Where Are The Best Physician Assistant Schools?
When deciding upon which educational institution to attend, the course you plan to take is the first consideration. If you are interested in the medical but do not want to become a doctor, a nurse, or a medical technologist; there is a field of expertise you may become interested in – a physician assistant or PA. If you decide to become one, Physician Assistant Schools offer courses which will help you achieve expertise in this career. A physician assistant job can be described as a health care profession where you are able to practice medicine without much supervision from an actual physician or doctor. Unlike nurses or medical technologists, a physician assistant is trained and can apply for license to medically practice a variety of functions which doctors do. Some of which include diagnosis and physical examinations for illnesses, orders and interprets laboratory tests, writes prescription medication, and aids in surgical operations. A medical aide or assistant is also able to function in the same manner as a physician associate does but has lesser training than PA’s who get education from Physician Assistant Schools. Also, medical aides can only perform minor clinical and administrative tasks. Nurses and nursing aides on the other hand also assist doctors but are not licensed in any way to diagnose and treat diseases, prescribe medicines, and be directly responsible for surgeries. The American Academy of Physician Assistants or AAPA is an organization where professionals in this field of medicine unite. In other countries all over the world, a physical associate or assistant may be referred to as clinical officer or associate, assistant medical officer, and Feldsher which is a counterpart in Slavic nations.
Physician Assistant Employment Opportunities
As of 2008, the AAPA records an estimated number of graduates from Physician Assistant Schools who are practicing in the medical field to be around 68,000. More than 50% of this number work in doctor’s offices as assistants. Another 20% or more are employed in hospitals. The rest of the percentage goes to other employment opportunities in both private and public sectors. These include the Federal government’s clinics, schools, prisons, nursing homes, and in home care. In 2006, the physician assistant work was labeled as the fifth best job by a major published magazine. The average salary was at around $80,000 for a PA with general practice. Those involved in emergency procedures and surgical operations earn from $100,000 to $200,000 per year.
Choosing a Physician Assistant School
Although there are various Physician Assistant Schools in Bakersfield Ca offering courses related to this field, it is best to find out more information before actually deciding upon which school you are to attend. You can find Physician Assistant training programs over the internet, in vocational schools, and in major colleges and universities. If you have any acquaintance that practices PA or may know someone who does, you can learn more about prospective schools based on their suggestions. You may also compare programs offered and know which among Physician Assistant Schools offer more comprehensive, hands-on, effective course layout based on details seen and on previous students feedback. Some of the best physician assistant schools provide high quality education for those who aspire to be future physician assistants. The demands of this healthcare-related job is quite demanding not only because of the painstaking program requirements one needs to undergo, but because lives are dependent upon the care of medical professionals. Interestingly, physician assistant jobs have been cited by CNN Money as one of the “Best Jobs in America” because of its steadfast growth and demand. To ensure that you are fully equipped with the necessary knowledge and learning once you complete a physician assistant program, it is important to find the best physician assistant schools to help you land a good job related to your chosen field of study.
What is a physician assistant?
Physician assistants primarily provide medical assistance to ensure prevention, maintenance, and treatment of diseases, injuries and illnesses. Their work is similar to that of a medical physician or doctor, except that doctors have medical license to perform specialized procedures. They can also conduct health and medical examinations, interpret test results, provide medical advice and counseling on prevention, may assist in surgery and even give prescription medicines to general medical concerns. In order to become a physician assistant, you will need to complete a masters degree program in physician assistant schools. It is important that you have finished a recognized prerequisite for physician assistant school such as psychology, biology, microbiology, chemistry, or even mathematics, for your college degree. Another prerequisite for physician assistant is if you had a career in the medical field. It is of major consideration that you have gained experience from a hospital or clinical setting such as a nurse aid, a therapist, or anything that is related to patient care. Bear in mind that finishing the physician assistant course isn’t enough. You will also need to pass a certification for medical assistant or physician assistant which is known as the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam before you can start practicing your profession. Those who wish to further enhance their physician assistant careers may take doctorate degree programs and take more specialized examinations certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, which is the governing body of physician assistant certifications. The Best Physician Assistant Schools Various schools offer physician assistant programs so you have a good number of options and choices on where to get your education. Each school that offers physician assistant courses differs in terms of the curriculum offered in order to provide proper learning experiences and training. You can opt for the traditional classroom setup by enrolling in your chosen colleges and universities, or you can consider the convenience of an online degree program. U.S. News came out with a list of the best physician assistant schools. The best physician assistant school named was Duke University which is located in Durham, North Carolina. The other top physician assistant schools in America that made it in the list include University of Iowa, University of Utah, Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and George Washington University. Some of the best physician assistant schools that offer online pa programs include Penn state online, Keiser University Online, and Arizona State University online.