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Good relational skills, exceptional reasoning abilities, and a desire to help people are all necessary to be a success as a physician's assistant. The physician's assistant is an indispensable addition to the practices of internists, primary care physicians and emergency care facilities. Their work enables a greater number of patients to receive care, and at a lower cost, in part because the PA is paid less than the supervising physician.
This page will explore how to become a physician's assistant.
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Tips on How to Become a Physician's Assistant
- Obtain a grade of a 3.0 or higher in an undergraduate school
- Preferably graduate with a bachelor's degree in the sciences, such as biology or chemistry
- Seek the wisdom of a mentor in the PA field
- Determine an area of interest and consider specializing in it
- Intern in a hospital or physician's office during the summer months
- Prepare to take the PANCE exam by studying and taking the self-assessment test
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How To Become a Physician Assistant
Physician's assistants are supervised by physicians, and relive medical doctors of performing routine tasks. Duties are determined by the state, but usually include taking medical histories, giving physical exams, order lab tests, and stitch up minor injuries. Most states also permit physician's assistants to prescribe medicine. Physician's assistants must complete an accredited training program and pass a licensing exam. -
Introduction
A physician's assistant (PA) attends to patient medical care while under the supervision of a licensed medical doctor. The job responsibilities mirror those of the supervising physician, such as performing physicals, treating illness, and interpreting diagnostic test results. The physician's assistant profession was named one of the ten fastest-growing careers in America by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics' 2004-2014 job growth report. -
Step 1: Prepare For Further Education
- Many nurses, nursing assistants and emergency medical technicians choose to advance their education and go back to school to become a physician's assistant. Some have already received an undergraduate degree and are able to apply directly for graduate school, but if you do not already have a bachelor's degree, that is the first place to begin.
- Begin by acquiring an undergraduate degree if you do not already have one.
- It is recommended that your undergraduate studies include coursework in:
- Biology
- Microbiology
- Anatomy
- Physics
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Zoology
- General and organic chemistry
- Medical terminology
- Admission for graduate school requires a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0, so make studying a priority.
- If you have a PA program in mind, contact them to explore what additional coursework may be required.
- If you are not already involved in the medical profession, volunteer in a clinical setting. Many colleges prefer that you have at least two years of experience in some type of field training.
- Seek the guidance of an adviser or mentor who is already in the PA field.
- Begin the application process for acceptance into a physician's assistant program. A centralized application site is located online at the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).Suite 101: How to Become a Physician Assistant (November 1, 2008)
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Step 2: Complete a Graduate School PA Program
- Your coursework will include many of the same courses that a medical student will take in medical school. Some correlating information is found on the Mahalo guide on becoming a doctor.
- Enroll in a program that is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
- The first-year focus will be on medical areas that include:
- Endocrinology
- Infectious disease
- Pharmacology
- Human anatomy
- Cardiology
- OB/GYN
- Orthopedics
- Emergency medicine
- Disease prevention
- The second year includes rotations in clinical institutions in areas such as psychiatry, pediatrics, surgery and family medicine. The rotations are intense and will prepare you with hands-on experience with patients in a medical environment.Methodist: Physician Assistant Curriculum
- Explore the possibility of specializing in an area such as:
- Pediatrics
- Dermatology
- Surgery
- Emergency medicine
- Geriatrics
- Orthopedics
- Rhumatology
- Oncology
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Step 3: Increase Your Chance For Success
- Desire and a good education are only two of the factors you'll need in order to work in your chosen field. Consider the following to give yourself an even better chance of landing your dream job:
- Specialize in an area of medicine that appeals to you. Should you decide on a specialty, contact and join your chosen field's association or society. The American Association of Physician Assistants has a list of specialty organizations' contact info here.
- During your free time, accept a temporary position as an intern; it will be beneficial to you when applying for jobs, because most employers prefer to hire someone with experience in their field of work.
- Seek paid employment in your chosen area during your schooling. If surgery is where you want to specialize, for instance, become an assistant in a surgical practice or hospital. If emergency work is more to your liking, look for a job as an emergency medical technician (EMT). Paid experience looks great on an employment application.
Step 4: Pass the PANCE Exam and Become Certified
- The Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE) is designed to assess the PA graduate's knowledge and abilities and determine their likelihood for success in a medical career. Your grade is the determining factor used by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) certifying board to decide whether you'll be certified as a PA-C.NCCPA Connect: Exams: PANCE
- You are eligible to take the exam after your graduation from:
- An accredited ARC-PA program.NCCPA Connect: Exams: PANCE
- A program certified by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education—with coursework completed between 7/1/1994 and 12/31/2000.NCCPA Connect: Exams: PANCE
- An American Medical Association Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation program accredited as a "Physician Assistant Program" or a "Surgeon Assistant Program"—with coursework completed between 1/1/1986 and 6/30/1994.NCCPA Connect: Exams: PANCE
- An American Medical Association Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation program accredited as a "Program to Educate and Train Assistants to the Primary Care Physician" or a "Surgeon Assistant Program"—with coursework completed between 1/1/1977 and 12/31/1985.NCCPA Connect: Exams: PANCE
- An American Medical Association Council on Medical Education-accredited program prior to 12/31/1976.NCCPA Connect: Exams: PANCE
- As of 1/1/2003, the test can be taken up to six times in a six-year period, following graduation from an accredited ARC-PA program.NCCPA Connect: Exams: PANCE
- The exam contains 360 multiple choice questions.
- For a $35 fee, you may take the self-assessment test to give yourself a feel for the exam.NCCPA Connect: Exams: PANCE
Conclusion
A career as a physician's assistant will be rewarding for someone who thrives in a busy environment and enjoys caring for others and being a part of the healing process. And if you are already working in the field of medicine and want to advance your career, yet do not have the time or money to work toward an M.D. degree, then becoming a physician's assistant may be just right for you.
