
How do you decide which schools offer the best master’s degree programs for physician assistants? To come up with our list of the best physician assistant degrees, we looked at the following factors: What to Look for in the Best Physician Assistant Schools Rather, they are licensed medical professionals with an advanced education who must work under the eye of a supervising physician. They take patient histories, perform physical exams, order tests, make diagnoses and order, administer and prescribe treatments, including medication. Physician assistants perform many of the same tasks as doctors. The courses you complete when pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a subject such as pre-PA studies, pre-medical studies, medical science, health sciences and other science-related areas prepare you for the science-heavy curriculum found in most accredited physician assistant programs. Most students major in a science- or health-related program of study while pursuing a bachelor’s degree. During the clinical component of their studies, PA students in most physician assistant programs complete rotations in several areas of medicine.īefore you can apply to a PA master’s degree program, you generally need to earn a bachelor’s degree. In most accredited physician assistant programs, students complete at least one year of classroom study, called the didactic phase of their education, and at least one year of clinical training. Additionally, while newly trained physicians still have to go through years of internship and residency training, PAs are ready to get started in their career field shortly after graduating with their physician assistant degrees. Physician assistant degrees typically take two to three years, while medical school takes four years to finish. PA master’s degree programs take considerably less time than medical school does. Unlike the Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree programs, physician assistant degrees aren’t doctorates but rather master’s degrees. Physician assistant degrees are graduate degrees in medicine that prepare students for clinical practice under the supervision of a licensed physician. In our ranking below, we have identified the 25 best schools where students can earn physician assistant degrees. Completing physician assistant degrees is the most important step aspiring physician assistants need to take to get into this career path. If you’re interested in the practice of medicine and how you could use this knowledge to make a positive difference in the world, roles as physician assistants could be the right fit for you.
