Hello,
I’ve been looking into Pathologist Assistant (PA) programs and could really use some guidance from people who are either in a program or already working in the field.
I just recently graduated with a B.S. in Biology and I’m currently working as a clinical technician in a cytogenetics lab (mostly specimen processing, lab workflows, supporting genetic analysis, etc.). I also have some additional clinical lab experience and a phlebotomy license, so I’m pretty comfortable in a lab setting, but I’m realizing I want something more hands-on and directly involved with patients/pathology.
The main issue is that I don't have Anatomy & Physiology (lecture + lab), and I’ve noticed a lot of programs either require it or strongly recommend it. I’ve seen that some programs might be more flexible, but it’s been hard to tell which ones are realistic options for someone in my position.
A few questions I had:
- Are there PA programs that are more flexible about A&P, or is it basically a hard requirement everywhere?
- Would it be better to just bite the bullet and take A&P before applying?
- How important is shadowing for PA school, and how did you guys find opportunities?
- Any tips on getting shadowing experience in pathology (especially hospital labs/path departments)?
- Based on my background, do I sound like a competitive applicant or am I missing key things?
I’m based in Southern California if that helps for any location-specific advice.
I’d really appreciate any insight, especially from people who started in a similar position. Thanks in advance