What Is a PA Degree?

What is a PA Degree and How Does it Prepare You for a Career in Healing?

An aging population and a growing shortage of physicians have created an urgent need for skilled, compassionate healthcare providers. Physician assistants (PAs) are stepping up to fill this gap, delivering essential care across diverse patient care settings.

With the employment of physician assistants projected to grow by 28% over the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a PA career offers both stability and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference.

In this article, we will explore the path to becoming a physician assistant, the impact of the PA profession, and how a PA degree prepares you for a rewarding future dedicated to healing.

What is a Physician Assistant?

Physician assistants are trusted and knowledgeable health professionals who work alongside physicians, providing essential support across medical specialties. Known for their versatility, PAs practice in a variety of settings, including hospitals, emergency departments, specialty clinics, and private practices.

With a strong foundation in clinical knowledge, PAs are equipped to work in every area of medicine, offering healthcare systems greater flexibility and improving patient access to care. This wide range of opportunities makes the PA profession a rewarding career for those eager to make a real impact in patients’ lives.

What does a PA do?

Physician assistants are responsible for a wide range of clinical tasks that support patient care. Some of their key responsibilities include:

• Conducting physical exams and taking medical histories
• Diagnosing illnesses and developing treatment plans
• Ordering and interpreting the results of diagnostics tests
• Prescribing medications and therapies
• Providing preventive care and patient education
• Assisting in surgeries and performing procedures
• Managing follow-up care and patient monitoring

What is a Physician Assistant Degree?

A PA degree is a master’s degree, which is required to become a physician assistant. The education and training to become a PA includes:

• Undergraduate degree: A bachelor’s degree and any prerequisites required by the PA program
• Physician assistant program: A two- to three-year program that includes classroom education and clinical rotations
• State licensure: All states require NCCPA board certification

How to Become a Physician Assistant

Becoming a physician assistant requires comprehensive education, clinical training, and certification. From earning your bachelor’s degree to gaining hands-on experience, each step in your journey to the PA profession prepares you for the vital role of providing compassionate, whole-person healing.

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree

Your path to a physician assistant career starts by earning a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. AdventHealth University’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program accepts students with any bachelor’s degree, provided certain prerequisites are met.

Step 2: Gain Relevant Experience

Patient care or related healthcare experience is essential when considering a PA career. AHU strongly recommends that physician assistant program applicants have at least one year – or 2,000 hours – of direct patient care experience. This can include working directly with patients and providers as a medical assistant, nurse, or other healthcare role. Shadowing a PA can also be valuable.

Step 3: Apply to an Accredited PA Program

Most accredited PA programs in the United States use the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Admission to PA programs is highly competitive, and meeting minimum standards does not guarantee admittance. Applicants need a strong academic record, relevant experience, and letters of recommendation. You may be selected for an interview during the process, which is one of several steps to determining admission.
AHU’s physician assistant program, accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), requires you to complete the CASPer online test as part of the admissions process. The GRE and PA-CAT are not required.

Step 4: Graduate from a Physician Assistant Program

PA programs typically take about 27 months to complete and include a combination of didactic coursework and clinical education. AdventHealth University’s physician assistant studies curriculum is specifically designed to meet the ARC-PA Standards. The 27-month PA program covers areas such as clinical medicine, pharmacology, pathophysiology, patient care, and clinical skills, with students completing second-year clinical rotations in seven core rotations, with more than 80% of rotations through the world-class AdventHealth system of care.

Step 5: Pass the National Certification Exam

Upon completing an ARC-PA-accredited program, graduates must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), to become certified. This exam evaluates clinical knowledge, reasoning skills, and professional behaviors necessary for entry-level practice.

Step 6: Obtain Licensure to Begin Your PA Career

After passing PANCE, the next step is obtaining state licensure to practice as a physician assistant. This process involves applying to a state medical board, providing proof of passing the certification exam, and meeting additional state-specific requirements. Once licensed, congratulations are in order — you can begin your PA career in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, and private practices, providing care under the supervision of a physician.

Step 7: Maintain Certification and Education

As you continue your career as a physician assistant, you will be required to complete 100 hours of continuing medical education (CME) every two years to maintain your certification. Additionally, PAs must pass the PANRE or PANRE-LA exams every 10 years to stay current in the medical field and continue to provide high-quality care. This ongoing education helps you stay updated on the latest advancements and practices for your physician assistant career.

Start Your Journey to a Rewarding PA Career

The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at AdventHealth University equips you with the comprehensive knowledge and hands-on experience you need to excel in the PA profession. Our intensive, 27-month PA program focuses on whole-person care, combining rigorous coursework with diverse clinical rotations to prepare you for real-world practice.

AHU’s PA curriculum includes 107 credit hours of instruction in a faith-based environment of scientific and medical evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of ill and injured patients. Whether you are interested in family medicine, emergency medicine, surgery, or another area of medicine, our PA degree empowers you to make a meaningful impact on the lives of patients and their families wherever your career path leads.

Learn more about our PA program curriculum

Learn more about our PA program admissions

Apply to our PA program through CASPA