The healthcare job industry has been noted to provide a constant job opportunities for people with educational qualifications in it field. There is constantly a demand for primary care practitioners which make career in nurse practitioner or physician assistant a lucrative and job-assured ones. How to become a phyiscian assistant? This post outlines the various steps on how to become a physician assistant in the United States of America.
Physician Assistant also known as PA works in team with other healthcare workers to offer preventive and curative services to clients. They conduct physical assessment, order diagnostic investigations, diagnose and treat patients with various kinds of illnesses.
How to Become a Physician Assistant
Physician assistant is a regulated profession which means you must be licensed before you can practice. The education preparedness of physician assistant typically starts by graduating from an accredited undergraduate degree program and having some relevant experience in Healthcare-related field before proceeding to the 2 years Masters degree in Physician Assistant in an accredited institution. The accrediting agency for physician assistant program is the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for Physician Assistant.
How
Admission Requirements
– Completion of undergraduate degree program usually in sciences or completion of at least two years of College coursework usually in the basic and behavioral sciences. Biology, physiology, microbiology, chemistry and anatomy are the physician assistant programs prerequisites in most schools.
– Healthcare-related experience which may be in paramedics, EMT, registered nurse, medical assistant, Peace Corps Volunteer, Certified Nursing Assistant, Surgical Tech,Lab Assistant among others
– You will be required to apply to schools using the centralized application process for physician assistants. It is important you start looking for schools early and be sure you gathered all the necessary documents before you throw in your application.
Note: It is important you apply to accredited schools. This will help to ensure that you are qualified to take the licensure exam for physician assistant which is a prerequisite for obtaining practicing license.
Upon successfully completion of the physician assistant program and passing the national licensure exam, you would be required to obtain a practicing license in the state you wish to practice. You can then look for job and start working while keeping your license renewed as at when due.
