According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 58% of PAs are working in doctor offices, 23% in hospitals, 7% at outpatient care centers, 4% in government, and 3% private practice. Furthermore, an estimated 38% growth rate is predicted from 2012 to 2022 as stated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nevertheless, a physician assistant is one of the most important careers in the medical industry. While we often talk about doctors and nurses, a physician assistant plays a vital role in diagnosing and treating patients. So, in this article, we’ll look into who a Physician Assistant is, the requirements, top accredited PA schools in Wisconsin and job outlook, and a whole lot more. See the table of contents below.
Who Is A Physician Assistant?
For most hospitals and clinical services, Physician Assistants (PA) are important members of the healthcare team. A Physician Assistant is a healthcare practitioner licensed to practice medicine under the tutelage of a Physician. PAs provide basic care services, including performing exams, ordering tests, and prescribing medicines. In other words, Physician Assistants are those healthcare personnel that assists the Physician.
How Can I Become A Physician Assistant In Wisconsin?
Due to the increasing demand for Physician Assistants, heavy focus is now placed on clinically-based training and the need to groom students who will be a perfect fit for the profession. Therefore, medical schools are ideally suited to train Physician Assistants. This opens up doors for interaction with medical students and faculty, creating a unique experience. To become a PA student IN Wisconsin, there are certain requirements you have to fulfill. For instance, there are certain prerequisite courses and practical patient care experiences expected of you. Entrance requirements for PA programs vary, but you ideally you need at least two years of college coursework, including classes in chemistry, anatomy, and biology. Many PA programs also expect you to have a notable amount of hands-on patient care experience. You can obtain this experience in many ways, including working as an EMT or paramedic, medical assistant, phlebotomist, nurse, medical technician, or as a certified nursing assistant. Furthermore, when you’ve been accepted into a PA program, you must complete coursework in Pathology, Diagnosis, and Medical Ethics. Also, you’ll take part in supervised clinical training. Lastly, to become a certified PA, you’ll need to acquire a master’s degree from a PA training program that has received accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
Admission Requirements Needed To Study PA In Wisconsin
Admission requirements vary depending on the specific program. However, you need two to four years of undergraduate course work with a specific focus on related science courses. Furthermore, the Physician Assistant school application process normally requires a personal statement, transcripts, hours of healthcare experience verification, and letters of recommendation. Additionally, people who intend to apply to a Physician Assistant may need to take an acceptance test. The examination requirement of Physician Assistant schools vary. Many schools, for example, require Graduate Record Examination (GRE), which is required for various forms of master’s degree programs. On the flip side, some other schools demand Medical School Admissions Exam (MCAT). Additionally, some PA programs require the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). In some cases, none of the above entrance exams are required.
Is Bachelor’s Degree Necessary For Physician Assistant Program In Wisconsin?
Physician Assistants, also known as PA’s, practice under a team of Physicians and Surgeons. They have been through extensive training and are well prepared to examine, diagnose, and treat patients. To be a Physician Assistant, you need a Bachelor’s of Science degree in a science major.
Do Physician Assistant Schools Require GRE Or MCAT?
According to the PAEA report, over half of PA schools require the GRE. A handful of schools offer you the choice of the GRE or the MCAT, but none specifically require the MCAT. Considering you’ll want to give yourself as many options as possible, it would be in your best interest to take the GRE test—and do well. As one of your PA school requirements, the GRE is a more forgiving aspect of your application than others. You can take the GRE up to five times within twelve months, and you only need to wait twenty-one days in between test attempts. Don’t worry about PA schools seeing you took the GRE multiple times. ETS allows you to only send the scores you want to potential schools. So re-taking the GRE to improve your score is in your best interest. Many PA schools won’t set a specific minimum GRE score. The programs that do usually set the minimum score around 295—but again, some will be higher and some will be lower. The average GRE score of students on the 2019 PAEA report was 306—an addition of verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning. The average analytical writing score was 4.1. Plan to take the GRE well ahead of the PA school application deadlines, so you can fit in a few re-takes to try to get your score above the average. And of course, consider investing in GRE prep resources to maximize your highest score.
Can I Acquire A Physician Assistant Degree Online?
While the majority of physician assistant program credits involve hands-on training and clinical work, some courses can often be completed online. An online Physician Assistant master’s program offers flexibility for students who are also working professionals. Web-based programs typically follow the same rigorous curricula as brick-and-mortar options, leading to similar advancement opportunities for graduates. Online Master’s degree programs for Physician Assistants can include courses such as Physiology, Pharmacology, epidemiology, and research. Courses can also discuss delivery mechanisms for healthcare in the U.S., as well as the principles and policies that govern these processes.
How Long Does It Take To Complete A Physician Assistant Program In Wisconsin?
Most PA programs are approximately 26 months in length. What this entails is that the master’s program lasts for approximately 3 years.
The academic portion of the program (typically 12-15 months in length) includes classroom study in behavioral/social and clinical preparatory sciences including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, medical ethics, clinical laboratory science, microbiology, pathophysiology, public health, and clinical medicine.
The clinical portion of a PA program incorporates over 2,000 hours of full-time clinical rotations in family medicine, emergency medicine, internal medicine, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral/mental health, and general surgery, as well as electives chosen by the student.
What Do Physician Assistants Do?
As the name suggests, a physician assistant supports doctors, surgeons, and other medical professionals with a wide variation of tasks. They serve multiple functions that help the hospital move forward efficiently. To help the doctor perform their work, a physician assistant will evaluate patients’ medical information, conduct basic examinations, give treatment, and instruct patients according to their needs. Although Physicians typically conduct the diagnosis and develop a treatment plan, Physician Assistants may be required to perform certain tasks depending on the particular job. A Physician Assistant can be the primary healthcare provider in a rural area and only consult with a physician when necessary. Also, they work in all areas of medicine, from primary care to emergency service and psychiatry.
Where Do Physician Assistants Work?
After graduation from PA schools in Wisconsin, Physical Assistants have opportunities in a wide variety of specialties. A PA specialist can work in the following subdivisions…
How Much Does Physical Assistants Earn?
After earning a master’s degree in Physician Assistant, you can expect a strong income rate and a stable job. According to information from the Bureau of Labour Statistics, Physician Assistants earn an average of over $98,000 per annum, and more. The renowned Physician Assistants earn almost $140,000 per annum while the low starters earn about $62,000 a year, which is well above the $36,200 national average for all jobs. The expected job growth makes PA even more interesting. The BLS says that physician assistant jobs will grow by a huge 30% between 2014 and 2024. To put this in viewpoint, jobs that deal with diagnosing and managing health issues will grow by 17%, while the total across-the-board job growth will be about 7%. So not only can you expect a wonderful income, you will have an increased chance at the landing and keeping a job for your whole working career. It is also important to note that every area of the country needs physician assistants. However, some areas offer better chances. High-population states, like New York, California, and Texas, obviously have many opportunities for physician assistants, but Maine actually has the highest concentration for this career. According to BLS, Maine holds 1.59 physician assistant jobs for every 1,000 workers. Maine also has a high yearly mean wage, sitting at $102,550.
Does Wisconsin Have PA Programs?
There are currently five programs in the state of Wisconsin: UW Madison, UW La Crosse, Marquette University, Carroll University and Concordia University. Most PA programs are approximately 26 months in length.
Best Accredited PA Schools in Wisconsin
According to the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, there are currently five accredited PA programs in the state of Wisconsin:
#1. University of Wisconsin – Madison
The UW-Madison is one of the PA schools in Wisconsin. The Program is committed to the training and education of knowledgeable, skilled, professional, and compassionate physician assistants to meet the health care needs of Wisconsin and beyond through distinction in education, research, patient care, and service, while significantly contributing to and advancing the PA profession. The institution educates professionals who are enthusiastic about the delivery of comprehensive health care in a culturally and ethnically sensitive manner, with an emphasis on primary health care for populations and regions in need. The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the University of Wisconsin-Madison under the ARC-PA Standards. The UW-Madison PA Program seeks aspirants with a solid academic background, a showed dedication to clinical practice, robust interpersonal skills, and experiences reflecting a high level of maturity and professionalism.
#2. University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, with the Gundersen Medical Foundation of La Crosse and the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences of Rochester, Minnesota, first set this physician assistant educational program in 1995 as a Bachelor of Science program. The program aims to educate highly competent and compassionate physician assistants who excel in meeting the healthcare needs of the regions served by the partner institutions. The program, approved by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) since 1997, has managed a 100% five-year pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE) and excellent job placement upon graduation.
#3. Marquette University
The Physician Assistant Studies Program at Marquette University is a professional program in the Marquette University College of Health Sciences. Marquette University is dedicated to tutoring physician assistants for the supervised practise of primary medicine in changing health care systems. The university realizes her mission through a synergistic strategy of educational goals. According to a survey of graduates from the university, the Marquette PA program class of 2018 had a 100% job employment rate. Marquette University meets the educational requirements for licensing in all states. The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has awarded Accreditation-Continued status to the Marquette University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program complies with the ARC-PA Standards.
#4. Concordia University Wisconsin
Concordia University’s PA program aims to educate students who are committed to caring for patients in mind, body, and spirit. The program is a combination of didactic and clinical courses. The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Concordia University Wisconsin Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Concordia University Wisconsin.
#5. Carroll University
Carroll University’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program tutors physician assistants to provide comprehensive, quality healthcare to all. Furthermore, their PA graduates are trained to be respectful of patient/client values, committed to ethical principles, and remain grounded in evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning. Furthermore, the program provides you with the skills you must contribute to the profession and communities while preparing you to practice medicine in a variety of primary care settings under the supervision of physicians. The PA program was granted continuing accreditation in 2013 from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Accreditation-continued status remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards.
Conclusion
In summary, the PA schools in Wisconsin are not just accredited, they’re reputable. if you are looking for the best accredited PA schools in North Carolina., I hope you find this article very resourceful. Most PA programs are approximately 26 months. Medical assistants usually hold two-year degrees and conduct entry-level healthcare tasks. Physician assistants hold master’s degrees and diagnose and treat patients under a doctor’s supervision. A physician assistant supports doctors, surgeons, and other medical professionals with a wide variation of tasks. There are many top-notch online programs that can equip you for this rewarding career, and it builds most to fit busy schedules.
