Physician Assistant

Physician assistants (PAs) are healthcare providers who work under the direction of a physician. The physician delegates work to them ranging from diagnostic, to therapeutic, and to preventive healthcare services. In 47 states, and the District of Columbia, they are allowed to prescribe medicines.

In areas where physicians are not always present, such as inner city clinics or rural clinics, Supervising physicians determine the exact duties of physician assistants, as far as state law allows. Some physician assistants work in primary care, and others specialize.

Physician assistants must be emotionally stable, confident and show good leadership ability, and must be willing to study throughout their entire career.

Education and Credentials Required
Physician assistants must graduate from an accredited program. There are about 133 in the United States, offering masters’ and bachelors’ degrees. Physician assistants tend to have at least a bachelors’ degree. Admission to these programs typically requires two years of college and work experience in healthcare.

PAs must pass the Physician Assistants National Certifying Examination, as administered by the Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). It is only open to graduates of accredited PA education programs. Physician assistants must attend one hundred hours of continuing education every two years in order to maintain their credential, and pass a recertification every six years.

Future Prospects
Employment opportunities for physician assistants are expected to rise faster than average. The ageing of the baby boomers drives the increase in demand. Also, the drive toward cost containment will mandate the use of physician assistants in place of MDs where possible. While hospitals will continue to be the main type of employer, most new jobs will arise in offices of physicians and clinics

Salary Range
The median salary, as of 2002, for physician assistants was $64,670 Experience, location, skill, reputation, hours worked and other factors impact income.