A Physician Assistant has the honorable job of helping physicians in patient care and advice. It is an occupation that is more than just a mere job; it is a lifestyle. To become a successful Physician Assistant you should be an empathetic person, know how to relate to people and of course; have an excellent understanding of health and medicine.
A physician’s assistant is also known as a PA. They can practice medicine under the supervision of a physician. They should not be confused at all with medical assistants as an MA performs more clerical tasks and can work under the supervision of a physician assistant.
Physician assistant programs are similar to going to medical school. However Physician Assistant training does not last for four or more years like a doctor must go through. They instead train for 3 years maximum, sometimes only two years. There is classroom and lab work and it covers a range of medical topics like microbiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, anatomy and more. There will also be clinical rotations in various medicine fields like surgery, paediatrics, gynaecology, internal medicine and more.
Physician Assistants are not required to complete residencies like physicians once they have finished at medical schools. However if a Physician Assistant wishes to undertake a residency program there are some available.
Graduate programs will lead to a qualification of Masters Degree in Physician Assistant Studies, Medical Science or Health Science. Other entry requirements are a Bachelors degree as well as GRE or MCAT. There are now also some programs for Physician Assistants that have an option for a doctorate qualification. This can include the Doctor of Science Physician Assistant (DScPA).
In 2006 the Physician assistant career was named as the 5th best career in America. This was based on salary ad job prospects as well as job growth which is expected to increase by almost 50% in the next 10 years. There will never be a shortage of work opportunities for a physician’s assistant.
Once you have experience in general practice as a PA you may choose to specialise in a medical field like dermatology, cardiology, surgery or others.
The mean income for a full time PA in 2007 was over $86,000. Specialist PA’s can earn up to $200,000 per year.
A physicians assistant is an excellent job and one that is highly rewarding for the right person.
