History of PA Profession
Why did they start the Physician Assistant profession?
To increase access to healthcare/ There was a shortage in primary care physicians.
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.
What are 3 duties of Physician Assistants?
Evaluate, treat, diagnose, prescribe, educate, chart, perform procedures, work alongside physician, assist in surgery, etc.
What exam must you pass to become a certified PA?
Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE)
Which University did the first PA class graduate from?
Duke University
What is the standardized test that a lot of graduate schools, including some PA programs, require?
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Name 5 PA programs
any 5 PA schools in the U.S.
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
What are the 3 main accreditation statuses of PA schools?
What year did the Physician Assistant profession begin? (when was first PA program established)
1965 (The first PA class graduated on Oct. 6, 1967)
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)
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.
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)
Who were first trained to be Physician Assistants?
U.S. Navy Corpsmen
Name 4 courses that are prerequisites for most PA programs
Anatomy & Physiology
General Chemistry
General Biology
Microbiology
Statistics
Psychology
Biochemistry
Genetics
Organic Chemistry
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.
What area/specialty do the highest % of PAs work in?
Family Medicine
What is the re-certification examination you need to take as a PA?
Physician Assistant National Recertifying Exam (PANRE)
Which is the last state that passed legislation authorizing PAs to practice?
Mississippi
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
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)
By how much (in %) is employment of PAs predicted to grow from 2020-2030? (correct if within 5%)
31% (source: bureau of labor statistics)
ARC-PA (Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant)