Physician associate

Physician Associates (PAs) bring crucial hands-on expertise and collaborative strength to abortion care teams. With growing recognition of PAs’ role in sexual and reproductive health, opportunities exist to integrate abortion training during or after PA school.

Read: AAPA Position Statement — PAs as Abortion Providers

Orientation

Overview & Expectations

Orientation

Overview & Expectations

Early Career & Skill Building

Grow Through Training

3

Early Career & Skill Building

Grow Through Training

3

Pre-PA & PA School

Cultivate Awareness

1

Pre-PA & PA School

Cultivate Awareness

1

Integration & Access Expansion

Flourish in Practice

4

Integration & Access Expansion

Flourish in Practice

4

Clinical Rotations

Root in Community

2

Clinical Rotations

Root in Community

2

Beyond the Clinic

Lead & Advocate

5

Beyond the Clinic

Lead & Advocate

5

Orientation

Overview & Expectations

Pre-PA & PA School

Cultivate Awareness

1

Clinical Rotations

Root in Community

2

Early Career & Skill Building

Grow Through Training

3

Integration & Access Expansion

Flourish in Practice

4

Beyond the Clinic

Lead & Advocate

5

seed zero

Orientation

Overview & Expectations

Scope of Practice and Legal Landscape

Scope and legal authority vary by state. Before or during PA school, research:

Can PAs legally perform abortion care in your state of residence or training?

Are there limitations—procedural, medication abortion, telehealth, or early pregnancy loss?

What supervision or collaboration requirements apply to abortion provision?

Check your state Abortion Laws →

Tip: If you’re considering National Health Service Corps programs, remember these typically require a multi-year, primary-care service commitment.

Scope of Practice and Legal Landscape

Scope and legal authority vary by state. Before or during PA school, research:

Can PAs legally perform abortion care in your state of residence or training?

Are there limitations—procedural, medication abortion, telehealth, or early pregnancy loss?

What supervision or collaboration requirements apply to abortion provision?

Check your state Abortion Laws →

Tip: If you’re considering National Health Service Corps programs, remember these typically require a multi-year, primary-care service commitment.

Prerequisites, Education, and Costs

Degree: Master’s-level PA programs (typically 24–36 months).

Undergraduate Requirements: Most PA programs require a bachelor’s degree and prerequisite coursework such as Biology, Anatomy, Microbiology, Pharmacology, and Statistics.

Healthcare Experience (prior to application): Many programs require 1,000+ hours of direct patient care in roles like MA, EMT, paramedic, phlebotomist, RN, ER tech, surgical tech, ultrasound tech, home health care aide, medical scribe, or CNA.

Ask upfront about:

Clinical placement support and preceptor availability
Hidden costs (e.g., board review fees, travel for clinical sites)

Ask upfront about:

Clinical placement support and preceptor availability
Hidden costs (e.g., board review fees, travel for clinical sites)

List of PA programs and their admission requirements.

Costs & Funding:

Average cost: $90,000–$120,000 total tuition.
Explore fellowships, scholarships, and loan repayment programs (e.g., NHSC).

Costs & Funding:

Average cost: $90,000–$120,000 total tuition.
Explore fellowships, scholarships, and loan repayment programs (e.g., NHSC).

Questions to Ask Programs:

Is abortion content integrated into the curriculum or electives?

Does the didactic portion cover sexual and reproductive health?

Are there clinical sites providing abortion care exposure?

What are policies around choosing clinical rotations that include abortion?

Are faculty or preceptors supportive of abortion care training?

Prerequisites, Education, and Costs

Degree: Master’s-level PA programs (typically 24–36 months).

Undergraduate Requirements: Most PA programs require a bachelor’s degree and prerequisite coursework such as Biology, Anatomy, Microbiology, Pharmacology, and Statistics.

Ask upfront about:

Clinical placement support and preceptor availability
Hidden costs (e.g., board review fees, travel for clinical sites)

List of PA programs and their admission requirements.

Costs & Funding:

Average cost: $90,000–$120,000 total tuition.
Explore fellowships, scholarships, and loan repayment programs (e.g., NHSC).

Questions to Ask Programs:

Is abortion content integrated into the curriculum or electives?

Does the didactic portion cover sexual and reproductive health?

Are there clinical sites providing abortion care exposure?

What are policies around choosing clinical rotations that include abortion?

Are faculty or preceptors supportive of abortion care training?

Experience and Exposure

Build foundational experience and understanding of abortion care before or during training:

Volunteer or work in a family planning or abortion clinic.

Serve as a clinic escort to learn about patient support and protester interactions.

Participate in public webinars, workshops, and values clarification sessions through reproductive advocacy groups.

Follow Physician Assistants for Reproductive Health (PARH) for educational opportunities.

Tip: If working in healthcare prior to PA school, roles in abortion or family planning settings (MA, RN, EMT, or tech) can strengthen your patient-care and advocacy skills.

Experience and Exposure

Build foundational experience and understanding of abortion care before or during training:

Volunteer or work in a family planning or abortion clinic.

Serve as a clinic escort to learn about patient support and protester interactions.

Participate in public webinars, workshops, and values clarification sessions through reproductive advocacy groups.

Follow Physician Assistants for Reproductive Health (PARH) for educational opportunities.

Tip: If working in healthcare prior to PA school, roles in abortion or family planning settings (MA, RN, EMT, or tech) can strengthen your patient-care and advocacy skills.

seed one

Pre-PA & PA School

Cultivate Awareness

what to do

Take electives in public health, reproductive rights, and bioethics.

Attend state or national conferences on reproductive care and health equity.

Engage in discussions on Reproductive Justice and the social determinants of reproductive health.

Attend community reproductive justice events or webinars at Black Women for Wellness, Sister Song, Sister Reach, Black Women’s Health Imperative, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, Sister Love inc..

Join or start a NSRH chapter.

what to do

Take electives in public health, reproductive rights, and bioethics.

Attend state or national conferences on reproductive care and health equity.

Engage in discussions on Reproductive Justice and the social determinants of reproductive health.

Join or start a NSRH chapter.

key actions

Join Physician Assistants for Reproductive Health (PARH).

Volunteer with local abortion funds or SRH clinics.

Host reproductive health speakers or panels at your PA program.

Participate in values clarification workshops to strengthen patient-centered empathy.

key actions

Join Physician Assistants for Reproductive Health (PARH).

Volunteer with local abortion funds or SRH clinics.

Host reproductive health speakers or panels at your PA program.

Participate in values clarification workshops to strengthen patient-centered empathy.

seed two

Clinical Rotations

Root in Community

what to do

Seek out family planning, OB-GYN, or primary care rotations that include abortion care exposure.

Partner with organizations such as ReproTLC to access reproductive health clinical electives.

Learn about trauma-informed care and intersectionality in patient experiences.

what to do

Seek out family planning, OB-GYN, or primary care rotations that include abortion care exposure.

Partner with organizations such as ReproTLC to access reproductive health clinical electives.

Learn about trauma-informed care and intersectionality in patient experiences.

key actions

Join the Reproductive Health Access Network (RHAP).

Attend continuing education events through PARH or RHAP.

Coordinate papaya or MUA workshops at your PA or sister medical school.

key actions

Join the Reproductive Health Access Network (RHAP).

Attend continuing education events through PARH or RHAP.

Coordinate papaya or MUA workshops at your PA or sister medical school.

seed THREE

Early Career & Skill Building

Grow Through Training

what to do

Pursue post-master’s certificates or continuing education programs in SRH or women’s health at MARCH program at the University of Maryland and ARISE Rutgers ECHO

Apply to Repro TLC or RHEDI-affiliated training sites for procedural or medication abortion training (where legally permitted).

Complete CME and continuing education via TEACH’s Abortion Training Workbook and Innovating Education in Reproductive Health.

Identify supportive supervising physicians and clinical environments where abortion care can be integrated.

Repro TLC hands-on training or TEACH APC Leadership Fellowship

what to do

Pursue post-master’s certificates or continuing education programs in SRH or women’s health at MARCH program at the University of Maryland and ARISE Rutgers ECHO

Apply to Repro TLC or RHEDI-affiliated training sites for procedural or medication abortion training (where legally permitted).

Complete CME and continuing education via TEACH’s Abortion Training Workbook and Innovating Education in Reproductive Health.

Identify supportive supervising physicians and clinical environments where abortion care can be integrated.

Repro TLC hands-on training or TEACH APC Leadership Fellowship

Recommended Resources

TEACH

REPRO TLC

RHAP

PARH

Innovating Education in Reproductive Health

seed four

Integration & Access Expansion

Flourish in Practice

what to do

Even after residency, it’s never too late to get trained or re-trained. Many practicing physicians gain abortion skills later in their careers — often to serve under-resourced areas.

Join community clinics or telemedicine platforms offering medication abortion.

Advocate for PA scope-of-practice expansion and reproductive autonomy at state and national levels.

Mentor students and peers interested in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Reproductive Justice (RJ).

Educate staff on trauma-informed abortion care best practices.

what to do

Even after residency, it’s never too late to get trained or re-trained. Many practicing physicians gain abortion skills later in their careers — often to serve under-resourced areas.

Join community clinics or telemedicine platforms offering medication abortion.

Advocate for PA scope-of-practice expansion and reproductive autonomy at state and national levels.

Mentor students and peers interested in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Reproductive Justice (RJ).

Educate staff on trauma-informed abortion care best practices.

career options

Employment at Planned Parenthood (note: training and procedural options vary by affiliate).

Work at independent abortion clinics or integrated OB-GYN practices.

Apply for TEACH, Repro TLC, or other APC-focused fellowships.

Become a Repro Champion within your practice—bringing abortion and early pregnancy loss care to your patient population regardless of specialty.

career options

Employment at Planned Parenthood (note: training and procedural options vary by affiliate).

Work at independent abortion clinics or integrated OB-GYN practices.

Apply for TEACH, Repro TLC, or other APC-focused fellowships.

Become a Repro Champion within your practice—bringing abortion and early pregnancy loss care to your patient population regardless of specialty.

seed five

Beyond the Clinic

Lead & Advocate

what to do

Engage with APAOG (Association of PAs in Obstetrics and Gynecology).

Connect with your state PA association or CAPA and join a committee to advance reproductive justice initiatives.

Collaborate with Clinicians in Abortion Care (CIAC) and CAPA chapters to share insights and mentor others.

Contribute to policy, research, or advocacy promoting reproductive freedom and access.

what to do

Engage with APAOG (Association of PAs in Obstetrics and Gynecology).

Connect with your state PA association or CAPA and join a committee to advance reproductive justice initiatives.

Collaborate with Clinicians in Abortion Care (CIAC) and CAPA chapters to share insights and mentor others.

Contribute to policy, research, or advocacy promoting reproductive freedom and access.

Community & Professional networks

Join Physician Assistants for Reproductive Health (PARH)

Association of Physician Associates in Obstetrics and Gynecology (APAOG) and state CAPA chapters

RHAP Clusters

Repro TLC and TEACH networks

Clinicians in Abortion Care (CIAC)

Nurses for Sexual and Reproductive Health (NSRH) and National Abortion Federation (NAF) cross-disciplinary events

Stay Involved: If working in healthcare prior to PA school, roles in abortion or family planning settings (MA, RN, EMT, or tech) can strengthen your patient-care and advocacy skills.

Community & Professional networks

Join Physician Assistants for Reproductive Health (PARH)

Association of Physician Associates in Obstetrics and Gynecology (APAOG) and state CAPA chapters

RHAP Clusters

Repro TLC and TEACH networks

Clinicians in Abortion Care (CIAC)

Nurses for Sexual and Reproductive Health (NSRH) and National Abortion Federation (NAF) cross-disciplinary events

Stay Involved: If working in healthcare prior to PA school, roles in abortion or family planning settings (MA, RN, EMT, or tech) can strengthen your patient-care and advocacy skills.