Physician Assistant profession (PA)

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Types of health care providers

PRACTICE SETTINGS

PAs practice in a variety of settings in nearly every medical and surgical specialty area. The majority (45%) of them practice within primary care areas, with 28% in family practice. Other common practice areas are general surgery, surgical subspecialties, and emergency medicine. The remainder are involved in teaching, research, administration, or other nonclinical roles.

PAs may practice in any setting in which a physician provides care, allowing the doctor to focus skills and knowledge in a more effective manner. PAs practice in both rural and inner city communities. About 30% of PAs practice in areas that have less than 50,000 people. Because of the ability and willingness of PAs to practice in rural areas, the distribution of health care providers throughout the general population has been enhanced.

REGULATION OF PROFESSION

Like many other professions, physician assistants are regulated at two different levels. Licensure takes place at the state level according to specific state laws. In contrast, certification is established through a national organization, with requirements for minimal practice standards being consistent across all states.

Licensure: Laws specific to PA licensure may vary somewhat among the states. However, nearly all states require national certification prior to licensure. Prescriptive practice privileges for PAs exist in about 48 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam.

All state laws require PAs to have a supervising doctor. This physician does not necessarily have to be on site at the same location as the PA. Most states allow physician supervision to occur via telephone communication with periodic site visits. Supervising doctors typically review and sign all visits recorded in the patient's file by the PA.

Certification: In the early stages of the profession, the AAPA (American Association of Physician Assistants) joined with the AMA (American Medical Association) and the National Board of Medical Examiners to develop a national competency examination.

Later, in 1975, an independent organization, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, was established to administer a certification program that includes an entry-level examination, continuing medical education, and periodic re-examination for recertification. Only physician assistants who are graduates of approved programs and have completed and maintained such certification may use the credentials PA-C (certified).

Review Date: 11/15/2005
Reviewed By: Kevin D. Bayes, Assistant Director of Information Services, American Academy of Physician Assistants. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.