How To Become A Physician Assistant
Becoming a physician assistant requires earning a masters degree usually an MPAS, a Master of Health Science , or a Master of Medical Science from a program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant . These PA training programs generally take three years and have the following entrance requirements:
At least two years of college coursework that includes classes in anatomy, biology, microbiology, physiology, and chemistry Hands-on patient experience working with patients experience can include working as a registered nurse , EMT or paramedic, phlebotomist, medical technician, medical assistant, or certified nursing assistant
The majority of students entering a PA program have a bachelors degree in a scientific or health care-related field and about three years of experience working in health care.
Once youre officially enrolled in the PA program, youll take courses in a wide variety of areas, including anatomy, behavioral science, biochemistry, clinical laboratory science, physiology, pharmacology, physical diagnosis, pathophysiology, and medical ethics.
PA programs also include more than 2,000 hours of clinical rotations that will provide you with experience in family medicine, emergency medicine, psychiatry, general surgery, pediatrics, and internal medicine.
Where Might You Work
A physician assistant is likely to work at the same locations as medical doctors and nurses. You might find employment at hospitals, health centers, clinics, medical offices, or nursing homes. Today, it is also possible to find employment at other locations, such as corporate offices, schools, corrections facilities, daycare centers, veterans services, and much more.
Daily responsibilities will vary on the type of employment. The same is true of your salary. A PA salary is also highly dependent on experience, the town or city in which you work, and whether or not you have a specialty. You should prepare to walk and stand significantly more than in other professions. And some employment types will have non-traditional work hours.
Why Are Nurse Practitioners So Important
Nurse practitioners can diagnose and treat patients as well as perform procedures. They differ from physicians in that their patient care approach is more holistic. Being nurses, they gather information about a patient not only to include physical symptoms but psychosocial and environmental information as well. They are skilled in education and therefore can spend time teaching patients and family about disease processes, treatments, and healthcare prevention as well as diagnosing acute health issues.
According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, nurse practitioners can also help lower the cost of healthcare, as patients who use NPs as their primary care provider have fewer emergency room visits and shorter hospital stays. Additionally, they help to fill the gap with the primary care physician shortage in the United States. They also tend to have high patient satisfaction.
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Earn Your Dnp Online From Bradley
NPs are already highly skilled, but they still have an opportunity to grow. The DNP is the terminal degree for clinically focused nurses like APRNs. Completing such a program can provide you with new skills, knowledge and experience to improve and manage care in real-life settings.
Want to learn more about how you can earn your DNP-FNP from Bradley online? Contact an enrollment advisor today.
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Physician Assistant Vs Doctor Of Medicine
There are several major differences between physician assistants and doctors. One of the biggest differences between PAs and MDs begins at the education and training levels. Before a degree has been conferred, MDs must go through a four-year medical school training and another three to four years of specialty training in their area of choice, such as pediatrics, orthopedics or neurosurgery. Sub-specializing in pediatric heart surgery, for example, will require even more years of training. MDs with very specialized medical expertise may end up in training for a decade or more.
PAs, on the other hand, are required to go through a 27-month full-time program. Online PA programs may take longer.
Projections from the BLS estimate that the PA profession will experience a 31% climb from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations.
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Np Vs Pa Career Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for nurse practitioners is expected to grow by 45% by 2029. This is much faster than the national average of other healthcare-related professions included Registered Nurses.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for physician assistants is expected to grow by 31% by 2029. This is one of the largest growing fields in the healthcare industry.
Most Physician Assistants Practice Medicine Autonomously
In most states, upon completion of their education and certification process, physician assistants work with a physician under a collaborative agreement, but their day-to-day work usually does not require any direct MD oversight. Physician assistants often operate independent PA-led clinics, and their physician interaction is usually limited to a few monthly on-site visits.
While about half of the states now grant nurse practitioners freedom to practice and prescribe independently without having any collaborative agreement with an MD, many states still require nurse practitioners to maintain collaborative agreements with physicians and are not considered independent practitioners.
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Physician Assistant Job Overview
According to U.S. World News & Report, working as a physician assistant is THE BEST job you can have in 2021. They ranked PAs as #1 in best health care jobs, #1 in 100 best jobs, and #1 in best STEM jobs.
An increase in the number of patients with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, are causing an increasing demand for healthcare providers. Physician assistants often provide preventive care and treat the sick. Increases in medical technology and access to healthcare services further strains the healthcare system requiring an increase in advanced practice providers.
Some of the responsibilities of a physician assistant include:
- Take or review patients medical histories
- Examine patients
- Conduct or participate in outreach programs
- Educate managing diseases and promoting wellness
- Assist in surgical procedures
Nurse Practitioner Program Requirements
Typically, the requirements to enroll in an NP program include:
- One to two years of clinical experience
- Active Registered Nurse license
- Bachelors degree, or equivalent
- Minimum GPA
- Some schools require a GRE
- Letter of intent
- References
- Completed school application and fees
No matter which program you complete, at the end of your education, you will have to sit for the nurse practitioner certification exam for your practice specialty, similar to the NCLEX for your RN license. Successful passage of the exam will grant you a Nurse Practitioner license.
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Is A Doctorate Required To Become An Np
It is not a requirement that Nurse Practitioners earn a doctorate degree unless they are pursuing a CRNA certification.
As of January 2022, it will be required that all CRNA school applicants enter into a doctorate program, according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. And in 2025, all CRNAs will need to have a doctorate in nurse anesthesia to enter the field.
Outside of working as a CRNA, however, NPs can have a masters-level education. There may also be additional educational requirements if you plan on working as an NP educator and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing is often discussing the future possibility of transitioning all NP programs into doctoral-level programs, although there is not a final decision that has been made on that switch.
What To Expect While Enrolled In A Physician Assistant Program
The Accreditation Review Commission for the Education for the Physician Assistant is the accrediting agency for PAs. PAs must graduate from accredited programs in order to practice in the United States. This is the case for everyone even if theyre physicians somewhere else.
Physician assistant programs take about three academic years of graduate level study though the timeframe varies the average time has been alternatively placed at 25 or 27 months. The education typically confers a masters degree. As of 2017, there are still some programs awarding bachelors degrees, but they are transitioning. The University of Washington, for example, notes that beginning in 2018, there will be some changes in their application process all applicants will need to meet prerequisite requirements for their masters level program.
A PA student can expect to spend about a year completing clinical rotations in a variety of settings. The amount of time wont be reduced because of previous healthcare experience, but a registered nurse may enter with confidence, having already spent some time doing rotations in a variety of units.
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How Does Pennsylvania Rank In Np Salaries
Pennsylvania ranks 44th out of all states, paying its NPs an average annual salary of $101,950, below the national average of $111,840. However, work experience, location, and other factors impact salary potential. The highest paid NPs in Pennsylvania’s top 90th percentile make over $129,250 each year. NPs working in the metropolitan area encompassing cities in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania earn mean salaries of $128,720.
Obtain A Graduate Degree
A Master of Science in Nursing is the minimum requirement to become a nurse practitioner. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners , there are about 400 academic institutions that offer NP programs in the United States. The AANP recommends the following considerations to help you choose one that will fit your specific needs:
- Is training offered in your preferred specialty area?
- Is your preferred method of attendance available?
- What are the entry requirements, and do you qualify?
- What is the programs accreditation and graduate certification rate?
The requirements to apply for an MSN program vary depending upon the individual school. In addition to the required undergraduate education and licensure, the typical requirements for admission to an MSN program include clinical experience, letters of reference, and academic transcripts.
For example, many family nurse practitioner online programs require that candidates meet a base set of requirements, including:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited university or college
- Active registered nurses license in good standing
- Minimum amount of work experience as an RN
- Ability to meet the particular FNP programs required clinical and/or on-site practicum
Some candidates also choose to pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree to advance their foundation of knowledge. Timeframes for programs and educational paths vary, but here are general estimates to help you consider your options:
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Apply To And Attend An Accredited Pa Program
Explore PA schools based on cost, flexibility, accreditation, or other factors. Gather your school transcripts, records of certification, letters of recommendation and your work experience list. Next, compose an essay on why you want to become a PA. Finally, submit your application, supporting materials and essay through the CASPA application portal1. PA programs also typically require an interview as part of the application process. The American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants offers helpful interview strategies3 that provide an overview of what to expect.
Nurse Practitioner Vs Registered Nurse: Whats The Difference
Becoming licensed as a registered nurse is one step in becoming a nurse practitioner . If you continue with graduate education to become a nurse practitioner, you will have more responsibilities and autonomy than registered nurses. Nurse practitioners need to earn either a masters or doctoral degree in nursing, whereas registered nurses only need an associate degree or bachelors degree.
Unlike a nurse practitioner, a registered nurse is not permitted to diagnose patients or develop treatment plans. Typical responsibilities of a registered nurse include monitoring patients, maintaining patient records, ordering diagnostic tests, and assisting physicians with patient care.
The work environment for the two professionals also tends to differ. Nurse practitioners usually work more standard hours in private practice or community clinic settings. Registered nurses, however, typically work a variety of shifts, including night shifts, in hospitals or surgical clinics.
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Top 5 Nurse Practitioner Programs
U.S. News & World published their list of the 2020 top Nurse Practioner programs in the United States.
John Hopkins University, Baltimore: $37,056 per year
Duke University, Durham: $1,769 per credit
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia: $42,698 per year
Emory University, Atlanta: $1,906 per credit
Columbia University, New York: $82,232 per year
Nurse Practitioner Program Specialties
There are many clinical areas in which a nurse practitioner can work. From primary care to specialty care, acute care, and long-term care, nurse practitioners are valuable members of the patient care team. Some NP programs include training in certain specialties otherwise, certification can be obtained through the American Nurses Credentialing Center . Some areas include:
Post-master’s certificate programs and nursing certifications are available for current NPs who wish to switch or expand specialties.
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Salary And Job Outlook
Both physician assistants and nurse practitioners earn competitive salaries and benefits. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , PAs earned an annual median pay of $112,260 a year , and NPs earned a median pay of $115,800 a year .
Both careers are predicted to grow quickly and steadily: 31 percent between 2019-2029 for PAs, and 45 percent for NPs, which means there are many opportunities and career paths in both medical fields.
Earn A Bachelors Degree In Nursing
The first step to becoming a nurse practitioner is to earn a bachelors degree. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing is recommended, given that some graduate-level programs, such as the one offered by the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, require an undergraduate degree in nursing rather than in a related field such as public health. The core curriculum of a BSN program includes courses in anatomy, pharmacology, mental health, pathophysiology, statistics, and more.
The BSN degree also requires that students complete clinical training hourstypically, three clinical learning hours for every one hour of classroom instruction. Depending on your background and personal situation, you can take various paths to accomplish this:
Get Your RN License
In order to practice nursing and/or enter a graduate nursing program, you must first obtain your licensure as an RN by applying to the appropriate nursing regulatory body and successfully completing the NCLEX-RN examination, as well as meeting any other requirements of the state in which you intend to practice. To sit for the exam, you must have completed an associate degree in nursing, a hospital-based diploma program, or your BSN.
Gain Valuable Work Experience
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Is Np Higher Than Pa
Neither profession ranks “higher” than the other. Both occupations work in the healthcare field, but with different qualifications, educational backgrounds, and responsibilities. They also work in different specialties.
In addition, although both nurse practitioners and physician assistants work with more independence than nurses or aides, both often need some physician oversight.
Choosing To Become A Physician Assistant
As the population grows and the physician shortage increases, its expected there will be a growing number of positions for physician assistants. A generalized PA education means you can be flexible throughout your career path. Plus, youll work in a position that pays well.
You can choose to work within a wide range of specialties, from family practice and general medicine to cardiovascular or orthopedic surgery. Before choosing to become a physician assistant, its best to understand what physician assistants do. Consider shadowing another PA. This looks good on your CASPA application and it helps you make the right career choice.
As you consider choosing to become a physician assistant, concentrate on the reason why you believe this career choice is the right one. Understanding why you want to be an advanced practice provider will help you navigate the road to becoming a physician assistant, the rigors of the program, and help you stay true to your values as a PA-C.
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Np Vs Pa Education Requirements & Programs
Program length is roughly the same for both a PA and an NP after earning a bachelors degree. Both are masters level programs and can be completed in 2-3 years depending on the specific program.
- Nurse Practitioner : Individuals with a BSN should expect to spend 2-3 years to obtain their advanced practice nursing degree through a combination of didactic classroom learning and practicum hours.
- Physician Assistant : With a bachelors degree and the required prerequisites, a PA program takes an additional 2-3 years of classroom and clinical practice hours.
S To Nurse Practitioner Licensure
To get a general idea of what it takes to become a nurse practitioner, nurses can consider the following steps that lead to state licensing:
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Whats The Difference Between A Nurse Practitioner And Physician Assistant
The most commonly asked question among students interested in pursuing a health care career is “Whats the difference between a Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant ?” A career in the health care field can be extremely rewarding, but getting there requires several years of classes, training and learning. This kind of commitment means you need to be aware of your options.
Here are three differences to consider: