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Physician Assistant Requirements
Like many medical specialties, having strengths in mathematics and science is important to doing well in a physician assistant program. However, since these healthcare professionals spend much of their time interacting with sick, injured or traumatized patients and their families, understanding of human psychology and behavior and a familiarity with the social culture in which they may practice are also potential courses of study for physician assistants.Learn more about physician assistant certification.
The Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) cautions that most physician assistant students already have some medical experience before entering an education program, although it is not a universal requirement to enter all programs. In many cases, however, an emergency medical technician (EMT), nurse, paramedic or respiratory therapist with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree already under their belt will continue onward in a physician assistant program. Most programs, however, require at least two years (but typically four) of undergraduate study with an emphasis in the sciences related to medicine: biology, anatomy, physiology, chemistry and core healthcare profession courses. Many physician assistants earned a biology or chemistry degree
from a university before applying for a physician assistant master’s degree program, but there are even a few programs designed to prepare students to enter a physician assistant school. PAEA reported in 2007 that three-quarters of all physician assistant students had bachelor’s degrees. Planning a career in medicine starts in high school. Learning basic chemistry, math and calculus, statistics and physics will help future physician assistants get a leg up in developing an analytic, scientific mind that can one day identify the source of a patient’s ailment. However, no professional should neglect the humanities. Learning solid communication skills is important for communicating with patients and other healthcare professionals, and doing well in English class is critical in a career that may involve writing scientific papers for journals. A solid grade point average (GPA) in high school will make it easier to get accepted in a more prestigious college. This, in turn, will be all the more helpful in winning a coveted spot in an impressive graduate medical school with a physician assistant program, which will then give a fresh physician assistant more options in choosing a hospital, clinic or office in which to practice.
When it comes to choosing a physician assistant program, it is a better strategy to apply to several schools than bank on getting into any particular one, since positions in each class are limited and it is impossible to know what the competition will be like in any given year. The Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) is a conglomeration of 120 (as of early 2009) accredited physician assistant programs that allow applicants to complete a single application but submit it to multiple programs online.
Learn more about physician assistant education.
The physician assistant programs have committees that review each application, read the personal essay (remember the part about doing well in English class?) and analyze college entrance examinations scores. Schools typically want to see a solid score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), as well as an impressive GPA, prior relevant work experience and a well-earned undergraduate degree, including a list of classes the candidate has already taken.