5/30/2017 CareerCruisingPhysicianAssistant

PhysicianAssistant

AtaGlance

Physicianassistantsevaluateandtreatpatientsunderthesupervisionofdoctorsandsurgeons.

MichiganCareerPathways

HealthSciences

Earnings
EarningsRange:62K131K

LevelofEducation
4YearCollegeorUniversity

CoreTasks
Takemedicalhistoriesandexaminepatients
Interpretlabtestsandmakediagnoses
Treatminorinjurieswithstitches,splints,andcasts,andprescribecertainmedications
SurgicalPAshelpdoctorsintheoperatingroomandprovidecaretopatientsaftersurgery
Exactdutiesdependonthemedicalspecialtyandthestate

Attributes&Abilities
Energetic
Patient
Compassionate
Enjoyworkingwithpeople
Emotionallymature

Workplace
Workforhospitals,privatepractices,clinics,HMOs,homehealthcareagencies,schools,prisons,and
themilitary
SurgicalPAsareontheirfeetmuchofthedayadministrativePAsworkmostlyinoffices
Workoneononewithpatientsoraspartofateamofhealthcareproviders
PAsinhospitalsmayworkshifts,includingnightsandweekends
PAsinclinicsanddoctorsofficesusuallyworka5day,40hourweek

JobDescription

Doctorsarenttheonlyoneswhocanprescribemedications,orderlabtests,andcounselpatients.Physician
assistants(PAs)aretrainedandlicensedtodoallofthesethingsandmore.

PAsworkunderthesupervisionofdoctorsinallareasofmedicineandsurgery,andinalltypesofmedical
establishments.Theymaybetheprincipalcareprovidersinsomeunderservicedareaswheredoctorsareonly
availabletoseepatientsacoupleoftimesaweek.PAsmayalsomakehousecallsandgotonursinghomesto
checkonpatientsandthenreportbacktothedoctor.

TheexactdutiesofPAsdependonthetypeofmedicalpracticetheyworkin,thesupervisingdoctor,andstate
laws.However,PAsgenerallyperformsimilartypesofduties.

PAsinprimarycarespecialties,suchasgynecology,generalinternalmedicine,pediatrics,andfamily
medicine,takemedicalhistoriesandexaminepatients.Theyorderandinterpretdiagnostictests,suchasx
rays,andrecordpatientsprogress.Manycounselpatientsaswell,givingthemadviceaboutmaintainingtheir

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health.

Dependingontheailment,PAsmayalsotreatpatients.Forexample,theycantreatminorinjurieswithsutures
(stitches),splints,andcasts.Iftherapyisrequired,theycanorderitor,iftheyarequalified,carryitout
themselves.Aswell,PAsinmoststatesareallowedtoprescribecertainmedications.

Inadditiontothetaskslistedabove,PAsinsurgicalpracticeperformspecificoperatingroomduties.Surgical
PAsalsoplayaveryactiveroleinpostoperative(aftersurgery)care,bothinhospitalandafterthepatienthas
beendischarged.

Afterpracticingforseveralyears,somePAsdecidetotakeonamoreadministrativerole.Theyareresponsible
forhiringotherPAs,developingpoliciesandprocedures,andactingasahospitalrepresentativeindealing
withpatientorfamilycomplaints.Thoseworkinginsmallpracticesmaycombineadministrativedutieswith
medicalpractice.

PAscanalsoworkinresearchpositionsincolleges.Inthisroletheymayscreenresearchparticipants,carry
outtests,monitorpatients,andoverseevariousaspectsofthestudiesbeingundertaken.

WorkingConditions

Physicianassistants(PAs)workinhospitals,privatepractices,clinics,andhealthmaintenanceorganizations
(HMOs).Someareemployedbyhomehealthcareagencies,andothersworkinschools,collegeresearch
departments,prisons,andthemilitary.

Thosewhoworkinsurgeryareontheirfeetalot.PAswhoworkinadministrativerolesspendmostoftheirtime
inoffices.

PAsworkoneononewithpatientsoraspartofateamwithdoctorsandotherhealthcareproviders.
Dependingonthesetting,theymaysee25to50patientsaday.

Likedoctors,theycomeintoclosephysicalcontactwiththeirpatients,andmaybeexposedtoinfectious
diseases.However,therisksofcontractingadiseaseareminimizedbytakingprecautionssuchaswearing
maskswhennecessary.

PAsworkinginhospitals,particularlyinemergencyrooms,mayworkshiftsincludingnights,holidays,and
weekends.Theyaresometimesoncall,whichmeansthattheycanbecalleduponatanytimetogointowork.
PAsinclinicsanddoctorsofficesusuallyworkaregular5day,40hourweek.

Earnings

Physicianassistantssalariesvarydependingonthetypeofmedicinepracticed,theemployerorpractice
setting,andtheirlevelofexperience.PAsworkingintheprimarycareareasofgeneralinternalmedicine,
pediatrics,andfamilymedicineusuallyearnlowersalariesthanPAsinemergencymedicineandsurgical
specialties.

Ingeneral,salariesforallPAsrangefromabout$62,000to$131,000ayear.Themedianannualsalaryinthis
professionisaround$93,000.

Inadditiontotheirsalary,mostPAsreceivebenefitssuchaspaidvacations,pensionplancontributions,and
paiddentalandvisioncare.

MichiganWages
Occupation:PhysicianAssistants

LevelofExperience Hourly Annual

EntryWage $38.55 $80,180

MedianWage $45.82 $95,300

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ExperiencedWage $55.67 $115,800

Source:U.S.DepartmentofLabor,BureauofLaborStatisticshttp://www.bls.gov

MichiganOutlook
Occupation:PhysicianAssistants

Employment

2014 3,770

2024 4,500

Change

Number 730

Percentage 19.4

AnnualAverageOpenings

Total Growth Replacement

160

Source:ProjectionsCentralhttp://www.projectionscentral.com

Education

Ifyoureinterestedinbecomingaphysicianassistant,youmustcompleteaformalPAprogram.Entrance
requirementsvarybyprogram.However,mostschoolsrequireapplicantstohavesomecollegeeducationand
somepriorexperienceinthehealthcarefield.

ToentermanyPAprograms,youneedtocompleteatleast2yearsofcollege,duringwhichyoumusttakea
certainnumberofcoursesinareassuchasbiology,chemistry,English,andmath.SomePAprogramsrequire
applicantstohavecompleteda4yearbachelorsdegree.Regardlessoftheschoolsrequirements,most
applicantstoPAprogramshaveabachelorsdegree.

Inaddition,mostschoolsrequireapplicantstohaveexperienceinthehealthcarefield.Theamountof
experienceneededcanvarywidelyoneschoolmightrequire200hours,whileanotherrequires2,000hours.
Manypeopleenterthisprofessionafterworkinginanotherhealthcarefield,suchasnursing.

Itsimportanttocheckwiththeschoolyouareinterestedinattendingtoseewhattheiradmissionrequirements
are.Thereareover100accreditedprogramsresultinginassociatedegrees,bachelorsdegrees,andmasters
degrees.ThelengthsofPAprogramsvary,butmostlastabout2years.Theyconsistofbothclassroomstudies
andsupervisedclinicalrotations.

Inallstates,PAshavetobelicensed.Thisrequiresthesuccessfulcompletionofanationalcertificationexam.
Toremainqualified,PAsmustcompletecontinuingeducationcoursesthroughouttheircareersandtakea
recertificationexamevery6years.

RelatedCollegePrograms
PhysicianAssistant

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OtherSuggestedQualifications
PAsneedtobeenergetic,patient,andcompassionateandshouldenjoyworkingwithpeopleofallagesand
backgrounds.Theyshouldalsobeemotionallymaturesothattheycanempathizewithpatients.SomePAsgo
ontodograduateworkinaspecialtyareasuchaspediatrics,emergencymedicine,orsurgery.Whilethis
additionaltrainingisnotrequired,itmaymakeyoumorevaluableinthejobmarket.

SuggestedHighSchoolSubjects

Grade9 Grade10

English
English
Mathematics
Mathematics
PhysicalSciences
PhysicalSciences
Biology
Biology
SocialStudiesGeography
SocialStudiesHistory
Health&PhysicalEducation
Health&PhysicalEducation
CreativeArts
Business/Computers
Business/Computers

Grade11 Grade12

English English
Mathematics Algebra
Probability&Statistics Calculus
Biology Anatomy&Physiology
Chemistry Biology
Physics Chemistry
Economics Physics
Law&Government Psychology
Business&Management/Computers Business&Management/Computers

Important

Checkwithyouradvisortomakesurethatyourcourseselectionssatisfyyourgraduationrequirements.
Coursesavailablemayvaryfromschooltoschool.

SampleCareerPath

Peopletakedifferentpathwaysthroughtheircareers,butnoonestartsatthetop.Thisisanexampleofhowthe
earnings,educationandexperiencerequirements,andresponsibilitiesmightprogressforsomeoneinthis
occupation.

Level1

SampleTitle EntryLevelPhysicianAssistant

Earnings $55,000to$65,000ayear

GraduationfromanaccreditedPAprogram
Requirements
Temporarypracticeprivileges(dependingonstatelaws)

Alighterpatientloadduetolackofexperienceandmoreconsultationwiththe
Responsibilities
physician.

Level2

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SampleTitle PhysicianAssistant

Earnings $65,000to$111,000

Completionofcertificationexam
Requirements Fullpracticeprivileges
Maintaincertificationrequirements

Responsibilities Increasedpatientloadbeginningtodevelopsomeautonomy.

Level3

SampleTitle ExperiencedPhysicianAssistant

Earnings $80,000to$130,000ayear

Requirements Ongoingmaintenanceofcertificationrequirements

Patientloadsimilartothatofphysicianhighdegreeofautonomymayhavesome
Responsibilities
teachingorsupervisoryresponsibilities.

RelatedCareers

Herearesomeotheroccupationsthatyoumightbeinterestedin.Clickonanoccupationnametolearnmore.

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PhysicianAssistant

NationalEmploymentbyIndustry

Industry %Employed

HealthCareandSocialAssistance 90

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5/30/2017 CareerCruisingPhysicianAssistant
Source:O*NetOnline,BrowsebyIndustry,USDepartmentofLabor
http://online.onetcenter.org/find/industry

OtherResources

AmericanAcademyofPhysicianAssistants(AAPA)
Thisorganizationpromotestheprofessionaldevelopmentofphysicianassistants.Formorehelpfulcareer
information,clickonWhatIsAPA?andBecomingAPA.
http://www.aapa.org

AmericanAssociationofSurgicalPhysicianAssistants(AASPA)
ThisorganizationrepresentsPAswhospecializeinsurgicalpractice.ClickonTheSurgicalPAtolearn
aboutwhatsurgicalPAsdoandhowtobecomeone.
http://www.aaspa.com

NationalCommissiononCertificationofPhysicianAssistants(NCCPA)
Thisorganizationisresponsibleforcertifyingphysicianassistants.ClickonBecomeCertifiedtoget
informationonthecertificationprocess.
http://www.nccpa.net

PhysicianAssistantandPhysicianAssociateWorldPhysicianAssistantJobDescriptions
Hereyoucanseesamplejobdescriptionsofdifferentphysicianassistantspecialtiestolearnaboutwhat
itsliketobeaphysicianassistant.
http://www.paworld.net/PhysicianAssistantJobDescription.htm

PhysicianAssistantEducationAssociation(PAEA)
ThenationalassociationrepresentingphysicianassistanteducationalprogramsintheUSA.Scrollover
ResourcesandclickonProgramDirectorytolocateaprogramnearyou.
http://www.paeaonline.org

ExploreHealthCareers.Org
Checkoutthiswebsiteforaninformativelookatjobsinthehealthcarefield.SearchthroughtheCareer
Explorertofindacareerthatinterestsyou.
http://www.explorehealthcareers.org

HEALTHeCAREERS5SoftSkillsEmployersSeekinPhysicianAssistants
Learnaboutthequalitiesthatyoullneedtobeaneffectivephysicianassistant.
http://www.healthecareers.com/article/5softskillsemployersseekinphysicianassistants/173647

OccupationalOutlookHandbookPhysicianAssistants
CareerinformationfromtheUSDepartmentofLabor.
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Physicianassistants.htm

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