Physician Assistant/Associate (PA) Studies Quick Facts

What is a Physician Assistant/Associate (PA)?

• Some responsibilities of a PA include:
  • Practices medicine under the supervision of a physician
  • Obtains patient histories
  • Conducts physical exams
  • Diagnoses and treats illness
  • Orders and interprets lab and diagnostic tests
  • Performs diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
  • Assists in surgical procedures
  • Prescribes medications
  • Counsels patients and families regarding health promotion and disease prevention
• Practices medicine in all inpatient and outpatient settings, including but not limited to:
  • Hospitals
  • Clinics
  • Community health centers
• Specialty practice within all medical and surgical areas of clinical practice:
  • Surgery
  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics
  • Oncology
  • Geriatrics 

PA Profession Outlook:

• The PA profession is one of the fastest growing today: 
  • According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with an average annual salary of  $120,000 and an anticipated growth rate of 30% from 2014-2024 
• Based on the U.S. News & World Report 2024 rankings
  • The PA profession is #5 in the Best 100 Jobs List
  • #2 in Best Healthcare Jobs List 
  • #4 in Best STEM Jobs List

About the Salus University PA Studies Program

The University's PA Studies program is 25-months long, and upon completion, students would receive a Master of Medical Science degree (MMS).

The program offers:

• A rigorous and comprehensive program of study
• Full, on-site cadaver dissection lab
• Early pre-clinical experiences during the first year of training
• Direct patient care in emergency, internal, and family medicine, women’s health and prenatal care, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery 
• Instruction in patient care with a holistic approach 
• Innovative teaching through faculty-facilitated small group and case-based instruction in primary and specialty care

Becoming a PA:

To become a PA, students must:

• Students are required to complete undergraduate coursework before entering the professional phase of training
  • Complete prerequisites in various studies (ex: anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry)
• Graduate from an ARC-PA accredited entry-level PA program
• Become certified bypassing the national board exam (PANCE)  
• Obtain a state license before beginning practice in a given state(s)

To maintain certification, a PA must: 

• Complete 100 hours of continuing medical education (CME) every two years
• Pass the recertification exam every 10 years