Also called: Psych PA, Behavioral Health PA
Physician assistant who diagnoses mental illness and prescribes psychiatric medications.
Sees 15 patients a day for medication check-ins, adjusts an ADHD prescription for a college student, and works with therapists on each patient's plan.
Estimate based on BLS physician assistants.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 7 years after high school. Bachelor's, a 2-3 year PA master's program, then psychiatry experience; CAQ in psychiatry optional.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, Certification. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Biology, Psychology.
Growing much faster than average. PAs grow much faster than average.
Low risk for 10 years. AI drafts notes and checks drug interactions; patient visits and prescribing decisions stay human.
Classes: Biology, AP Psychology, Chemistry.
Official data: O*NET occupation 29-1071.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.