Has the though of training as a physician's assistant ever crossed your mind? Though this position does not call for a PhD, it does deal with treating illness and other health care services. You will of course be working a physician's office under supervision, and in some cases acting as a physician. In addition to that you will be able to counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, write prescriptions, and even give medical orders. One of the best things about being a PA is the fact that many will opt to see the PA over the standard physician.

The Requirements

As of right now, there are 149 different schools which can claim accreditation in the United States. The biggest problem at the moment of course is that it is impossible for anyone to agree on what the requirements actually are. Obviously you must have passion for your job, which is to be expected. If you don't have passion, how could you expect to do your job anyway?

Another important requirement of course is that of ensuring you have a working knowledge of physiology, anatomy, and biochemistry. If you have any trouble with these area, then you won't have an easy time of it in the PA field.

Before you can become a physician's assistant, you will need to attend a school, and the admissions committee will look at your credit hours, the credibility of your university, and even the difficulty of your coursework. If you want to be accepted, then you will additionally need at least four years of experience in the medical field. It is generally accepted that an individual should have experience in multiple sectors of healthcare including nursing, medical volunteerism, and of course, emergency services. There is a small possibility that you will be admitted to a program without meeting those basic guidelines, but it is not incredibly likely.

Medical experience alone is not enough -- you will need to make sure you have a GED or a high school diploma. Keep in mind that you will need to possess a certain level of maturity to do your job effectively, and with that being the case, you might want to assess yourself before you attempt to get into this field. You will need the ability to lead, which comes standard with being a PA.

Things are changing all the time in this job, which means you need to be flexible. Naturally this is going to involve reading the latest medical texts, and of course making sure you're ready as soon as a new medical technology comes out. This will include new pharmaceuticals of course, and while these items may not be common knowledge, but these updates are generally filed with the FDA and will be available for study. Bearing that in mind, you may realize that it's not all fun and games. It is hard, and it is often filled with study. This is a very demanding field, and if you meet the tough requirements, then you're definitely going to land a great job in the field. 

The medical field is incredible, and it can be quite rewarding for those who participate in it. Those who brave the perils of the medical world can help others and maintain a decent standard of living. If you were to become a doctor however, you would face some insane difficulties. Witht that being the situation, there is a bit of a shortage in the medical world. Becomeing a physician assistant however would often be the better option.

A physician assistant is a bit different from a standard physician for a few reasons. You will need to hold certification of couse, but it won't be anywhere near a PhD. There are obviously a couple of benefits packed with this certification, one being that you can operate within a physician's office. Along with that, there are quite a few people out there that actually opt to see the PA. This could be because of the lowered rate, or it could be because the proper physician is fully booked. While a physician's assistant should technically be operating under the supervision of a doctor, it is acceptable for them to work independently if they are within the same office as the primary physician.

If your goal is to become a PA, then you will be happy to find that you don't need as much education. The job will only require two years of education in most cases. In addition to those requirements however, all states demand that a potential physician assistant take a national exam, and pass, before they are licensed to practice.

Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (NCCPA) -- Those who take this will need to ensure they complte 100 hours of medical education every two years, and of course be certified in the relevant programs. Every six years another exam must be taken for the purpose of re-certification.

Just like with any other profession in the medical field, there are ways to branch out. As you probably know, there are a number of different branches that you might take in the medical field, and they could easily include pediatrics, neurology, surgery, and if you wish to branch out even further, you might even look into radiology. Keep in mind that those who branch out and even take on PA positions have typically performed in nursing positions or performed other duties.

In the event you meet the physician assistant requirements, there will be plenty of work. These locations could include hospitals, outpatient care centers, health maintenance organizations, government establishments, and even schools. These are all options available to you!

Overall, the job responsibilities of a physician assistant will be dictated by the state. Sometimes a PA will fill out prescriptions, but in some states only full physicians can perform this task. Though the job description will change from state to state, a few things will always stay the same. The most important thing to note is that hard work will always be required. You will also need a prior background in medicine. That being said, this is not the easiest job to get, even if it is simpler than a full fledged medical degree.

Finally, we would mention that there are very few physician assistants in the US. There is no doubt that the profession will become highly sought after, and the overall physician assistant salary is going to increase significantly depending on the level of experience that you can bring to the table. If your goal is to become certified, then now is the time to start working for it.