How Clinical Rotations Shape PA Students’ Career Choices

Clinical rotations go beyond building clinical skills; they help PA students uncover what they want from their future careers. These hands-on experiences allow students to explore different specialties, connect with mentors, and discover the work environments where they feel most fulfilled.

To better understand how clinical experiences influence students’ long-term career choices, AMO surveyed PA students across the U.S. in 2025. The results show that clinical rotations play a defining role in how PA students approach their careers after graduation.

Clinical Rotations Survey Results

All students surveyed said their clinical rotations influenced their employment preferences, with the vast majority noting these experiences greatly or somewhat shaped where they want to work after graduation. Students also highlighted the impact of mentorship, with many students expressing a desire to return to one of their rotation sites for full-time employment post-graduation.

One student shared, “Rotations informed me of the work cultures I want to be a part of. It also told me which settings I felt most fulfilled in.”

That sense of fulfillment drives many new PAs as they enter the workforce. The survey also found that nearly 84% of PA students are open to relocating for the right position, showing a strong willingness to find roles that align with their professional values and desired environments.

Read the Full PA Student Study

The data underscores just how impactful clinical training can be in guiding PA students’ post-graduation decisions; and how important it is for healthcare centers and hospitals to be part of that journey to increase their workforce development pipeline.

Discover the full survey insights here: AMO-PA-Survey-Results-FINAL