The Short Answer
It depends on the program — but increasingly, yes. Many advanced practice residency and fellowship programs are explicitly opening their doors to both nurse practitioners and physician assistants (PAs). If you are a newly graduated PA looking for structured clinical training after school, more options exist today than at any point in recent history.
That said, not all programs that say "NP residency" on their website are actually open to PAs. You have to read the eligibility criteria carefully. And even in programs that welcome both, there are real differences in training background and clinical philosophy that you should understand before you apply.
Quick note on terminology: The PA profession recently updated its official name from "Physician Assistant" to "Physician Associate" in many national contexts — though both terms remain in common use. Throughout this article we use both interchangeably, as most programs and applicants still use "PA."
The "APP" Language Shift
If you have looked at residency program listings recently, you may have noticed more and more programs using the phrase "advanced practice provider" (APP) rather than "nurse practitioner" or "NP" specifically. This is intentional — and it matters for PAs.
The shift to APP language reflects a broader trend in health systems toward role integration. As hospitals and health systems have come to rely on both NPs and PAs to deliver a large share of clinical care, many post-graduate training programs have followed suit by formally welcoming both credential types. Programs that use "APP" in their name or eligibility language are signaling that a PA degree is as welcome as an NP degree.
You'll see this framing especially in:
- Hospital-based residencies run by large health systems (Kaiser Permanente, VA, academic medical centers)
- Primary care and family medicine residencies
- Emergency medicine and acute care programs
- Some behavioral health and psychiatric residencies
When a program listing says something like "open to newly graduated NPs and PAs" or "advanced practice provider residency," you can apply. When it says "NP only" or lists specific NP credentials (FNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, etc.) without mentioning PA, it generally means they are limiting eligibility to nurse practitioners.
Tip: If a program's website doesn't clearly state PA eligibility, it is worth emailing the program coordinator directly. Some programs are open to PAs but haven't updated their marketing language yet, and a direct inquiry can save you time and effort.
NP vs. PA: The Training Background Difference
Even when PAs are eligible for the same residency as NPs, it's worth understanding how the two professions approach clinical training differently. This isn't about one being better than the other — it's about understanding your own background so you can articulate it clearly in an application and interview.
🎓 Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Trained within the nursing model of care
- Foundations in holistic, patient-centered care rooted in nursing theory
- Graduate education built on prior RN experience (typically 2–5+ years)
- Specialty-specific focus from the start (FNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, etc.)
- Autonomous practice authority in many states
- APRN licensure framework
🩺 Physician Assistant / Associate (PA)
- Trained within the medical model of care
- Foundations in physician-style biomedical education
- Graduate education does not require prior clinical licensure
- Generalist training with rotations across multiple specialties
- Supervised practice model (though practice laws vary by state)
- NCCPA certification framework
These differences matter in residency because the curriculum, language, and clinical philosophy of most programs were built with NP training in mind. Many NP residencies emphasize nursing theory frameworks — things like the nursing process, person-centered care models, or APRN competency standards — that won't feel as familiar to a PA graduate. This doesn't make the content inaccessible; it just means you may need to do a bit of translation work to apply what you know in a new framework.
What This Looks Like in a Psychiatric or Behavioral Health Residency
Psychiatric mental health is one of the fastest-growing specialty areas for advanced practice residencies. Most PMHNP (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) residencies are designed specifically for NPs — and for good reason. The PMHNP curriculum is built on a deeply nursing-informed approach to mental health care: it emphasizes therapeutic relationship, the lived experience of the patient, social determinants of health, and recovery-oriented care models.
PA graduates — even those with strong psychiatry rotation experience — come from a medical model background that tends to prioritize diagnosis, pharmacotherapy, and symptom reduction. Neither approach is wrong, but they start from different places. A PA entering a PMHNP-oriented residency will find that nursing theory is front and center: expect to discuss frameworks like Peplau's interpersonal theory of nursing, or recovery model principles that are core to psychiatric nursing education.
Some behavioral health residencies have explicitly expanded eligibility to PAs, especially in systems that need to fill APP positions across both credential types. If you're a PA interested in psychiatric practice, look specifically for programs that list "PMHNP or PA" in their eligibility criteria, or those that explicitly call themselves "APP psychiatric residencies."
Bottom line for PAs interested in psychiatry: It's possible, but be selective. Focus on programs that explicitly welcome PAs, and be prepared to articulate how your training background complements — and differs from — a nursing model approach. That self-awareness will make you a stronger candidate.
How to Evaluate Whether a Program Is Right for You as a PA
When you're reviewing a residency or fellowship listing, here are the questions to ask:
- Does the program explicitly list PA (or "APP") in the eligibility requirements? If it only mentions NP credentials, assume NP-only unless you confirm otherwise.
- What credentials do current or past residents hold? Some programs will list alumni testimonials or cohort profiles that tell you whether PAs have participated.
- What theoretical framework does the program use? Ask during your interview or informational call. If the curriculum is built entirely on nursing competency frameworks, you'll be navigating those as a PA.
- What are the post-residency job placement outcomes? Some residencies are structured to funnel graduates into employment at the sponsoring institution. Find out if PA licenses are accepted for those positions in the relevant state.
- What does the stipend/salary situation look like? PA residencies are less common and as a result PA graduates sometimes find themselves negotiating their first real NP/APP salary during or right after training. Know your market value.
PA-Specific Residency Programs: The Other Option
It's also worth noting that PA-specific postgraduate residency and fellowship programs exist — and they are growing. The Association of Postgraduate PA Programs (APPAP) maintains a directory of PA-specific residency programs across a wide range of specialties including emergency medicine, surgery, orthopedics, psychiatry, and primary care.
These programs are purpose-built for PA graduates. The curriculum uses a medical model framework, the faculty typically includes both supervising physicians and experienced PAs, and the competency standards are drawn from PA professional organizations rather than APRN frameworks. If you're a PA, it's worth exploring both the APP/NP-inclusive residencies and dedicated PA programs before deciding which path makes the most sense for your goals.
The Bottom Line
The residency landscape for advanced practice providers is changing fast. The "NP residency" label is becoming a misnomer in many programs — a growing number of the best post-graduate training opportunities now intentionally welcome both NPs and PAs under the broader APP umbrella.
As a PA, the key is to read eligibility criteria carefully, reach out directly when you're unsure, and go into the process with clear eyes about how your medical model background will interact with a curriculum that may have been designed with nursing training in mind. That awareness — and the ability to articulate it thoughtfully in an application — will set you apart.
Browse our directory below. For each program, check the "Credentials Accepted" field to see whether the program explicitly lists PA alongside NP credentials.
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