Physician's Assistant
What is a Physician's Assistant?
A Physician Assistant (PA) provides healthcare services under the supervision
of physicians. PAs are formally trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic,
and preventive healthcare services as delegated by a physician. Working
as members of healthcare team, they take medical histories, examine
and treat patients, order and interpret laboratory tests and x-rays,
make diagnoses, and prescribe medications in most states.
Pre-Physician's
Assistant Information Sheet
Definition taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook
Handbook
Web Site: stats.bls.gov
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Educational
Requirements
Most University of Maryland (UM) students interested in becoming
a Physician Assistant (P.A.) complete a Bachelor's degree along with
a certain number of professional school prerequisites, in addition
to accumulating patient care hours, as required by the P.A. schools
to which they are applying. In essence, most UM students, complete
the following "Master's" pathway
to P.A. school:
"Master's" Option
Bachelor's degree + professional school prerequisites (20-60 credits)
+ most require health related, patient care experience (100-2000 hours)
+ 2 years of professional school = Master of Science or Master of Physician
Assistant (MPA) or Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS)
or Master of Health Professions or Physician Assistant Certificate
Note that some physician assistant programs require applicants to have
previous health care experience and some college education. The typical
applicant already has a bachelor's degree and at least four years of
health care experience. Commonly nurses, EMT's, and paramedics apply
to PA programs. Check the particular prerequisites of the PA educational
programs that interest you. Most Master's level P.A. programs require
GRE (Graduate Record Exam) scores.
"Bachelor's" Option
Another route to becoming a P.A. is as follows (an option not available
at UM):
Students can complete a Bachelor's of Science degree from an accredited
Physician's Assistant baccalaureate program and earn a BS in Physician
Assistant Studies. Some baccalaureate programs accept junior-year transfer
students.
Some prerequisite courses usually required by most professional phase
Physician Assistant programs include, but are not limited to: |
General Biology |
Introduction to Psychology |
Human Anatomy and Physiology |
Advanced Psychology |
Inorganic and Organic Chemistry |
English Composition |
Microbiology |
|
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Professional School
Programs for Physician's Assistant
George Washington University
202-994-2807
www.gwumc.edu/heatlhsci/pa.htm
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Associations and
Contact Information
Contact the American Academy of Physician Assistants for specific information
about individual MS-PA program prerequisites.
American Academy of Physician Assistants
950 North Washington Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-1552
703-836-2272
http://www.aapa.org
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Pre-Physician's
Assistant Prerequisites
George Washington University (GWU) - Physician's Assistant Prerequisites
Phone: (202) 994-2807
http://www.gwumc.edu/healthsci/Programs/PA/pa.htm
*Printable Format: Pre-Physician's
Assistant Information Sheet
Pre-requisites are subject to change! Contact the GWU program
for most current requirements.
- Application deadline is early November. Early application is
encouraged.
- All prerequisites must be completed with a grade of B- or better.
- One year of direct patient care experience is highly recommended
by the admissions committee.
- Prerequisites must be completed by July 31 prior to the beginning
of the program. Applicants may apply to the program with only one
outstanding prerequisite.
- College seniors are eligible to apply provided that they will
have fulfilled all the baccalaureate requirements before matriculating
in August.
- The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) must have been taken within the
past five years. Individuals already awarded a post-baccalaureate
degree are exempt from the GRE requirement, but are asked to submit
prior scores if available. Applicants who take the computer-based
test should do so by November 15 to allow adequate time for the
scores to be received by the deadline.
Pre-P.A. is not a degree-granting program at UMCP. The above prerequisites
are required prior to matriculation in the professional curriculum for
GWU. Admission to professional schools is competitive and is not guaranteed
by UM.
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Web Sites of Interest
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook
stats.bls.gov
The US Department of Labor handbook on working conditions, employment,
training, qualifications and advancement, job outlook, earnings, and
related occupations.
About.com
about.com
Descriptions of various career opportunities, including description of
job, salary, training, and National contacts
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