Also called: PA, Physician Associate
Diagnoses illness, prescribes medicine, and even assists in surgery as part of a physician-led team.
Might work in an ER suturing cuts and ordering CT scans, or in orthopedics seeing post-op patients and injecting knees. Can switch specialties without retraining, which many PAs love.
BLS May 2024.
Master's degree, about 7 years after high school. Bachelor's plus a 2-3 year master's PA program, then a national certification exam. Most programs require patient-care hours first.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, Certification. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Biology, Health Sciences, Kinesiology, Chemistry.
Growing much faster than average (about 20% over 10 years). One of the fastest-growing healthcare jobs.
Low risk for 10 years. AI drafts notes and suggests diagnoses; hands-on exams, procedures and patient trust keep demand for PAs growing fast.
Classes: AP Biology, Anatomy & physiology, Chemistry, Spanish.
Official data: O*NET occupation 29-1071.
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