Physician Assistant (PA)

Also see a sample 4-year plan.

Physicians Assistant Occupational Outlook

    A Physician Assistant (PA) is a nationally certified and state-licensed healthcare professional who practices medicine under the supervision of a physician. PAs are trained in the medical model, similar to physicians, and they can diagnose, treat, and manage patient care in a variety of settings. PAs provide a wide range of diagnostic, therapeutic, preventive, and health maintenance services. A PA:

    • Takes medical histories and performs physical exams
    • Orders and interprets labs and diagnostic tests
    • Diagnoses illnesses and injuries
    • Develops and manages treatment plans
    • Prescribes medications (in all 50 U.S. states)
    • Assists in surgeries (as first or second assist)
    • Provides patient education and counseling
    • Performs clinical procedures (e.g., suturing, casting, joint injections)

    PAs practice in every medical setting and specialty, including:

    • Primary Care - Family medicine, internal medicine
    • Emergency Medicine - ER and urgent care centers
    • Surgical Specialties - Orthopedics, cardiovascular, neurosurgery
    • Hospital Medicine - Inpatient and acute care units
    • Pediatrics - Clinics or hospital-based
    • Psychiatry - Behavioral health centers, hospitals

    To become a PA one needs to:

    • Earn a bachelor’s degree (any major) with required science prerequisites
    • Gain clinical experience (usually 1,000–2,000+ hours)
    • Complete a 2–3 year PA master’s program (Includes classroom instruction + 2,000+ hours of clinical rotations)
    • Pass the PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam) and obtain state licensure
    • Maintain certification with ongoing education and recertification exams

    PAs differ from Doctors or Nurse Practitioners in role, training model, supervision, prescriptive rights, and focus as follows:

    • PA: Follows a medical model, practices with MD/DO, has prescriptive rights (all states), works as a generalist (broad training)
    • Physician (MD/DO): Follows a medical model, works independently, has prescriptive rights, focus is deep and specialized
    • Nurse Practitioners (NP): Follows a nursing model, supervision varies by state, has prescriptive rights, often focuses on one population (e.g., family, adult, peds)

    The career outlook of a PA was projected to grow 27% from 2022–2032 (BLS). The Median Salary is about $126,000/year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), and the job satisfaction is high, with strong work-life balance and job flexibility. The work hours are typically 40–50 hrs/week; some weekends/overnights depending on specialty.

    General Biology I & II + Lab

    General Chemistry I & II + Lab

    Psychology or Sociology

    Anatomy & Physiology I & II

    Microbiology

    Statistics or College Math

    Biochemistry, Genetics, Nutrition, Pathophysiology

    PA programs are academically rigorous, and GPA is one of the strongest predictors of success. Most schools screen applicants heavily based on overall and science GPAs.

    Overall GPA
    3.4 – 3.7+
    Average accepted students are around 3.5–3.6


    Science GPA (BCPM)
    3.4 – 3.6+
    Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math courses


    Minimum GPA to Apply
    2.75 – 3.0
    Varies by school (some accept lower with strong experience)

    Tips:

    • Upward GPA trends help offset lower early grades.

    • Retaking prerequisite courses (if allowed) can help boost GPA and show mastery.

    1. GRE (Graduate Record Examination)

    • Required by ~40–50% of PA programs

    • Test Sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Analytical Writing
      Competitive scores:

      • Verbal: 153+

      • Quant: 153+

      • Writing: 4.0+

    • Some schools are now waiving the GRE—always check school-specific requirements.

    2. PA-CAT (Physician Assistant College Admission Test)

    • A newer exam (required by a few schools)

    • Focuses on science-based content: Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, etc.

    • May grow in popularity, but not widely required yet

    3. Other Tests

    • MCAT is not typically accepted for PA school

    • CASPer (situational judgment test) is required by a few programs

    This is a huge differentiator in PA admissions. Most programs require hands-on experience with patients.

    Direct Patient Care (PCE)
    1,000–2,000+
    CNA, EMT, MA, PCT, Scribe, Phlebotomist, Physical Therapy Aide

    Healthcare Experience (HCE)
    Optional: Medical receptionist, transporter, clerical hospital roles

    Shadowing PAs
    20–100+ hours
    Observe PAs in multiple specialties


    Volunteering
    100+ hours recommended
    Clinical or non-clinical; shows commitment to service

    Quality is better than Quantity: Depth and consistency are key, long-term paid work in a patient-facing role is strongest.

    Most PA programs require 3 letters, often from:

    • A practicing PA (this is often required)

    • Science professor

    • Clinical or volunteer supervisor

    Tip: Ask early and ensure your recommenders can speak to your work ethic, character, and commitment to healthcare.

    Central to your CASPA application (5,000 characters max)

    Should clearly answer:

    • Why PA?

    • How have your experiences prepared you?

    • What qualities make you a strong candidate for a future PA role?

    Avoid comparing PAs to MDs or other professions.

    Additional Strengths of Competitive Applicants: Upward academic trends, diverse healthcare experience (multiple settings or specialties), leadership (e.g., clubs, mentoring, work), community service and outreach, cultural competence or fluency in a second language, research or teaching experience (optional but helpful). A good PA should have compassion, strong communication skills, teamwork, collaboration, problem-solving, diagnostic reasoning, adaptability, and resilience in fast-paced environments. All these features should be demonstrated in a personal statement via experience. Do not only tell, show it.