Definition
The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) website has extensive information about the PA profession. According to their website, “PAs are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as a patient’s principal healthcare provider. With thousands of hours of medical training, PAs are versatile and collaborative. PAs practice in every state and in every medical setting and specialty, improving healthcare access and quality.”
History
The PA profession has a rich history and has evolved into what it is today. In response to a need for physicians, after the World War II era Dr. Eugene Stead Jr. developed a curriculum to reduce the time to educate providers. He eventually established the first PA program at Duke University using the curriculum he had developed. The first class graduated on October 6, 1967. Since then, PAs have been an integral part of the healthcare system, with more than 250 programs listed in the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) program directory. Most are in the United States, but there are some elsewhere.
Training
Physician Assistants complete a master’s degree after earning a bachelor’s degree and completing the required prerequisite courses. The master’s degree is between 24 and 36 months long and includes a didactic portion and a clinical portion. Based on the medical model, PA education is often equated to medical school condensed into two to three years without the internship and residency physicians complete. The programs generally involve classes from 8am to 5pm each day, one to three exams each week, and no breaks.
Future
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the PA profession to grow 31% between 2019 and 2029, which is much higher than the average. It is ranked at #3 on the Best 100 Jobs List by US News and World Report, #3 in Best STEM Jobs, and consistently ranks as the #1 or #2 Best Healthcare Job.
Salaries
US News and World Report lists the median PA salary as of 2018 at $108,610. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the 2019 median salary as $112,260.
Why PA?
It’s a great profession! The opportunity to work as part of the healthcare team to provide care to patients in a profession with good job outlook, salary, work-life balance, and flexibility.