How to Become a Physician Assistant Online

To grow your career, earn more money, and provide health assistance to those who need it, you need to know how to become a physician assistant online. You can take several paths to qualify for this valuable, high-paid profession.

Physician assistants are specialists working under the supervision of physicians. They provide help and support to healthcare teams. Also, they work directly with patients, devise treatment plans, diagnose illnesses and injuries, and prescribe medications when necessary. And a PA acts as the primary care provider in some healthcare settings.

Although this profession ranks among the best jobs in the US, many are unaware of this healthcare career path. PAs need specialized education. They tackle advanced training and complete long clinical hours with extensive coursework. For all this hard work, physician assistants rank as one of the highest-paying jobs in the United States.

Do you want to know how to become a physician assistant? Then this guide provides the information you need and serves as the all-encompassing resource you need.

Article Navigation: Requirements to Become a PA | How To Become A Physician Assistant Online – The Steps | Earn an Online Undergraduate Degree | Choose a Physician Assistant Program Online | Types Of Physician Assistant Degrees | Apply to a PA School or Program | Complete Your PA Degree | Pass Licensing Exam | Start Your Physician Assistant Career | Get Board Certified | What Does a Physician Assistant Do? | Careers & Salary

Requirements to Become a Physician’s Assistant

If the responsibilities and duties of physician assistants sound interesting, good news. There’s a routine path to success. Here’s a breakdown of the requirements to become a PA:

• First, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in a related field (very few schools offer dedicated physician assistant bachelor’s degrees). As you complete your degree program, get good grades, as your GPA will affect your school opportunities in grad school.
• Next, you’ll need both healthcare experience (HCE) and patient care experience (PCE). Both types of experience should be earned during and after your bachelor’s degree schooling. Most PA graduate programs require at least 1000 hours of either or both categories.
• Then, choose a graduate-level/master’s physician assistant program. Most PA grad programs have applicant requirements. For example, letters of recommendation, a GPA of 3.0 or higher, a personal statement, and a list of your HCE/PCE practical experience hours.

In many ways, physician assistant requirements are similar to those of other master’s-level medical professions.

Technically, you can become a physician assistant with just a bachelor’s degree in health science or a related field. But you must also complete several advanced science courses and have 1000 hours of practical healthcare experience. Then you’ll need to become certified as a physician assistant in your area. Still, it’s best to acquire a master’s degree sooner or later. That way, you’ll qualify for more PA jobs and earn a higher salary.

Become A Physician Assistant Online: Step by Step

If you want to know how to become a PA, check out the following steps and begin your rewarding journey in this highly sought-after healthcare profession:

1. Earn an Undergraduate Degree
2. Choose a Physician Assistant Program
3. Apply to a PA School or Program
4. Complete Your PA Degree Program
5. Pass Licensing Exam
6. Start Your Physician Assistant Career
7. Get and Maintain Board Certification

How Long Does It Take to Become a Physician Assistant?

Most physician assistant programs usually take about two years to complete. Other options include accelerated options for dedicated students, part- or full-time options, and self-paced studies. Candidates should choose a program offering courses in a format suitable to their personal and professional needs.

Step 1: Earn an Online Undergraduate Degree

Most colleges do not offer a physician assistant bachelor’s degree. Therefore, those who wish to pursue this career can opt for a four-year degree program in a related healthcare discipline. Some colleges and degrees offer physician assistant concentrations and tracks to prepare candidates for a master’s degree program.

What Bachelor Degree Do I Need for Physician Assistant Careers?

To become a PA, you need a bachelor’s in nursing, health, pharmacology, or a related subject for your undergraduate education. You can alternatively pursue a bachelor’s in physician assistance, but most schools don’t offer these programs.

Appropriate fields include:

• Nursing (including the popular BSN or Bachelor of Science in Nursing)
• Healthcare Administration
• Biology
• Biomedical engineering
• Human physiology

Note that to qualify for graduate PA programs, you’ll need to complete certain prerequisites. If your bachelor’s degree did not have you complete those prerequisites in classes like human physiology, you’d have to take those classes during your master’s degree or before beginning it.

Physician Assistant Prerequisite Courses

At the bachelor level, students tackle critical subjects such as pharmacology, psychology, physiology, human anatomy, medical psychology, and the principles of clinical medicine. They also develop fundamental knowledge of the PA profession, ways of administering primary healthcare services, and clinical medical ethics. Students must participate in clinical components for hands-on experience by working directly with patients in a medical setting.

Undergraduate physician assistant online courses should teach topics like:

• Professionalism and Ethics in Physician Assistant Practice
• Principles of Clinical Medicine
• Pharmacology
• Community and Public Health
• Principles of Emergency Medicine and Surgery

Some of the most common PA-related courses you should take during your online degree program include:

• Human physiology
• Psychology
• Fundamental of biology
• Medical ethics
• Patient care principles
• General chemistry
• Anatomy
• Biology
• Other health-related science courses

Online physician assistant courses are often delivered asynchronously so that you can complete them in your time frame. Depending on the exact course, you may have to sit through a video lecture or “attend” online class from time to time.

Step 2: Choose a Physician Assistant Program Online

The right physician assistant program can set you up for success and give you the academic knowledge you need to thrive in your future position. A PA program is a graduate-level or master’s in science. Most PA programs are called several potential names, such as:

• Master of Physician Assistant Studies
• MS in Physician Assistant Studies
• Master of Health Sciences (MHS)
• Master of Clinical Health Services (MCHS)

Regardless, all PA programs are master’s level primary care programs that prep future physician assistants for their duties. They’re similar to other master’s degrees in medicine and science.

Online PA Program Accreditation

An accrediting agency reviews the intricacies of a program periodically to ensure that it meets its standards and continues to do so. A PA program can lose its accredited status if it fails to comply with academic standards or closes or withdraws from the accreditation process.

For physician assistants, the most important accrediting organization is:

• The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)

Think of the ARC-PA as the single authoritative body that determines whether a given PA program is:

• Rigorous enough
• Modern enough for new physician assistants

If the ARC-PA does not accredit a PA program, it’s not worth your time. And you may find that a degree from such a university is not worth much.

Therefore, it’s best to only apply to physician assistant online programs that the ARC-PA accredits. As a programmatic accrediting institution, the ARC-PA doesn’t accredit entire schools. It only focuses on accrediting specific physician assistant programs.

A program can maintain its accreditation status by adhering to ARC-PA educational standards of excellence and academic rigor. At the time of this writing, there are 303 ARC-PA-accredited physician assistant programs. Many of which are online. You can check out the ARC-PA’s accredited programs by state by visiting the organization’s website.

Practical Training as Part of the Curriculum

Clinical preceptorships are an opportunity to attain real-world experience in various medical disciplines. Students usually complete 10 to 12 months of preceptorships before graduation in general surgery, behavioral medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, emergency medicine, and gynecology.

Think of a preceptorship as a period of intense, practical study. Many of the best online PA programs require the completion of preceptorships before you can graduate. During a preceptorship, you’ll shadow experienced physician assistants and other medical personnel to learn what you need to thrive in real-world medical environments.

As you complete your preceptorship, you’ll be mentored by a preceptor. Your preceptor will be a supervisor that teaches you and provides feedback about your progress throughout your second year of PA school. They’ll guide you through the process and help you accomplish your goals.

Types Of Physician Assistant Degrees

Physician assistant education is highly competitive, typically requiring applicants to hold prior practical work experience for admission. Some options for attaining this experience include working as a paramedic, emergency room technician, medical assistant, or EMT. These programs cover subjects similar to those in a pre-med program. At the graduate level, students must have a bachelor’s degree in any healthcare-relevant field and almost three years of practical experience before enrolling in a master’s program.

PA Master’s Degrees

The minimum requirement for graduation from a PA program is a master’s degree. A master’s takes about three years to complete, and the first half of it focuses on courses such as:

• Management in healthcare
• Policy and administration
• Ethics in healthcare

Students spend the remaining time in clinical experience, developing the necessary critical thinking, problem-solving, and other interpersonal skills to function in a medical setting. Master’s degrees in PA studies require a thesis and a specified number of supervised clinical practice hours before graduation. Only students who hold a master’s degree are eligible for state licensure.

Some standard courses that universities and colleges teach at this level include the following:

• Introduction to the Physician Assistant Profession
• Fundamentals of Clinical Medicine
• Pharmacotherapeutics
• Pathophysiology
• Research Methods for Health Professionals

Step 3: Apply to a PA School or Program

Most renowned physician assistant studies programs use the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) for their application process. CAPSA allows candidates to apply to several programs with a single application form. Check out the following crucial questions prospective students usually have regarding this step:

PA School Requirements

As graduate-level degree programs, physician assistant schools have rigorous and intense requirements. While each program’s requirements can vary, you’ll typically need the following:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited school in a field adjacent to or related to physician assistant topics, like biology, healthcare, etc.
• At least 1000 clinical practice hours
• Transcripts from your bachelor’s degree, often with a GPA above a certain threshold (such as 3.0)
• Most physician assistant online programs do not require you to complete standardized tests, like the GRE.

When you’ve met all the requirements for your PA school of choice, you must apply through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).

Do I Need Letters of Recommendation to Apply to a PA Program?

Admission to most PA programs requires a letter of recommendation. Most prestigious PA programs require students to submit three recommendation letters: one from a physician assistant, one from a nurse practitioner, and the last from a physician to be considered for admission.

How Should I Prepare for a PA Program Admission Interview?

Students must prepare for this interview just like a job interview and be mindful of the following points:

• Conduct thorough research about the program you are applying for and prepare to explain why you want admission into that particular program.
• Prepare answers for commonly asked questions about your interest in pursuing a career as a PA, your academic and professional background, what a PA does, and any other related practical experience you may have.
• Ensure that you know precisely where and when you are supposed to go for the interview. Arrive early, and bring along all the necessary documentation and requested materials.
• Make sure you dress, sit, and speak professionally.

Do I Need Work Experience To Be Eligible For A PA Program?

Yes. More specifically, you need at least 1000 hours of healthcare experience (HCE) or patient care experience (PCE). HCE experience includes any medical experience where you aren’t directly responsible for a patient’s medical care. PCE experience includes medical experiences where you are directly responsible for the health and care of one or more designated patients.

You can have at least 1000 hours in either category or a combined 1000 hours in both categories. It depends on your preferences and experience opportunities.

Most aspiring PAs take a gap year between finishing their bachelor’s degrees and applying to master’s programs. These gap years enable you to accumulate the experience hours you need to qualify for quality programs.

Note, however, that each program has different experience hour requirements. One school might only require 1000 hours, for example, while another might require 1200 hrs. instead.

Step 4: Complete Your PA Degree Program

Physician assistant education offers a combination of clinical and classroom learning to prepare students for a brilliant career as a PA. Depending on the program, students may have to complete four to six terms of classroom instruction to advance to three to four successive periods of clinical rotations in various medical disciplines.

Most quality online physician assistant programs include courses that cover advanced medical and healthcare topics like:

• Pharmacology
• Physiology
• Medical research
• Epidemiology
• Healthcare delivery systems, ethics, or finances
• Evidence-based medicine
• Healthcare management
• Healthcare administration
• Leadership theory

In an online program most or all of your programs are entirely online. However, you may need to attend virtual lectures or work with fellow students to complete school projects occasionally. No online PA program is 100% online because of these elements and the requirements for practical rotation hours (see more below).

Specialization

It’s also important to note that many physician assistant master’s degrees allow students to specialize. Most enable specializations between Clinical Care or Education and Leadership. The former track is ideal for aspiring PAs that want to work in medical settings and practice as physician assistants. The education and leadership track focuses on strategies and methodology for healthcare instruction and community education.

To complete your Master’s in Physician Assistance, you must also complete your program’s practical experience hours or clinical rotation. Most online PA programs offer on-site clinical components that you can finish at local clinics or hospitals. This prevents you from having to travel to your school’s home city to complete your degree program.

In total, you’ll need to accumulate anywhere between 400 and 900 clinical practice hours. On top of that, most online PA programs require you to complete a master’s project or complete a research paper. It all depends on the program you choose to complete.

Although PA school may be challenging, it fosters excellent skills and knowledge, plus:

• Professional behavior
• Clinical and technical skills
• Problem-solving abilities
• Clinical reasoning
• Decision-making skills

Program Spotlight: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Let’s take a look at an example program, so you can imagine what it’s like to complete an online PA degree.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley offers a Master in Physician Assistant Studies Bridge Program (MPAS). The program is mostly web-based. It enables practicing physician assistants or nurses with bachelor’s degrees to stay in their communities and complete courses of study.

The program consists of three separate clinical tracks. Each of these takes four weeks to complete. The program also includes a research experience course that all students must finish. As a clinical experience-emphasized program, the MPAS at this university is perfect for aspiring PAs who want to work in medical settings “on the ground.”

Since this is a bridge program, it’s perfect for those who already have most of the academic requirements to become PAs but who still need clinical practice hours. Applicants must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, a current license to practice as a physician assistant and current certification from the NCCPA.

Step 5: Pass Licensing Exam

Graduates from accredited physician assistant studies programs must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) to be eligible for practice as a PA. Examinees can take up to six attempts to pass their PANCE exam in six years.

PANCE includes multiple-choice questions determining a candidate’s surgical and medical knowledge. It covers subjects like diseases, organ systems and disorders, and assessment. About 95% of the exam consists of medical knowledge content. PAs who pass their exam get their certification and can use the PA-C (physician-assistant-certified) designation. The program includes 300 questions in total. Test-takers have five hours to take the test.

However, they must secure state licensure to practice. State licensure requirements vary from state to state, and it is crucial to get detailed information before sitting for an exam. Students who want to know more can visit the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) website.

Step 6: Start Your Physician Assistant Career

It is time to start your career as a physician assistant officially. Begin applying for jobs! Physician assistants work in hospitals, clinics, private practices, nursing homes, and other healthcare settings. Finding employment for physician assistants is not arduous, as opportunities are lined up. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the job outlook for PAs to increase much faster than the average anticipated rate across all other professions between now and 2030.

How to Find a PA Job

Finding an employment opportunity as a PA is not hard. The American Academy of PAs hosts a specialized job board for physician assistants and several other website openings for these professionals. Many websites for hospitals and other healthcare providers also list job openings for PAs.

Some of the best websites on which to find a job as a physician assistant include:

• ZipRecruiter
• Indeed
• AAPA PA Job Source
• Google Job Search
• NCCPA Career Center
• Craigslist
• Monster.com
• Career Builder
• Glassdoor
• LinkedIn

PA Work Environment

PAs spend their time on their feet. They meet patients, assist physicians, help in surgery, and complete several other healthcare-related tasks. PAs may have to work overnights, holidays, and weekends, but this depends upon their work experience, specialization, and place of employment. PAs may also be on call for extended periods during the day and sometimes consecutive days.

Career Advancement Prospects For a PA

Physician assistants can upgrade to advanced career opportunities as administrators, supervisors, researchers, specialists, or instructors. They can also shift their career to other relevant careers, such as nurse practitioners or physicians.

Depending on your preferences and career ambitions, for example, you could transition to become a healthcare administrator of some type. To do this, you may need to earn a separate graduate degree or a doctoral degree.

Alternatively, you can take on additional responsibilities as a practicing physician assistant. You can take extra leadership and management training courses from the AAPA. Then, you can leverage those courses and certificates into better-paying jobs where you may lead teams of medical support staff.

ACHE/APPA Leadership Learning Collaborative training includes 20 out of the 36 credits necessary to complete FACHE credentialing. As a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, you’ll be recognized as a leader in healthcare management. From there, you can pursue better positions at hospitals, clinics, and private practices alike.

Step 7: Get Board Certified

PAs can pursue board or specialty certification after obtaining licensure to enhance their skills and knowledge in a particular domain. They can also specialize in hospital medicine, orthopedic surgery, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, and psychiatry.

Physician assistants must possess specialty experience and licensure, receive specialized support from a physician, and meet continuing academic requirements to earn specialty certification. After completing these requirements, they must also pass a specialty examination and pay a fee to enroll themselves.

The most important element to become certified as a physician assistant is the completion of the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE). This is a comprehensive, 300-question exam that you have five hours to complete. The exam is broken up into five 60-question sections. Throughout the exam, you get 15 minutes to train on the software and 45 break minutes.

To apply for the PANCE exam, you must submit a $550 payment in advance. Therefore, you should study hard before taking this exam so you don’t have to pay the fee again. It takes several weeks to get your PANCE results. If you pass the exam, you’ll be certified as a PA. If you don’t, you can retake the exam later.

But even after completing the PANCE, remember that you’ll occasionally need to complete CE or continuing education credits once every few years. To maintain certification with the NCCPA and retain your job qualifications, you’ll have to:

• Take a recertification exam every ten years
• Earn 100 CME or continuing medical education credits every two years. Those credits must include 50 Category 1 CME credits.
• Pay a certification maintenance fee to the NCCPA every two years.

Maintain Your Certification

To maintain their certification, physician assistants must pass at least 100 continuing education credits every two years. They must also take the PANCE during the tenth year of their recertification cycle. Physician assistants who do not pass this exam on their first attempt can retake it up to three more times.

What Does a Physician Assistant Do?

So, what is a PA? Physician assistants are healthcare professionals with academic and practical training similar to physicians and surgeons. PAs work under the supervision of physicians and can act as primary healthcare providers. You won’t find a healthcare team without them. PAs function like doctors; they diagnose ailments, prescribe medications, examine patients, devise treatment plans, and write referrals to specialists.

No matter their specialization, PAs are responsible for meeting with patients. They must communicate and research critical information and make decisions about patient management. They can work in various medical settings and specialties in roles such as the following:

• Pediatric physician assistant
• Orthopedic physician assistant
• Radiology practitioner assistant
• Anesthesiologist assistant
• Surgical physician assistant

Physician Assistant Responsibilities

Physician assistants practice and learn medicine alongside nurses, doctors, and therapists. They typically specialize in a medical discipline, such as:

• Surgery
• Family medicine
• Psychiatry

PA responsibilities may resemble a doctor’s, but they are not the same. The main difference is that physician assistant education takes much less time than becoming a doctor.

Still, PAs can find employment options in clinics, hospitals, doctor’s offices, healthcare centers, or other medical centers. The prime responsibilities of a physician assistant may vary depending on the state, service area, specialty, and place of employment. In urban areas, they may take on a much narrower role, exclusively sewing up incisions after surgeries or administering vaccinations to pediatric patients. In rural or underprivileged settings, a physician assistant takes a broader role, acting as a primary provider by:

• Examining patients
• Diagnosing ailments
• Prescribing medication
• Setting broken bones

Differences Between PAs & DOs / MDs

Doctors and PAs study medicine for years, completing clinical rotations to be eligible for licensure. However, MDs and DOs spend more time in medical school and complete more clinical rotations to work independently, whereas physician assistants cannot.

Even with this primary distinction, both physician assistants and MDs/DOs study several of the same subjects and strive for the same knowledge. The curricula of specialized PA degrees are similar to that of conventional medical schools. The classroom and practical experiences are pretty similar. Physician assistants must complete more than 2,000 hours of clinical rotation in family medicine, internal medicine, psychiatry and pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, and emergency medicine.

Research shows that PAs make healthcare more cost-effective, efficient, and seamless. So, their presence helps boost access to healthcare. Contrary to popular belief, people do not choose a PA career after deciding to or being unable to pursue a career as an MD or DO.

PAs usually choose this career path to work with patients directly, collaboratively work with doctors, and positively affect the healthcare marketplace. The primary differences between PAs and doctors are:

• Physician assistants work directly under the supervision of surgeons or physicians, even though all three professionals provide direct patient care.
• The level of supervision and management physician assistants receive from supervising physicians depends upon the facility and state. In some cases, a PA’s responsibilities may directly coincide with an MD or DO

Where Do Physician Assistants Work?

There are approximately 150,000 PAs licensed and practicing in medical settings across the United States. They work where surgeons and physicians work, but not all of them find employment in patient care roles. The job responsibilities may be non-clinical. There are roles for PAs in educational, research, and administrative settings within:

• Hospitals
• Private practices
• Outpatient clinics
• Nursing homes
• Surgical centers
• Community health centers
• Mental health facilities
• Armed forces

Physician assistant education covers specialized courses and subject matter, helping students build a career trajectory of their choice. Some physician assistants work in acute care or family medicine. In contrast, others work in pediatrics, oncology, radiology, and sometimes surgery. PAs can transition between specializations, and many PAs do just that. A survey found that 57% of physician assistants reported changing their specialties at least once in their career, and about 49% did so in the first two years of their practice.

Physician Assistant Careers & Salary

How much do physician assistants make? According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, physician assistants usually earn $121,530 per year. However, physician assistant salary can depend on job experience, specialty, and geographical location. PAs in educational settings typically earn less than those working in practical healthcare. Those working in outpatient care centers can make some of the top salaries of around $115,560.

The BLS indicates that the highest-paid physician assistants earn over $164,000 annually. However, the lowest-paid 10% of physician assistants earn less than $80,000 a year.

Top Five States For Physician Assistant Salaries

1. Rhode Island – $146,880
2. Alaska – $145,830
3. Connecticut – $141,790
4. New Jersey – $140,080
5. New Hampshire – $137,330

Top Five States For Highest Expected PA Job Growth Rate

The US currently employs about 118,800 physician assistants. And the BLS expects these statistics to increase by about 21,700 new PA positions. This job growth rate is expected to surpass the median across all occupations at 28% until 2031. Although job outlook and growth vary depending on the state and region, large rural populations likely add the most jobs.

• Arizona – 57.1%
• Utah – 54.5%
• Florida – 49.5%
• Texas – 45.4%
• Virginia – 44.5%

Explore Online Physician Assistant Programs

Becoming a physician assistant is a rewarding career choice. The path is challenging, but the payoff makes the hard work worth it. Prospective PAs can go to school online and gain the skills to succeed. Many well-reputed colleges and universities offer carefully devised programs that will kick-start your career as a physician assistant. Head over to GetEducated.com to learn more and make an informed decision about your future!