History of PA Profession
Admission to PA Programs
Physician Assistant Program
Physician Assistant as a Career
PA Credentials & Organizations
100

Why did they start the Physician Assistant profession?

To increase access to healthcare/ There was a shortage in primary care physicians.

100

List 3 experiences that fulfill direct patient care hours.

Nursing (RN, LVN, CNA), Emergency Services (EMT, Paramedic, EMS), Physical Therapist Tech/Aid, Medical Assistant, Patient Care Technician, etc.

100
How long are PA programs usually?
24-30 months
100

What are 3 duties of Physician Assistants?

Evaluate, treat, diagnose, prescribe, educate, chart, perform procedures, work alongside physician, assist in surgery, etc.

100

What exam must you pass to become a certified PA?

Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) 

200

Which University did the first PA class graduate from?

Duke University

200

What is the standardized test that a lot of graduate schools, including some PA programs, require?

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)


200

Name 5 PA programs

any 5 PA schools in the U.S.



200

What is the median salary of a PA-C? (correct if within $10,000)

$135,880 (Source: bureau of labor statistics as of May 2025)

Fun fact: it was $115,390 in December 2021


200

What are the 3 main accreditation statuses of PA schools?

  • Accreditation–Continued: the established program is meeting ARC-PA standards
  • Accreditation–Provisional: generally a newer program that is progressing through the accreditation process. It is still an accredited status, but it does not guarantee the program will later receive Continued status.
  • Accreditation–Probation: the program is accredited, but ARC-PA has determined that it is not meeting certain standards or that its ability to provide an acceptable educational experience is threatened. 
300

What year did the Physician Assistant profession begin? (when was first PA program established)

1965 (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 and second year of PA school called and what is the difference between them? 

First Year: didactic (classroom based; lectures; etc.)

Second Year: Clinical (hands on training in clinical settings; rotations, etc)

300

Name two major differences between the physician assistant and a nurse practitioner professions?

1. NPs have nursing background (bachelor degree in nursing and then work as RN) while PAs attend a medical school 

2. PAs train using the medical model, NPs use nursing model

3. PAs focus more on pathology, NPs focus more on the patient's quality of life/pain management

4.PAs have more flexibility to change specialty.  PAs are trained as generalists, NPs trained in specific population (ex- geriatrics, pediatrics, women's health, etc)

5. NPs are allowed full independent practice in most states;  PAs have to work under a physician in the state of Arkansas, but guidelines vary from state to state

etc.


300

What is the name of the national professional society that works to advocate and educate on behalf of the PA profession?

American Academy of Physician Associates/Assistants (AAPA)

400

Who were first trained to be Physician Assistants?

U.S. Navy Corpsmen 

400

Name 4 courses that are prerequisites for most PA programs

Anatomy & Physiology

General Chemistry 

General Biology

Microbiology

Statistics

Psychology

Biochemistry

Genetics

Organic Chemistry

400

Name 3 countries other than the U.S that have adopted the PA profession

Canada, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Liberia, India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Bulgaria, etc.

400

What area/specialty do the highest % of PAs work in?

Family Medicine

400

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

Physician Assistant National Recertifying Exam (PANRE)

500

Which is the last state that passed legislation authorizing PAs to practice?

Mississippi

500

What are the 3 types of interviews that PA programs may use during their interview process?

1. Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) 2. Traditional Interviews 3. Group Interviews


500

Name 5 of 7 core rotations in PA school (the clinical rotations that are a part of almost every PA schools curriculum)? 

emergency medicine

family medicine

general surgery

internal medicine

pediatrics

behavioral and mental health (psych)

women's health (ObGyn)

500

By how much (in %) is employment of PAs predicted to grow from 2020-2030? (correct if within 5%)

31% (source: bureau of labor statistics)

500
What is the name of the accrediting agency that sets educational standards for PA programs and evaluates programs to make sure they are in compliance with those standards?

ARC-PA (Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant)

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