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MT transition to physician assistant - sm

Posted: Mar 05, 2011

I am considering this. I am interested in biology and medicine, but do not want to be a nurse. Anyone know about physician assistant's courses, how rigorous they are, how expensive and how much time it takes to complete them? I am in the middle of getting my associates degree right now in general studies. The original plan is going for a masters in social work, but biology and medicine is holding my interest at this point, so wondering if I should switch majors. Is a BA needed, and then a physician assistant program, similar to the nursing program? Looking for opinions or people who are in the know to share, a kind thanks!

BA needed, of course - sm

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After completing your bachelor's, you need to complete the PA program of about 26 months. The training is quite rigorous.

Difficult to gain admission - dreamer

[ In Reply To ..]
I am thinking about this too. Check out the PA forum for lots of info on this. From what I found out, this is getting as hard to get into as medical school! The competition to get in has really increased in recent years, and the GPA required for admission is higher than I though it would be.

In this case, harder means extra worthwhile. Transition's - not the word for this leap, though. :) NM

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x

have you consider - cindy

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a nurse practitioner? If the PA program is hard to get into, then a nurse practitioner is almost the same thing. The difference is that a nurse practitioner can treat and prescribe without the supervision of a physician and therefore you can essentially have your own practice where a physician assistant can treat and prescribe only under the supervision of a physician. I am pretty sure that a nurse practitioner requires a BA degree in nursing and then an additional two years for your masters. Good luck to you. You have a long road ahead, so you might want to explore both options to see which will work best for you.

supervision - mt

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NPs cannot prescribe w/o physician supervision in most states. The training for an NP is comparable to that of a PA. NP does end up with a bit more autonomy.

I live in PA - mt4now

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I live in PA and NPs can prescribe without a physician. One of the NPs I work with came from NJ/NY and could prescribe in both of those states without an attending. Definitely worth at least checking out what your state requires.

I was rather surprised to find an NP in psychiatry. She was a social worker at one time and then went back to get her BA in nursing and on to get her NP in nursing. She is now a practicing psych NP. Maybe something OP might want to look into since it is along the lines of social work but much better pay.

I live in TN, and there is basically no difference - between a PA and a NP

[ In Reply To ..]
They can write prescriptions all they want and have stand alone offices in which a physician is not on site, but they still have to have an overseeing physician. I would say the local programs cost about the same as they are both from very expensive private schools. Both the PAs and NP can come from any bachelor's program, at least where I live.

I personally find it very scary that someone can go 4 years for a business degree and then in less than 2 years for a NP degree can all of a sudden prescribe medications. I have worked as an assistant for one in the past, and believe me, they are no doctor.

One of the offices I worked for let NP students do clinicals there. If you wanted to specialize, you had to go back for extra time. I'm thinking it was a year as one of the students was considering doing this. So, basically, that is 7 years of schooling.

In Maryland you do not need a doctor supervising a NP - cindy

[ In Reply To ..]
The office I do to has a NP that owns her own Urgent Care Clinic. She does not need a doctor overseeing her at all.

its about 60,000 for the program - sm

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Not including the money it takes to get an Associates and Bachelors before the actual program. We are looking at over 100,000 in debt when it is said and done. Wow. This program is expensive and it seems futile to even try, so nevermind. Sticking with MSW for now.

Suspect you didn't intend THAT big a leap; however, - note not futile for those who go for it. NM

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x

Yes, but the pay is worth it. - PA

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My sister-in-law is a PA and she is making 140,000. Great money, and she says it is very rewarding.

Wow, that is really good. That is as much the - average family physician makes nm

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MT to physician's assistant - Msmello

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Hi, PA programs require at least a Bachelor's degree to get in and are Master's programs 2-3 yrs in length. They are extremely rigorous programs usually full-time or part-time. Nursing has so much more versatility as a career and schooling can be a little easier on your life, not to diminish nursing school in comparison, nursing is a hard program too, but length and scheduling of classes might be easier to fit into your life. Hope this helps.

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