What is a PA?

PAs (physician associates/physician assistants) are licensed clinicians who practice medicine in every specialty and setting.

Trusted, rigorously educated and trained healthcare professionals, PAs are dedicated to expanding access to care and transforming health and wellness through patient-centered, team-based medical practice.

A Vital Role

Established in 1967, the PA profession currently has more than 168,300 practitioners in the U.S., engaging in more than 500 million patient interactions each year.

History of the PA Profession

A Respected Profession

Prospective PAs can choose from among 306 accredited master’s degree level programs in the U.S. Programs take 3 academic years or 27 months, and PA candidates are also required to engage in 2,000 hours of clinical rotations as well as passing a certification exam, among other requirements.

A Winning Career Path

PAs practice in every specialty and work setting. Being a physician associate is regularly ranked among the top 5 healthcare, STEM, and overall jobs in the U.S.

PAs Go Beyond! Find out How…

Common Questions

What are the advantages of seeing a PA for medical care?

PA education and practice emphasize patient education, preventive care, and chronic care management. PAs’ generalist medical training enables them to provide a wide spectrum of patient care and treat the “whole patient.” For example, during an appointment with a PA working in cardiology, in addition to discussing the patient’s heart issues, a PA might notice a skin condition and either treat it or refer that patient to a dermatology practice. PAs make it easier for patients to get the care they need when they need it. A 2023 Harris Poll found that 90 percent of Americans say PAs improve access to care and make it easier to get an appointment. In addition, 93 percent of patients said PAs add value to healthcare teams, and 89% of patients said PAs improve health outcomes.*

* “The Patient Experience: Perspectives on Today’s Healthcare.” The research was conducted online in the U.S. by The Harris Poll on behalf of AAPA among 2,519 adults age 18+. The survey was conducted from February 23 – March 9, 2023. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish.

What is a PA?

PAs (physician associates/physician assistants) are licensed clinicians who practice medicine in every specialty and setting. Trusted, rigorously educated and trained healthcare professionals, PAs are dedicated to expanding access to care and transforming health and wellness through patient-centered, team-based medical practice.

What education does a PA have?

PAs are educated at the master’s degree level. There are more than 306 PA programs in the country and admission is highly competitive, requiring a bachelor’s degree and completion of courses in basic and behavioral sciences as prerequisites. Incoming PA students bring with them an average of more than 3,000 hours of direct patient contact experience, having worked as paramedics, athletic trainers, or medical assistants, for example. PA programs are approximately 27 months (three academic years), and include classroom instruction and more than 2,000 hours of clinical rotations.

What is included in the PA school curriculum?

A PA’s medical education and training are rigorous. The PA school curriculum is modeled on the medical school curriculum that involves both didactic and clinical education training.

In the didactic phase, students take courses in basic medical sciences, behavioral sciences, and behavioral ethics.

In the clinical phase, students complete more than 2,000 hours of clinical rotations in medical and surgical disciplines, including family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, general surgery, emergency medicine, and psychiatry.

What do PAs do?

PAs’ specific duties depend on the setting in which they work, their level of experience, their specialty, and state laws.

Generally, PAs can:

  • Take medical histories
  • Conduct physical exams
  • Diagnose and treat illness
  • Order and interpret tests
  • Develop treatment plans
  • Prescribe medication
  • Counsel on preventive care
  • Perform procedures
  • Assist in surgery
  • Make rounds in hospitals and nursing homes
  • Do clinical research
Where do PAs work?

There are more than 168,300 PAs who practice in every medical setting in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. They work in hospitals, medical offices, community health centers, nursing homes, retail clinics, educational facilities, workplace clinics, and correctional institutions. PAs also serve in the nation’s uniformed services and work for other federal government agencies, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs.

How do PAs work with physicians?

PAs are committed to team practice with physicians and other healthcare providers. Currently, most state laws require PAs to have an agreement with a specific physician in order to practice. These agreements were included in early PA practice acts 50 years ago when the PA profession was new and untested.

Today, PAs are still held to these obsolete requirements despite the PA profession being well established, highly trusted, and essential to the U.S. healthcare workforce.

In 2017, the American Academy of PAs passed new policy called Optimal Team Practice. Optimal Team Practice occurs when PAs, physicians, and other healthcare professionals work together to provide quality care without burdensome administrative constraints.

To support Optimal Team Practice, states should: eliminate the legal requirement for a specific relationship between a PA, physician or any other healthcare provider in order for a PA to practice to the full extent of their education, training and experience; create a separate majority-PA board to regulate PAs or add PAs and physicians who work with PAs to medical or healing arts boards; and authorize PAs to be eligible for direct payment by all public and private insurers.

Is there a high demand for PAs?

Yes. The PA profession is one of the fastest growing in the country. The demand for PAs increased more than 300 percent from 2011 to 2014, according to the healthcare search firm Merritt Hawkins. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the profession will increase 28 percent from 2021 to 2031, significantly faster than the average for all occupations. The demand for PAs is so high that three quarters of PAs receive multiple job offers upon graduation.

To learn more about becoming a PA, visit aapa.org/career central.

What is the public perception of PAs?

PAs are trusted healthcare providers. A 2022 NCCPA study found that over two thirds of respondents reported having received medical care from a PA. The same study found more than 93% of patients were satisfied with medical care rendered by a PA. Respondents reported that they believed PAs are well educated in medicine and have more time to spend with patients regarding their medical concerns.*

Likewise, a 2023 Harris Poll found extremely high satisfaction rates among Americans who have seen a PA or have a family member who has seen a PA. The survey found that 90 percent regard PAs as trusted healthcare providers and 91 percent believe that PAs are part of the solution to address the shortage of healthcare providers.**

*“Public Perceptions of Physician Assistants Reporter from 2018 and 2022 Surveys.” The most recent NCCPA survey was conducted in January 2022 with 1,521 respondents.
**”The Patient Experience: Perspectives on Today’s Healthcare.” The research was conducted online in the U.S. by The Harris Poll on behalf of AAPA among 2,519 adults age 18+. The survey was conducted from February 23 – March 9, 2023. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish.
How are PAs different from nurse practitioners (NPs)?

At the practice level, there are likely more similarities than differences between PAs and NPs. However, there are two key differences:

  • PAs are educated in general medicine, which offers a comprehensive view of all aspects of medicine. NPs must choose a “population focus,” e.g., pediatric nurse practitioner or women’s health nurse practitioner.
  • PAs are trained to practice medicine using a curriculum modeled on medical school education. NPs are trained in the advanced practice of nursing.