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How to become a physician assistant

What is the profile of a Physician Assistant?

Physician Assistants are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. Physician Assistants conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventative health care, assist in surgery, give immunizations and injections, order medical supplies and can write prescriptions under a licensed physician. A physician assistant practice may also include education, research and administrative services.

As a Physician assistant, one has to work under a supervising physician. The duties of physician assistants are determined by the supervising physician and by state law. Aspiring PAs should investigate the laws and regulations in the country or states in which they wish to practice.

Qualifications to become licensed Physician Assistant

One needs a high school diploma with a good score as many organizations have a cut off grading system. One needs competitive scores in disciplines like biological science, mathematics, chemistry and physics. There are approved and accredited physician assistant training programs provided by the government institutes or private accredited organizations. One must also take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)

Time taken to graduate as a Physician assistant

Physician assistant educational programs usually take at least 2 years to complete for full-time students. Most programs are at schools of allied health, academic health centres, medical schools, 4-year colleges and a few are at community colleges. Most applicants to PA educational programs already have a college degree and some health-related work experience, however, admissions requirements vary from program to program. Many PAs also have prior experience as registered nurses, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics.

What does the education entail?

PA education includes classroom and laboratory instruction in subjects like biochemistry, pathology, human anatomy, physiology, clinical pharmacology, clinical medicine, physical diagnosis, and medical ethics. PA programs also include supervised clinical training in several areas including family medicine, internal medicine, surgery, prenatal care, gynaecology, geriatrics, emergency medicine and paediatrics.

Employment of Physician assistants

PAs are easily employed to provide primary care and to assist with medical and surgical procedures, because PAs are cost-effective and productive members of the healthcare team. Physician assistant?s help assist as well as relieve the supervisors of much taxing work. Besides working in traditional office-based settings, PAs should find a growing number of jobs in institutional settings such as hospitals, academic medical centres, public clinics, correction centres, mental health units and rehabilitation centres.

Advancement of Physician assistant?s career

Physician assistant?s must keep on taking exams to further their career and maintain certification by earning 100 approved continuing medical education credits every two years. One is also required to pass the Physician Assistant National Recertifying Exam every six years. Physician assistant specialists may renew specialty certification every six years under the conditions that they also maintain the certification.

About the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)

The AAPA is the only national professional society to represent all physician assistants in every area of medicine. The academy?s policies are set by the house of delegates, which meets once a year, and implemented by the board of directors. The house of delegates is made up of representatives from the chartered chapters, speciality organizations, the Student Academy, and the Physician Assistant Education Association. Member projects and activities are assisted by the AAPA staff.

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