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Information for Veterans

The physician assistant (PA) profession began in 1965 when four US Navy corpsmen were enlisted to become the first class of PAs at Duke University in North Carolina to help fill a gap in the number of primary care physicians.

PAEA is excited about new federal initiatives that support veterans becoming PAs. Educating veterans to become PAs addresses both the challenges of Veterans’ transition to civilian employment and the primary care workforce shortage. Working with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), PAEA is dedicated to supporting pathways for veterans to become PAs.

White House Initiative to Help Returning Vets Become PAs:

Increased grant funding will be provided for those colleges and universities that train veterans to become PAs as the result of a new White House initiative announced in the fall of 2011. HRSA will work with PA programs so the field training and experience of returning medics and corpsmen can be applied toward their PA education. HRSA and PAEA are also working together with various partners to develop best-practice guidance to further assist PA programs’ recruitment, incorporation, and retention of Veterans.

PAEA Resources/Information

Applying to Physician Assistant Programs

PAEA Member Programs Providing Veteran-Related Admission Assistance

New Educational Series on Veterans Available

A new educational series on veterans and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), entitled "From the War Zone to the Home Front: Supporting the Mental Health of Veterans and Families." This is a 14-week series of live, one-hour, interactive sessions that occurs every Thursday at 11:30 a.m. ET. Please click here for the program brochure and click here to register.

Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Resources/Information

HRSA Webpage: Helping Veterans Become Physician Assistants

HRSA Webinar: Helping Veterans Become Physician Assistants

Veterans Affairs Education Web Resources

Make the Connection: http://maketheconnection.net/events/students-higher-education

Online tool for veterans’ resources – more support and resources for challenges encountered when returning to school.

National Resource Directory: https://www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov/education_and_training

Web portal for connecting to education resources and information – ability to search by zipcode/location.

Student Veterans Association of America: http://www.studentveterans.org/

Student Veterans Resources

American Council on Education: http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=About_ACE

Higher Education and Veterans’ resources

US Department of Veterans Affairs: http://www.gibill.va.gov/resources/%20education_resources/education_programs.html

GI bill program listing

The US Department of Veterans Affairs website lists offices of Academic Affiliations: http://www.va.gov/oaa/ahe_default.asp. The site has nursing and other health field links and lists PAs but the link is not active.