Pre Physicians Assistant            Pre-Health Professions Advising

Pre-Physicians Assistant
Physician Assistants are licensed health care professionals who practice medicine under a licensed physician. While always working with a corresponding physician and seeing many of the same types of patients as the physician, PAs are relatively autonomous in that they conduct their own physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and prescribe medications.

The PA professions in a considerably new health care profession as it began in the mid 1960’s. As of January 2009 there are approximately 68,000 practicing PAs in the US. Originally PAs brought health care to the underserved in rural and inner city areas. Today they practice in urban, suburban and rural settings. There are currently 143 PA programs in the US.

Physician Assistant Related Links:

Physician Assistant Education Association - www.paeaonline.org
American Academy of Physician Assistants - www.aapa.org
Central Application Service for Physician Assistants - www.caspa.org
Explore Health Careers – www.explorehealthcareers.org