Do you have an interest in studying and practicing medicine? A physician's assistant career will allow you to have the opportunity to practice medicine with the supervision of a doctor.
A career as a physician assistant is a great opportunity to work with patients under the supervision of a doctor or surgeon. Physician assistants are medically trained to take medical histories, examine patients, order and interpret lab work, and provide diagnoses to patients. As a physician assistant, you would also be able to treat small injuries that could include stitches or casts.
Physician Assistant Career Opportunities
Physician assistants have many opportunities and can work in many different settings. A physician assistant career would allow you to work in the following areas:- Internal medicine
- Pediatrics
- Family medicine
- Orthopedics
- Geriatrics
- Emergency medicine
There are many different areas a physician assistant can specialize in, but the key to remember is that you would be working under a doctor or surgeon and they determine your job duties. Depending on the setting you choose to work in, your hours may differ as well.
Education for a Physician Assistant Career
In order to enroll into a training program for a physician assistant career, most schools require you to have a college degree with a focus in some sort of health care. The training program is a two-year program that requires coursework and laboratory classes in biochemistry, human anatomy, clinical medicine, clinical pharmacology, physical diagnosis, and medical ethics.
License
In order to work as a physician assistant and practice medicine, all states require that you pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination. After passing the exam, you will be considered a certified Physician Assistant. In order to remain certified, you must complete 100 hours of medical continuing education classes every two years and every six years, you must also take a re-certification exam.
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