Physician assistants work collaboratively with physicians to examine patients, order diagnostic studies, diagnose illnesses, prescribe medications, participate in surgery, and treat chronic conditions. They work in all healthcare settings and because they are trained as generalists, can practice in family medicine or have the flexibility to enter specialty fields.
The role of a physician assistant in healthcare has evolved into a position of necessity, partly secondary to the need to provide medical care for an enlarging population. The U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics has reported physician assistant employment is projected to grow 28% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. Coupled with a physician shortage, estimated by the American Medical Colleges to be 124,000 by the year 2034, demand for physician assistants is rapidly accelerating.
Other interest in the profession is related to consistently high rankings as a desirable occupation. The latest 2023 U.S. News and World Report has physician assistant as the #4 overall job, #2 job in healthcare, and as #4 amongst the best STEM jobs. These excellent rankings are attributed to a favorable work-life balance schedule, competitive salary, job versatility, and overall satisfaction. Additionally, the pathway to the profession, and ultimately taking care of patients, is shorter than becoming a physician with a smaller financial investment to cover tuition.
What do Physician Assistants do?
Physician assistants are typically regarded as “advanced practice providers (APPs)”. They are an extension of a physician with the ability to treat patients with relative autonomy in all different medical settings. Trained as generalists, physician assistants have the capacity to manage the whole patient and provide a wide spectrum of care. Inclusive to their scope of practice are taking medical histories, performing physical examinations, ordering and interpreting laboratory tests, diagnosing illnesses, and developing treatment plans which include prescribing medications and assisting in surgery. They can also specialize with the ability to move between different specialties more easily than other providers.
State laws influence specific responsibilities and are variable. However, as research has proven the quality and safety of physician assistant provided care, the majority of states are abandoning strict regulatory policies in favor of delegating the individual scope of practice to be determined at the employer’s healthcare facility level. This has resulted in greater efficiency and allowed the profession to grow. The future is bright in regards to expanding roles, reimbursement, and independent practice.
How do I Become a PA?
To qualify, you need to have attained a bachelor’s degree. This is followed by completing a graduate program for physician assistants and passing a certifying exam administered by the National Commision on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). On average, physician assistant programs are master’s degree level programs that last 27 months in duration.
Admission to a physician assistant school is complicated and involves many criteria. Meeting the prerequisite classes is essential and the first step.
All physician assistant schools require the following science courses:
General Chemistry: two semesters or three quarters with one lab term
Biology: two semesters or three quarters with one lab term
Microbiology: one semester or two quarters with one lab term
Anatomy: one semester or two quarters with one lab term
Physiology: one semester or two quarters with one lab term
And non-science classes:
English: two semesters or three quarters
Statistics: one semester or two quarters
Psychology: one semester or two quarters
To become a stronger physician assistant candidate, it is also recommended to expand your coursework to include:
Organic Chemistry: one semester or two quarters with one lab term
Biochemistry: one semester or two quarters with one lab term
Genetics: one semester or two quarters
Foreign Language and/or Medical Terminology: two semesters
In addition to the academic requirements, a potential student will need at least 1000-1500 hours of hands-on patient care experience, construct and submit a personal statement, have 3-5 letters of recommendation, and complete an interview.
Any preparation required in high school to become a PA?
Although it is difficult to know with certainty what career profession you will enter while in high school, strategically targeting certain fields is advantageous. Exploring different occupations within healthcare via direct observation from shadowing, researching on the internet, and talking to medical providers or school counselors are very helpful tactics.
Taking advanced science courses and medical terminology, learning a second language, and seeking volunteer work in healthcare are also recommended. Being proactive and achieving these tasks can save time and money during your undergraduate years. While in high school, gaining employment in entry level healthcare jobs is prudent. Potential positions include pharmacy and lab technician aides, patient transportation services, and serving as a medical clerk. Responsibilities are limited given the level of training, however it unveils you to the medical system. Lastly, if working is not an option, participating in community health events such as blood drives, can provide some exposure. In all, there are several ways to personally determine if healthcare is the right choice for you.
Things to do after High School?
Maintaining a high undergraduate GPA is one of the best strategies to ensure acceptance into a physician assistant program. Schools will evaluate your science, non-science, BCP (biology, chemistry, and physics) total, and cumulative GPA. A cutoff cumulative base GPA of 3.0 is the standard to apply, however, to be competitive a GPA of 3.6 is recommended. It is therefore clever to choose a major that satisfies all, or the majority of, the prerequisites while allowing you to obtain the highest grade point average possible. Healthcare adjacent majors, such as kinesiology or health science, offer a lighter course load than the core sciences but might not meet all the prerequisites. It is wise to talk to a counselor and follow a pre-dental or pre-med track. A growing number of undergraduate schools are now offering pre-PA course roadmaps.
After GPA, direct patient care experience hours are the most challenging pre-requisite for most students. Academically succeeding is not enough to get into a physician assistant school. Medical employment hours are required, and a lot of them. Each individual physician assistant program has their own criteria, but the average applicant typically has > 2,000 hours. This equates to a year of full time employment or several years of part-time employment.
An important distinction is the difference between direct patient care versus healthcare experience. Direct patient care is more important, and as the name suggests, you have a role in the primary treatment of patients. Healthcare experience is usually unpaid labor and does not involve first hand involvement with a patient’s care. It is important to clarify what each school considers as direct patient care as variabilities do exist among programs.
Standardized tests are not required by physician assistant programs but over half of the schools ask for the GRE (Graduate Record Examination). If an applicant has a lower than desired GPA, performing well on the GRE can improve their chances of acceptance and is therefore recommended. The PAEA (Physician Assistant Education Association) reported the average 2023 scores of physician assistant matriculants were: verbal reasoning 153.7, quantitative reasoning 153.1, and writing 4.1. A score of > 300 was considered “safe” and > 310 was competitive.
The physician assistant admission process ultimately goes through CASPA (Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants). CASPA allows you to apply to multiple programs by completing ONE application. The “open application cycle” is from mid-April through March of the following year. After establishing an account, a student will complete questions pertaining to demographic information, academic history, work experience, healthcare certifications, awards received, professional memberships, references, standardized test scores, and a personal essay detailing your interest in the physician assistant profession. Following payment of a fee, the information is then shared with each physician assistant school the candidate wishes to apply.
There are multiple objectives to be achieved. Below is a suggested timeline to avoid deadlines and a delayed application:
What happens at PA school and beyond?
Physician assistant programs offer a master’s degree and operate under an abbreviated medical school model. Utilizing a disease specific approach, students are trained in sciences and place an emphasis on pathology to assess, diagnose, and treat. School is typically divided with didactic education preceding clinical rotations.
The didactic year is academically loaded and includes anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, physical diagnosis, pharmacology, clinical medicine, ethics, and behavioral studies. These courses help prepare the student for their various clinical obligations which will include: family medicine, internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine, and psychiatry.
Once a student has completed an accredited physician assistant program and graduated, they are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National certifying Exam (PANCE). It consists of 300 questions and tests knowledge of disease processes as well as skills related to tasks performed by physician assistants. There is an associated fee of $550.00 and different test schedules are available at various Pearson VUE testing centers.
You are now eligible for employment after obtaining licensure and certification. However, there are ongoing requirements to maintain the ability to practice. Physician assistants are obliged to complete 100 hours of continuing medical education (CME) and pay a fee every 2 years. Additionally, they must pass a recertifying exam every 10 years.
In conclusion, entering the physician assistant profession is very rewarding as evidenced by high satisfaction scores, a lucrative salary, ample job opportunities, and a developing expansion into independent practice. Although it is not necessary to prepare for a physician assistant application during high school, it does help expedite the process and ultimately save time and money. Acquiring a mentor can also allow you to maneuver the system in a more efficient manner. Best of luck in your journey!
Frequently Asked Questions
Becoming a physician assistant is arduous and challenging, but results in a career profession ripe with rewards such as high job satisfaction scores, growing employment opportunities, flexibility, competitive salaries, and an expanding role into independent practice. Besides hard work and endurance, the objective criteria of a competitive applicant includes a 3.6 GPA, > 2000 direct patient care hours, a strong personal statement, and a solid interview.
This can vary, however, the earlier you decide to apply to a physician assistant school, the more time you will save accomplishing the necessary prerequisites and avoiding deadlines. At minimum it averages SIX years: 4 years of undergraduate education plus an average of 27 months for a standard physician assistant program course.
No, there are not any expedited programs that combine undergraduate and graduate school. There remain some physician assistants that were only required to obtain a bachelor’s degree but the new requirement to be licensed is to hold a master’s degree in physician assistant studies.
That said, it is possible to go straight through from high school to undergraduate to a physician assistant program. It will take some planning and hard work though. You will need to choose an appropriate major and achieve the direct patient care hours on a part time basis during schooling and summer breaks. An alternative strategy is to take a “gap year” to accumulate all the patient care hours following attainment of your undergraduate degree.
While there is no correct answer to this question, the best advice would be to choose a major that fulfills all the science and non-science classes required. Often these follow pre-dental and pre-medical tracts at most undergraduate institutions. With the growth of the profession, there are now colleges that have separate pre-PA tracts as well.
Starting in 2019, the NCCPA released a blueprint to guide students as they prepare for the PANCE. It divides the material into 14 organ systems and each is tested as a statistical representation of the amount of content. Most students will utilize review courses and purchase test booklets designed from the blueprint.