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While the titles sound similar, a medical and a physician assistant are vastly different in terms of requirements and duties. That said, if you’ve been working as a medical assistant and are looking for your next career step, becoming a physician assistant may be right for you. With additional education and experience, you can continue doing what you love while growing financially and personally.
Here at Montes HealthCare College, we want to do all we can to help our students succeed, even after they’ve completed our medical assistant program. Below, we break down the key differences in the medical assistant vs physician assistant journey and what steps to take if you’re ready to level up your career.
Can a Medical Assistant Become a Physician Assistant?
Yes, absolutely. In fact, working as a medical assistant is a smart first step toward becoming a physician assistant. You’re already gaining hands-on experience, interacting with patients, and getting a feel for clinical environments.
That kind of background not only looks good on PA program applications, it also helps you hit the ground running once you’re in.
Of course, you’ll still need to complete a bachelor’s degree and get into a PA program, but your experience as an MA gives you a clear advantage.
Difference Between a Medical Assistant and a Physician Assistant
Medical assistant duties are typically more clerical than that of a physician assistant. So, if you prefer scheduling appointments and handling paperwork over clinical tasks, you may be more suited for an administrative role in the future.
As a physician assistant, your primary responsibility will be to attend to patient needs. These involve conducting physical exams, interpreting diagnostic tests, providing treatments, and prescribing medication.
A physician assistant’s job is also more heavily regulated. While you don’t need a license to be a medical assistant, physician assistants must meet requirements for state licensure. Beyond this, other educational requirements must be met as well.
How to Become a Physician Assistant
To earn admission into a PA program, you must demonstrate professional experience in the medical field. Working as a medical assistant is generally considered a good way of meeting this prerequisite. Along with this, you also need to earn a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field.
If you don’t want to commit to earning a bachelor’s degree first, you can apply to a dual-degree program. A PA program is a graduate program that earns you a master’s degree. In a dual-degree program, you will work on earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s at the same time.
While in the PA program, you’re likely to take courses in pathophysiology, radiology, pharmacology, patient care, and medical ethics. Hands-on clinical training in primary care, emergency medicine, pediatrics, and internal medicine is something you will likely experience as well. Finally, you will likely have to participate in a research project.
Once you’ve graduated, you will need to pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) and meet any additional state-specific requirements for licensure to practice.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Physician Assistant?
Plan for about 6-8 years total. That might sound like a lot, but if you’re already working as a medical assistant, you’ve got a head start.
First, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree, which takes around four years. Some students go full-time straight through, while others take longer if they’re balancing work or family. After that, PA programs usually take about 2-3 years to complete.
If you choose a dual-degree program, you may be able to shave some time off by working on your bachelor’s and master’s at the same time. That route can be intense, but it’s a solid option if you’re laser-focused on your goal.
Keep in mind that many PA programs also require hundreds of hours of hands-on experience in patient care before you apply. Luckily, time spent working as a medical assistant often counts toward this, which makes your experience even more valuable.
Medical Assistant vs Physician Assistant – Benefits Comparison
Aside from the benefit of continuing what you enjoy, becoming a PA can give you a major financial benefit. The estimated annual salary of a physician assistant is $115,390 based on 2020 estimates.. Additionally, this career is on the rise, boasting a 28% job growth outlook according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How Does a Physician Assistant Work Life Balance Look Like?
Much like working as a medical assistant, a PA can enjoy a comfortable work-life balance. Neither of these jobs requires you to be on call 24/7; therefore, you can enjoy your time away from work comfortably.
Next Step After a Medical Assistant – Is it Worthy?
Finally, taking the step from medical assistant to PA can open up a realm of new possibilities. As a PA, you can practice in a versatile range of areas, including dermatology, pathology, cardiothoracic surgery, emergency medicine, and family medicine. So, if you’ve been interested in pursuing these fields, becoming a physician assistant after our program may be right for you.
A Medical Career Starts Here at MHCC
The first step to reaching your goals is starting a medical assistant program here at MHCC. Our programs take only 6-8 months to complete and can serve as your first step to a long and promising medical career. To learn more and schedule a tour of our Gardena campus, give us a call by dialing (310) 436-7000 or clicking HERE.