Becoming a Physician Assistant in Vermont

By Joanna Pelletier, allied health world contributing writer
Published: January, 7 2010

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 69 percent of Vermont's population lives in rural and non-metropolitan areas, where Doctors may be few and far between. This creates a demand for Physician Assistant jobs in Vermont to be filled by individuals who can provide Vermont's rural dwellers with access to quality health care.

Get State Certified as a Physician Assistant in Vermont

The National Commission on Certification for Physician Assistants' PANCE exam is the first step for those interested in knowing how to become a Physician Assistant in Vermont. PANCE covers the practices and terminology covered in ARC-PA and AMA-approved programs, and evaluates how much information the applicant has absorbed. Applicants can take the exam more than once if they do not pass, but they should strive to do well the first time.

Once an applicant becomes certified through NCCPA, he must gain State certification through the Vermont Board of Medical Practice. When he applies for certification, he must submit an employment contract, a copy of his birth certificate, applications completed by his primary and secondary supervising physicians, verification of his NCCPA certification or licensure in another State, a verified certificate of his education, PANCE test scores sent directly from NCCPA, two personal reference forms from two different physicians, a scope of his practice, a statement of good standing, a self-query, a resume, and additional forms. To become a Physician Assistant in Vermont, the state also requires applicants to go through a personal interview once the Board has reviewed their applications.