Physician’s Assistant
Definition: A Physician’s Assistant, commonly shortened to PA, is a licensed medical professional who pursues an advanced degree and can provide direct care to patients while practicing alongside a physician.
In my opinion, every profession, especially healthcare, requires some form of assistance. Things can get hectic and complicated very quickly, and it is always nice to have someone who can lighten the load. For this reason, when you visit a physician’s office or visit your local hospital or urgent care, you would expect to see the physician, but that may not always be the case. At times, you will be seen by a physician's assistant (PA).
Specialization?
Fun fact: You can specialize as a Physician’s Assistant!! This does require more postgraduate training, such as fellowships and/or residencies in the respective field.
Areas you can specialize in as a PA include:
Cardiology
Emergency Medicine
Pediatrics
Surgery
Radiology
Anesthesia
Behavioral Medicine
Let’s talk locations
There is a wide range of locations within the medical space where Physician’s Assistants can work. PAs can be found in:
Hospitals
Physicians Offices
Urgent Care Centers
Outpatient Care Centers
Nursing Homes
And more! This is not an exclusive list, please check the areas around you for more potential areas of a PA!
Timeline + $$$
In total, it should take seven to ten years to become a licensed Physician Assistant. This career provides job security, career flexibility, and competitive salaries compared to other healthcare careers. The work/life balance is very beneficial for those who have or are planning on starting a family.
Let us know if this is a career you would be interested in! Do you know anyone who is a Physician’s Assistant?
But what do they do?
The specific jobs and requirements of a Physician’s Assistant can vary depending on where the medical professional is working and who they are working for, but generally, PAs do the following:
Assist in surgeries with the physician
Prescribing medication
Diagnose Patients
Round on patients
Perform patient exams
With these tasks, PAs may work alongside a licensed physician, but it is common for them to work independently under the scope of practice determined by the state in which they reside. This independent work can be done in a hospital setting, outpatient centers, physicians ' offices, and nursing homes.
How do I become a Speech Language Pathologist?
To become a Physician’s Assistant, one must ( typically ) first earn a bachelor’s degree that has an emphasis in science.
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Most universities provide pre-PA degrees that can set individuals ahead.
Next, one would earn a Master’s in PA Studies. To do this, you must attend a PA program that has been accredited by the “Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant”.
These programs can take two to three years and focus on both classroom instruction and clinical rotations.
The last step in becoming a PA is completing the licensure requirements for the state in which one resides.
It is a must that one pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).
Once this exam is passed, PAs can practice under the credentials and scope of practice of a Physician-Assistant Certified (PA-C).
Work Cited
Group, V. “Southern California University of Health Sciences.” SCU, 26 Feb. 2025, www.scuhs.edu/seo/how-long-does-it-take-to-become-a-physician-assistant/.
Mayo Clinic. “Physician Assistant.” Mayo.edu, 2023, college.mayo.edu/academics/explore-health-care-careers/careers-a-z/physician-assistant/.
Palm, Brian. “9 Reasons to Become a PA.” AAPA, 3 Dec. 2018, www.aapa.org/news-central/2018/12/9-reasons-to-become-a-pa/.
