How to Become a Physician Assistant

A physician assistant is a great career option for people who want to actively care for patients without the academic and tuition requirements of medical school.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Make sure it is what you really want. Learn about what a physician assitant does, talk to other PA's about the job.
2. Research P.A. programs. Most physician assistant programs are delivered through colleges of medicine, health science, or allied health.
   Find a program you may be interested in and research tuition and admissions requirements.
3. Get a degree through an accredited college or university. When accepting students into the PA program, some colleges require a Bachelor degree or give preference to those with one. Your degree can be in any field, but there are courses which must be taken in order to get into a PA program. Make good grades! PA programs require a minimum GPA.
4. Get experience in a healthcare field. Many PA programs require letters of recommendation from a physician or physician assistant as well as experience in the healthcare field, so get your foot in the field as early as possible with a job at a hospital, clinic, or other healthcare facility. Ideally you should interact with patients on a one-on-one basis.
   You may also want to consider volunteering at a hospital.
5. Look more into the PA program you chose and make sure you still want to attend. Research the program's accreditation, reputation, costs, and academic requirements. If possible, visit the campus and talk to admissions advisors and/or students of the program.
6. Apply to the program of your choice. Be sure to carefully review all the admissions and application requirements.
7. Once you get into a program, study hard, ask questions, and learn all you can
8. Get certified. Before you can practice as a PA, you must take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), a 360-question, multiple-choice exam.
9. Get licensed in your state. Licensure is typically through your state's Board of Medical Licensure. Contact your state's medical licensure board for requirements.
10. Congratulations! You're now ready to get a job and start an exciting career as a physician assistant. Start looking at area clinics and hospitals for employment opportunities for new PA's.