It was awhile ago (early 90's), however during my IR training I did PAR approaches before doing my first ILS. The approaches (practice - down to the MAP) were done at Travis AFB (KSUU??), and were no problem in both a single and a light twin.
As for qualifications needed to shoot a PAR approach, my instructor briefed me on the ground as to what to expect and how to do it. Once vectored to the approach, we just followed the instructions of the controllers down to the MAP and then went missed. The KSUU controllers were always great (my training was mostly done at KCCR). Between my base and Napa, they were constantly dealing with a LOT of training activity around their airspace, and always handled it with patience and professionalism. I was able to visit Travis approach once....but this TOO has probably gone away now!
I remember reading an article in Flying a long time back about a student pilot on a night solo flight, who became lost. He ended up flying into marginal VFR wx. He got himself out by requesting a practice PAR (somewhere back east), and once back into solid VFR, AND re-oriented, he toodled off back to base without incident.