Physician's Assistants are skilled health practitioners qualified through academic and clinical education to care for patients under the direction of a licensed physician. They are middle level health care professionals with skills differing from those of a registered nurse and less than those of the licensed physician. Physician's Assistants perform routine, time-consuming medical tasks normally carried out by a physician. They interview patients, take detailed and accurate medical histories, do routine physical examinations, and assist in routine laboratory studies and testing. Physician's Assistants follow up on the patient's condition, and teach and advise patients concerning medically related matters, such as treatment and diet. Physician's Assistants may work for physicians who specialize in certain fields of medicine. Their duties are complementary to the specialty of the physician. Since they work closely with patients who are ill, Physician's Assistants must be people-oriented and have the ability to function well in cooperation with doctors, nurses, and other professional staff. Working hours for this job are usually those of medical office or clinic; however, some additional time may be required in the hospital environment.

Generally, the requirements include a high school diploma and completion of up to 60 college credits (2 years of college) in a science or health professions program. Health care work experience as a registered nurse, physical therapist, medical technologist, or experience in the military may be substituted for required education in some cases. Upon graduation from a program approved by the AMA's Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation, a Physician's Assistant may apply for certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician's Assistants (NCCPA).

• 2 year Associates Degree
• 4+ year Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree

Employment of Physician Assistants is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2005 due to anticipated expansion of the health services industry and an emphasis on cost containment. Physicians and institutions are expected to employ more Physician Assistants to provide primary care and assist with medical and surgical procedures, thus freeing physicians to perform more complicated and revenue generating tasks. Besides the traditional office-based setting, Physician Assistants should find a growing number of jobs in institutional settings such as hospitals, academic medical centers, public clinics, and prisons. The growth of HMO’s and group medical practices should also lead to more jobs since they use PA’s to provide a wide variety of services because their salaries are lower than those of physicians.

Other health workers who provide direct patient care that requires a similar level of skill and training include nurse practitioners, physical therapists, occupational therapists, clinical psychologists, and speech and hearing clinicians.

$61,910

• Kirksville College Of Osteopathic Medicine
• Southwest Missouri State University
• St. Louis University Doisy School Of Health Sciences
• University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
• Wichita State University College Of Health Professions

• Aft Healthcare
• American Academy Of Physician Assistants
• National Commission On Certification Of Physician Assistants