Career Exploration: Physicians Assistant
One day in my AP Human Geography class, I studied about aging populations. I learned
that the life expectancy in countries is increasing, meaning that people are living longer. There are many people who are in need of healthcare, and it’s increasing the demand for professionals in this field. The career options for this field are growing, so it’s a good idea to learn about some of them. Maybe it could be the one for you.
The job we’re going to explore today is the physician assistant, or a PA. A physician assistant’s job, put in simple terms, is to care for patients. They may perform certain tasks to do this, such as diagnosing diseases and assisting in surgeries. There are various specialties they can specialize in, such as pediatrics, cardiac surgery, and much more. A wide variety of paths are available to choose from, so there’s something for everyone.
The typical path to becoming a PA takes around 6 years after earning a high school
diploma. First, the person must obtain a Bachelor’s degree from an undergraduate institution. A specific major is not required, although most people typically select something related to health science, such as biology. During these 4 years, people try to gain experience in a hospital by volunteering or working as an assistant.
After earning a Bachelor’s degree, the next step is to apply to a graduate school for an accredited physician assistant program. This takes around two years. At the end of your time there, you will take an exam called the PANCE, which ensures that you have all the knowledge necessary to succeed in this career. Lastly, before being able to practice, you need a license in the state you choose to be in.
As we learned earlier, the field of healthcare is growing rapidly. Today you explored a
great career option in this field: a Physician Assistant. This career option is a solid choice for someone looking to go into healthcare. But if this occupation wasn’t the one for you, I encourage you to explore more options in this field as there might be the perfect one waiting for you.
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