If you’re reading this, then you must have an interest in the field of medicine and are curious to see if the Physicians Assistant (PA) profession is the right one for you. If that’s the case, then I applaud your efforts and consideration. As you know, a part of any major decision entails you knowing the details of entering the profession and in determining whether meeting the entry requirements are feasible. Hopefully, this will answer some of the questions you may have and alleviate any unnecessary stress.
Initially, it is important to understand that there are a series of prerequisites (required courses) that are necessary for consideration in any credible physician assistant program that has been approved by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). These courses must be successfully completed and function as a part of the evaluative process for acceptance into those physician assistant programs that have been approved by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). This is the governing body that ensures each program meets the national standards and you are receiving the best education possible.
Typically, physician assistant programs admissions necessitate incoming students to have a bachelor’s degree or higher and while there is no specific degree path that is required, most applicants have degrees in biology, chemistry, and general science. Although there have also been competitive applicants with undergraduate degrees in the social sciences and liberal arts as well; however, those with limited science credits will need to obtain them post-baccalaureate. Ideally, you will want your grade point average to be as high as possible, even though the minimum standard may be lower.
Some of the courses you have completed in your undergraduate program may have been offered online, but the science course with labs cannot be completed in this manner. Likewise, they must be completed from accredited institutions and official transcripts will be required. The application process will also have specific deadlines and it is vital that you submit your portfolio, along with all verifiable credentials as early as you can, in order to get you out front and give you a competitive advantage.
In the US, the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) is a uniform method to submit your credentials as a prospective student and send off your information to several schools that utilize the service. It has saved countless applicants significant time and resources, freeing them up to pursue their dream of gaining acceptance into the program they qualify for and can matriculate into. The service also allows you to post your Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores, which are also a requirement. In some instances, the physician assistant program may request Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores to be posted in lieu of the GRE.
Likewise, if the prospective student is a nonnative speaker of English and/or from outside the US, scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are also required, along with three or more years of relevant clinical experience within the US, regardless of the experience they may have had in their own country. In order to qualify for most programs here in the US, prospective students must have completed a minimum of 40 quarter-hour or 30 semester-hour credits of natural sciences.
These courses must have been completed (B or better) within the previous five to 10 years for consideration within a respective physician assistant program, depending upon their specific criteria. The challenge for most people is that this is only one of many requirements. There is also a list of personal and professional criteria that is used to evaluate each applicant with only 0.75-1.5 of 10 gaining acceptance, depending on the selection criteria of the program. As you can see, this is a highly competitive field and if you are to succeed, you must be in the top percentile.
This will only happen if you prepare adequately, methodically complete each step realizing there are no shortcuts, and demonstrate that you are equipped to handle the rigors of the physicians assistant program. Personally, you must be willing and able to assume responsibility for your own education and be able to complete the steps required to transition from experienced clinician to PA student, which may be challenging for some to do. Let me explain. A successful background check must be completed and in order to be considered, you must also be a practicing healthcare provider with current licensure.
Many physician assistant programs require some experience, which could be defined by the number of years you have held the license (like three or more) and/or a verifiable number of hours in your profession, which could be 1,000 or more. This could be as a medical assistant, emergency medical technician (EMT) or paramedic, phlebotomist, licensed practical nurse (LPN), etc. with everyone certified in basic life support (BLS), which includes first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). The successful completion of advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) is also required prior to the Emergency Department experience.
Additionally, an aptitude for achievement and a documented record of success with documented support letters written by your professional references are also required. Remember that every contact you make with someone from your chosen profession and/or educational institution should be considered an interview. You will have a multitude of skills to learn and successfully demonstrate with much to prove if you are to show others that you are motivated, confident, enthusiastic, and sensitive enough to serve a physician’s patients as a PA. For this reason, being an honest, sincere, and trustworthy individual is essential and should be reflected in your personal statement and essays.
Once you become a candidate, you will need to prepare for one more interviews as well. This will give you the opportunity to present yourself as a seasoned professional who is fully prepared and ready to succeed in the program. Likewise, you will also need to have a physician (MD or DO) available to serve as your clinical preceptor throughout the entire clinical portion of the program. Typically, there practice must be in Family Medicine or General Internal Medicine and if their specialty is Internal medicine, a Pediatrician will be required as a co-preceptor. Preference is also given to clinical sites meetings the healthcare needs of rural and/or underserved populations.
Physician assistant programs are offered at the Masters-level and are at least two years in duration (full-time), costing anywhere from $15,000-$100,000 (US) or more per year. Once your physician assistant program has been completed, you will be required to sit for the NCCPA’s Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), to become a certified physician assistant and eligible to work in the field. At least 100 hours of continuing medical education (CME) is required during every two-year cycle and by the end of the sixth year, PA’s must successfully complete the Physician Assistant National Recertifying Exam (PANRE). If you are strongly considering becoming a physician assistant, it is important to count the costs and begin preparing today. I wish you much success in your endeavor to do so.