Physician assistants (PA) have become a popular career choice in the healthcare industry. There are so many benefits and advantages that this career provides to individuals.
More importantly, the profession provides individuals the chance to practice medicine in a collaborative effort with medical doctors and nurses while also maintaining a sense of authority and autonomy in the workplace.
Best Accredited Colleges has detailed the role that physician assistants play in the healthcare industry and has identified the necessary steps to become a licensed PA in your state.
What Is A Physician Assistant?
A physician assistant (PA) is a healthcare professional that acts as a support to doctors and physicians in treating patients. They can be employed in a variety of different settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes.
In addition to a variety of work settings, PAs are offered the opportunity to practice in a range of different specialties, such as primary care, emergency medicine, and psychiatry.
Although they often work in a collaborative team amongst other medical professionals, they have the authority and skills needed to practice as primary care providers.
What Are The Job Responsibilities?
Physician assistants (PAs) are responsible for many different duties in a workplace environment. Some of these duties include:
- diagnosing injuries, illnesses, and health conditions
- prescribing treatments and medications
- recording a patient's medical history
- performing physical exams
- ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests
- educating on disease prevention and management
- assisting physicians with surgery
PAs are given the opportunity to provide endless support in patient care which has certainly proven their importance in the healthcare industry.
What Education Is Required To Become A Physician Assistant?
The physician assistant profession has become an attractive option to so many others due to the fewer educational requirements in comparison to medical doctors.
In order to become a PA, individuals must earn a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies degree from an accredited university. The degree programs consist of didactic learning and clinical experiences that reach over 2,000 hours of clinical rotations.
In order for admission into the master's degree program, aspiring students will need a bachelor's degree and over 3,000 hours of direct patient contact experience, such as paramedics and medical assistants.
How Much Does A Physician Assistant Earn?
A physician assistant earns well over six figures. In 2021, the median annual PA salary was around $120,000 per year. The lowest earned was around $80,000 per year.
On average, PAs that are employed in outpatient care centers and hospitals earned the highest and the ones employed in educational services earned the lowest.
Factors, such as location, practice setting, and specialty greatly impacts one's yearly salary.
What Steps Do I Need To Take To Become One?
The following list details the steps needed to become a licensed physician assistant in your state.
1. Earn A Bachelor's Degree
In order to become admitted into a PA program, an individual will need to have a bachelor's degree. Although it is not a requirement, it would help to have a degree in one of the major sciences, such as biology, chemistry, or biochemistry.
If not, there are science courses available online for aspiring students to use to refresh their knowledge.
2. Gain Direct Patient Care Experience in the Healthcare Field
The majority of physician assistant programs require individuals to have at least three years (or 3,000 hours) of direct patient care in a healthcare setting.
There are a range of different careers that provide this experience, such as:
- registered nurses
- medical assistants
- EMTs
- paramedics
- medical technicians
- lab assistants
3. Apply To A PA Program
Once having completed a baccalaureate program, healthcare experience hours, and a background in science, candidates will now be ready to apply to their institution of choice.
The majority of PA programs use the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA), which is a service that allows candidates to apply to multiple programs with only one application.
Along with a completed application via the CASPA system, candidates should also be prepared to submit all undergraduate transcripts, letters of recommendation, a list of healthcare experiences, and a personal essay.
Aspiring students should also be prepared for an interview. For the full list of requirements, please visit the institution's official website for further assistance.
4. Pass The Certification Exam
After graduation from PA school, graduates will have to pass the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE). PANCE is a five–hour, 300–question exam that tests a candidate's knowledge and skills as it pertains to the role of a PA.
5. Become Licensed In Your State
The final step consists of becoming licensed in your state of choice. Every state is different as it pertains to its requirements. For more information, please visit the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) website for the full list of state requirements.
Find A Physician Assistant Program Online Today
Becoming a physician assistant is one of the best careers to pursue in the healthcare sector. It is a profession that provides excellent job security and opportunities for job advancement.
If you or anyone you know is interested in becoming a physician assistant, please reach out to Best Accredited Colleges today for a full list of online programs.