Physician assistants (PA) provide a wide
range of health care services (as allowed by
state law) under the direction of physicians.
(Physican assistants are not the same occupation
as medical assistants. See "Medical
Assistant" for more details.) The physician
assistant's duties may include taking medical
histories, performing physical examinations,
ordering laboratory tests and writing
prescriptions, treating minor injuries, assisting
in the operating room and numerous
other tasks. Physician assistants also help
with patient education when appropriate.
 Areas of Specialization
Physician assistants have to complete a
core group of educational requirements, but
once this is done, they can seek additional
training in a wide range of medical specialties
including emergency medicine, internal
medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and others.
Work Environment
Physician assistants work in hospitals,
clinics, physician's offices, nursing homes,
and in other health care environments.
The work week may include evenings and
weekends (especially if working at a hospital),
and may involve long hours on your
feet and lots of walking.
Length of Training
Physician assistants are required to successfully
complete a two-year academic
program from a school accredited by the Accreditation
Review Commission on Education
for the Physician Assistant. Individuals
must then pass the Physician Assistants National
Certifying Examination, administered
by the National Commission on Certification
of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Only
those successfully completing the examination
may use the credential "Physician Assistant-
Certified."
A college degree is not required for the
Bachelor's level PA program, but you will
need to have passed some college-level classes
to succeed. The course usually requires
9-12 months of classroom studies and 9-15
months of supervised clinical experience.
Licensure/Certification
Physician assistants must obtain a license
to practice in the state of Texas. In order
to remain certified, PAs must complete
100 hours of continuing medical education
every two years. Every six years, they must pass
a recertification examination or complete
an alternative program combining learning
experiences and a take-home examination.
Education Programs
C=Certification, A=Associate's, B=Bachelor's, M=Master's, D=Doctorate
Professional Associations
Texas Academy of Physician Assistants (TAPA)
www.tapa.org
American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)
www.aapa.org
Back to top
**Content generously provided by TexasHotJobs.org |
