2. WHY I WANT TO BE A PA
• Want to have hands on experience with patients
• Looking to always improve and learn new techniques
• Solve problems and help improve overall health of patients
3. HISTORY
• The first educational program began in 1965
• Response to a shortage and poor distribution of physicians
• Stemmed from corpsmen returning from Vietnam War
• Training in assessing trauma and familiarity of surgical conditions
• First two-year program at Duke University
4. COMPETENCIES OF A PA
• The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and three
other PA organizations defined PA competencies to serve as guidelines for
Physicians Assistants.
• These include overarching themes
• Unwavering commitment to patient safety
• Cultural competence
• Quality health care
• Lifelong learning
• Professional growth
5. HOW I CAN CONTRIBUTE
• Good communication skills
• Enjoy challenges
• Well organized
• Enjoy face to face contact with patients
• Will have knowledge of human body
• Compassionate and caring
6. REQUIREMENTS OF PHYSICIAN’S
ASSISTANTS
• Three years healthcare experience prior to applying to PA school
• A bachelor’s degree
• Masters of Physicians Assistant
7. SCHOOLS I AM INTERESTED IN
• MUSC
• Requires a GRE score in the 50th percentile
• 3 reference letters
• 500 hours minimum patient care
• GPA minimum 3.0
8. • Georgia Regents University
• GPA of at least 3.0
• GRE minimum of 290
• Minimum of 100 hours hands on health care
• Minimum of 100 hours in a variety of PA clinical settings
• Three references
9. ONET RESULTS
• My results indicated highest in social, investigative and conventional interests
• PA’s are typically SIR
• I have the social and investigative interests that correspond with this particular job
• Requires working with and communicating with people
• I find this to be one of my biggest strengths
10. ACADEMICS
• When I graduate I will have completed
• Biology 1 and 2 with lab
• Chemistry 1 and 2 with lab
• Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2
• Physics 1 and 2
• Organic Chemistry
• Microbiology
11. CAREER OUTLOOK
• Average salary $95,820 per year
• Increasing accreditation for schools and increasing employment
• Projected increase of 30% more jobs by the year 2024
• Projected increase of 50,000 job openings
12. CONCLUSION
• In conclusion becoming a PA will take two to three more years
• Steps to take to get there
• Working in a health environment
• Studying and improving GRE scores
• Have anywhere from 500-1000 hours of hands on experience.
13. SOURCES
• "Appendix: Competencies for the Physician Assistant Profession." Competencies for
the Physician Assistant Profession (2008): 905-08. Yale University, 2012competencies
for the physician assistant profession. Web. 18 Jan. 2016.
• "More Details at O*NET OnLine for Physician Assistants at My Next Move." More
Details at O*NET OnLine for Physician Assistants at My Next Move. N.p., n.d. Web.
19 Jan. 2016.
• "PAEA Program Directory." PAEA Program Directory. Physician Assistant Education
Association, 2016. Web. 19 Jan. 2016.
• "Summary." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, n.d. Web.
19 Jan. 2016.