How to Get Patient Care Hours in Virginia
Virginia PA programs require 2,000–3,000+ patient care hours. Here is the fastest and most effective way to build them — and how to document them correctly for CASPA.
How Many Hours Do Virginia PA Programs Require?
| Program | Minimum Required | Competitive Average |
|---|---|---|
| VCU PA | 3,000+ | 4,000+ |
| Eastern Virginia Medical School PA | 2,000+ | 3,000+ |
| Jefferson College of Health Sciences PA | 2,000+ | 3,000+ |
| Shenandoah University PA | 2,000+ | 3,000+ |
| Marymount University PA | 2,000+ | 3,000+ |
| Radford University PA | 2,000+ | 3,000+ |
Dr. Tomei's Perspective
Best Patient Care Roles for Virginia Pre-PA Students
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
CNA is the fastest path to high-volume patient care hours in Virginia. Virginia has a streamlined CNA certification process through the Virginia Department of Aging and Disability Services. CNAs work directly with patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and home health settings. Most Virginia PA programs count CNA hours as direct patient care.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
EMT certification provides some of the highest-quality patient care hours available to pre-PA students. Direct patient contact, real emergencies, and hands-on clinical skills. Virginia has a robust EMS system with opportunities in urban, suburban, and rural settings.
Medical Assistant (MA)
Medical assistant roles at Virginia health systems provide consistent, high-volume patient care hours. MAs take vitals, assist with procedures, administer medications, and work directly with patients under physician supervision. Widely available at VCU Health, Sentara Healthcare, and private practices.
Phlebotomist
Phlebotomy provides direct patient contact and is widely available at Virginia hospital systems and reference labs. Most Virginia PA programs count phlebotomy as direct patient care. Good option for students who want to build hours quickly while in school.
Medical Scribe
Medical scribing is widely available in Virginia through ScribeAmerica, Aquity Solutions, and directly through major health systems. Most Virginia PA programs count scribing as direct patient care. Scribing also provides exposure to physician decision-making and clinical documentation that is valuable for PA school interviews.
Home Health Aide
Home health aide work provides direct patient care in home settings. Virginia has a large home health industry given its aging population. Most Virginia PA programs count home health aide hours as direct patient care.
Free Clinic Volunteer
Volunteering at free clinics in Virginia provides meaningful patient care hours and demonstrates commitment to underserved medicine — a value shared by most Virginia PA programs. The Daily Planet (Richmond), CHKD Community Clinics (Hampton Roads), and Northern Virginia Family Service all have volunteer programs.
How to Document Patient Care Hours in CASPA
Log every patient care experience in CASPA separately — do not combine different roles into one entry.
Record the organization name, supervisor name and contact, start/end dates, and total hours for each role.
CASPA distinguishes between "direct patient care" and "healthcare experience" — make sure you categorize correctly.
Virginia PA programs generally require direct patient care hours, not just healthcare experience. Scribing and volunteering at free clinics typically count as direct patient care.
Get a letter from your supervisor confirming your hours — some Virginia programs require verification.
Do not inflate hours. PA program admissions committees verify, and inconsistencies will disqualify your application.
Quality matters as much as quantity. Be prepared to discuss what you learned from each experience in your personal statement and interviews.
Need Help Building Your Patient Care Profile?
Patient care hours are only as valuable as how you write about them. Dr. Tomei can help you build a patient care narrative that Virginia PA programs find compelling.
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