What Does a Physician Assistant Do?

Physician assistants (PAs), not to be confused with medical assistants, work closely with doctors and complete medical tasks from taking medical histories to setting simple fractures. These professionals are licensed in all states. Read on to learn more about this field.

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Physician Assistant Job Duties

Physician assistants examine, diagnose and treat patients under the supervision of licensed physician. PAs can prepare casts or splints, suture small wounds and interpret medical tests. According to the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), these medically-trained professionals can also prescribe medications (www.aapa.org).

Some PAs specialize in a particular area of medicine, such as emergency care or geriatrics, and can assist doctors in advanced medical techniques and procedures. Physician assistants are often the first line of medical care in rural and underserved areas. In some cases, a physician assistant will refer the patient to a medical doctor or make arrangements for transferring the patient to a hospital or clinic.

Career Outlook

The physician assistant profession is expected to grow in the coming years. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that employment of physician assistants were expected to increase by 39% for the 2008-2018 decade (www.bls.gov). As of May 2010, the median annual salary of a physician assistant was $86,410, according to the BLS, with most earning between $57,450 and $117,720. The APPA estimates that there are more than 80,000 certified PAs in the United States.

Physician Assistant Licensure

The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) administers the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), which all graduates of physician assisting degree programs must take before beginning to practice (www.nccpa.net). The PANCE is a multiple-choice test that covers medical knowledge.

Once a candidate has successfully passed the exam, they must complete at least 100 hours in continuing education courses every two years to keep the national license current. Each state may have their own continuing education requirements, according to the AAPA. A physician assistant must take a recertification exam six years after initial licensure.

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