There is a huge shortage of nurses in the US and world-wide leading to a sharp increase in demand for physician assistant jobs in the health care industry. As the demand increases, this career option is being seriously considered by many aspiring health care professionals as a highly profitable choice.
Nature Of PA's Work & Experience Required
Physician assistant jobs require you to diagnose, examine and conduct tests on patients. Sometimes you may even need to treat specific medical conditions under the physician's supervision. Certain states allow Physician Assistant to assist the surgeon during surgery as well as prescribe drugs. As a PA you may even be required to handle cases complicated in nature and which may require in-depth and comprehensive medical examination and detailing.
In order to become a PA you'll need some college education, a few years in the health care industry and the PANCE certification. A typical PA program is 2 years long and admission requirements differ based on the program enrolled for. Every state in the US requires the PA to complete not just an accredited certification program but also clear the national exam in order to get a practicing license.
Physician Assistant Jobs Salaries
Since there is a demand for physician assistant across the country, the salary range for this profile is fairly good and those with good work ex can expect $119,000 to $220,000 or more pa. A PA who works in medical firm tends to earn more as compared with a PA who works with a specialty hospital, and the average salary could be $110,000 and $92,000 respectively. However, salary also depends on the state; for ex: Alaska and Nevada States offer the highest PA salaries due to a high demand, while North Dakota or Nebraska offer the lowest salaries because of low demand. Physical assistant also gets many benefits like health insurance, paid vacations, retirement plans among other things.
Becoming a physician assistant is a good choice for those who couldn't attend med school but still wanted to be part of the health care industry. However, experience and relevant education are extremely important for a growth-oriented career.
