Becoming a physician assistant is a rewarding healthcare profession focused on the art and science of medicine to improve the health and wellness of patients.
As a physician assistant, you practice medicine under the direction of a physician. This might include seeing patients in a clinic, assisting with surgery, and providing follow-up care.
What are the steps to becoming a physician assistant?
Request information from physician assistant programs. It’s never to early to begin looking at different PA programs. The AAPA recommends that you begin exploring different schooling options your freshman year of college. This helps you get a jump on prerequisites. You also gain hands-on experience so you know what area of medicine interests you. In addition, you can explore whether a traditional or online program is right for you.
Begin working in healthcare. Don’t be intimidated by this step. There are many avenues you can take to gain the valuable experience you need to become a PA. Here are just a few of the jobs you can do to help you get accepted to the program of your choice: medical assistant, EMT, paramedic, CNA, medic or medical corpsman, peace corps volunteer, lab assistant, phlebotomist, registered nurse, ER tech, or surgical tech, just to name a few. Most programs expect that you’ll have at least 3 years of work experience before applying.
Complete prerequisites for your program. Prerequisites vary from program to program but typically include human anatomy, physics, chemistry, physiology, biology, and microbiology. Getting good grades in these courses is beneficial due to the competitive nature of becoming a PA.
Work on earing your bachelor’s degree. Most programs want you to have a bachelor’s degree when you apply for PA school. Degrees that you may consider include: nursing, public health, exercise and sports science, and pre-medicine. There are a number of traditional and online degrees you can earn to meet this requirement. Choosing a bachelor’s degree that meets most of your prerequisites is wise.
Keep in contact with healthcare professionals. To get accepted to PA school you’ll need strong letters of recommendation. Fostering good relationships with fellow healthcare workers and professors is beneficial for this purpose.
What are my physician assist degree options?
- Physician Assistant Master’s Degree: To become a PA you’ll need a master’s degree. Most programs require you to have a bachelor’s degree and complete prerequisites to apply. The degree typically takes three years to finish and includes in-person classes and labs, online coursework and assignments, and 2,000 hours of clinical rotations. Often the clinical rotations involve practicing medicine under the supervision of a physician in one of the following areas: family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN, general surgery, psychiatry, or emergency medicine.
- Online Physician Assistant Master’s Degree: This is a wonderful route to become a physician assistant if traditional programs aren’t practical for you. Typically, you’ll take courses online and attend a few in-person immersion sessions on campus. Clinical rotations take place in the community in which you live. This program is ideal if you prefer not to relocate for PA school.
Be sure to choice a PA program that is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistants (APC-PA).
Further Reading: Easiest PA Schools to Get Into
After completing my PA degree, what’s next?
The final step to becoming a physician assistant is passing the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Once you pass the PANCE you are “Certified” as a physician Assistant (PA-C). Finally you are able to get licensed in your state and begin practicing as a physician assistant.
Where will a PA degree take me?
A degree as a physician assistant will open the door to practice medicine in a setting that you enjoy. Another rewarding part of being a physician assistant is making a real difference in the lives of your patients as you manage their medical care. In addition, you will find a stable work environment unique to your interests. Finally, you can expect to see 31% job growth over the next 10 years, as well as a salary of over $119,000 a year or more.
Best Physician Assistant Programs
University of Kentucky
- Location: Lexington, Kentucky
- Undergraduate enrollment: 20,239
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 11:1
- Undergraduate acceptance rate: 96%
- Two-year employment rate: 94%
- National PA exam pass rate: 98%
- Median PA earnings: $96,010
University of Washington
- Location: Seattle, Washington
- Undergraduate enrollment: 29,350
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1
- Undergraduate acceptance rate: 56%
- Two-year employment rate: 91%
- National PA exam pass rate: 87-90% *Depending on campus
- Median PA earnings: $136,130
Southern Illinois University
- Location: Carbondale, Illinois
- Undergraduate enrollment: 6,796
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1
- Undergraduate acceptance rate: 94%
- Two-year employment rate: 94%
- National PA exam pass rate: 100%
- Median PA earnings: $117,480
D’Youville University
- Location: Buffalo, New York
- Undergraduate enrollment: 6,796
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1
- Undergraduate acceptance rate: 92%
- Two-year employment rate: 93%
- National PA exam pass rate: 93%
- Median PA earnings: $131,810