According to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, released on April 3, 2024, physician assistants/associates (PAs) in the U.S. earn an impressive average annual salary of $130,490, with a mean hourly wage of $62.74. The latest American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) salary report showed a slight (5.8% NOT inflation-adjusted) increase in […]
Practicing Physician Assistant
I’ve Been a PA for 18 Years, and Still, Nobody Knows What I Do for a Living
After 18 years as a physician assistant, I still struggle to explain my profession to patients. Join my frustrating yet amusing journey to convey my medical role. I’ll share my failed attempts and proposed solutions, including ideas like getting a PA character on Grey’s Anatomy. Together we can reshape the landscape of healthcare, one understanding at a time.
Everything You Need to Know About Being a PA (and then some)
The ultimate guide to the PA profession – Navigate every aspect from certifying bodies like NCCPA and PAEA to data on applicants, programs, rotations, certification, salary, and the growth of PAs. Learn critical stats on PA schools, the PA job market, and new developments shaping the role of physician associates globally.
Will AI Phase Out Physician Assistants? Not on My Watch!
Will PAs Survive the Upcoming AI Revolution? As a seasoned PA, I’ve seen many changes sweep across the medical field. Advancements in technology, shifts in healthcare policy, and evolving patient expectations have continuously reshaped our profession. But there’s a new buzzword on the block: Artificial Intelligence (AI). Like an overzealous cloud, the question that hovers […]
5 Reasons Every PA School Applicant Needs a LinkedIn Profile
Whether you’re just starting out in your pre-PA school journey or are in the thick of things, having a LinkedIn profile is essential. Here are the top 5 reasons every PA school applicant needs a LinkedIn profile and why you should update yours today.
Don’t Make This Mistake with Your PA Resumé
Why your physician assistant resumé needs a summary section and how to write one Resumé writing is hard, but a good SUMMARY section can do a lot of your work for you. This often overlooked, yet simple-to-add section of your physician assistant/associate resumé can be the difference between getting an interview or never making it […]
Physician Assistants: What We Are and What We Are Not
Physician assistants are not assistants to doctors or just nurse practitioners with a different title. In this article I outline what PAs are and what we are not. How we differ from other medical professions and our similarities. Learn all about the PA profession and see if maybe it’s right for you.
The 4 Most Common Reasons PAs Quit Their Jobs
According to a new AAPA research article (August 2021), the four most common reasons PAs quit their jobs are: Better work/life balance (16.8%) Moving to a new location (16.7%) Better management/leadership/environment (reasons related to a toxic/abusive environment) (13.6%) Better compensation/benefits (11.9%) Other reasons PAs left their jobs included Better professional/clinical opportunities (6.6%) Corporate or external […]
Who’s Your Average PA? Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Meet Melissa Mean. She is a 38-year-old female physician assistant working in New York State, earning $123,080 per year. She holds a master’s degree in physician assistant studies with a bachelor’s of science in biochemistry from Penn State University. She works 40.3 hours per week in an office-based family medicine practice. She is not bilingual […]
How Much Money Do Physician Assistants (PAs) Make?
According to the latest NCCPA data, the average projected salary of certified PAs in 2024 is $120,204 per year or $57.74/hour, $10,017/month, and $2,313/week. The median projected annual salary of a PA is $115,000 per year. This is 218% of the US median salary. According to the NCCPA data, the average total income for Certified PAs has been increasing by 8.7%.
How to Write the Perfect Physician Assistant Cover Letter
Whether you are applying to PA school, to your first PA job, or you are a seasoned PA interested in an exciting new career possibility, you are likely worried most about constructing an effective resume. But, one of the most overlooked and underrated components of the application is the cover letter. Like the PA school […]
Physician Assistant Salary by State: 2019 Comparison Table
Click here to view the table. What capital city should you move to if you want the highest median Physician Assistant salary in the United States? I will give you a hint, this city has banned “happy hour” since 1984. What capital city should you move to if you want the lowest median physician assistant salary […]
Infographic: Countries Where Physician Assistants Work
International Physician Assistants (PAs), Physician Associates, and Advanced Care Providers Infographic demonstrating the international development of the physician assistant profession. A graphical comparison of the countries where PAs can work, train, and practice around the globe. Including country-specific title, United States PA practice authority in that country, PA salary, number of physician assistants or physician […]
10 Reasons Why Physician Assistant/Associate (PA) is the #2 Healthcare Job in 2024
Have you seen the big news? With a score of 7.0 out of 10, Physician Assistants/Associates sit at the top of the list as the number two healthcare job in America in 2024 and #5 of 100 top US jobs overall. Who’s number one? Hint: it’s a close relative to the PA profession. Click the […]
The 10 Best Cities for PAs to Move to in 2024
In its latest ranking of best healthcare jobs, U.S. News and World Report ranked physician assistants as the #2 healthcare job and the #4 best job overall in America. PAs are undoubtedly in high demand. As of the most recent estimates by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are ~148,000 PAs working in the USA. They […]
Physician Assistant Stats, Data, and Demographics
Physician assistant demographics have changed a lot over the years. From just four practicing physician assistants in the year 1967 to roughly ~126,000 practicing PAs in 2020. That’s a big difference in just over 50 years! Below is the latest demographic and statistical data on physician assistants from the most recent AAPA Salary report. I […]
The 10 Best Websites for Physician Assistant Job Search in 2024
If you’re a physician assistant/associate looking for a new job, you’re in luck! There are plenty of great places to look for your next PA position. But where is the best place to start? To help you out, we’ve outlined some of the best places to search for jobs as a PA in 2024. Here […]
Physician Assistant: Resume, CV, and Cover Letter Editing and Revision
Our resume/CV revision and editing services are specific to practicing PAs, PA students, and Pre-PAs We will help you create a winning resume/CV tailored to the needs of pre-PAs, PA students, and practicing PAs. If you are a practicing physician assistant/associate, a PA student finishing clinical rotations, or a Pre-PA making your way through the […]
Physician Assistant State Licensing: Everything you Need to Know
As a freshly minted new graduate PA there are four steps you have to complete to move successfully from program to practice: Become nationally certified (by the NCCPA via the PANCE) Obtain a state license in the state you wish to practice Obtain an NPI number Obtain a federal DEA number As a practicing PA, you must […]
Use VisualCV to Create a Stunning Physician Assistant Resume
I have a confession to make. For many years I have had a copy of my physician assistant resume posted here on the website, available for download as a guide to help you structure and organize your own physician assistant CV. It has helped 100’s (if not 1000’s) of practicing and new graduate PAs like […]
The PANCE and PANRE Content Blueprint Checklist
Your Blueprint to Success Starts Here! If you are at all like me the hardest part of studying for your PANCE or PANRE is figuring out where to begin. There is an ever-growing list of review books, podcasts, online programs, in-person review courses, and anecdotal recommendations to choose from. It’s overwhelming! So, the key to success […]
Episode 41: The Audio PANCE and PANRE Board Review Podcast
Welcome to episode 41 of the FREE Audio PANCE and PANRE Physician Assistant Board Review Podcast. Join me as I cover 10 PANCE and PANRE board review questions from the Academy course content following the NCCPA™ content blueprint. This week we will be taking a break from topic specific board review and covering 10 general board review questions. […]
Your Main Goal on Your Path to PA Shouldn’t be Immediate Success or Money, But to Learn as Much as Possible
Your primary goal as a new physician assistant or as someone hoping to become one should not be immediate success or money, but to learn as much as possible. When people look for a “way in” to a particular field – an internship or first job – they often search for positions that promise the […]
Cardiology 1: The Audio PANCE and PANRE Podcast Topic Specific Review Episode 27
Welcome to episode 27 of the FREE Audio PANCE and PANRE Physician Assistant Board Review Podcast. Over the next few episodes I will be covering topic specific PANCE and PANRE review from the Academy course content following the NCCPA content blueprint. This week we will be covering 10 topic specific Cardiology board review questions. Below you […]
Do Physician Assistants Get Sued? Medical Malpractice, Liability and Lawsuits – A Guide for PAs
Do physician assistants get sued? Of course, they do, but based on seventeen years of data from the National Practitioner Data Bank, nationwide physician assistant malpractice demonstrates lower malpractice incidence and average payment amounts compared to MDs and advance practice nurses! Can I get a Whoot Whoot for PAs! PA Malpractice Incidence There is one malpractice payment […]
The Audio PANCE and PANRE Board Review Podcast Episode 25
Welcome to episode 25 of the FREE Audio PANCE and PANRE Physician Assistant Board Review Podcast. The Audio PANCE and PANRE is an audio board review series that includes 10 Multiple Choice PANCE and PANRE Board Review Questions in each episode. I hope you enjoy this free audio component to the examination portion of this site. The […]
The Audio PANCE and PANRE Board Review Podcast Episode 23
Welcome to episode 23 of the FREE Audio PANCE and PANRE Physician Assistant Board Review Podcast. The Audio PANCE and PANRE is an audio board review series that includes 10 Multiple Choice PANCE and PANRE Board Review Questions in each episode. I hope you enjoy this free audio component to the examination portion of this site. The […]
The Audio PANCE and PANRE Board Review Podcast Episode 21
Welcome to episode 21 of the FREE Audio PANCE and PANRE Physician Assistant Board Review Podcast. The Audio PANCE and PANRE is an audio board review series that includes 10 Multiple Choice PANCE and PANRE Board Review Questions in each episode. I hope you enjoy this free audio component to the examination portion of this site. The […]
The DO’S and DON’TS of the PANCE and PANRE Examination
What do you think? While taking your PANCE or PANRE should you change your answer if you have a good reason to do so? The DO’S and DON’TS of the PANCE and PANRE Examination The following DO’S and DON’TS are excerpted from the wonderful Lange Q&A Physician Assistant Examination Board Review Book and summarize important points you should always […]
The Audio PANCE and PANRE Board Review Podcast Episode 15
Welcome to episode 15 of the FREE Audio PANCE and PANRE Physician Assistant Board Review Podcast. The Audio PANCE and PANRE is an audio board review series that includes 10 Multiple Choice PANCE and PANRE Board Review Questions in each episode. I hope you enjoy this free audio component to the examination portion of this site. The […]
