Physician Assistant (PA)
Deliver Direct Care
Practice Clinical Medicine
Improve Patient Outcomes
Undergraduate
Graduate
Master of Physician Assistant Studies, Master of Health Science
Post-Graduate
No degrees available
This is the educational pathway. There may be additional tests or licensure requirements necessary before begining to practice in the field. Consult your state guidelines for more. information.
Popular Titles
Core Areas of Impact
Is this career right for you?
What is the role of a physician assistant?
A physician assistant practices medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician. Responsibilities include examining patients, diagnosing illness, ordering tests, prescribing medications, and assisting in procedures.
What does a typical day look like?
A typical day includes seeing patients, conducting physical exams, reviewing lab results, developing treatment plans, documenting care, and collaborating with supervising physicians.
Where do physician assistants work?
Physician assistants work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, physician offices, surgical centers, and specialty medical practices.
What are the common job titles and career paths?
Common roles include Certified Physician Assistant and Surgical PA. Career paths may lead to specialization, clinical leadership, or healthcare management roles.
Who is this career a good fit for?
This career suits individuals who are strong in science, decisive, adaptable, and interested in direct patient care without attending medical school.
What are the biggest rewards of this career?
Rewards include strong earning potential, high job demand, clinical autonomy within collaborative practice, and the ability to impact patient health outcomes directly.
What does long-term growth look like?
Long-term growth may include specialization in high-demand fields, advancement into leadership roles, or transition into healthcare administration.
What is the educational pathway to become a physician assistant?
To become a physician assistant, you must complete a bachelor’s degree with required science prerequisites, graduate from an accredited physician assistant master’s program, pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, and obtain state licensure.
Sara Schenirer offers a comprehensive Pre-Med and Nursing Health Science Tracks within the BA in Psychology that embeds the common prerequisite coursework required for PA school admission, including biology, chemistry, anatomy, and related sciences. This structured undergraduate pathway supports efficient preparation for competitive physician assistant graduate programs.
The standard pathway is completion of undergraduate prerequisites, graduation from an accredited PA master’s program, successful completion of the national certification exam, and state licensure.
