It is mandatory in all states for a physician assistant to complete formal education from an accredited college and then pass a license examination before becoming certified. The certification program generally takes about 2-years to complete, if students are able to attend on a full time basis. There are also programs available at most 4-year colleges and universities, some junior and community colleges, the military and at a few hospitals. The majority of the programs are in accredited schools of allied health care, academic health centers and medical schools.
In order for the physician assistant to qualify for a license, it is necessary to have enrolled in and completed a program that has been accredited by the Academy of Physician Assistants. In most instances, applicants to these programs have already earned a bachelor’s degree and enroll into these programs to learn the specifics of this trade. There are certain admission guidelines that candidates must qualify for before they are allowed enrollment. Most require a minimum of a 2-year degree and some work experience in a health care field.
The curriculum in these programs requires previous knowledge and instruction of biology, chemistry, English, mathematics, psychology and the social sciences. Many students who apply to the programs have previous experience as either registered nurses or other health care related work.
Throughout the course students will be instructed in both the classroom and clinical education. Classroom instruction focuses on many fields related to the medical profession and may include, biochemistry, pathology, human anatomy, physiology, microbiology, clinical pharmacology, clinical medicine, geriatric and home health care, family medicine, internal medicine, surgery, prenatal care and gynecology, emergency medicine, psychiatry and pediatrics. It is important for a physician assistant to have knowledge of a many fields because they may assistant physicians who are specializing in different practices.
All states require specific qualifications to be met before the license to practice is issued. It is mandatory for all assistants to pass the certification test implemented by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. The next requirement is the successful completion of an accredited program. Once a physician assistant is certified, it is necessary for them to continue the education requirements to keep their licenses current. They must pass 100 hours of medical units every 2-year and must take a recertification exam every 6 years.
Some physician assistants choose to continue their education to obtain a specialty degree. Post-graduate education programs are available to those who seek individual careers in the surgery, neonatal or emergency medicine fields.
