Spotlight: Physician Assistant Careers was originally published on College Recruiter.
As I perused the Internet for information on careers, I came across an overlooked health care job: the physician assistant (PA). It particularly piqued my interest (through a USNews.com article) because one of my oldest and best friends is currently in a PA program. I thought I’d learn a bit more, while shedding some light on it for you, the aspiring college student.
From the outside looking in, a PA’s work seems extremely intense. My friend and I don’t get to speak that much, which I understand because she constantly has so much work (including multiple tests per week). And until this past weekend I hadn’t seen her since Christmas (which makes me so sad because, as I already mentioned, she’s one of my best friends). Her dedication to her work is so impressive and admirable. But it made me wonder, what’s the career all about?
When I learned she was going to do PA studies at her school, I wasn’t exactly sure what the career entailed. How was it different from a doctor or a nurse? I knew it had the word “assistant” in there but does that mean that it’s like any other career, with the potential to move up? As I’ve found out, it is most definitely a career of its own and is very interesting.
A physician assistant is certainly different from a medical assistant, who does more administrative and clerical work. PAs do a majority of what MDs do, and have to go through significantly less schooling for it. They, too, can prescribe medication and diagnose patients. They also assist in surgery, suture, and treat minor injuries. Many are under the supervision of a physician but in some situations they may be the primary healthcare provider.
Certification is a must for the profession so one must go to an accredited institution, such as a four-year school or community college to complete PA studies. And there are programs to be completed after your bachelor’s and a licensing test to be taken. The length of the program may vary, however, as some institutions have extended intense bachelor’s programs that will allow students to earn their certification in a shorter period of time. This is something that can be looked into when researching schools.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this is among one of the fastest growing professions and will grow faster than the average by the year 2014. The median salary was $69,410 in May 2004 and will continue to rise.
I’d say check out the profession. My friend has the right idea and though she works so hard now she’s definitely going to have it all pay off in the end – a healthy paycheck at a job she has dedicated herself to and seems to already love.
Article by, Amanda Fornecker and courtesy of CollegeSurfing Insider.
