yes all 50 states do have school that offers physician assistant degree. Physician Assistants must have some experience in the allied health field prior to entering the 2-year program and can earn a BA-PA or MA-PA. PAs follow a conventional medical doctor curriculum, while nurse practitioners follow a nursing curriculum. Physician assistants are also educated in the broad spectrum of medical and surgical care, allowing them to practice in the variety of specialties rather than one specific area of study.
A physician assistant in the United States can expect to earn from $78,709 to $111,359 per year. The median annual income for a physician assistant is $93,741.
No. This is generally something you would find at a trade school rather than a four-year college.
Physician Assistant. In rural and inner city areas, PAs may be the principal care providers when a physician is present only one or two days a week. They are able to practice in 47 states, all of which require PAs to pass a certification exam and are then designated as a PA-C (Certified Physician Assistant).
In every discipline, there are some schools that are better than others - physicians assistant training is no exception. The American Academy of Physician's Assistants (www.aapa.org), provides information about the schools and programs in the United States for physicians assistant training, as well as offers recommendations.
You'll need to have graduated from at least a certified program to become a medical assistant in almost all states. Check with area vocational schools or community colleges to see what's available.
There are lots of medical assistant schools in the Philly area. Here is a link which will help you out in finding a good medical assistant school in Pennsylvania. http://www.medicalassistantschools.com/states/pennsylvania/
Physician assistants have typically completed a four year undergraduate degree and completed a three year physician's assistant program although certain physician assistants may have received additional training to become more specialized.
In principle, no, as they should be protected by the physician-patient privilege if they have had access to information the patient does not wish to disclose. However, I do not know whether this still holds true if the assistant doesn't have a medical license yet.
M.D. is the degree (Doctor of Medicine) awarded to graduates of allopathic medical schools. Physicians or "Medical Doctors" can have either the M.D. or D.O. degree in the United States.
Upenn and Harvard University have some of the top veterinary schools and degree programs in the United States. You can read more at www.veterinarianschoolguys.com
The term, which is actually Physician Assistant, refers to an individual in the health care field who may work in a variety of settings including hospitals and family practice. They take medical histories, perform examinations, diagnose, and can now prescribe medicine in all 50 states under the supervision of a Physician. They may act as a first assistant in surgery. Physician Assistants often practice in medically underserved areas such as rural and urban communities. A Physician Assistant must complete 4 years of undergraduate schooling, and two years in a Physician Assistant program. Often, heath care experience is required prior to entry into the two year graduate program.
A physician attends medical school for 4 years to receive a DO or MD degree. PAs usually attend a 2 or 3 year physician assistant program which results in a master's degree. After graduation, physicians are required to complete a residency in their chosen specialty before they can practice. A residency is not required for PAs. PAs are also not tied down to one specialty and can easily switch without any further formal training. Physicians can practice independently and can open their own practice--while PAs cannot. PAs work under a supervising physician and can only perform duties within the scope of that physician's practice. Both physicians and physician assistants can perform physical exams, order and interpret tests, diagnose and treat illnesses, and prescribe medication (in most states).