History of PA Profession
Admission to PA Programs
Physician Assistant Program
Physician Assistant as a Career
Helpful Information
100

Why did they start the Physician Assistant profession?

There was a shortage in primary care physicians.

100

How much does the entry examination cost?

$200

100

How long are PA programs usually?

24-36 months

100

What is the median salary of a PA-C?

$95, 820 (Source: http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/physician-assistant/salary)

100

What exam must you pass to become a certified PA?

Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) To become a certified PA, you must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), a computer-based, multiple-choice test comprising questions that assess general medical and surgical knowledge. (Source: nccpa.net)

200
Who were first trained to be Physician Assistants?
Navy corpsmen
200

What is the minimum number of hours usually required for direct patient care experience?

Technically 0!!

200

Name all four PA programs in Alabama. 

South, Faulkner, Samford, UAB

200
Physician Assistants can practice independently.  T or F. 

True, only in some states: MT, UT, WY, AZ and ND

200

What is the re-certification examination you need to take?

Physician Assistant National Recertifying Exam (PANRE) --- By the end of the tenth year of the certification maintenance cycle, PA-C designees must have passed a recertification exam. Offered at testing centers throughout the U.S., the multiple choice Physician Assistant National Recertifying Exam (PANRE) is designed to assess general medical and surgical knowledge. (Source: nccpa.net)

300

When did the Physician Assistant profession begin?

It started in the 1960s. The first PA class graduated on Oct. 6, 1967.

300

What is the online application service for PA schools? 

Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA)

300

What is the first year and second year of PA school called?

Didactic and Clinical

300

What is the PA board for Alabama?

Alabama Board of Medical Examiners

300
What does the C stand for in PA-C?
It means "Certified". The "PA-C" designation can only be used by PAs who have current certification.
400
In 2001, ARC-PA was established. What is ARC-PA?

The accrediting body of the PA programs. Accrediation Review commision on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)

400

What are the costs to the PA application submission for each PA program?

CASPA charges $184 for the first program you apply to and $61 for each additional program.

400

What are extra clinicals called in PA school?

Elective rotations

400
What career is closely related to Physician Assistants?
Nurse Practitioner
400

What is the employment outlook % for Physician Assistants?

Employment of physician assistants is projected to grow projected to grow 27 percent from 2022 to 2032 

Reference: Physician Assistants Occupational Outlook Handbook

500

What training was the curriculum of the first class based on?

[Eugene A. Stead Jr., MD] based the curriculum of the PA program on his knowledge of the fast-track training of doctors during World War II. (www.aapa.org)

500
What is the standardized test that a lot of graduate schools, including some PA programs, require?
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
500
What is the graduate program degree called for PAs?

Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

500
Is Alabama's state laws on Physician Assistant's a supervisory or collaboratory language?

Supervisory.

500

What is needed to be done every two years as part of the certification maintenance process?

The 10-year certification maintenance process includes five two-year cycles during which all certified PAs must log 100 CME credits online and submit a *$130 certification maintenance fee by 11:59 p.m. PT, December 31 of your certification expiration year. (http://www.nccpa.net/ContinuingMedicalEducation)

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