Healthcare practitioners
Physician assistant
Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.
Median pay
$135,880
Growth to 2035
+21%
much faster than average
Openings a year
11,500
Time to qualify*
3.9 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Physician assistant
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
- Required
- PANCE certification exam · State PA license
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Physician assistant: 68% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Make tentative diagnoses and decisions about management and treatment of patients.
- Interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal.
- Prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.
- Obtain, compile, and record patient medical data, including health history, progress notes, and results of physical examination.
- Examine patients to obtain information about their physical condition.
- Administer or order diagnostic tests, such as x-ray, electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests.
- Instruct and counsel patients about prescribed therapeutic regimens, normal growth and development, family planning, emotional problems of daily living, and health maintenance.
- Perform therapeutic procedures, such as injections, immunizations, suturing and wound care, and infection management.
Also called: Cardiology Physician Assistant · Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C) · Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant (Emergency Medicine PA) · Family Practice Physician Assistant · Orthopaedic Physician Assistant · Orthopedic Physician Assistant · Physician Assistant (PA) · Physician's Assistant
Outlook and AI
Physician assistants held 168,900 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 204,600 by 2035 (+21%, much faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Physician assistant vs. Nurse practitioner
- Physician assistant vs. Registered nurse
- Physician assistant vs. Family doctor
- Physician assistant vs. Physical therapist
- Physician assistant vs. Pharmacist
- Physician assistant vs. Emergency medicine physician
- Physician assistant vs. Pediatric surgeon
- Physician assistant vs. Cardiologist
- Physician assistant vs. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric
- Physician assistant vs. General internal medicine physician
- Physician assistant vs. Pediatricians, general