Pre-Health: Physician Assistant

An Overview of the PA Profession

The Pre-Health: Physician Assistant pathway program in the CBU School of Sciences prepares students for further study toward a profession as a physician assistant.  As a physician assistant, you will be part of a healthcare team providing diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic services, as designated by a licensed physician. You also may have managerial duties, order medical and lab supplies and equipment, or supervise technicians and assistants.

While you will practice under the license of a physician, you may be the principal care provider, particularly in practices where a physician may be present for only one or two days each week. In such cases, you will confer with the supervising physician and other medical professionals as needed or as required by law. You also may make house calls or go to hospitals and nursing homes to check on patients and report back to the physician.

The PA profession is seeing tremendous growth. U.S. News & World Report ranked physician assistant as the 5th best job in 2016 and the 3rd best job in 2017. Salaries have been rising with demand – the median PA salary for 2016 was $104,131, according to the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). You will be able to practice and prescribe medicine in all 50 states and the District of Columbia (regulations vary by state).

CBU’s Pre-Health: Physician Assistant pathway program will prepare you for advanced study or help you apply to other graduate level PA programs. CBU offers a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies so you can make a smooth transition if you wish to stay in Memphis.

Pre-Health: Physician Assistant Pathway Program Highlights

What You Will Study

Most often, you will choose to major in Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedical Science, or Chemistry to participate in the Pre-Health: Physician Assistant pathway program. Each of these programs is designed to meet the entrance requirements of all health-related professional schools. However, majors in other fields are acceptable as long as you complete the necessary prerequisites.

Pre-Health: Physician Assistant Coursework

To ensure that you are taking the courses you need, check the requirements of the schools where you want to apply. With your advisor, develop a Pre-Health: Physician Assistant course of study that will fulfill the professional school admission requirements.

Contact information regarding careers as a Physician Assistant

• American Academy of Physician Assistants
• Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA)
• Listing of PA programs, locations and credentials offered
• Physician Assistant Education Association
• Physician Assistant Program Directory
• Physician Assistants—National PA Page