Going from RN to PA

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I if go to school to be an RN and take all the pre req. classes for a PA, can I go to med school to be a PA?

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I if go to school to be an RN and take all the pre req. classes for a PA, can I go to med school to be a PA?

Why not be a NP? You do not go to medical school to become a PA, you go to PA school for that.

Most programs and their prerequisites in the US for PA School on this website:

https://portal.caspaonline.org

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
I if go to school to be an RN and take all the pre req. classes for a PA can I go to med school to be a PA?[/quote']

Do some googling.

You don't need to be an RN for PA school. PA school is not med school.

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Basically I wanted to get my RN so that I'd have some kind of degree to be able to work at least part time while working on becoming a PA, the PA program I'm looking into is at a med school. I debated being a NP but I like the prospective of a PA bett

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Basically I wanted to get my RN so that I'd have some kind of degree to be able to work at least part time while working on becoming a PA the PA program I'm looking into is at a med school. I debated being a NP but I like the prospective of a PA bett[/quote']

Curious, what do you like better about PA?

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I eventually wanted to be a surgical PA, and I can't do that if I'm a NP.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

Something to consider when going to PA school is that sometimes PA and NP programs are combined. The differences end up being that you'd take a couple more classes or have some more clinical experiences as a PA than an NP. If you get into one of those combined programs, you might consider meeting all the requirements for both programs... that way you could get dual-certified/licensed as an NP and a PA with little (overall) extra effort.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
I eventually wanted to be a surgical PA and I can't do that if I'm a NP.[/quote']

NPs can be first assist the same as PAs.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Something to consider when going to PA school is that sometimes PA and NP programs are combined. The differences end up being that you'd take a couple more classes or have some more clinical experiences as a PA than an NP. If you get into one of those combined programs you might consider meeting all the requirements for both programs... that way you could get dual-certified/licensed as an NP and a PA with little (overall) extra effort.[/quote']

What school has a combined PA and NP program? They are entirely different models.

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Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.
I eventually wanted to be a surgical PA, and I can't do that if I'm a NP.

where did you get that info?

I have been through similar debates and decided that NP is better. In any case your plan is not totally flawed. Most PA programs require a minimum Bachelors degree and 1 year direct patient care experience in order to apply. Another alternative I got from a PA school is to do a short EMT program, the EMT work will meet the work experience and get a health sciences bachelors degree should cover most of your PA prerequisites.

cited from University of Florida

School Requirements » School of Physician Assistant Studies » College of Medicine » University of Florida

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
What school has a combined PA and NP program? They are entirely different models.

UC Davis...

http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/fnppa/

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

Wow one actually exists. A masters degree granted on completion but the program is a certificate program for PA. Looks like 2012 was the final class and the curriculum is changing starting 2013.

I'm not quite sure what the benefit is outside additional clinical experience.

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