Can I work during PA school? It’s one of the most common questions that comes up after getting an acceptance letter because let’s face it, PA school is expensive. Once you put together tuition, fees, living expenses, and any other unexpected expenses, the number can be a bit intimidating. (We have a post on how to pay for PA school also!) With prior patient care or healthcare experience being a common prerequisite for PA school, most future physician assistants are used to working (even if it’s in a low paying position). The truth is most people use loans to finance their way through PA school because it’s essentially a full-time job. With class from 8-5 most days, followed by hours of studying, and then the unpredictability of a clinical rotation schedule that changes every 4-6 weeks, committing regular hours or undivided attention to an outside job would be difficult. And if you end up at a program like mine, they did not allow us to (formally) work outside of school and required an agreement that we would not seek employment while in PA school.
That being said, I get it. It’s tough to have practically zero disposable income during PA school. There were a few lucky students with a working spouse or parents who were helping financially, but it’s not the norm. I’ve written previously about ways to save money during PA school, but I found a few ways to also make a little money during school and right after graduation as well. Any little bit helps in the long run with large student debt numbers looming. I’ve learned also that you guys are way more creative than I am, so I would love to also hear of any ideas you have! I’ve occasionally met students with a hook-up to a great PRN position that they can pick up shifts as needed, but make sure this is okay with your program before committing.
DISCLAIMER: Focusing on studying and PA school should absolutely be your #1 focus! NOT making extra money. If doing any of these extra activities has even the slightest impact on your grades or success in PA school, it is not worth those few dollars!
1 - Babysitting
You may be like me and think, “I haven’t done babysitting since I was in high school,” but when an opportunity came up during PA school with a family down the street, I jumped on it. I don’t typically stay up too late, but after putting the kids to bed, I was able to study and being in a new setting helped me to focus a little more with less distractions. Not a ton of money, but there are some great opportunities in childcare, even if it’s just occasional. Now, some of my favorite babysitters have been current PA/PT/OT students. The local school has a GroupMe message, so if one person isn’t available they share it with others in the class.
2 - Dog/House Sitting
Jumping off of babysitting, the option of dog sitting or house sitting may be even more flexible. A previous medical assistant from my office is now in PA school and has been dog and house sitting for people in the office during her time as a PA student. Personally, I get very distracted in my own house. I can always find something that needs to be done - laundry, dishes, napping - but being in a different environment is very helpful.
Using the Nextdoor app or a neighborhood/local facebook group to see if there is a need can be helpful, but also word of mouth. I know locally, finding a great pet sitter seems to be in high demand! Setting up a Care.com account is a helpful tool to finding opportunities in your area also. Don’t forget to bring your study materials with you!
3 - Reselling Items
I personally resold things towards the end of PA school to help make a dent in my PA school loans. I even went as far as buying to resell, but I’ll get into the specifics. An easy one is books! In The Pre-PA Club group on Facebook, we have people posting their used PA School Personal Statement Guide and Interview Guides all the time! Once you’ve been accepted to PA school, you don’t really need those pre-PA resources anymore. Tip - If you are selling books, use Media Mail through USPS for the cheapest shipping.
Selling textbooks is another option, from undergrad or PA school. Connecting with peers locally to pass them along will likely be most lucrative, but there are plenty of websites that will buy back textbooks also. I’ve created a list of some of the textbook buyback programs below and added a place to search for books quickly to see if you can get an offer. As of 2022, Amazon no longer buys textbooks back. Tip - Before you rent a textbook, look at the cost to buy and current buyback rate and sometimes it makes more sense to do that!
Take some time to shop around, but a few bucks is way better than a heavy textbook you probably won’t use again! Let’s talk about other things to consider reselling next.
If you look around, you may find some things you have extras of or just don’t need anymore. Facebook marketplace has become a great place to sell things locally. I recently sold some baby clothes and craft supplies easily.
I mentioned previously that I also bought to resell. This is something to be a little cautious with, but I started right before graduating and then continued throughout my first couple of years of practice as a PA. It was great fit because I love shopping and love finding a deal. It works best if you’re reselling something you’re familiar with, like certain clothes brands, toys, characters, etc. Do some research on eBay and Poshmark to figure out if there is something you could possibly resell for a profit. We have a local outlet store for nicer clothing from Anthropologie, Free People, and Urban Outfitters. The prices for clothes range from $5-20, and I could usually at least double the price to sell. There were definitely a few busts, but it was typically profitable. I actually made $10,000 in one year and used this for paying off my PA school debt. Taking pictures and listing did take time, but I enjoyed it and would go on the weekends while my husband was working. I’ve also heard of people doing the same thing through thrift stores, garage sales, or Goodwill. There are some great YouTube videos that teach on this more also.
4 - Affiliate and ambassador programs.
I am 100% not talking about MLMs (multi-level marketing aka pyramid schemes). Please do your research and avoid any “program” or “product” that a company asks you to pay money to promote or sell as the return on these programs is typically not favorable for most people, and tends to be predatory.
But most companies and products have what is called an affiliate program. To put it simply, for sharing a code or link, you receive a commission if someone purchases the product. To be honest, this can be very minimal - like pennies - but if there’s something that you love and tell everyone about, a little reward can make it worth sharing. Everyone has access to sharing links on Instagram in stories now, and it’s easy to put together a list of links as well. This doesn’t mean you’re trying to be an “influencer” or anything, just that you are passionate about the things you love! Look for information at the bottom of websites to sign up or a quick google search will usually bring up these programs too.
We even have an affiliate program for The PA Platform! If you have a PA social media account or want to share about all of the great advice you’ve received with your pre-PA club, use this form to sign up here!
Okay! Those are a few simple ideas that I actually did or do even now! I would love to hear more about your experiences as well in the comments section.
