What Degree Do I Need To Be A Physician Assistant?

Physician assistants are able to provide medical care that includes examining, diagnosing, and treating patients. To become a physician assistant, you'll need a graduate degree from a PA program.

Physician assistants (PAs) are healthcare professionals who can practice medicine and provide patient care under the supervision of a licensed physician. They can examine, diagnose, and treat patients.

To become a physician assistant, you will need to earn a graduate degree from an accredited PA program. Keep reading to learn more about what degree you need to become a physician assistant and what PA school entails.

What Degree Does a PA Need?

Physician assistants need a graduate degree to become licensed to practice. In most cases, this is a master's degree, and the program must be accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).

Physician assistant programs generally require students to first have a bachelor's degree. This means both a bachelor's and a master's are required to become a PA.

How To Become a Physician Assistant

To become a physician assistant, you must earn a graduate degree from a physician assistant program and obtain a state license. Additional requirements may vary by state.

Most physician assistant degree programs require students to have a bachelor's degree in a related field and direct patient care experience. We've broken down the steps to becoming a PA below.

Get a Bachelor's Degree

Before you can begin a physician assistant program, you must first earn a bachelor's degree, which usually takes about four years Common degree fields for physician assistants include:

biochemistry
biology
exercise science
health sciences
kinesiology
microbiology
nursing
zoology

These majors not only prepare you for a role as a physician assistant but also help students fulfill the prerequisite coursework for these programs, like:

anatomy
physiology
biology
genetics
medical terminology

Some healthcare and medical schools offer bachelor's-to-master's PA programs. These allow students to focus specifically on PA coursework and complete both degrees in less time.

Gain Health Care Experience Working With Patients

Most PA programs require students to have a certain amount of experience working in healthcare. The amount of healthcare experience required can vary.

Common healthcare roles for students entering PA school include:

Depending on your chosen school, you may be required to have hands-on clinical experience, or you may qualify with any type of experience in the healthcare industry.

Apply To PA School

Once you have completed your bachelor's degree program and work experience, you can start applying to PA schools. A list of accredited PA education programs is available on the ARC-PA website.

In addition to a bachelor's degree in a related field and healthcare experience, most PA program education requirements include a minimum GPA and prerequisite coursework. You may also need to submit things like personal essays or letters of recommendation.

Graduate From an Accredited PA School

PA programs generally take about two years to complete. Coursework often covers topics like:

anatomy and physiology
behavioral science
biochemistry
clinical laboratory science
diagnosis
medical ethics
microbiology
pharmacology

You'll also complete around 2,000 hours of clinical rotations, in which you'll be shadowing providers within a healthcare setting. These clinical rotations may be within specialties like:

emergency medicine
internal medicine
obstetrics and gynecology
pediatrics
psychiatry

Some PA programs allow students to take a large percentage of their programs online, but clinical rotations must be done in person.

Pass the PA Certification Test

All states require physician's assistants to hold a license. This requires passing the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

The PANCE tests your clinical knowledge, clinical reasoning, and other medical schools. It's made up of five blocks of 60 questions, and students have one hour to complete each section.

Obtain Licensure in Your State

Once you pass the PANCE, you will receive certification from the NCCPA. All states accept NCCPA certification for licensure. This certification allows you to use the Physician Assistant-Certified (PA-C) designation. To keep your certification current, you will need to complete continuing education and take a recertification exam after a specific number of years.

What Is a Physician Assistant

Physician assistants are medical professionals who work under the supervision of a licensed physician to examine, diagnose, and treat patients. However, the physician does not need to be in attendance every single day.

Often, physician assistants specialize in a specific area of medicine, like:

emergency medicine
pediatrics
primary care and family medicine
psychiatry
surgery

Skills Required of Physician Assistants

In addition to medical knowledge and patient care skills, there are several skills that a physician assistant must have. These include:

attention to detail
communication skills
compassion
interpersonal skills
problem-solving skills

Responsibilities of a Physician Assistant

Physician assistants can do many of the same things that physicians do, such as examine, diagnose, and treat patients. Key responsibilities often include:

reviewing patient medical records
assessing and examining patients
diagnosing patient illness or injuries
ordering diagnostic tests such as blood work or imaging tests
providing treatment, including stitches and setting broken bones
prescribing medication
educating patients on general health as well as their specific conditions

Some responsibilities can vary between specialties. For example, a PA in primary care may do routine exams and provide vaccinations, while one in surgery may stitch up incisions and provide pre- and post-operative care.

FAQs About Physician Assistants

Below, we've answered some frequently asked questions about physician assistants.

How Long Is PA School?

PA school itself usually takes about two years of full-time study to complete. However, before that, students must earn a bachelor's degree, meaning they are in school for a total of six years. Some accredited PA programs offer joint bachelor's and master's programs that can be completed in five years, offering an accelerated pathway to students.

What Prerequisite Courses Do Physician Assistant Programs Require?

While prerequisite coursework can vary between PA programs, general requirements include:

anatomy and physiology
biochemistry
biology
chemistry
English composition
genetics
medical terminology
microbiology
organic chemistry
psychology
statistics

How Do I Prepare for the PA Program Admissions Interview?

The best way to prepare for a PA program admissions interview is to review the program requirements and your qualifications. You can also practice answering common interview questions, such as:

Why do you want to become a PA?
How do you feel your past experience will help you in your PA career?
What has been the most difficult healthcare situation you've encountered, and how did you tackle it?
What makes you stand out from other PA school applicants?

Note that not all PA programs require an admissions interview.

Do You Need a Doctoral Degree To Be a Physician Assistant?

You do not need a doctoral degree to become a physician assistant. Most PA programs are master's degree programs. That being said, doctoral programs for physician assistants do exist. They take several years to complete, but holding a doctorate can help you get promoted into leadership roles.