Physician Assistant Degrees

Physician assistant degrees can offer you the opportunity to pursuing your goals and earning a good salary if attending medical school is not an option but you enjoy the idea of working in a medical setting.

Dental Health | Nutrition/Dietitian | Healthcare Careers | Healthcare Management | Holistic Health | Massage Therapy | Medical Administration | Medical Assistant | Medical Billing/Coding | Medical Laboratory | Nursing | Occupational Therapy | Office Assistant | Personal Training | Pharmacy Technician | Physician Assistant | Physical Therapy | Psychology | Public Health | Radiology | Respiratory therapy |

Request additional information from colleges that offer degrees, including online programs from A.T. Still University, and South College - Knoxville. Physician assistants learn highly specialized, non-invasive skills. As a physician assistant, you'll perform many of the same functions as a doctor, except the complex cases. Typical duties include:

• Taking medical histories
• Examining and treating patients
• Ordering and analyzing lab tests and x-rays
• Prescribing medication
• Treating minor injuries
• Managerial duties, supervising various medical staff and ordering supplies

Education and Training

Most students complete a 2-year master's PA program. During the first year, you take courses in:

• Biochemistry
• Pathology
• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Disease prevention
• Pharmacology

In the second year, you get clinical experience in primary care medicine, inpatient medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, geriatrics, emergency medicine, psychiatry and pediatrics. Over 50% of physician assistants work in primary care medicine. 20% surgery or other surgical sub-specialties. You can work in private practice offices or clinics, hospitals, public health clinics, schools, prisons, and home health care agencies among other areas.

Expected Salary

Many physician assistant programs can qualify you for a full-time job after two years of study. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the medical assisting field to grow much faster than other careers over the next ten years, as doctors need larger support teams to accommodate growing number of patients. The American Academy of Physician Assistants reports that most first-year professionals earn a salary over $60,000 making this a lucrative and rewarding job opportunity.

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