The future looks bright for physician assistants career opportunities. If you are willing to make the sacrifices it will pay off well. Here are things to know about this exciting career in health care.
A PA spends a lot of time working under the supervision of a qualified doctor. Assistants see patients and can treat and diagnose them. This includes things like casts and stitches. The assistant can order testing procedures like x-rays and lab work. He or she also can write prescriptions for patient medication. Assistants work in all kinds of medical specialties in hospitals, clinics, and doctor office environments.
In many ways, the PA has similar duties to the advance practice registered nurse (APRN) or the nurse practitioner (NP). However, there are some differences, and they may vary from state to state. Both the NP and PA can see patients and treat them. However, in most cases, the PA always works under a doctor. The NP or APRN can work by themselves, depending on state laws. Also, the NP must be a registered nurse, while the assistant can take special programs for qualifications.
Perhaps you are thinking about a PA career. You are going to need a lot of education and on the job training. If you have an associate degree you can begin training. However, those with bachelor or even master degrees may find it much easier and less time consuming. You will take medical courses like pharmacology, anatomy, and physiology. There are no set prerequisites for training as it depends on one's previous qualifications. For instance, registered nurses or certified paramedics may begin training and they will have different requirements than others.
In most cases, you will need a master degree but this depends on your state qualifications. Your training must be ARC-PA approved, which stands for Accreditation Review Commission on Education Physician Assistants. You will be required to have training that places you in contact with patients. You may be required to work in health care with periodic evaluations from supervisors.
After you complete training you must take the PANCE or Physician Assistant Certifying Examination to become licensed. You will take a multiple choice test in subjects like diagnostics, surgery, anatomy, and such. You also must keep up your education and become re-certified from time to time.
Your new career will have many good job benefits and excellent wages. The average wage for PA jobs is a little over $86,000 per year. These earnings can be as little as $57,000 for some jobs and as high as $118,000 annually for others. This depends on experience and specialty. These figures come from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010.
The future outlook for PA jobs is excellent. This type of employment is expected to increase by thirty percent in the next decade. Many doctors are choosing specialties and this will create a greater need for primary care assistants in health care. As the population continues to grow and age, there should be a large increase in physician assistants career opportunities.
A PA spends a lot of time working under the supervision of a qualified doctor. Assistants see patients and can treat and diagnose them. This includes things like casts and stitches. The assistant can order testing procedures like x-rays and lab work. He or she also can write prescriptions for patient medication. Assistants work in all kinds of medical specialties in hospitals, clinics, and doctor office environments.
In many ways, the PA has similar duties to the advance practice registered nurse (APRN) or the nurse practitioner (NP). However, there are some differences, and they may vary from state to state. Both the NP and PA can see patients and treat them. However, in most cases, the PA always works under a doctor. The NP or APRN can work by themselves, depending on state laws. Also, the NP must be a registered nurse, while the assistant can take special programs for qualifications.
Perhaps you are thinking about a PA career. You are going to need a lot of education and on the job training. If you have an associate degree you can begin training. However, those with bachelor or even master degrees may find it much easier and less time consuming. You will take medical courses like pharmacology, anatomy, and physiology. There are no set prerequisites for training as it depends on one's previous qualifications. For instance, registered nurses or certified paramedics may begin training and they will have different requirements than others.
In most cases, you will need a master degree but this depends on your state qualifications. Your training must be ARC-PA approved, which stands for Accreditation Review Commission on Education Physician Assistants. You will be required to have training that places you in contact with patients. You may be required to work in health care with periodic evaluations from supervisors.
After you complete training you must take the PANCE or Physician Assistant Certifying Examination to become licensed. You will take a multiple choice test in subjects like diagnostics, surgery, anatomy, and such. You also must keep up your education and become re-certified from time to time.
Your new career will have many good job benefits and excellent wages. The average wage for PA jobs is a little over $86,000 per year. These earnings can be as little as $57,000 for some jobs and as high as $118,000 annually for others. This depends on experience and specialty. These figures come from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010.
The future outlook for PA jobs is excellent. This type of employment is expected to increase by thirty percent in the next decade. Many doctors are choosing specialties and this will create a greater need for primary care assistants in health care. As the population continues to grow and age, there should be a large increase in physician assistants career opportunities.
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