If you want to become a physician, but you cannot – for any reason – continue on in school for eight years, you might want to consider becoming a Physician’s Assistant. Becoming a Physician’s Assistant does require a great deal of education as well, but many would-be doctors go into this field in the hopes of financing the rest of their educations, or to support a family.
Getting into a Physician’s Assistant program is competitive, but not as competitive as medical school. Typically, the applicant must hold a bachelor’s degree – preferably in a health related field. Many programs will require that the applicant also have some related work experience as well.
When you choose a program to become a Physician’s Assistant, you must enroll and complete a program that is accredited. Upon completion of that program, you must also sit for a national board examination, which you must pass before you can be employed as a Physician’s Assistant.
As doctor’s become busier, and more people are becoming aware of health preventative measures, the field of Physician’s Assistant is expected to grow a great deal. A Physician’s Assistant does all of the same duties as a doctor, in most cases, but their work, including diagnosis and treatment, are supervised and approved by a licensed physician. It is important to note that a Physician’s Assistant is not the same as a medical office assistant. The role of a Physician’s Assistant is much more complex, and requires a great deal more education.
While many PA’s, as they are known, will eventually go on to become doctors, some choose not to further their educations, and make lifelong careers in this field. The average income for a Physician’s Assistant is about $80,000 per year, but some PA’s in metro areas will make more than this, while PA’s in more rural areas will often make less, depending on the demand.
Physician Assistant Courses Online Resources
Course Title: Physician Assistant Programs
Name of Company: Drexel University
Location: 1505 Race Street, Ms 501, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Description: Drexel offers two programs of study for a future Physicians Assistant. The first is the Physician Assistant Entry-Level Master’s Program, and the second is the Physician Assistant Post-Professional Master’s Program.
Resources: http://www.drexel.edu/
Course Title: Advanced Physician Assistant Online
Name of Company: A.T. Still University, Arizona School of Health Sciences
Location: 5850 East Still Circle, Mesa, Arizona, United States
Description: This program is designed for students who have already completed enough training to become a Physician’s Assistant, but who still wish to obtain their Masters Degree, with the award of a Master of Science Degree in Physician Assistant Studies upon completion of the program.
Resources: http://www.atsu.edu/ashs/online_programs/physician_assistant/index.htm
Course Title: Associate of Science in Medical Assisting
Name of Company: Mountain State University
Location: PO Box 9003, Beckley, West Virginia, United States
Description: This is a great starting point for future Physician’s Assistants. The program is available online, and offers board preparation. This is an accredited program.
Resources: http://www.mountainstate.edu/
Course Title: Associate of Science in Medical Assisting
Name of Company: Keiser University
Location: 1800 Business Park Boulevard, Daytona Beach, Florida, United States
Description: This is an online, two year program that enables the student to sit for the board examination, and to find entry-level employment in the healthcare field.
Resources: http://www.keiseruniversity.edu/medical-assisting-AS.php
Course Title: Medical Office Assistant
Name of Company: Penn Foster Career School
Location: PO Box 1900, Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States
Description: This program is 100% online, enabling the student to learn and study on their own schedule. This is a certificate program, as opposed to a degree program.
Resources: http://www.pennfoster.edu/medoa/
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Comments
daniel opata says:
please am an African from Ghana and will like to apply for the distance education. i will also like to find out if there are scholarships for African students. please send me all details on the various courses on the physician assistant courses, thanks. awaiting your response
Tierra Jeffery says:
i am 16 years old and im very interested in going in this field. what chioces should i make to take this road.
Babayev Muslum says:
Hi.I am IMG from Russia.I worked as a general surgeon during 18 years. In 2006 i immigrated to Canada and have a status of Canadian citizen. Since immigration i have lived in Toronto.Physician Assistant Courses Online interested me. Can I take distance education program for becoming Assistant physician in US.How can to apply for the distance education?How this program acceptable in US?Please send me more information about these courses.Thanks in advance and hope hear from you very soon.