Becoming A Physician Assistant

What You Need To Do When You Plan On Becoming A Physician Assistant

What is a Physician Assistant?

If you are already working in the medical field and want to further challenge yourself, consider becoming a physician assistant. It should not be confused with a medical assistant, who does mostly clerical work, because you will work under a licensed doctor, performing medical duties like checking, treating and charting patients, and you can earn up to $80,000 a year.

If you want to work in this field, having a medical background is generally recommended but not necessary; such as experience working as a surgical technologist, licensed practical nurse or an emergency technician, or any other medical position, because physical assistant schools tend to accept candidates with a medical history. So if you are already employed in the field and want to take your career one step forward, learn what it takes to make the move.

A Physician Assistant's Education

Step 1: If you have already earned a degree and are working in the medical profession, you can apply directly to a physician assistant program, but if not, get your undergraduate bachelor degree in a difficult science, like biology, chemistry or psychology. Having this degree will boost your chances of being accepted.

Step 2: While attaining your undregrad degree, you should also look into volunteering in a medical setting to gain some clinical experience. Programs do favor applicants who have medical work experience, or at least 2-3 years of previous volunteer work.

Step 3: The next step is to apply to a physician assistant course that is accredited by the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). The best way to do this is to fill out an application with CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistants), which is how to access most physician assistant programs. These are 2 year programs that follow a lot of the standard curriculum that physicians study, like anatomy and physiology, pathology, examining patients and diagnosing. You will also have clinical rotations and internships to complete that will increase your opportunities to find work.

Physician Assistant Certification

Step 4: Once you have completed your 2 year training program, you will need to become licensed in order to practice. You must pass the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam.

Step 5: After becoming certified, make sure to maintain your license by completing an additional 100 hours of continuing education credits every 2 years. Additionally, every 6 years you will need to either complete another PA program or take a recertification exam.

A physician assistant is a vital role in the medical profession; often working independently with patients. You need the skills of a doctor and the patience of a nurse, so it is a challenging yet fulfilling career choice. If becoming a physician assistant appeals to you, and you want to join this rapidly growing profession, ensure you follow the right educational path to achieve the requirements you need to start your new career as soon as possible.

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