So you want to be a Dermatology NP / PA / Nurse?!

One of the most common questions I get is, “How can I get a job in derm without any experience?”. Dermatology remains one of the more competitive fields in medicine and can be especially tough if you don’t have any previous experience or are a new grad. Here are 7 tips for NPs/PAs or RNs looking to land their first dermatology job!
Network. Network as much as you can, reach out to other providers in the field, and build relationships with those around you. You really know never know when one of these professional relationships can lead to an opportunity. Here’s a quick example – my friend’s dad is a general surgeon. She randomly mentioned to him that I was looking for new dermatology opportunities, and he just happened to get an email from an old colleague regarding an office hiring a Derm NP/PA earlier that week. He ended up putting us in contact with one another, and it turned into an amazing offer! I would never have thought my old college friend’s dad would have somehow helped me with my dermatology career.

Join a dermatology organization.

This is another great opportunity to connect and network with others already working in the field. Some organizations also may have job boards on their website available to members, so you have an opportunity to see who may be hiring. They also may have online or in-person educational lectures, so you can also utilize these resources to learn more about the field you are trying to get into. Some examples of dermatology organizations specific to NPs/Pas include the Dermatology Nurses’ Association, Diversity in Dermatology, and the Society of Dermatology PAs.

Attend a dermatology conference.

Just another opportunity to connect with providers in your surrounding area, and meet the pharmaceutical reps that go into the surrounding offices (many reps have a good idea who is hiring and may be able to connect you with different offices), and is a great way to learn more about dermatology in the meantime. You could totally add the conference you attended of the organization you are involved with to your resume as well, which may stand out to future employers. Some popular conferences include Maui Derm NP + PA or SDPA Dermatology Conference.

Consider a training or fellowship program.

This is totally not necessary, but something to consider if you are interested in a post-grad training program specific to derm. There are also online courses for new providers that you can look into as well.

Get as much exposure in the field as you can.

Whether it’s shadowing a derm provider, working as an RN or MA in a dermatology office, working in a field that may be similar (plastics, aesthetics, wound care, etc.), or getting a clinical rotation in dermatology or a similar field while you’re in your program. Anything you can do to get more exposure, do it!

Set up alerts.

Set up alerts for dermatology jobs for your surrounding area on websites like Indeed or ZipRecruiter & APPLY. Even if a position says “experience required”, I still don’t think it can hurt to apply anyways. Some employers may prefer hiring new NPs/PAs to train and mold in their own way. You can also look for job opportunities with MyDermRecruiter and speak with someone on their team about what you are looking for.

Stay consistent.

Don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t happen right away. It can take time. The first job is always the hardest to get, but it will happen if you are persistent – it only takes one!