How to Become a Physician Assistant

What you'll do: As a physician assistant, you'll perform the same functions as a doctor, handling all but the most complex cases. Your typical duties will include taking medical histories, examining and treating patients, ordering and analyzing lab tests and x-rays, prescribing medication and treating minor injuries. You may also take on managerial duties, supervising various medical staff and ordering supplies.

Where you'll work: Over 50 percent of all physician assistants work in primary care medicine. You'll most likely work in private practice offices or clinics, hospitals, public health clinics, schools, prisons or home health care agencies. 

Degree you'll need to practice: At least a bachelor's degree

Median annual salary: $86,410*

Cities with highest employment level: New York, Los Angeles, Nassau, Washington, DC, Oakland, Philadelphia

Most students complete a 2-year master's PA program. During the first year, you take basic medical science courses such as the following:

• Biochemistry
• Pathology
• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Disease prevention
• Pharmacology

In the second year, you gain clinical experience in primary care medicine, inpatient medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, geriatrics, emergency medicine, psychiatry and pediatrics.

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) requires that all programs offer graduate level degrees.

Physician Assistant Bachelor's Degree (BA-PA)

This accelerated 4-year program allows you to earn your bachelor's degree in conjunction with your graduate level PA certificate. The third and fourth years include nine months of clinical course work and 12 months of clinical rotations. Most BA-PA programs admit students into the program on a conditional pre-professional status, until the first two years are complete.

Physician Assistant Master's Degree (MA-PA)

Schools that offer master's degrees require that you have a bachelor's prior to entering the programs. The first year emphasizes coursework in anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, internal medicine, pediatrics, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, geriatrics, surgery and psychology. The second year emphasizes clinical experience in primary care and medical specialties.

To become a certified physician assistant and be eligible for the acronym PA-C, you must complete the following:

• Graduate from a program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)
• Pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE)

To maintain active certification status, PAs must complete 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years. Additionally, a recertification exam is required every six years. Recertification can be attained alternatively by combining learning experience with a take-home exam.

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants have similar job descriptions. The difference is in their training. Nurse practitioners must complete a 2-year RN program and practice for at least a year before they can enter a 2- to 3-year NP program, which will confer a master's degree in a primary care or specialty area, such as pediatrics, geriatrics, emergency medicine, psychiatry, surgery, anesthesia, family health or women's health.

Physician Assistants must have some experience in the allied health field prior to entering the 2-year program and can earn a BA-PA or MA-PA. PAs follow a conventional medical doctor curriculum, while nurse practitioners follow a nursing curriculum. Physician assistants are also educated in the broad spectrum of medical and surgical care, allowing them to practice in the variety of specialties rather than one specific area of study.

Physician assistants and nurse practitioners both perform these activities:

• Order and interpret diagnostic and lab tests
• Prescribe medication (except for Indiana, Louisiana and Ohio)
• Function as primary health care providers who work with physicians on a referral or consultation basis

<sub>Sources:  U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data published March 27, 2012; Physician Assistants.

*The salary information listed is based on a national average, unless noted. Actual salaries may vary greatly based on specialization within the field, location, years of experience and a variety of other factors.</sub>