How to Become a Physician Assistant

Source: BLS

Physician assistants (PAs) are in high demand as the need for healthcare services increases. PAs can work in many different healthcare settings. They provide many of the same services as physicians, but their training takes less time and costs less.

Find out how to become a physician assistant and what to expect from this rapidly growing career.

Physician assistants are licensed medical providers with master’s degrees. They provide preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic healthcare services with a licensed physician.

PAs offer many of the same services as doctors, like conducting physical exams and prescribing medications. They work in hospitals, physician’s offices, outpatient clinics, nursing homes, and community health facilities.

Many physician assistants and organizations advocate changing their title to “physician associates.” In 2021, the national professional group for PAs formally changed its name to the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to better reflect a PA’s duties.

However, the AAPA stresses that PAs should not take on the new title until states adopt the necessary legislative and regulatory changes.

PAs must complete an accredited master’s level program that takes about three years of study beyond a bachelor’s degree. A PA master’s program includes coursework on generalist medicine and at least 2,000 hours of clinical rotations.

Before you can apply for state licensure as a physician assistant, you must pass the PANCE exam administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Only graduates of accredited ARC-PA programs can take the PANCE exam.

The PANCE exam, which you must take within 180 days of your graduation date, consists of 300 multiple-choice questions in five blocks of 60 questions. The exam covers medical content and task areas for entry-level practice as a certified physician assistant.

After successfully passing the exam and becoming NCCPA certified, you may use the physician assistant certified credential.

The shortage of primary care physicians increases the need for PAs. The mounting healthcare needs of the aging population and patients with chronic diseases also drive demand. The demand is so great that three quarters of PAs receive several job offers when they graduate, reports AAPA.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that PA positions will increase by 31% from 2020-2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. Among the highest-paid healthcare professionals, PAs earn a median annual salary of $121,530 as of May 2021, with the highest 10% earning more than $160,000 a year.

These healthcare professionals can find employment in almost every kind of healthcare facility, performing many of the same duties handled by physicians. Their responsibilities correspond to their specialty areas and type of work setting.

For example, PAs working in general practice alongside physicians conduct physical exams, order diagnostic tests, and devise patient care plans. Those working in surgical settings assist with pre-admission, intraoperative procedures, postanesthesia care, and step-down unit treatment.

PAs specializing in pediatrics may spend their time diagnosing childhood illnesses, prescribing medication, setting broken bones, and administering vaccinations.

Becoming a physician assistant takes an average of seven years. In addition to earning a bachelor’s, admission to a PA program requires completing 1,000-4,000 hours of direct patient care experience. Most PA programs take 27 months, or three years, to complete.

While there are no shortcuts to becoming a physician assistant, the most efficient way to prepare for this career is to ensure you have completed all prerequisite coursework and direct patient care requirements before your master’s program.

Online and hybrid master’s programs may not necessarily shorten the time needed to complete the degree, but they may provide more flexible and affordable options.

PA programs can be as challenging as traditional medical school. The fast-paced three-year curriculum builds on previously learned knowledge. Didactic courses test students regularly to ensure they learn critical concepts. Students can expect two or more exams each week with a mandatory test pass rate of a C- or better.

Rigorous clinical placements make it difficult to have another job. Strategies for success include maintaining good time management skills, studying with classmates, and taking time for self-care to reduce stress.

Physician assistants make an average annual salary of $119,460, with wages ranging from $78,000-$164,000, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay levels vary by work setting, specialty areas, geographic location, and years of experience.

According to the American Academy of Physician Associates, the highest-earning specialties in 2021 included cardiovascular/cardiothoracic surgery ($147,200), dermatology ($146,000), and emergency medicine ($129,146).

Page last reviewed January 26, 2023