Physician Assistant
HealthcareYou practice medicine with almost the same scope as a doctor — examining patients, diagnosing conditions, prescribing medications, and assisting in surgery — but you did it in 2-3 years instead of 7-11. You'll see patients independently in most settings while working under a supervising physician who may or may not actually supervise you. The autonomy is real, the responsibility is heavy, and the student loans are legendary.
Salary Range
Low
$95k
Median
$126k
High
$170k
10-Year Growth
much faster
US Workers
148K
Education
Master's in Physician Assistant Studies + NCCPA certification + state license
Environment
indoor
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸Physical examination and diagnostic evaluation
- ▸Prescription writing and pharmacology
- ▸Suturing and wound management
- ▸Diagnostic imaging ordering and interpretation
- ▸Electronic health records (Epic, Cerner)
- ▸Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS)
- ▸Procedural skills (joint injections, I&D, casting)
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Clinical decision-making
- ▸Patient communication
- ▸Adaptability across specialties
- ▸Team collaboration
- ▸Empathy
- ▸Time management
Learn the skills
Courses and certifications to get you job-ready
Electronic health records (Epic, Cerner)
What you'll actually do
- 01See patients independently, diagnose conditions, and prescribe treatments — just like a doctor, mostly
- 02Perform procedures from suturing wounds to assisting in surgery depending on your specialty
- 03Order and interpret labs, imaging, and diagnostic tests with the autonomy to act on results
- 04Navigate the 'are you a doctor or a nurse?' question from patients about 20 times per day
- 05Coordinate with your supervising physician who trusts you enough to let you run your own schedule
- 06Stay current on medical knowledge because your certification requires 100+ CME hours every two years
Related Shifts
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