Desiring to become a physician assistant is a very interesting thing. I mean, it’s a great idea to want to care for people who are sick and probably cannot help themselves. But I can tell you its a damn rigorous journey you want to embark on. However, the benefits thereof I can tell you, are quite huge to exhaust in this article. As you may want to know, Physician Assistants are not nurses but they work side by side medical doctors in the discharge of their duties. So if you think becoming a physician assistant is the same as being a nurse, the two are not the same. Nurses are just also a different component of a standard healthcare team. So in this article, you’ll really learn all that you deserve to know concerning this career and how you can find your way around it if you live in Massachusetts. Meanwhile, take a look at some of the things you’ll find in this article in the table of contents below. So let’s delve into the journey.
Who is A Physician Assistant?
A Physician Assistant also known as PA is a trained member of a health care team who works under the supervision of a licensed medical doctor to provide medical care to patients in a health care setting. Usually, the PA does not need to perform his duties only when the supervising physician is around provided he has been well trained and knows how to discharge his duties appropriately. However, there needs to be a consistent method of contact between the supervising physician and the PA at all times.
What are the duties of A Physician Assistant?
Part of what a Physician Assistant does is the recording of medical histories and physical examinations of patients. This is on a general note. However, duties of a Physician Assistant are described according to what specialty they want to focus on or what specialty their supervising physician is focused on. For instance, a physician Assistant who has under the supervision of an orthopedic surgeon will definitely have the task of conducting bone surgeries even when the supervising surgeon is not around. In the same vein, a physician assistant working under a pediatrician will have the responsibility of carrying out what duties the supervising pediatrician does whether he is around or not. These are dependent on the premise that the assistant physician has been properly trained by the mentor. However, on a general note, Physician Assistants perform the following functions.
Physician Assistants order for tests in order to ascertain the nature and extent of illnesses and injuries of patients.They also prescribe medications and help develop therapeutic plans for the remedy medical problems. Physician Assistants may also take the responsibility of stitching wounds and setting bones. This is if the have this training.Physician Assistants Administer immunizations in healthcare centers.Another important role physician assistants play is following up the patients through the course of their treatment to ensure strict adherence to treatment plans and recommended regimen.
What Requirements do I need for PA School?
To be considered for admission into any of the PA schools in Massachusetts, it is important that you meet these very important requirements in the following lines. The first level to becoming a physician assistant is the acquisition of a high school certificate with a strong foundation in sciences like; biology, chemistry, physics, English, etc. Virtually all schools in the US will require the completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. This degree requirement is one of the prerequisites for gaining admission into an accredited PA school. After your bachelor’s studies, you will need to acquire a masters degree in a medical related course. It could in any of these courses or any other ; pathology, human anatomy, physiology, clinical medicine and pharmacology. Some schools require a GRE and GPA before they can admit you into their PA masters program while some do not really consider it. Furthermore, in your walk to become a physician assistant, you’ll be required to complete a healthcare training and also acquire a license. After completing a PA program, you’ll need to take the PANCE to earn the certification as a physician assistant, then seek licensure from your state in order to begin practicing.
How long does it take to complete a PA program?
It takes approximately 8 years of training to become a certified physician assistant. The 8 years are spent in learning various skills that are required to fully become a PA. Firstly, one must earn a bachelor’s degree, which takes roughly four years to complete. This means that you must have also completed your high school education with relatively good grades. The bachelor’s degree which you must have could be in any course at all provided it is related to the medical profession. Acquiring a bachelor’s degree alone does not qualify you to become a Physician Assistant. You’ll need to get a health training which will further widen your knowledge in health care. The health care training could be in the area of paramedics or any other medical-related course. Usually, this training takes about three years to complete. After you have completed the health care training, the next thing will be to acquire a masters degree. The masters program does not take so much time to complete. On average, it will cost you like two years to complete a masters degree program which leads to a career as a Physician Assistant. One more thing will be left for you to do after your master’s degree. That is sitting for the Accreditation test. Only those who graduate from the ARC-PA program (the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant) can qualify to write this test. One can attempt this test up to 6 times in a span of 6 years after which he will need to wait for some time before trying again. In addition, a person who has completed all the rigors and has been licensed to practice as a physician assistant will still need to take council exams periodically to maintain their licensure.
What schools offer Physician Assistant Programs?
There are about 8 notable schools in the whole of Massachusetts that offers Physician Assistant programs. So, if you live in Virginia and you are looking to enroll in PA school soon, here is a list of PA schools where you can pursue PA programs in Massachusetts. Explore here below.
List of Best PA Schools in Massachusetts
Let us look at the schools more closely.
#1. Bay Path University
Bay Path University is one of the top schools with PA schools in Massachusetts. According to U.S. News, Bay Path University Physician Assistant program is ranked among the PA schools in Massachusetts that are producing great minds for this top job of the future. The MS in Physician Assistant Studies from Bay Path University is an intensive, accelerated degree program that combines on-campus classroom and laboratory work with offsite clinical experience. Students gain the knowledge and skills necessary for evaluating, monitoring, diagnosing, treating, and counseling patients across their lifespan. Your degree will prepare you to work in primary care, surgery, emergency medicine, and medical and surgical sub-specialties. Bay Path University School Physician Assistant program is accredited by ARC-PA.
#2. Boston University
Boston University is another one among the list of best PA schools in Massachusetts. The mission of the Boston University School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program is to provide innovative education to physician assistants who will deliver exceptional care for a diverse population of patients, including those from vulnerable communities. The program seeks to prepare students to care for patients in vulnerable and under-served communities. It also Prepares students to practice medicine as an ethical member of a patient-centered, inter-disciplinary health care team. Boston University Physician Assistant program is accredited by ARC-PA. Take a quick flight to the school.
#3. MGH Institute of Health Professions
This is another accredited PA school in Massachusetts where you should consider taking your PA training. The school has the aim to provide educational opportunities for students to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to function as primary care physician assistants, serving the medical needs of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and society at large. The Physician Assistant Program at MGH is accredited by ARC-PA. Take a quick flight to the school.
#4. MCPHS University
MCPHS University is one of the best PA programs in Massachusetts. The MCPHS University’s Physician Assistant Department is bent on training and raising top-notch Physician Assistants who will merge professionalism with empathy to better the health of the MA community. The Physician Assistant Program at MGH is accredited by ARC-PA. Take a quick flight to the school.
#5. Northeastern University
Northeastern University is another school on the list of best PA schools in Massachusetts. The MSPA program at Mary Baldwin University is to academically and clinically prepare students for PA practice as compassionate, effective, qualified clinicians able to serve in a variety of medical specialty areas and settings in collaboration with licensed physicians. Some of the areas of focus are specialties that include women’s health, internal medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics, emergency medicine, and surgery. The Physician Assistant Program at MGH is accredited by ARC-PA. Take a quick flight to the school.
#6. Springfield College
Springfield College is one of the best PA schools that provides one of the best PA programs in Massachusetts. The Springfield College physician assistant (PA) program is renowned for its unique blend of academic rigor and hands-on experience in this field. The program educates primary care physician assistants eligible for employment in a wide variety of medical settings and specialties.. The Physician Assistant Program is accredited by ARC-PA. Take a quick flight to the school.
#7. Tufts University
Tufts University provides one of the best PA programs in Massachusetts. The Tufts University School of Medicine Physician Assistant (PA) Program trains you to practice as a PA in a broad range of clinical settings. Job growth for physician assistants is expected to rise almost 40 percent over the next 10 years, which makes the field an attractive, exciting option for students who are passionate about making a difference by pursuing a career in clinical medicine. The program also places emphasis on wellness promotion and disease prevention for the individual patient and the community. The Physician Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant. Take a quick flight to the school.
PA schools in Massachusetts without GRE
GRE has been the nightmare of most students desiring to pursue a career as Physician Assistants. This is because of how rigorous the exam is. If you want to become a physician assistant but you don’t want to write the GRE, there are about 5 PA schools in Massachusetts that do not require you to write or present GRE. If you do not want to write a GRE before getting into the PA school here are the schools that do not require a GRE.
PA programs in Massachusetts with low GPA
If you are looking to enroll in a PA school in Massachusetts but you are looking for a school with a low GPA requirement, it’s sad, the truth is that all the PA programs in Virginia require GPA above average. The minimum GPA required to be admitted into Massachusetts PA schools is 3.0. This is quite above average. So you there is actually no PA program in Massachusetts that accepts a low GPA. The average salary for a Physician Assistant in Massachusetts is $117,126. According to a report by the BLS, the employment of physician assistants is expected to grow by 31 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. As the demand for healthcare services grows, physician assistants will be needed more to provide care to patients. The Massachusetts Medical Commission charges a non-refundable application processing fee of $600. The lowest GPA to be considered for into pa schools in Massachusetts is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Conclusion
Pursuing a career as a physician assistant is a very demanding but lucrative one. You’ll get to spend so much time in school completing your training. It takes about 6 years without healthcare training while it takes 9 years plus with a healthcare training. But is it really worth all the stress? I think it is worth all the stress and even more! An average salary of $117,126 isn’t just huge but promising that more will come. Additionally, you’ll get to work with the specialists in your chosen specialty.
