Physician assistants(PAs) not only enjoy a promising salary and the capacity to transform the lives of others; they also have the opportunity to work in a range of dynamic and rewarding settings and select a specialty that suits their greatest interests, from pediatrics to psychiatry.1,2
If you’re curious about how to become a physician assistant or physician associate, or if you want to know how long it takes to become a PA, read on. You’ll be glad to discover that PAs are often ranked in the leading three professions in the healthcare industry and as one of the top jobs in the United States.1
Ready to become a PA? Learn about the specific educational and training requirements to call this career your own.
How to Become a PA in Five Steps
The medical field abounds with exciting professions, and each requires a distinct combination of education, training and experience. The training and education required to become a PA is no different.1 Let’s examine the typical trajectory to becoming a physician assistant.
Step One: Earn an Undergraduate Degree
Most physician assistants are educated at the graduate level and must obtain an undergraduate degree before applying for a master’s program.3
Aspiring physician assistants typically pursue a science-focused undergraduate degree. However, any undergraduate degree may be acceptable as long as the master’s candidate has fulfilled the basic and behavioral science prerequisites for a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) Program.3,1
Some of the best undergraduate degrees for prospective PAs to consider include:4
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Psychology
After students earn an undergraduate degree, some graduate PA programs require that they obtain direct experience in the field of medicine before applying.5 The American Academy of PAs (AAPA) confirms that PA programs normally require a minimum of 1,000 hours in one of two (or both) settings:3
- Healthcare Experience (HCE), in which a PA student is not immediately responsible for the health of a patient, or
- Patient Care Experience (PCE), wherein an aspiring PA is responsible for direct patient care
To accrue these hours, many students take a year off after completing their undergraduate degree and work in a variety of roles, such as:
Physician assistant programs may have different healthcare experience requirements—and if you haven’t met this requirement, there may still be options for you. For example, some PA programs do not have specific hour requirements and instead consider an applicant’s previous professional experience when evaluating their PA program preparedness.6
PA program requirements can usually be verified on the programs’ websites, as well as:5
Step Two: Choose a PA Program
According to the latest data from the American Academy of PAs, there are more than 300 physician assistant programs in the U.S.1 While admission to these programs is very competitive, the sheer number of programs allows incoming students to make a sound choice based on their goals and needs.1
You may want to take the following into account as you begin exploring programs:7
- Education requirements – Have you completed the prerequisites? If not, and if you’re set on a particular program, you may have to fulfill additional courses before applying. This may delay your path to becoming a PA, but you’re bound to attain indispensable knowledge.
- Career goals – Some individuals may choose to become a PA to work directly with patients and their medical teams; others may choose to work in a research, administrative or educational setting. If you’re leaning toward the former, you’ll want to ensure your PA program of interest offers abundant opportunities for hands-on clinical experience.
Step Three: Apply to an Accredited PA Program
CASPA’s online application service helps to streamline the PA program admissions process.5 Every PA program is different, but an application typically requires:
- Transcripts – Transcripts of your undergraduate and, if applicable, post-graduate studies are required across the board. Be sure to request your transcripts well in advance.5
- Healthcare experience – Whether you acquired healthcare experience as an EMT or are substituting other professional experience, it’s vital to present an audited list of the hours you’ve accrued in a real-life setting.5
- Letters of recommendation – These letters are usually obtained from supervisors, physicians with whom you have worked, licensed PAs you may have shadowed and professors from your undergraduate and/or post-graduate program.5 Letters of recommendation allow a PA program to get a sense of who you are beyond your experience and GPA, and may speak to your professionalism and overall character.5
- Statement of intent – If you’re applying through CASPA, you will need to provide a 5,000-word personal statement outlining why you’ve chosen to become a physician assistant and how you’re an excellent candidate for the school’s program.5
Some PA programs may also require you to take the GRE (Graduate Record Exam); if so, it will be included in their admission requirements.4 Not all programs require this exam, so be sure to check with the program you’re applying to before registering to take the exam.4 Each MSPAS program has a unique set of requirements, and some consider all prior activities that demonstrate preparedness to enter the PA profession.
Step Four: Complete a PA Program
If you’ve made it to this step, congratulations! Now, the real—and fascinating—work begins.
PA programs are, as they should be, comprehensive, demanding and rigorous.1 Mirroring a medical school curriculum, PA programs pair didactic instruction with clinical education training.1
Didactic instruction may involve courses in:
During the clinical phase of a program, PA candidates must complete 2,000 hours of hands-on experience.1 Because PAs are trained in generalist medicine—which grants them the ability to treat the whole patient1—they may perform clinical rotations in a variety of settings, such as:
- Pediatrics4
- Psychiatry4
- Emergency medicine3
- General surgery4
- Orthopedics4
- Gynecology4
- Obstetrics4
- Primary care4
- Family medicine3
- Internal medicine3
This training prepares PA candidates to conduct general PA responsibilities, such as:4
- Performing routine examinations
- Ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests
- Developing treatment plans and prescribing medications
- Counseling patients on preventative medical care
- Providing assistance during surgeries
- Recording medical histories
- Communicating with a patient’s medical team and caregivers
You may ask, “how long does it take to become a physician assistant?” PA programs typically take between 23 and 28 months to complete, with some extending several additional months—so you can plan for a minimum of two years of study.5 However, your individual progress may affect the speed at which you complete the program.
Step Five: Pass the Licensing Exam
After completing the required training and earning your degree, you’re on to the final and perhaps most challenging point of your academic career: Passing the licensing exam.5 A strong PA program will leave you well-prepared to pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE).5 This test is administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and is comprised of:5
- 300 questions total
- Five 60-question sections
- A five-hour exam period
In the years following the PANCE, you’ll need to complete continuing education and maintain your license throughout your career.4
Intense? You bet. Well worth it? Absolutely. You could have the chance to work in a range of exhilarating settings, including local hospitals, private medical offices, outpatient care centers and government facilities.5
There’s also room for growth and advancement, whether you choose to specialize in a field such as psychiatry or emergency medicine3—and whether you elect to work in sunny Florida or the snow-capped Sierra Nevadas.1
Physician Assistants are in high demand: the AAPA reports that PAs normally receive multiple job offers upon completing their degrees and passing the PANCE.1
Achieve Your Career Goals by Becoming a Physician Assistant
Physician assistants may have to undergo thorough and formidable training, but the benefits outweigh the effort. As a PA, you’ll have the expertise to make a positive, lasting impact on the health and well-being of countless patients.1 You’ll also enjoy working in one of the most sought-after and well-paid health professions in the country: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the field will climb 28% from 2012 to 2031—a rate that substantially surpasses the average profession.10 With a median annual salary of $121,530 and an estimated 12,700 job openings per year, you can build a rewarding personal and professional life as a PA.3 There are also many places a physician assistant can work and pursue different paths.
That’s why the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) is excited to announce its new Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) program, with applications opening in April 2023. This program will provide students with the hands-on education and training they need to thrive in a variety of healthcare settings.
Contact us today to learn more about the PA program structure, accreditation status and what sets the USAHS MSPAS program apart.
*The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) is developing a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) program. We will begin accepting applications in April 2023 for our first cohort, which will start in January 2024. The program will be held in person on our campus in Austin, Texas, and will consist of a four-trimester didactic phase and a three-trimester clinical phase. Students will complete seven core rotations in a variety of outpatient settings and hospitals, plus two elective rotations of their choice.
USAHS’ MSPAS program has applied for Accreditation-Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). USAHS’ MSPAS anticipates matriculating its first MSPAS class in January 2024, pending achieving Accreditation-Provisional status at the September 2023 ARC-PA meeting. Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.
In the event that the program is not granted Accreditation-Provisional status by the ARC-PA, students accepted into USAHS’ MSPAS program will receive a full refund of their deposit, and the program will not matriculate in January 2024.
Sources:
- AAPA, “What is a PA?”, AAPA, last modified January 2023, https://www.aapa.org/about/what-is-a-pa/
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Physician Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified September 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Physician Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified September 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-4.
- Victor Ouma, “Undergraduate Degrees for a Physician Assistant (with FAQs),” Indeed, last modified September 2022, https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/undergraduate-degree-for-physician-assistant.
- Brian Palm, “6 Steps to Become a PA,” AAPA, last modified January 2022, https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2018/08/6-steps-become-pa/.
- University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, “How Our MSPAS Program Stands Apart,” University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. https://www.usa.edu/college-health-sciences/master-of-science-in-physician-assistant-studies-mspas-program/#admission-reqs
- Indeed Editorial Team, “11 Online Physician Assistant Programs (And Hybrid Options,” Indeed, last modified March 2022, https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/online-physician-assistant-programs#.
- University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, “Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) Program,” University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. https://www.usa.edu/college-health-sciences/master-of-science-in-physician-assistant-studies-mspas-program/
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Physician Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified September 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-3
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Physician Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified September 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-6.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Physician Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified September 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-5.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Physician Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified September 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-4.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Physician Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified September 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-4.
- AAPA, “What is a PA?”, AAPA, last modified January 2023, https://www.aapa.org/about/what-is-a-pa/.
- University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, “How Our MSPAS Program Stands Apart,” University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. https://www.usa.edu/college-health-sciences/master-of-science-in-physician-assistant-studies-mspas-program/#admission-reqs
- Brian Palm, “6 Steps to Become a PA,” AAPA, last modified January 2022, https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2018/08/6-steps-become-pa/.
- AAPA, “What is a PA?”, AAPA, last modified January 2023, https://www.aapa.org/about/what-is-a-pa/.
- AAPA, “What is a PA?”, AAPA, last modified January 2023, https://www.aapa.org/about/what-is-a-pa/.
- Indeed Editorial Team, “11 Online Physician Assistant Programs (And Hybrid Options,” Indeed, last modified March 2022, https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/online-physician-assistant-programs#.
- Brian Palm, “6 Steps to Become a PA,” AAPA, last modified January 2022, https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2018/08/6-steps-become-pa/.
- Brian Palm, “6 Steps to Become a PA,” AAPA, last modified January 2022, https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2018/08/6-steps-become-pa/.
- Brian Palm, “6 Steps to Become a PA,” AAPA, last modified January 2022, https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2018/08/6-steps-become-pa/.
- Brian Palm, “6 Steps to Become a PA,” AAPA, last modified January 2022, https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2018/08/6-steps-become-pa/.
- Brian Palm, “6 Steps to Become a PA,” AAPA, last modified January 2022, https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2018/08/6-steps-become-pa/.
- Brian Palm, “6 Steps to Become a PA,” AAPA, last modified January 2022, https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2018/08/6-steps-become-pa/.
- Victor Ouma, “Undergraduate Degrees for a Physician Assistant (with FAQs),” Indeed, last modified September 2022, https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/undergraduate-degree-for-physician-assistant.
- University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, “Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) Program,” University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. https://www.usa.edu/college-health-sciences/master-of-science-in-physician-assistant-studies-mspas-program/
- AAPA, “What is a PA?”, AAPA, last modified January 2023, https://www.aapa.org/about/what-is-a-pa/.
- AAPA, “What is a PA?”, AAPA, last modified January 2023, https://www.aapa.org/about/what-is-a-pa/.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Physician Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified September 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-4.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Physician Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified September 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-4.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Physician Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified September 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-4.
- AAPA, “What is a PA?”, AAPA, last modified January 2023, https://www.aapa.org/about/what-is-a-pa/.
- AAPA, “What is a PA?”, AAPA, last modified January 2023, https://www.aapa.org/about/what-is-a-pa/.
- AAPA, “What is a PA?”, AAPA, last modified January 2023, https://www.aapa.org/about/what-is-a-pa/.
- AAPA, “What is a PA?”, AAPA, last modified January 2023, https://www.aapa.org/about/what-is-a-pa/.
- Victor Ouma, “Undergraduate Degrees for a Physician Assistant (with FAQs),” Indeed, last modified September 2022, https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/undergraduate-degree-for-physician-assistant.
- Victor Ouma, “Undergraduate Degrees for a Physician Assistant (with FAQs),” Indeed, last modified September 2022, https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/undergraduate-degree-for-physician-assistant.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Physician Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified September 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-4.
- Victor Ouma, “Undergraduate Degrees for a Physician Assistant (with FAQs),” Indeed, last modified September 2022, https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/undergraduate-degree-for-physician-assistant.
- Victor Ouma, “Undergraduate Degrees for a Physician Assistant (with FAQs),” Indeed, last modified September 2022, https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/undergraduate-degree-for-physician-assistant.
- Victor Ouma, “Undergraduate Degrees for a Physician Assistant (with FAQs),” Indeed, last modified September 2022, https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/undergraduate-degree-for-physician-assistant.
- Victor Ouma, “Undergraduate Degrees for a Physician Assistant (with FAQs),” Indeed, last modified September 2022, https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/undergraduate-degree-for-physician-assistant.
- Victor Ouma, “Undergraduate Degrees for a Physician Assistant (with FAQs),” Indeed, last modified September 2022, https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/undergraduate-degree-for-physician-assistant.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Physician Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified September 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-4.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Physician Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified September 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-4.
- Victor Ouma, “Undergraduate Degrees for a Physician Assistant (with FAQs),” Indeed, last modified September 2022, https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/undergraduate-degree-for-physician-assistant.
- Brian Palm, “6 Steps to Become a PA,” AAPA, last modified January 2022, https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2018/08/6-steps-become-pa/.
- Brian Palm, “6 Steps to Become a PA,” AAPA, last modified January 2022, https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2018/08/6-steps-become-pa/.
- Brian Palm, “6 Steps to Become a PA,” AAPA, last modified January 2022, https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2018/08/6-steps-become-pa/.
- Brian Palm, “6 Steps to Become a PA,” AAPA, last modified January 2022, https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2018/08/6-steps-become-pa/.
- Victor Ouma, “Undergraduate Degrees for a Physician Assistant (with FAQs),” Indeed, last modified September 2022, https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/undergraduate-degree-for-physician-assistant.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Physician Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified September 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-3.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Physician Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified September 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-4.
- AAPA, “What is a PA?”, AAPA, last modified January 2023, https://www.aapa.org/about/what-is-a-pa/.
- AAPA, “What is a PA?”, AAPA, last modified January 2023, https://www.aapa.org/about/what-is-a-pa/.
- AAPA, “What is a PA?”, AAPA, last modified January 2023, https://www.aapa.org/about/what-is-a-pa/.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Physician Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified September 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-6.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Physician Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified September 2022, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-5
