| Course | HS106 Health Science Profession and Career Planning |
|---|---|
| Unit | Unit 9 |
| Paper type | Graduate education pathway |
| Length | About 900 words, 6 pages double-spaced |
| Format | APA 7 student paper |
| School | Purdue University Global |
| Program | BS in Health Science |
| Updated | October 2026 |
Free sample paper for HS106 Unit 9
Three Programs Within an Hour of Home: A Unit 9 Graduate Education Pathway to Physician Assistant School for a Separating Corpsman
[Student Name]
Purdue University Global
HS106: Health Science Profession and Career Planning
Unit 9 Graduate Education Pathway
[Instructor Name]
[Date]
The student, program details and finances are composite; program types, accreditation and benefits are real in outline and must be confirmed with each program and the VA.
Why Graduate Education Is Required
PA licensure in every state rests on two things, graduation from an ARC-PA accredited master's program and a pass on the national certifying exam (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026a). There is no shortcut from military experience to licensure, but there is a strong tradition of veterans in the profession, which began in the 1960s with programs designed for former military medics and corpsmen (Cawley et al., 2012).
The Kinds of Programs Within Reach
An academic health center program in Norfolk. Programs at academic health centers usually offer large clinical networks and many affiliated rotation sites. For me, the advantage is location; my family would not need to move.
A private university program elsewhere in Virginia. Several private universities in the state run PA programs. They may have different prerequisites and admission timelines, and some offer veteran preferences.
A public university program. Public programs often cost less for state residents, which matters if my benefits do not cover the full cost.
I will compare at least three programs on accreditation status, first-time pass rate on the national exam, length, cost, prerequisites, required patient care hours and how they treat military experience.
Prerequisites and Admission Factors
Most programs require a bachelor's degree with a minimum grade point average, usually around 3.0 overall and in the sciences. Typical prerequisites include two semesters of anatomy and physiology, microbiology, general chemistry, often organic chemistry or biochemistry, statistics and psychology. Many require patient care hours, which my corpsman years should satisfy, and some want shadowing hours with a PA. Most programs take applications through one shared online service, often a full year ahead of the start date.
Admission is competitive, and program directors surveyed after a national initiative to help veterans become PAs reported both benefits and barriers to admitting veterans, with about a third of programs accepting transfer credit for military training (Michaud et al., 2015). I will ask each program directly how it counts my experience.
My hours are my strongest asset and my grades are my biggest unknown, because I have not taken a science course in nine years.
Timeline
Years one to three after separating. Complete the BS in Health Science, taking prerequisites as electives where possible and any not offered at a local community college. Work as a patient care technician. Shadow a PA for at least 40 hours.
Year three. Apply through the central application service in the spring, aiming to start a program the following year.
Years four to six. Complete the PA program, about 27 months including rotations, then take the national exam and apply for a Virginia license.
Strengthening the Application
Because my science record is old, the most important step is to build a new one. I will take prerequisites in a sequence that starts with a course I am confident in, anatomy and physiology, and moves to chemistry once I have a study routine. I will keep a log of my military patient care hours by role and setting, since programs ask applicants to describe them. And I will ask the PA I interviewed to read my personal statement, because applicants who have made the military move know how to explain it.
Paying for It
My education benefits may cover a large share of the bachelor's degree, but entitlement is limited in months, so I need to plan which stage they fund. Some private programs take part in a program that matches additional tuition for eligible veterans. I will meet a school certifying official at each program and ask the VA to confirm my remaining entitlement before I choose. The gap, whatever it is, may need to be covered by federal graduate loans.
The Stepped Route
If the direct path proves too long or too costly, I would complete an associate degree in respiratory therapy first, work as a therapist for several years and then complete the bachelor's degree and apply to PA school with civilian experience. The interviews in Unit 6 suggested this route is respected by admissions committees. The license would come later, but in the meantime I would have steady pay and work I would happily keep.
What Success Looks Like at Each Stage
By the end of year one, I should have completed at least two science prerequisites with grades of B or better and logged 40 hours of shadowing. By the end of year two, my overall GPA should be above 3.4 and my application materials drafted. By the end of year three, I should have applied to at least three programs. If any milestone slips by more than a term, I will review the plan with my mentors and decide whether the stepped route makes more sense.
Next Steps
1. Request transcripts from the Joint Services Transcript and see what credit transfers.
2. Take one prerequisite science course next term to test my readiness.
3. Contact the admissions offices of three programs.
4. Confirm benefits with the VA.
References
Cawley, J. F., Cawthon, E., & Hooker, R. S. (2012). Origins of the physician assistant movement in the United States. Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, 25(12), 36-40. https://doi.org/10.1097/01720610-201212000-00008
Michaud, E., Jacques, P. F., Gianola, F. J., & Harbert, K. (2015). Education of military veterans in physician assistant programs. Journal of Physician Assistant Education, 26(2), 77-85. https://doi.org/10.1097/JPA.0000000000000025
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026a). Physician assistants. In Occupational outlook handbook. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm
Reading the HS 106 Unit 9 instructions
Unit 9 commonly asks students to plan a graduate or advanced education pathway tied to their career goal. Expect to explain why advanced education is needed, compare candidate programs, list prerequisites and admission factors, set a timeline and address cost. Instructors look for realism: accreditation status, pass rates and the student's own record should all appear. Military students should explain how benefits might cover each stage and confirm details with the VA. Many prompts also ask for a backup route if the main plan proves too long or too costly. Milestones that let the student judge progress strengthen the plan. Program details change, so the plan should name what must be confirmed directly with each admissions office rather than assuming.
How this HS106 Unit 9 example is built
The plan opens with why a master's from an accredited program is required and the profession's tradition of veterans. Three kinds of programs within reach are described, with the criteria the writer will use to compare them. Prerequisites and admission factors follow, with Michaud and colleagues' findings on veterans, beneath a highlighted line naming hours as the strongest asset and grades as the biggest unknown. A section on strengthening the application lays out the course sequence and hour log. The timeline covers three years of college, the application year and the PA program. Funding, milestones for each stage, the stepped respiratory therapy route and four concrete next steps complete the plan.
HS106 Unit 9 rubric: what earns full points
Pathway plans are usually graded on realism, completeness and alignment with the career goal. The need for graduate education should be explained accurately, with accreditation named. Program comparison earns credit when it uses meaningful criteria, such as pass rates and cost, rather than reputation alone. Prerequisites and admission factors should be specific. A dated timeline and measurable milestones show planning. Graders reward honest identification of weaknesses in the student's application and steps to address them. A backup route demonstrates mature planning. Financial planning, including benefits where relevant, is often expected. A plan laid out stage by stage, with its three sources listed in APA 7, scores best.
HS106 Unit 9 help from the desk
Pathway plans often name a dream program without checking accreditation, prerequisites or cost. Another common weakness is a timeline with no milestones, so the student cannot tell whether the plan is on track. Some students ignore the gap in their own record, such as old science courses, which admissions committees will notice. Assuming education benefits will cover everything, without confirming entitlement, is a frequent error for military students. Plans without a backup leave no room for setbacks. Before writing, list three accredited programs within reach and download each one's prerequisite list. A custom pathway can be planned for your own goal and record.
Get an HS106 Unit 9 example written to your instructions
Send your goal, candidate programs and the instructions with the rubric. A custom pathway compares options and sets out prerequisites and timing. It comes back within 24-48h, and the first is free. The paper above is an original model document written by our desk, not a submitted student paper and not an official Purdue University Global document.
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HS106 Unit 9 questions, answered
Do I need graduate school?
It depends on the career; some require it, others reward experience and certification.
What should a pathway compare?
Admission requirements, prerequisites, length, cost and accreditation.
Why check accreditation?
Licensure and employers often require a degree from an accredited program.
Where can I find a free HS106 Unit 9 sample paper?
The complete HS106 Unit 9 graduate education pathway is given in full on this page, mapping a route to physician assistant school for a separating corpsman with a respiratory therapy route in reserve.
What is the weakest part of the application in the HS106 Unit 9 sample?
Grades, because the writer has not taken a science course in nine years; the plan starts with one prerequisite to test readiness and builds a new science record.