What is a physician assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
introduction image

A physician assistant is a healthcare professional who works under the supervision of a licensed physician to provide medical care to patients. They are trained to diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, and assist in surgeries. Physician assistants work in hospitals, clinics, and private practices, and may specialize in specific areas such as cardiology or pediatrics. They typically have a master's degree and must pass a national certification exam to practice.

ScorePhysician AssistantUS Average
Salary
8.1

Avg. Salary $118,812

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
9.9

Growth Rate 28%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.35%

Asian 11.24%

Black or African American 5.36%

Hispanic or Latino 11.75%

Unknown 3.76%

White 67.53%

Gender

female 66.44%

male 33.56%

Age - 37
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 37
Stress Level
9.9

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
10.0

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
5.6

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Physician Assistant?

Pros

  • High demand

  • Competitive salary and benefits

  • Opportunities for career advancement

  • Ability to specialize in a specific medical field

  • Opportunities for leadership roles

Cons

  • Long hours and demanding workload

  • High levels of stress and pressure

  • Exposure to infectious diseases and other health hazards

  • Limited autonomy compared to physicians

  • Potential legal liability in medical decision making

Physician Assistant career paths

Key steps to become a physician assistant

  1. Explore physician assistant education requirements

    Most common physician assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    46.3 %

    Master's

    28.0 %

    Associate

    9.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific physician assistant skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Patients29.07%
    Diagnostic Tests5.81%
    Surgery5.00%
    Primary Care4.56%
    Urgent Care4.27%
  3. Complete relevant physician assistant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New physician assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a physician assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real physician assistant resumes.
  4. Research physician assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Manage a variety of acute and chronic conditions especially asthma, allergies, injuries, and infectious diseases.
    • Manage chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, ASCVD, chronic back and joint pains, depression, and anxiety.
    • Manage patient surgical care throughout the continuum of care from pre-op, to discharge planning, including ambulatory and hospital in-patients.
    • Attain pertinent history & physicals for obstetrics and gynecological acute and preventative visits.
  5. Prepare your physician assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your physician assistant resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a physician assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Physician Assistant Resume templates

    Build a professional Physician Assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Physician Assistant resume.
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    Physician Assistant Resume
  6. Apply for physician assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a physician assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Physician Assistant Job

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Average physician assistant salary

The average Physician Assistant salary in the United States is $118,812 per year or $57 per hour. Physician assistant salaries range between $70,000 and $201,000 per year.

Average Physician Assistant Salary
$118,812 Yearly
$57.12 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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