriculum
vita/resume, professional organization dues/memberships, CME
credit information, and special certifications such as CPR, EMT,
etc.
Begin exploring job opportunities available
through your PA school's placement or alumni office, state PA
chapters, professional organization websites and newsletters, PA
journal classifieds, local classifieds, and any job postings
available on the internet. Medical clinics and hospitals where
you did clinical rotations are also good sources for inquiring
about job opportunities.
Do research on employment aspects that will
come up repeatedly during job interviews so that you will
understand what job benefits are typically offered, what's
included in a standard job contract, and have relevant questions
to ask potential employers about such as PA hospital privileges,
whether you will be allowed to write prescriptions, any fees you
will be required to pay, and how malpractice coverage works.
Develop your professional CV and a standard
cover letter that you can use in applying for positions. Make
sure that all documents are grammatical, formatted correctly, and
letter-perfect. You may want to show your CV to faculty at your
PA school to get their feedback before finalizing it. Store these
documents both on paper and electronically.
Consider what professional activities you
wish to participate in between graduation and beginning your
first job. These might include volunteering at local clinics for
the indigent, working with a faculty member on a research project
or a presentation, or becoming involved in promoting
health-related legislation. Each activity of this nature can be
added to your CV, helping you stand out from other applicants, as
well as adding to your professional growth.
Schedule a meeting with your PA school's
Financial Aid office to review your loans and gain an accurate
picture of the payment schedule and when you will be required to
begin repaying your student loans. You might also want to ask if
they have information about loan forgiveness programs or advice
about loan consolidation plans that you should consider.
If you haven't already decided on exactly the
factors you value most from a position, it's a good idea to spend
some quiet time now thinking about what is essential and what is
optional among all the aspects that make up a particular job
situation. Some factors to consider include: how diverse a
patient mix you want to work with; which type of setting you
prefer—whether it be rural or urban, clinic or hospital,
relatively closely supervised or more autonomous; and whether
there is opportunity to further specialize in specific clinical
areas like critical care, family medicine, pediatrics,
nephrology, geriatrics, women's health, etc. A wish list of your
ideal work situation will be very helpful in determining not only
which positions to apply for, but what you must have versus what
you are willing to be flexible about in evaluating future job
offers.
