The landscape of PA professional development is expanding well beyond the foundational master's degree. The proportion of PAs holding doctoral degrees has more than doubled. More than 5% of certified PAs have completed postgraduate residencies or fellowships, and post-professional programs — DMSc, EdD, PhD, and dual-degree options — continue to grow. I've contributed to these statistics myself, having completed a postgraduate residency in critical care medicine, and I'm currently navigating the dissertation phase of PhD training.

These trends have sparked conversations within our profession, including debates about whether a PA doctorate leads to greater autonomy and where doctoral education is heading. While I encourage these broader conversations, I want to ask a different, more personal question: Is additional training right for you? Whether you're considering a DMSc for leadership, an EdD for academic advancement, a PhD for research, a clinical fellowship, or another credential, only you can answer that. I hope describing my decision-making process — and some pitfalls to avoid — can help.

Consider the Gain vs. Your Need

For any postgraduate program, consider the skills and credentials you will gain. Your entry-level PA degree provided medical knowledge and the essential credentials (national certification, state licensure, and institutional privileges) to practice. Whatever new skills and credentials a program offers, they should be clear, tangible, and worth the investment.

In my case, I pursued a critical care medicine residency, followed by a PhD, because I aim to become a neurocritical care clinician-scientist advancing the care of patients with severe acute brain injuries. The master's was a necessary start, but not sufficient alone.

My residency year gave me didactic and hands-on critical care training across multiple subspecialty ICUs. Could I have started working in an ICU without it? Certainly, but I wouldn't have gained the combination of broad experience and focused expertise I was seeking. My PhD training provides the statistical and methodological foundation for designing and executing research, access to experts in managing complex data streams, and, critically, the credential required for obtaining grants that protect dedicated research time.

Clearly, this is a niche path; yours will undoubtedly look different, but the approach to thinking about credentials is the same. A DMSc might provide leadership training for administrative advancement or shaping health policy. An EdD might open doors in academic medicine or educational leadership. A clinical fellowship could deepen subspecialty expertise and position you for roles requiring advanced clinical competency. A certificate program might add focused skills like quality improvement, health informatics, or simulation education, without the multi-year commitment of a doctoral degree. The specific program matters less than ensuring alignment between what you'll gain and what you actually need.

Vet Your Training Path

I didn't choose my path lightly. I spent years collaborating with mentors to confirm it was right for both my clinical and research interests. Before applying to the residency, I met with program graduates to learn the pros and cons directly. Through undergraduate and graduate school, I participated in research projects that made me certain I enjoyed the work before fully committing to a PhD.

If you don't have local contacts, utilize professional PA associations, specialty academies, or online platforms to find individuals who are currently in or who have completed the training you're considering. Ask about day-to-day realities, sacrifices, and how the training empowered them to achieve their goals.

Throughout this process, support from family and mentors was indispensable. Postgraduate training demands significant time and energy: evenings studying, weekends consumed by projects, the mental load of balancing competing priorities. Having honest conversations with those closest to you about what the commitment will look like is just as important as vetting the program itself.

Potential Pitfalls

The worst outcome after years of training would be gaining credentials that don't advance your career goals. Be cautious if any one of these is your sole motivator:

Your institution pays for tuition. A tuition benefit is a boon, but only part of the financial picture. Consider the opportunity cost of reduced clinical hours, whether you'll need to cut back to part-time or take unpaid leave, and the earning potential shifted while you are in training. Will the credential lead to roles with compensation that offsets this investment? Run the numbers honestly before committing.

You're frustrated in your current role. Additional training won't solve underlying issues in your job or group. You might just become an unhappy PA with extra credentials. Remember too that a credential is only as valuable as the recognition it receives. Some institutions see a DMSc as essential for leadership; others won't differentiate it from your master's degree. Talk to people in positions you aspire to and ask what credentials actually mattered.

It might look good "down the road." Pursuing training based on a hypothetical future is risky. How can you be certain the skills you gain will be useful for opportunities that don't yet exist?

You want to test the waters in a different field. If you're considering a pivot to research, administration, or education, find people who do that work first. Spend time understanding this potential avenue before investing significant time and money.

So, is more training right for you? Before committing to any program, ensure the skills and credentials you'll gain will have the career impact you seek. The investment is significant. Make sure it's taking you where you actually want to go.

Patrick J. Coppler, PA-C, is a PhD candidate and resuscitation researcher in the department of emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. He completed a multidisciplinary critical care APP residency and currently works on the post-cardiac arrest service at UPMC.

Illustration by Diana Connolly