Physician Assistant

Work Description

Provide *routine* diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventative healthcare services *under the direction and supervision of a physician* Take medical histories, examine patients, order and interpret laboratory tests and X-rays and make preliminary diagnosis Treat *minor* injuries by suturing, splinting, and casting PAs record progress notes, instruct and counsel patients, and order or carry therapy

Licensure

*All state and DC* have legislation governing the qualifications or practice of physician assistants *All* jurisdictions require physical assistants to pass the *Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE)* administered by the *National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and open only to graduates from accredited PA programs

Settings and Specialties

*Settings:* - Hospitals (22% of jobs) - Clinics - Physicians' offices (57% of jobs) *Leading Medical Specialties that use PAs* - Family practice - Internal medicine - General surgery - Emergency medicine - Pediatrics - Orthopedic surgery - Thoracic surgery - Geriatrics

Median Annual Wages

2. Outpatient care centers: $101,600 1. General medical and surgical hospitals: $98,380 3. Offices of physicians: $97,270 5. Colleges, Universities, and professional schools: $91,530 4. Federal executive branch: $85,450

Education and Training

At least *2 years* and *full time* Most programs are in schools of allied health, academic health centers, medical schools, or 4 year colleges Many accredited PA programs have clinical teaching affiliations with medical schools Depending on the program, one might ear a master's bachelors, associates, or a certification upon completion of the study requirements Students should take courses in biology, English, chemistry, mathematics, psychology, and the social sciences Many PAs have prior experience as registered nurses or come from varied backgrounds including military corpsman or medics and allied health occupations PA education includes *classroom* instruction in biochemistry, pathology, human anatomy, physiology, microbiology, clinical pharmacology, clinical medicine, geriatric and home health care, disease prevention, and medical ethics Students obtain *supervised clinical training* in several areas, including family medicine, internal medicine, surgery, prenatal care and gynecology, geriatrics, emergency medicine, psychiatry, and pediatrics.

Employment Trends

Employment is expected to *grow much faster than average* - healthcare establishments are increasingly using PAs to *contain costs* Job opportunities for PAs should be good, particularly in *rural* and *inner-city* clinics, these settings typically have *difficulty* attracting physicians PAs may be needed to augment medical staffing in inpatient teaching hospital settings as the number of hours physician residents are permitted to work is reduced. encouraging hospitals to use PAs to supply some physician resident services

Employment Change

Employment is expected to grow *30%* from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations Projected rapid growth reflects the *expansion of healthcare industries* and an emphasis on *cost containment,* which results in the increasing use of PAs by healthcare establishments Physicians and institutions are expected to employ more PAs to *provide primary care* and to *assist* with medical and surgical procedures PAs are *cost-effective and productive* members of the healthcare team

Job Prospects

Job opportunities for PAs should be good, particularly in *rural* and *inner-city* clinics because those settings have *difficulty attracting physicians* Opportunities will be best in states that allow PAs a *wider scope of practice*

Earnings

Median annual earnings of wage and salary PAs were *$95,820* in 2014 - The lowest 10% earned less than $64,100; the highest 10% earned more than $134,720

Certification

Only those who successfully complete the PANCE examination may use the credential "Physician Assistant Certified" (PA-C) To remain certified, PAs must complete *100 hours* of continuing medical education every *2 years* Beginning in 2014, PAs must pass a *recertification examination* or *complete an alternate program* combining learning experiences and take home examination *every 10 years*

Physician Must Supervise PAs

PAs *always* work under the supervision of a physician The extent of supervision depends on *the work setting* - May provide most of health care for patients and consult with the supervising physician and other medical professions as needed or required by law In *46 states* and DC, PAs can prescribe medication PAs may make house calls or go to hospitals and nursing homes to check on patients and report to the physician

Variety of Practice Settings

PAs assist physicians in a variety of practice settings and specialty areas

Employment Opportunities

PAs held about *91,670* jobs in 2014 - The number of jobs is *greater* than than the number of practicing PAs because some hold two or more jobs (15% of PAs work more than one job concurrently) - Some PAs work with a supervising physician, but also work in another practice, clinic, or hospital

Educational and Legal Requirements

Programs usually last at least *2 years* in a *postgraduate setting* Admission requirements vary by program but may require at least *2 years of college* and some *health care experience* *All states* require that PAs complete an *accredited, formal education program* and *pass a national examination* to obtain a license

Objectives

Requirement for admission to training programs vary; most applicants have a *college degree* and some *health-related work experience* Physician assistants must complete an *accredited education program* and pass a *national exam* in order to obtain a license Employment is expected to *grow* much faster than average Job opportunities should be good in *rural* and *inner-city* healthcare facilities