They provide the basic diagnostic and treatment services in the absence of the primary care physician. P.A.s also participate in preventive medicine and patient education. If students choose a specialty like orthopedics, P.A.s can assist in surgery.

P.A.s are not limited to medicine; research and administration are popular choices as well.

Most incoming P.A. students have bachelor’s degrees and at least two years health care experience. Their training is based on the medical model, which focuses on diagnosis and treatment. When students complete the didactic phase, they begin clinical rotations in internal and family medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine and psychiatry. Upon graduation and six years afterwards, P.A.s are required by law to pass the certifying exam formulated and administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). In addition, P.A.s must complete 100 hours of continued medical education (CME) every two years.

P.A.s are essential to the health care profession because they reduce waiting time, allow physicians to concentrate more on complicated cases and reduce the overall cost of health care by increasing productivity. Most important, P.A.s provide the patient with access to more extensive information and education.