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Make a Living Saving Lives: Your Career as a Physician AssistantBy Kate McIntyreLearning & Life Columnist February 26, 2007
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that medical assisting is one of the fastest-growing jobs in the country. People in the healthcare industry are working hard to keep the cost of medical care down. Physician assistants can do many jobs that doctors have traditionally done, at a lower cost to consumers and insurance companies. As demand for physician assistants increases, those with the right training can expect excellent job prospects and career security.
Training and CertificationMedical assisting is a great career choice if you love helping people but worry about the cost and time commitment of medical school. Most students entering physician assistant programs have already earned their bachelor's degrees. The minimum requirement for admission to most physician assistant schools is two years of college. Undergraduate coursework in English, biology, chemistry, math, social science, and psychology is excellent preparation. Many students gain experience working in other healthcare jobs before they apply to physician assistant schools.Accredited physician assistant programs last about two years. At the end of the training program, you must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination, a test that proves you have the skills necessary for a successful career. Physician Assistants on the JobMost physician assistants work in doctors' offices. They keep the same hours as the physicians they work for. Their duties include examining patients, taking medical histories, and making diagnoses. They care for patients with minor injuries, sewing sutures and applying casts. In most states, they can prescribe medicine.As with many careers in medicine, physician assistants earn good salaries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, physician assistants make $69,410 per year on average. The top 10% of physician assistants made more than $94,880 per year. Many new physician assistants will be needed in coming years. The high salary, relatively short training time, and job security add up to make medical assisting a very desirable career path indeed. Source: About the Author Kate McIntyre, a fiction writer in Portland, Oregon, holds an M.F.A. in fiction writing from Oregon State University. More Healthcare Careers Articles |
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