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Physician Assistants
Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.
Other titles employers use
Cardiology Physician Assistant · Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C) · Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant (Emergency Medicine PA) · Family Practice Physician Assistant · Orthopaedic Physician Assistant · Orthopedic Physician Assistant · Physician Assistant (PA) · Physician's Assistant
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Make tentative diagnoses and decisions about management and treatment of patients.
- Interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal.
- Prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.
- Obtain, compile, and record patient medical data, including health history, progress notes, and results of physical examination.
- Examine patients to obtain information about their physical condition.
- Administer or order diagnostic tests, such as x-ray, electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, analytical and organizing work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
Subjects to know
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Biology
- English Language
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Written Comprehension
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.6 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 3.3 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 5.0 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.3 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a master's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A master's degree 81%
- A doctorate or professional degree 14%
- A four-year degree 5%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Medical software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Word processing software
- Storage media loading software
- Video conferencing software
- Internet browser software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 19,100
- Job openings each year
- 410
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 27.2%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 19,100 | 410 | 27.2% |
| California | 18,200 | 1,290 | 40.0% |
| Texas | 12,700 | 890 | 37.7% |
| Florida | 12,180 | 850 | 37.9% |
| North Carolina | 10,170 | 710 | 36.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 9,290 | 610 | 28.3% |
| Michigan | 7,000 | 450 | 26.1% |
| New Jersey | 6,450 | 440 | 34.1% |
| Georgia | 6,340 | 430 | 32.1% |
| Illinois | 5,960 | 370 | 20.2% |
| Virginia | 5,920 | 410 | 34.9% |
| Arizona | 5,180 | 390 | 50.6% |
| Minnesota | 4,900 | 320 | 27.9% |
| Maryland | 4,290 | 280 | 28.1% |
| Ohio | 3,990 | 260 | 24.3% |
| Washington | 3,950 | 340 | 26.2% |
| Wisconsin | 3,950 | 270 | 32.6% |
| Colorado | 3,920 | 270 | 37.1% |
| Connecticut | 3,830 | 260 | 29.8% |
| Tennessee | 3,080 | 210 | 37.5% |
| Utah | 2,960 | 220 | 52.6% |
| South Carolina | 2,510 | 180 | 39.4% |
| Louisiana | 2,150 | 130 | 20.1% |
| Indiana | 2,100 | 140 | 28.0% |
| Oklahoma | 2,020 | 130 | 22.4% |
| Nebraska | 1,940 | 120 | 22.0% |
| Missouri | 1,930 | 120 | 23.7% |
| Oregon | 1,930 | 140 | 35.9% |
| Massachusetts | 1,860 | 120 | 30.1% |
| Nevada | 1,720 | 120 | 32.3% |
| Iowa | 1,580 | 110 | 30.6% |
| Kentucky | 1,550 | 100 | 27.0% |
| Idaho | 1,310 | 90 | 42.4% |
| New Hampshire | 1,260 | 80 | 29.9% |
| Arkansas | 1,160 | 80 | 33.3% |
| Kansas | 1,140 | 70 | 26.7% |
| Montana | 1,030 | 70 | 39.2% |
| Alabama | 1,020 | 70 | 32.5% |
| Maine | 970 | 60 | 21.3% |
| Rhode Island | 910 | 50 | 18.2% |
| Delaware | 900 | 60 | 36.4% |
| New Mexico | 830 | 60 | 45.6% |
| South Dakota | 790 | 50 | 33.9% |
| West Virginia | 730 | 50 | 25.9% |
| District of Columbia | 590 | 40 | 31.1% |
| Alaska | 550 | 30 | 10.0% |
| Mississippi | 470 | 30 | 23.7% |
| Wyoming | 470 | 30 | 30.6% |
| Vermont | 440 | 30 | 25.7% |
| North Dakota | 420 | 30 | 31.3% |
| Puerto Rico | 60 | 0 | 50.0% |
| Virgin Islands | 30 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Boise State University
- Degrees each year
- 272
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $21,000
Midwestern State University
- Degrees each year
- 218
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Oregon Institute of Technology
- Degrees each year
- 168
- Admit rate
- 92%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
University of Missouri-Columbia
- Degrees each year
- 93
- Admit rate
- 77%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Ohio State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 87
- Admit rate
- 51%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Sacred Heart University
- Degrees each year
- 86
- Admit rate
- 68%
- Annual cost after aid
- $42,000
Georgia Southern University
- Degrees each year
- 84
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
MCPHS University
- Degrees each year
- 76
- Admit rate
- 85%
- Annual cost after aid
- $38,000
Compare every college offering physician assistant residency/fellowship programs