Today our topic is all about the Physician Assistant Job in USA. In the medical field, physician assistants also referred to as physician associates are widely used. They collaborate closely as a team with other medical professionals to provide patient care, using their medical expertise to examine, diagnose, and treat patients.
Physician assistants, according to Jennifer M. Orozco, chief medical officer of the American Academy of Physician Associates, “help fill in a lot of access gaps across the country.”
According to Orozco, “They practice medicine in every setting related to health care, including operating rooms, hospitals, emergency rooms, and private practices.” “They provide care for patients in all specialities, including paediatrics, geriatrics, palliative care, and primary care.”
According to the AAPA, physician assistants can take medical histories, help with surgeries, perform physical examinations, prescribe medication, carry out clinical research, and more, though specific responsibilities will vary depending on the setting, speciality, and state laws.
According to Orozco, “the team-based model is the hallmark of our profession.” Because we are aware that our patient’s needs come first, it is truly about us upholding this commitment to them. Additionally, patients who receive care from a team achieve better results.
Between 2022 and 2032, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 26.5% increase in physician assistant job or employment. An estimated 39,300 jobs should become available during that time.
How Much Does a Physician Assistant Job Make?
The median income for physician assistant job in 2022 was $126,010. $140,660 was earned by the top 25% of earners in that year, while $104,240 was earned by the lowest 25%.
Job Satisfaction
Given that most Americans work well into their 60s, it makes sense for employees to pursue rewarding careers and enjoyable jobs. Many employees would be happy in a job that offers low stress, a good work-life balance, and good opportunities for advancement and salary increases. This is a breakdown of the factors that influence Physician Assistant job satisfaction: flexibility, stress level, and upward mobility.
Upward Mobility
- Opportunities for advancements and salary
- High
Stress Level
- Work environment and complexities of the job’s responsibilities
- High
Flexibility
- Alternative working schedule and work-life balance
- Average
As part of the Advice Products team, Kara Coleman Fields works as an editor and writer on projects like Best Jobs and Best Companies to Work For. She has previously written and edited content for U.S. News on credit cards, loans, and skill builders. She had previously worked for news organizations in Tennessee and Alabama before joining U.S. News.
How to Become a Physician Assistant and Get a Physician Assistant Job?
The final degree required to become a physician assistant is a master’s, though some choose to pursue doctorates. To be admitted into a physician assistant job program in the United States, applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree from an authorized institution, a solid foundation in science and medical courses, and practical patient care experience.
According to Orozco, “PA students have approximately 3,000 hours of direct patient care on average before attending PA school.” Therefore, they are either nurses or paramedics, or they might be athletic trainers.
Program and school-specific requirements affect the number of hours of clinical experience needed for admission.
According to the AAPA, physician assistant job programs normally last three academic years, or roughly 27 months, and consist of a combination of classroom learning and more than 2,000 hours of clinical rotations. The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants administers the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam, which candidates for PA status must take after graduating.
To keep their certification, physician assistant job must complete 100 credit hours of continuing education every two years and pass a recertifying exam every ten years. To practice and see patients, they need to hold a license in the state or territory where they wish to do so.