Physician Assistant

PA's responsibilities

conduct physical exams diagnose and treat illness can write prescriptions assist in sergury

# of accredited schools

156 125 participate in CASPA

Main difference between PA and physician

amt of time spent in school

PA's dont need to do

an internship or residency

typical applicant already has

bachelor's an about 4 yrs of healthcare experience

in general a Baccalaureate degree

is NOT required prior to entering PA program

to maintain national certification, PA's must

log 100 hrs of continuing education every 2 years and sit for recertification every 6 years.

It is ___________ that one letter of rec be from _____________.

mandatory; practicing PA or M.D.

PA's are educated in the

"medical model"

recommended format

15+ sem. hrs. with at least 1 science class

Mean applicant age

27.4 years

Average PA program runs

3 years

science gpa cummulative gpa

3.34 3.43

% of primary care specialist; single-specialty physician group practice

31% 26%

median age

38

# of schools in FL

4 (UF, Barry, Nova, Miami-Dade)

% of females

70

all PA programs meet the same

ARC-PA standards

Admissions Test

GRE (Required by most programs) MCAT not required but hulpful

PA-C

Physician Assistant Certified

Association of physician Assistant Programs(APAP)

national organization whose members are the PA programs themselves and PA educators

American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)

the only national organization that represents PAs in all specialties and all employment settings