Once you graduate, all you have to do is pass the PANCE right? Everything else is self-explanatory, isn’t it? Unfortunately, it is not. The focus of your program has likely been on the PANCE and understandably so. Schools are ranked on their pass rates, so they are very invested in your success on this test. However, that is merely the start of your career. There are many more steps to come, much of which are not straight forward. By being aware of the next steps you can minimize the time it takes before you start your new career and get your first paycheck (here is an article on what to actually do with that paycheck). So, what are these next steps?
First off, make sure you have plenty of money saved. The process from graduation to practice will add up, costing up to $2,000. I don’t have to tell you that nothing about becoming a PA is cheap. Be sure you save all your receipts so you can submit them for a potential refund from your new employer (this should be brought up in the negotiation process of your contract). Any money you saved that is not needed can be thrown at your student loans! Let the payback begin!
After you pass the PANCE (congratulations by the way!) you need to apply for your PA license in the state in which you will be practicing. Each state has their own website and process for this, so be sure to look into your own state ahead of time. Do not wait until you have your PANCE results to prepare. Have a game plan so you can get you application in as quickly as possible. The timeline and cost for this will also vary state by state. My experience (the state of Colorado) was a cost of under $300 and a 3-week wait. Other states can be more expensive and have longer waits. Because of this, you want to ideally have your application submitted the same day you received your passing PANCE results. Save the celebrations for the evening (but then go HARD in the paint. You deserve it!)
Once you have your PA license you can apply for your DEA license (so you can prescribe controlled substances) and your NPI (National Provider Identifier). You can apply for these at the same time. The NPI application is free and has a very quick turnaround of a week or less. This is not the case with a DEA license. This will cost you a whopping $731. This is one that is definitely worth getting your employer to refund you for. The process typically takes 1-2 weeks to get your approval and DEA number. Some employers may not initially require this, but I recommend everyone obtain a DEA as prescribing controlled substances is well within the scope of PA practice. Plus, not having this may be a negative for a potential new employer in the future.
If you are in an office-based private practice, this may be the end of your licensing journey and you can finally start practicing as a full-fledged PA! If you have any involvement with a hospital, whether in the ER, specialist consultant, or as a surgical PA, you will need to get credentialed with any hospital you are going to work at. If you thought the previous steps were slow, you’re in for a surprise. The credentialing process with a hospital will often take around 3 months! This will entail copious amounts of paperwork and a lot of back and forth with the credentialing department. To help speed up the process there are a number of documents that you should have ready ahead of time. These include:
Your new PA license
Resume or Curriculum Vitae
Vaccinations included updated PPD
Passport or Birth Certificate
Undergrad and PA degrees
Reference list- they may need to fill out a reference the hospital will send to them
Have these on hand to quickly provide if a hospital requests them.
These various processes can be overwhelming, especially when all you want to do is start your new job. Stay organized and think ahead. The first few steps are all up to you, but once you get to credentialing, you will have additional guidance. You may be able to shadow in an office setting, but you will not be able to step foot in the hospital or OR until your credentialling is completed!
We all just want a minute to relax after school is over, but don’t worry, you will have plenty of time for that. Stay on top of your game for another couple months and save yourself the hardship of delayed employment or running out of money as you wait to start your new job. Congratulations on all your achievements and welcome to the world of PA-C!
Thank you so much to Savanna and The PA Platform for this opportunity. If this article was helpful to you and you would like more guidance on things like job hunting, contracts, retirement accounts, or choosing a specialty, head over to www.panextsteps.com to get my guide on what to do after physician assistant school.
