Beginners' Guide To The Job Of Physicians Assistant

By Author: J.J. Yong
Total Articles: 963
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You have read from the media that physician assistant is one of the fastest growing jobs in the United States. You also know very well that the US Department of Labor predicts this job as one of the fastest growing jobs in the health care field. Despite all this information, you are still not so clear about what exactly a PA does. Read on to go beyond the tip of the iceberg to educate yourself on the job of physician assistant.

This job was born in 1965 in response to the need to extend the delivery of primary care medicine. Specifically, the first school that offers PA program is Duke University. Basically, members of this profession assist the supervising physician in rendering services to patients. They perform about 80 percent of the duties traditionally performed by doctors. This job scope notwithstanding, the required educational training for prospective PAs only takes about two years in comparison to that of a physician's, which usually takes up to four years.

In regard to their duties, they perform tasks such as taking the patient's medical history, examining and treating patients, counselling patients ...
... and performing therapies. The exact job scope of a physician assistant is not similar for all practitioners. Rather, it varies with training, experience and state laws. In addition, it also varies depending on the supervising physician's practice. If a PA works under a surgeon, he or she is expected to carry out the tasks usually performed by surgeons.

Is this a financially rewarding job? The average annual income for a new physician assistant is $40,000. Depending of their experience, their annual income can reach up to $100,000. Another factor that determines this amount is the location they work. Generally, the higher the cost of living in the area of work, the higher the salary will be.
For more information about certified physician assistant and physician assistant training, visit PhysicianAssistantCareer.com.