2-Year vs. 3-Year PA Programs – Pros and Cons?

Bill_Marsh
Fri, 23 May 2025 13:02:22 +0000

Congratulations on the acceptances! These are hard programs to be admitted to these days.

I hope that you get some responses to this. I suggest that you compare the 2 programs course by course and clinical by clinical to determine whether the additional training is worth it. With the shortages in health care these days, it’s hard to imagine that there would be a difference in success in finding employment although there could be a difference in getting the job you want. Probably best to talk to people who work in the field if you know any.

The health care specialists like PAs are cost savers for hospitals. For example, I have a friend who is a nurse practitioner in a prominent NYC hospital who does a job the doctors used to do. His job promotion came after obtaining his NP degree, but he also had 20 years of intensive care experience. The point is that it’s not just shortages which drive the job market but costs as well. For the first job the 3-year degree might be an advantage for one’s preferred job, but after obtaining experience, it will become less important.