How to become a physician assistant

A physician assistant (PA), sometimes called a physician associate, is a licensed medical professional trained to diagnose and treat patients across various healthcare environments. PAs are proficient in many tasks performed by physicians, but they are not doctors.

Contrary to what their title might suggest, PAs collaborate with physicians and other healthcare team members rather than simply assisting them. However, in most states, they are required to work under a physician’s supervision.

PAs possess a wide scope of practice, encompassing tasks such as:

• conducting physical exams
• ordering and interpreting test results
• diagnosing illnesses
• devising treatment plans
• performing medical procedures

PAs can operate in diverse settings like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and correctional facilities.

Students who decide on a career as a physician assistant typically love people, science, and solving complex problems, and this path allows them to combine the 3 passions into one rewarding career. Read on to learn more about how to become a PA.

6 steps to becoming a physician assistant

Below are the steps to becoming a physician assistant. Depending on where you are in your career and education, some steps may not be relevant to you.

Step 1 —Study relevant subjects at high school

Take advantage of any opportunity you have to enroll in AP science courses; if dual credit is offered, leverage that, too. Getting these courses out of the way can help you earn a bachelor’s degree early or improve your application to PA school.

It’s also helpful to obtain healthcare experience. You can do that by volunteering at a local hospital or nursing home, becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA) and working part-time, or joining relevant clubs offered through your school or community.

Step 2 – Get an undergraduate degree

Physician assistants start their educational path by earning a 4-year undergraduate degree, typically in a healthcare field. Majoring in respiratory therapy, medical laboratory science, radiology technology, athletic training, physical therapy, or dietetics are popular options for aspiring physician assistants. The benefit of earning a degree in a healthcare field is that you can gain patient care experience to strengthen your application for PA school.

However, some students choose a degree in pre-med, biology, chemistry, or a related field with plans to apply directly to PA school using other healthcare experience like CNA, emergency medical technician (EMT), or phlebotomy experience. Programs that are highly competitive are less likely to accept students who don’t have professional-level healthcare experience.

What’s most important is that your bachelor’s degree program includes the prerequisite courses required for the PA program(s) you’re interested in attending.

Step 3 – Get some experience in the field

Most physician assistant programs require applicants to have 2,000+ hours of patient care experience (PCE), but every program is different. Be sure to check the requirements of the specific program you want to apply to. Community service and non-PCE healthcare hours are sometimes required too.

With a healthcare-related bachelor’s degree and post-graduation work experience, meeting healthcare work requirements is typically straightforward. However, students planning to move directly from undergrad to graduate studies need to strategically gain these hours via internships, volunteering, or part-time work. Roles like CNAs, EMTs, pharmacy techs, or LPNs, which don’t require a bachelor’s degree, often count towards these requirements.

Step 4 — Complete a physician assistant graduate program

To become a physician assistant, you need to earn a Master of Science (M.S.) in Physician Assistant Studies. Physician’s assistant school is typically a 2-year program, which ranges from 23 to 27 months in length. Expect to take a variety of courses that include classroom, lab, and clinical instruction.

The program is divided into 2 parts: the didactic phase and the clinical phase. During the didactic phase, courses include pharmacology, behavioral sciences, anatomy, and additional courses that often have a lab component. During the clinical phase, you complete clinical rotations in a variety of disciplines that might include emergency medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, or psychiatry, for example. This time is spent observing providers, learning from them, and providing patient care with supervision.

Step 5 — Pass the PANCE and get licensed

After graduation, it’s time to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), administered by the NCCPA. To take the PANCE, you need to have graduated from an accredited PA program within 6 years. You’re given 5 hours to complete 300 questions.

During the 6 years that you’re eligible to test, you can take the test a maximum of 6 times, but retakes must be at least 90 days apart. Students who fail to pass the PANCE in those 6 attempts (or 6 years, whichever comes first) must complete the PA program again to be eligible to retest.

Once you’ve earned your physician’s assistant certification, you can apply for a physician assistant license. The AAPA provides a list of licensing boards for each state, as well as the statutory and regulatory requirements for both initial licensure and renewal.

Step  6 – Find a job as a physician assistant

PAs find jobs on broad job boards like Indeed, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Google Jobs, as well as career-specific job boards like AAPA Job Source and NCCPA Career Center. New graduates might also work with their program coordinator and other resources within their PA program for placement after graduation. Having healthcare and volunteering experience and maintaining good grades in school can help you land a job faster after graduation.

How long does it take to become a physician assistant?

It takes at least 6 years to become a physician assistant. However, many students take time off to gain clinical experience after earning their bachelor’s degree and before applying to PA school, prolonging the total time required.

Physician assistant school requirements

Typical requirements for admission to a physician assistant school include:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Prerequisite coursework in subjects like biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and statistics
• Patient care experience
• A minimum GPA, both overall and in science coursework
• Letters of recommendation, often including one from a healthcare professional
• Passing the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), although not all schools require this

How to get patient care hours for PA school

Gaining practical patient care experience is a vital component to preparing for a career as a PA. It not only enhances your application but also provides you with valuable insight into the healthcare field. Aspiring PAs typically pursue various jobs to accumulate this essential experience before applying to PA school.

Some of the most common jobs students hold include:

Average physician assistant salary

PAs who work in outpatient care centers earn the most money on average, while those who work in physicians’ offices and educational institutions earn the least.