Adrienne and Tiffany break down what it actually takes to build clinical experience from the outside — the real barriers, the most common entry points in pre-AA communities, and what seems to matter once you're building hours.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why getting your first clinical role is harder than "just get your hours" suggests

• The pay cut and scheduling realities that don't get talked about enough

• Common clinical roles in pre-AA communities

• Healthcare experience vs. direct patient care — and why the distinction matters

• What seems to carry weight when building toward AA school

• How to document your hours before application time

Chapters

00:53 — Why clinical experience can be the hardest part of your pre-AA journey

02:31 — The real cost of gaining clinical experience

03:17 — Strategic patience & building healthcare experience

05:16 — Common entry roles introduced & information on Medical Assistant positions

07:51 — Certified Nursing Assistants and Patient Care Technicians

10:17 — EMT, paramedic, and OR tech options

11:15 — Anesthesia Tech positions

14:05 — The difference between healthcare experience and patient care hours

16:00 — Shortcuts or stepping stones? Phlebotomy, scribing, volunteering, and their roles

21:02 — What we think really matters

24:10 — Tracking, Documenting & Preparing Early

28:27 — Final takeaways & Closing

Resources & Links:

🔗 Learn more at preaapathways.com

Connect with PreAA Pathways:

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@preaapathways

Adrienne and Tiffany are pre-AA applicants in the 2026 CASAA (Centralized Application Service for Anesthesiologist Assistants) cycle. Nothing here is application advice or a guarantee of any outcome. Program requirements change — always verify directly with each program. Not affiliated with CASAA, the AAAA, any AA program, or CAAHEP.

Music license code: 6JJQRMA689NY4NTL