Physician Assistant
Practice medicine, diagnose illnesses, prescribe medications, and provide comprehensive patient care under physician collaboration.
| Median Salary | $133,260 per year |
| Job Growth (10yr) | +27%Excellent |
| Education | Master's Degree |
| Time to Start | 6-8 years |
Work Settings
- •Physician offices and outpatient clinics
- •Hospitals (inpatient units, emergency departments, operating rooms)
- •Urgent care centers
- •Outpatient care centers
- •Government and military healthcare facilities
- •Educational institutions
- •Long-term care facilities
- •Correctional facilities
Primary Duties
- •Conduct comprehensive patient medical histories and physical examinations
- •Order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests including lab work, EKGs, and imaging studies
- •Diagnose acute and chronic illnesses and formulate differential diagnoses
- •Develop and implement treatment plans and prescribe medications
- •Perform medical procedures such as suturing, joint injections, and minor surgical procedures
- •Assist in major surgical procedures as first assistant in the operating room
- •Provide patient education on disease prevention, treatment plans, and healthy lifestyle choices
- •Document patient encounters and maintain accurate medical records
How to Become Physician Assistant
Complete bachelor's degree
Focus on science prerequisites including biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and microbiology. Maintain a competitive GPA (average 3.6 for accepted students).
Duration: 48 months
Gain direct patient care experience
Work as EMT, paramedic, medical assistant, CNA, RN, or similar role. Successful applicants average 3,235 hours of patient contact experience. Complete any remaining prerequisites and shadow PAs.
Duration: 36 months
Complete master's PA program
Includes didactic phase (classroom learning, approximately 57 weeks) and clinical rotation phase (hands-on training in various specialties, approximately 55 weeks).
Duration: 27 months
Pass PANCE certification exam
Study for and pass the 300-question Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination. Passing score is 350 or higher.
Duration: 3 months
Obtain state licensure
Apply for license in your state, submit required documentation, complete background check, and pass any required state jurisprudence exam.
Duration: 2 months
Begin practicing as PA-C
Start your career as a licensed, certified Physician Assistant. Consider specialty areas and pursue additional training or CAQs as desired.
Duration: 24 months
Continuing Education
To maintain your PA-C credential, you must complete 100 hours of Continuing Medical Education (CME) every two years and pay a certification maintenance fee. Every ten years, you must pass a recertification exam—either the traditional PANRE (Physician Assistant National Recertifying Exam) or the newer PANRE-LA (Longitudinal Assessment), which allows you to answer 25 questions per quarter over three years. State licenses also require renewal, typically every one to two years, with specific CME requirements varying by state.
Certifications & Licenses
- •Physician Assistant-Certified (PA-C) credential from NCCPA (required)
- •State medical license (required in all 50 states)
- •Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in specialties like Emergency Medicine, Psychiatry, Cardiovascular/Thoracic Surgery, Nephrology, Orthopedic Surgery, or Pediatrics (optional)
- •Basic Life Support (BLS) certification (typically required)
- •Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification (often required)
- •Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification (for pediatric specialties)
Citations
- Bureau of Labor Statistics - Physician Assistants ↗
- American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) ↗
- National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) ↗
- Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) ↗
- Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) ↗
- Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) ↗
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