Physician assistants, also known as physician associates, are ubiquitous in the medical world. They use their medical expertise to examine, diagnose and treat patients, working closely with other health care professionals as a team to provide patient care.

Jennifer M. Orozco, American Academy of Physician Associates chief medical officer, says physician assistants “help fill in a lot of access gaps across the country.”

“They practice medicine in every health care setting, from hospitals to emergency rooms to private practice to operating suites,” Orozco says. “They take care of a patient in every specialty, from primary care to pediatrics all the way through geriatrics and palliative care.”

While specific duties depend on factors including setting, specialty and state laws, physician assistants can take medical histories, assist in surgeries, conduct physical exams, prescribe medication, perform clinical research and more, according to the AAPA.

“The team-based model is the hallmark of our profession,” Orozco says. “It’s who we are and really it’s about us keeping that commitment to our patients because we know that our patients’ needs are first. And patients have better outcomes when they have a team-based approach to care.”
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 26.5% employment growth for physician assistants between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 39,300 jobs should open up.

While some physician assistants pursue a doctoral degree, the terminal degree to become a PA is a master’s. To gain admission into a physician assistant program in the U.S., students should have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited program with a strong background in science and medical courses, as well as hands-on experience caring for patients.

“PA students, on average, have about 3,000 hours of direct patient care prior to coming to PA school,” Orozco says. “So they’re paramedics, they’re nurses, (or) they could be athletic trainers.”

The amount of hours of clinical experience required for acceptance varies by program and school.

Physician assistant programs typically take about three academic years (roughly 27 months) and include a blend of classroom instruction and more than 2,000 hours of clinical rotations, according to the AAPA. After graduation, PA hopefuls must take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam, administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

Physician assistants need 100 credit hours of continuing education every two years and must take a recertifying exam every 10 years to maintain their certification. They must be licensed in the state or territory in which they want to practice and see patients.