How to Become a PA

This page is in progress. Below is what it will cover.

A physician assistant (PA) is a licensed clinician who practices medicine as part of a team. This page will lay out the road from college to practice.

What this page will cover

• What PAs do and where they work
• The usual steps: bachelor's degree, prerequisites, patient-care experience, PA school, national exam, state license
• How long PA school takes and what it is like
• How people who work first (EMT, medical assistant, nurse and others) end up applying
• Where PA fits next to medicine, nursing and EMS

Requirements and rules differ by state, school and employer, so always confirm details with the school or licensing board you plan to use.