Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners

How to become a Physician Assistant

Official title: Physician Assistants

Also called: Cardiology Physician Assistant, Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C), Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant (Emergency Medicine PA), Family Practice Physician Assistant, Orthopaedic Physician Assistant, Orthopedic Physician Assistant, Physician Assistant (PA), Physician's Assistant, Surgical Critical Care Physician Assistant (Surgical Critical Care PA), Surgical Physician Assistant (Surgical PA)

Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.

Main tasks

Make tentative diagnoses and decisions about management and treatment of patients.
Interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal.
Prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.
Obtain, compile, and record patient medical data, including health history, progress notes, and results of physical examination.
Examine patients to obtain information about their physical condition.
Administer or order diagnostic tests, such as x-ray, electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests.
Instruct and counsel patients about prescribed therapeutic regimens, normal growth and development, family planning, emotional problems of daily living, and health maintenance.
Perform therapeutic procedures, such as injections, immunizations, suturing and wound care, and infection management.

How to become one

To enter the occupation, physician assistants typically need a master's degree from an accredited program. All states require physician assistants to be licensed.

Typical education to start: Master's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

College: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 23 universities in the US
Licence: A licence is required in 50 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $135,880 a year The middle half earn $120,670 to $163,980.
About 168,900 people work in this job now, and about 204,600 are projected by 2035. (+21.1%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Physician Assistant?

To enter the occupation, physician assistants typically need a master's degree from an accredited program. All states require physician assistants to be licensed.

How much does a Physician Assistant earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $135,880 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $120,670 to $163,980.

Is a Physician Assistant a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 21% by 2035, from about 168,900 to about 204,600 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Physician Assistant?

Usually. 94% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Physician Assistant?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.