An introduction to the physician assistant profession for
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AN INTRODUCTION TO THE
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
PROFESSION FOR
UNDERGRADUATES
B y Rus s ell
Lo n g e ndor fer
B A C l a rk
Un i ver sity 2 010
M SPA B ay Pa t h
U n i ver sit y 2 017
WHAT IS A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT?
Physician Assistants…
Have a master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
or similar degree (MSPA, MMS, etc.)
Are certified nationally by the National Commission for the
Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
The Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE) is taken
after graduation to become certified
The PANRE recertification exam is taken every 10 years to maintain
certification
PA’s must complete 100 hours of Continuing Medical Education
(CME) every two years to maintain certification
Are licensed by the state in which they work to practice
medicine under the supervision of a physician
Typically, the physician is not actually present when the PA sees
patients, and PA “Scope of practice” is different in each state
WHAT DOES A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT DO?
Physician Assistants…
Diagnose and treat disease
Order lab tests and imaging studies
Prescribe medication
Educate and promote wellness
Perform minor surgical procedures (suturing wounds,
collecting biopsies, performing spinal taps, etc)
Can perform major surgery up to the level of first assist
In Massachusetts, can be full Primary Care Providers (PCP)
Supervise and train medical residents
Can participate in or conduct original research
Can own a private practice
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS ARE VERY
SIMILAR TO NURSE PRACTITIONERS
Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners can apply for
many of the same jobs
They both practice medicine as part of a physician -led team
Although NP’s can be “independent providers” in many states, the
majority practice in a setting which includes a Physician
They both complete a bachelor’s degree, work in the medical
field, and then complete an advanced degree
The majority of PA programs require medical experience, but not all
The average salaries for Physician Assistants and Nurse
Practitioners are very similar
In 2010, the difference was $100 in annual salary
Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners often work side
by side in the same practice, and have the same duties and
skillset
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A
PA AND A NURSE PRACTITIONER?
Physician Assistants
Nurse Practitioners
Are trained in the
medical model
Require a physician
supervisor in all states
Has a master’s degree
in medicine
Must have a bachelor’s
in any area before
starting program
Have a generalist
degree
Are trained in the Nursing
model
Do not require a
physician supervisor in all
states
May have a master’s or
doctorate in nursing
Must have a bachelor’s in
nursing before starting
program
May choose a degree
specialty
A BRIEF HISTORY OF PA’S
1942: Eugene Stead, Jr. MD develops an
accelerated, 3-year medical curriculum at Emory
University to train physicians in WWII
1957: Dr. Stead establishes a program for
“Advanced Nurse Clinicians” along with Thelma
Ingles, RN, at Duke University. The program
ultimately fails to become accredited by the
National League of Nursing (NLN)
1965: Dr. Stead establishes the first “Physician’s
Assistant” program at Duke. The program aims to
train former Navy corpsmen to practice medicine
as part of a physician-led team. Four students are
enrolled in the first class
1965: Medicare and Medicaid are established in
the U.S. The need for medical practitioners rises
sharply
Dr. Eugene Stead
Thelma Ingles, RN
A BRIEF HISTORY OF PA’S
1968: The American Association of Physician
Assistants (AAPA) is established
1970: California becomes the first state to
license Physician Assistants, though they are
employed broadly at this point
1975: The NCCPA begins certifying Physician
Assistants who pass a certifying exam and
maintain re-certification standards
1986: The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
authorizes reimbursement of Physician Assistants
under Medicare
1997: The Balanced Budget Act recognizes
Physician Assistants as covered providers in all
medical settings
2000: Mississippi becomes the last state to
authorize PA practice
AN INCREASING NEED FOR PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANTS
In 2010, President Obama passed the Patient
Protection and Af fordable Care Act (ACA)
Patients can no longer be denied coverage due to a preexisting condition
Patients can now purchase health insurance through staterun exchanges, and may qualify for subsidy depending on
income
Significant expansion of Medicaid
An estimated 30 Million new patients will now be covered
and will seek care
Physician Assistant utilization is increasing rapidly to meet
the increased need for medical providers
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS TODAY
There are currently 190 accredited Physician Assistant
training programs in the U.S (up from 146 in 2010)
There were 95,000 certified Physician Assistants in the U.S at
the end of 2013 (up 219% from 43,000 at the end of 2003)
Physician Assistant jobs are expected to grow another 30% in
the next 10 years (most industries are projected to grow 10%)
While PA’s were mostly male in the early days of the
profession, two thirds of certified PA’s today are female
Forbes Magazine rated Physician Assistant Studies the best
master’s degree for jobs in 2014
U.S News and World Report has ranked the PA profession very
highly in terms of employment, salary, and job satisfaction
WHERE DO PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS WORK?
Physician Assistants can work in almost
any specialty
No additional training or certification is
required to change specialty
On average, a PA will change specialties
2-3 times throughout their career
PA’s can work in hospitals, clinics,
skilled nursing facilities, home care,
and patient-centered medical homes
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT SPECIALT Y
REPRESENTATION (DETAIL)
Credit: AAPA annual census 2012
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT EMPLOYMENT FACTS
Physician Assistant median
salary: $97,500 (Forbes
Magazine)
Average hours worked per
week: 40.57 (NCCPA 2014
statistical report)
Average patients seen per
week: 70
Overall job satisfaction is
higher than physicians
PA’s change specialty 2 -3
times during their career
Only 1% of PA’s go to medical
school after certification
Credit: AAPA annual census 2012
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
TRAINING
PA SCHOOL QUICK FACTS
On average, PA training programs last for 24 -27 months
Nearly all programs are full -time, including summer
semesters and Saturday and evening obligations
Most programs stipulate that you cannot work while at school,
or that you may only work at most 6 hours a week with special
permission
The rigor of PA training will not leave you any free time to earn
income. You must live off of loans while you’re in school
PA school consists of two main phases: one year of
classroom-based, didactic learning, and one year of clinical
rotations
You will have 6-8 rotations of 6 weeks at different sites where you
will explore different specialties
At the end you take a certification exam called the PANCE. If
you pass, you can begin practicing immediately!
HOW LONG WILL I BE IN SCHOOL?
Credit: PAEA annual report 2012
WHERE ARE THE PROGRAMS?
Credit: PAEA annual
report 2012
TOTAL ENROLLMENT AND AVERAGE
CLASS SIZE
Credit: PAEA annual report 2012
THE DIDACTIC YEAR
Classes will start in January, May, June, August, or September,
depending on your program
You will take an average of 20 credits worth of coursework per
semester, and complete three semesters within 12 -15 months
This varies widely by program
Most programs include Summer semesters
You may have breaks between semesters or modules which
last from 1-4 weeks, depending on the semester and program
You will study a variety of preclinical subjects including
Anatomy, Physiology, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, Clinical
Medicine, and Diagnostic Skills
Some programs include courses on professionalism, interview skills,
public health, ethics, or issues within the profession
THE CLINICAL YEAR
At most schools, you will rotate to 6 -8 clinical sites
Rotations last for 4 -8 weeks
Each rotation will be in a dif ferent specialty. You will explore:
Family or Internal Medicine
Pediatrics
Emergency Medicine
Women’s Health
Surgery
Psychiatry
Up to two elective rotations depending on your school
Clincial sites are generally within an hour radius of your
school
You will work under an MD, DO, NP, or PA who will act as your
preceptor
FINANCING PA SCHOOL
Total tuition cost for PA school can be $70,000 - $100,000
depending on your program
This does not include the cost of books, medical supplies, housing,
food, or transportation costs
Apply for federal loans through FAFSA
Many students supplement federal loans with private loans
Many schools have small grants and scholarships available
Private grants and scholarships may also be available from
charitable organizations, your hometown, etc. Start looking
early!
AVERAGE TUITION COST OF PA SCHOOL
Credit: PAEA annual report 2012
NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORPS
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is a government
program which provides financial incentives to candidates
who are interested in working in primary care specialties in
health care shortage areas
NHSC will fund your tuition and provide you with a stipend
while you are in school
In exchange, you agree to work in a health care shortage area
for one year per year you were funded
Maximum of four years, minimum of two
There are several qualifying sites in Boston, Worcester, and
Western Massachusetts
Learn more at NHSC.HRSA.gov
APPLYING TO PA
SCHOOL
PA SCHOOL APPLICATION CHECKLIST
Research your programs
Take prerequisite courses
Maintain a strong GPA
Begin asking for letters of
recommendation
Job shadow a Physician Assistant
Take the GRE
Obtain good Patient Care
Experience
Write your personal statement
essay
Apply through CASPA
THE CENTRALIZED APPLICATION
The Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistant
programs (CASPA) is a common application accepted by the
majority of U.S. PA programs. It is administered by the
Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA)
CASPA will report your coursework, grades,
recommendations, test scores, and personal statement to all
participating programs that you apply to
Many programs require a supplemental application in
addition to your CASPA application
RESEARCH YOUR PROGRAMS
There are currently 190 programs accredited by ARC -PA
A full list of these programs is available at:
http://www.arc-pa.org/acc_programs/
There are 25 programs which do not participate in CASPA
A list of these schools is available here:
http://www.mypatraining.com/non-caspa-pa-schools
If you choose to apply to any of these schools, you will have to
research the program website for application instructions
Many programs have unique requirements for your
application. Research some programs now so that you won’t
be caught of f-guard when you apply
COURSES, GRADES, AND
GPA CALCULATIONS
Academic
Performance is
a Top Priority
WHICH COURSES ARE REQUIRED?
Required Courses
Intro Biology 1&2 with
lab
Intro Chemistry 1&2 with
lab
Anatomy & Physiology
1&2 with lab
Biochemistry
Statistics
Microbiology
Psychology or Behavioral
Science Course
English with Composition
Recommended Courses
Organic Chemistry
Genetics
Nutrition
Cell Biology
Immunology
Medical Ethics
Medical Terminology
Physics
Pathophysiology
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC COURSE
REQUIREMENTS
Some schools have additional course requirements
Boston University requires three 300-level Biology courses of your
choosing
Bay Path requires a course in Ethics
Franklin Pierce recommends Anthropology rather than Psychology
Many schools require that all prerequisite courses be taken
within 10 years of applying
In many cases, a “refresher” course or taking an advanced course in
the same subject can substitute for retaking these courses
Research the programs you might be interested in, and plan
your coursework accordingly
You can’t take every course recommended by every school in
the country. Choose programs and course lists which are a
good fit for you and your interests!
GRADES AND GPA CONSIDERATIONS
Many schools require a B - or better in all required courses
Some schools require a minimum overall GPA of 2.8, 3.0, or 3.2
Competitive applicants will have overall GPAs above 3.4
CASPA will report three separate GPA values to your programs:
Cumulative undergraduate GPA
Science GPA
Non-science GPA
Additionally, some schools will calculate a “Prerequisite GPA”
Every undergraduate level course you’ve ever taken will be
included in these calculations
GPA from Masters-level classes will be considered separately
PATIENT CARE
EXPERIENCE
To be a
Practitioner,
First you Must
Practice
PATIENT CARE EXPERIENCE
Besides grades, this is the most important part of your
application
Paid, full-time work experience is preferred
Three important criteria are evaluated in determining the
quality of patient care experience:
1. History taking
2. Treatment delivery
3. Physical contact
Most schools require at least 500 - 2,000 hours of patient
care experience (2,000 hours = ~one year of full -time work)
More experience is better
Competitive applicants will have experience in both inpatient
and outpatient settings
Competitive applicants will have more complex roles with
higher levels of training and responsibility
AVERAGE HEALTH CARE EXPERIENCE OF
ADMITTED STUDENTS
PATIENT CARE EXPERIENCE
STRONG patient care
experience jobs
Nurse
EMT / Paramedic
Ultrasonographer
Respiratory Therapist
Physical Therapist
Medical Assistant
Radiology Tech
Nursing Aide
Phlebotomist
MODERATE patient care
experience jobs
Roles with a limited
scope of skills or
responsibility
Clinical research or any
roles where patient
care is secondary
Roles which have some
but not all of the
criteria: assessment,
treatment, hands-on
contact
PATIENT CARE EXPERIENCE
Roles without direct patient contact are not competitive. Some
examples of WEAK patient experience include:
Medical Scribe
Insurance Counselor
Medical Laboratory Technician
Medical Of fice Manager
Medical Technologist
Medical Record Manager
Medical software industry
Medical devices / sales industry
Non-allopathic medical techniques such as acupuncture, reiki,
etc.
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
JOB SHADOWING
Know the
Profession
Before You
Apply
PA JOB SHADOWING
Physician Assistant programs want to see that you understand
what a PA is and what the job entails on a day -to-day basis.
Many programs require a specific number of shadowing hours
before applying
Requirements range from 0 (recommended but not required) to 40+
hours, depending on the program
Competitive applicants will shadow for at least several days,
and may shadow a second or third PA in another setting or
specialty
Working alongside a PA while working or volunteering is good
exposure to the profession, but does not count as job
shadowing
PA JOB SHADOWING
Securing a job shadow can be ver y difficult. Many clinics don’t
allow shadowing at all for safety or patient protection reasons, and
PA’s are often busy with their duties. However, most PA’s recognize
that shadowing is an essential contribution to the profession, and
will try to help if they can. To secure a job shadow opportunity:
If you know a PA, reach out to them. Unfortunately, it is not
acceptable to job shadow a parent, but family friends are OK.
If your PCP is a PA or has a PA that works in the office, reach out
to them.
Use PAShadowOnline.com to find a registry of PA’s who are
willing to shadow. Reach out to them by email.
Reach out to a program you’re interested in, and ask if any
alumni of that program are willing to let you shadow them
Cold call clinics or hospitals in your area and ask if they allow
job shadowing of providers for prospective students.
Small, office-based clinics are more likely to allow job shadowing than
major hospitals because of liability concerns
LETTERS OF REFERENCE
Get Someone
to Vouch for
You
WHO TO ASK FOR A RECOMMENDATION
Schools vary on letter requirements, but in general you should
have three letters of reference
At least one from a science professor
At least one from someone who has supervised your healthcare work
experience
Your letters should be from someone who can speak to your
work ethic, personality, knowledge of the profession, and
whether you are a good fit for the role of PA
When asking a professor for a letter of recommendation,
make sure that you will have worked with them for at least
two semesters
The better the professor knows you, the better the letter will be
Approach the professor about writing a letter for you while you are
still working with them
Give the professor ample time (several months) to write the letter
before it is due to CASPA
WHO TO ASK FOR A RECOMMENDATION
Whoever directly supervises you at your healthcare job should be
your first choice to ask for a recommendation
This person should be able to comment on your professionalism, work
ethic, bedside manner, ethics, and personality
Your third letter should come from someone who supervises you,
either at work or in school, who knows you well enough to
comment on why you’re a good fit for the PA profession
Have a few backup letter writers in mind. Not everyone is
comfortable writing recommendations, and you don’t want to
have to badger someone to write one for you. If you don’t get
anywhere with an author after a few weeks, choose another
writer and move on
Do not write your letters yourself or have a friend or family
member write one for you
CASPA does not accept committee letters from the pre -med
committee. All letters must be submitted directly to CASPA by
the author
STANDARDIZED TESTS
GRE, MCAT,
and TOEFL
THE GRE
The GRE is a standardized, computer -based test which
measures your ability to perform at the graduate level
academically, and your ability to do well on other
standardized tests
Many schools require you to take the GRE, but there are also
many that don’t require it
You must self-report your scores to CASPA, and send
individual test reports from ETS to each program requesting
scores
Take the GRE within 5 years of your planned application date
THE GRE
Several GRE prep courses are available through Kaplan, Exam
Krackers, and Princeton Review
Allow three months to study for the GRE
Take several practice exams through ETS. Understanding how to pace
yourself through the test will dramatically increase your scores
Review high school level math. The GRE is not knowledge -based, but
it uses algebra as a method for testing your problem solving skills
Take an English course and read books for pleasure. Your reading
comprehension and writing skills will be tested on the exam
Scores above the 50 th percentile are considered competitive
THE MCAT
Take the MCAT as planned if you are still considering
medical school
A very small number of schools recommend taking the
MCAT or reporting your scores to them
Some schools will accept the MCAT as a substitute for the
GRE
If you choose to report your MCAT scores to CASPA, you
cannot reverse this choice once your application has been
submitted
If you reapply the following year, they will still be there
If you scores are good, this could be a good thing
If your scores are bad, this can hurt your application
Either way, be prepared to talk about why you are choosing to
apply to PA school and not medical school
THE TOEFL
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) evaluates
your English speaking skills
If you are a native English speaker, you do not have to take
the TOEFL
If you have graduated from a U.S. or Canadian university, you
may be exempt from taking the TOEFL
Schools have specific requirements for required TOEFL scores
Generally, scores above 120 are required for consideration
THE PERSONAL
STATEMENT
The
Centerpiece of
Your
Application
YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT
After grades and experience, your Personal Statement is the
next important part of your application
A strong Personal Statement can mean the difference between
getting an interview or not
A weak Personal Statement can prevent you from getting an
interview – even if your grades and experience are strong
CASPA requests a 5,000 character Personal Narrative (roughly
one page, single-spaced) which describes your motivation or
desire to become a Physician Assistant
The CASPA statement is sent to all of your programs – keep it broad
Many schools require additional personal statements or
essays
Generally, they’d like to know why their program is right for you, and
vice versa
WHAT TO WRITE ABOUT
Start thinking about why you want to practice medicine right
now
Do not settle for “I like science and want to help people.” You need to
find a source of motivation that is deeply personal and unique to you
The CASPA personal statement has no specific prompt, but it
may be helpful to brainstorm using some common themes:
Have you had a difficult experience in your life where a medical
professional made an impact on you?
Have you overcome some form of adversity, and has that motivated
you to achieve?
Do you feel a sense of responsibility for the well -being of others?
Why?
You should address the question of why you want to be a PA
and not a doctor, NP, etc. Researching the profession and
finding what makes it unique will make this easier
WHEN AND HOW TO WRITE
Start early. The more time you give yourself, the more you can
develop your ideas and the better your Personal Statement
will be
At least 3 months to write is ideal. It’s never too early to start
working on your ideas
After you’ve written a draft, do at least one major re -write
This will give you the chance to explore different thematic
approaches and structures
Save all of your scrapped drafts and ideas
You will be writing many more essays for your supplemental
applications. Previous drafts of your PS can be helpful during this
process
Choose an editor or two, but not too many
Dr. T can help make sure your major thematic elements are good
Choose a friend who will be honest with you, but not overly critical, to
help iron out the stylistic elements of your essay
THE APPLICATION
TIMELINE
What to do,
and When
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
The application process takes about one year. Before planning your
application date, you should:
Have all of your prerequisite classes done
Some schools will allow you to have up to 2 in progress will applying
Have at least six months of solid patient care experience
Have a list of programs you’d like to apply to, and information
about them
Request an info packet from schools you’re interested in. Most will send
you a brochure and subscribe you to a newsletter
Attend some open houses if possible, these can be very valuable
experiences
You don’t have to be done with the GRE yet, but if you take it
ahead of time you will be happy you did
Be mentally and emotionally ready for a very tough two years of
school if you get in
If you need to take a year off, use that time to gain work experience and
take some extra classes at night
THE TIMELINE - SPRING
January: Enroll in Spring classes. This is the last round of
courses that will appear on your CASPA application
Some schools will not count classes taken after this semester
February: Begin working on your personal statement. Take the
GRE if needed
March: Approach your letter writers about recommendations.
Retake the GRE if needed. Order of ficial transcripts for your
own use
April: Focus on your personal statement and make sure you
are approaching a final version.
THE TIMELINE - SPRING
April 16 th CASPA opens! Create an account. You can
now:
Send CASPA transcript requests to your undergraduate
school(s)
Send CASPA requests for letters of recommendation to your
letter writers
Manually enter your coursework and grades using your copy of
your transcripts
Manually enter your test scores for the GRE
Send your MCAT scores to CASPA
Only do this if you did well AND you can explain why you’d rather be a
PA than a doctor
Upload your personal statement to CASPA
Designate your programs
THE TIMELINE - SUMMER
When you have finished all the steps in your CASPA application,
you can e-submit the application
At this point, your statement and self-reported grades and test scores
are final
You do not need to have all letters and transcripts in to CASPA yet.
However, they will not report your application until all of your transcripts
are in
After your schools have received your CASPA, many will send you
a secondary application
You should prioritize the order in which you complete these secondaries
Begin with schools with early deadlines and rolling admissions
Make sure that your top choice schools are done well ahead of time
Be prepared to interview at schools with a Winter or Spring start
date
Register for Fall classes. Many schools will accept coursework
done in the Fall, some will not
THE TIMELINE - FALL
Interview season generally starts in the early fall and goes
well into the winter
Make sure you are able to take time of f work during this
season. Interview invitations usually come a few weeks ahead
of time, but they may come on very short notice
Buy a suit, have it tailored
Be prepared to answer common interview questions
Tell us about yourself
What are you strengths and weaknesses?
Have a clear idea of your reasons for wanting to join the
profession and be able to present them succinctly
Admissions decisions may arrive from schools with Winter or
Spring start dates
Finish your fall coursework
THE TIMELINE - WINTER
Admissions decisions should arrive from schools with a
summer or spring start date
If you took courses during the fall semester, you must send
final transcripts to schools that have accepted you. You may
self-report grades to schools that still have you under
consideration, but have not of fered an acceptance
WHAT IF I DON’T GET IN?
Don’t
Panic
WHAT IF I DON’T GET IN?
You’re in good company!
Eugene Stead didn’t succeed in founding
the profession on his first attempt
PA school admission is very competitive
Highly rated programs may receive more than
20 applications per seat
The GPAs of accepted PA students are
comparable to those of accepted medical
students
Dr. Eugene Stead
SOME GOOD NEWS
You can improve your chances of getting in the second time by
planning ahead
On average, most people don’t get in until their late 20’s:
The number of accredited programs is increasing rapidly (next
slide)
You now have a significant life challenge to write about in
your personal statement!
THE NUMBER OF PROGRAMS IS
GROWING
Credit: PAEA annual report 2012
WHAT TO DO NEXT
Solicit feedback from your programs
Many programs will at least give you a form letter about how to improve
your application. Some schools might be willing to comment on your
application and how to improve it for next year. Send a friendly email or
phone call and be patient
Take more classes
Go down the list of recommended courses and take as many as possible.
A few extra credits can make a big difference
Get more patient care experience
If possible, begin training for a job that will give you higher -quality
clinical experience
If you’ve just started working, keep at it. Seek opportunities to work in
new settings or with new populations
Double down on your “Soft skills”
If your application is marginal, your essay needs to be a slam dunk.
Spend some extra time revising and really go for it
Interview skills can be learned, and a good interview performance can
make the difference. Read up, and practice with mock interviews
PA NOT QUITE WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR?
Other Masters-level allied health professions:
Nurse Practitioner
Anesthesiologist Assistant
Radiology Assistant
Pathology Assistant
Physical Therapist
Nurse Anaesthetist
Nursing Administration
Perfusionist
Radiation Dosimetry
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING!
For a copy of
these slides,
email me at:
Rlongendorfer
@gmail.com