If you are looking for Physician Assistant Programs, you already know how popular this profession has become in the United States. There are more than 70,000 Physician Assistants practicing in the United States (Read more on what is a Physician Assistant here). According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the number of Physician Assistant jobs will increase by 27% through the year 2016, whereas the other jobs will only grow by 10%. This means we will need more Physician Assistants to fill these positions. So, if you are planning to join a Physician Assistant program, you are on the right track for having found the job security and good prospects in this profession.
To become a Physician Assistant , you need to have graduated from one of the accredited Physician Assistant programs. Currently, there are 159 Physician Assistant programs accredited by Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Physician Assistant programs are offered by allied health schools, medical schools, academic health centers or a four-year college. Physician assistant programs offer academic training at 4 different levels: Certificate, Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree. Here is an excellent video which gives a good overview of the Physician Assistant program:
Note : We don’t endorse and are not associated with this university.
Let’s discuss all the available Physician Assistant Programs in more detail:
Master’s Degree Program : Let’s start with the most popular degree in the available Physician Assistant programs. About 132 out of 159 Physician Assistant schools offer a Master’s degree on the completion of a program. You need to have a bachelor’s degree in order to apply for this program. Majority of the programs require Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology and Anatomy courses as prerequisite courses in order to be able to apply for this degree. Check out the article on How to become a Physician Assistant to find out more about the other prerequisites.
Master’s degree program is an advanced degree program which allows student to pursue their graduate studies in the medicine field. Students in this program gain knowledge and experience in the following fields: Genetics, Immunology, Pharmacology and Medical diagnosis. Completion of the program may lead to Master of Science (MS) degree in Physician Assistant Studies, Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS), Master of Medical Science (MMSc) or Master of Health Science (MHS). The curriculum of most physician assistant programs involves a combination of medical coursework and hands-on, clinical experience. Graduates from this program are able to provide direct clinical assistance to patients in doctor’s offices, clinics and hospitals.
Bachelor’s Degree Program : This is the second most popular degree program offered by Physician Assistant accredited institutes. 19 out of 159 physician assistant programs offer a Bachelor’s degree on completion of the program. Majority of the physician assistant programs require life sciences, chemistry and biology as prerequisite courses. They also require applicants to have some health care experience and a minimum of 2 years of college credits. Prerequisites for the program may vary depending on the institute. So, it’s best to check your institute’s requirements carefully before applying for any program.
The degree program helps students in building and enhancing communication, problem-solving, scientific, research, and medical related skills. All of these skills are geared toward helping a physician in the clinic. The program prepares students for career entry, as well as advanced education in the field of medicine. A student also gains practical and theoretical knowledge in the different fields related to medical such as anatomy, chemistry, Pharmacology and microbiology. The first two years usually cover courses in basic sciences, mathematics and liberal arts. The third and fourth years include nine months of clinical course work and 12 months of clinical rotations. Completion of the degree program awards a person bachelor’s degree in addition to the graduate level Physician Assistant certificate. After completing this degree, student can also opt to go for higher graduate studies in the field of medicine.
Associate’s Degree Program : There are not a lot of institutes which offer this type of program. Only 4 out of 159 physician assistant programs offer this program. The program’s duration is approximately 2 years.
The program prepares students to practice medicine under the supervision of a physician. Students in this program gain knowledge and experience in following courses(similar to other programs): Anatomy, Chemistry, Microbiology, Pathophysiology and Physical diagnosis. It also prepares students in medical fields such as family medicine; pediatrics; obstetrics; gynecology; general surgery; psychiatry; behavioral medicine; the delivery of health care services to homebound patients, rural populations, underserved populations; and community health services. Graduates from this program can continue their studies in a bachelor’s degree program.
Certificate Program : This Physician Assistant Program is also only offered by a few institutes (4/159). Program duration is 2 years and cover courses similar to the associate’s degree program. First year involves taking basic medical courses such as Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology. Second year involves more practical knowledge and helps students in gaining clinical experience.
Here is another good video which gives a brief inside on the Physician Assistant Programs:
Note : We don’t endorse and are not associated with this university.
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