How to Write Physician Assistant - The PA Grammar Guide

Do you know the correct answer to these important questions?

Do you capitalize the word physician assistant?
How do you write the plural of physician assistant?
What is the proper name of the PA profession?
Should I write physician assistant or physician associate on my personal statement?

All these questions are real — We know because we see the mistakes in capitalization, grammar, and worse, the name of the profession just about every day as essays roll in.

If you want to get it right, read on!

How to Correctly Write Physician Assistant

1. First things first - What is the correct title of the profession? Is it physician assistant, physician associate, or just PA?

According to the AAPA website:

The official title of the PA profession is “physician associate.” As the organization representing the PA profession, AAPA has transitioned to the American Academy of Physician Associates and is transitioning to the use of “physician associate” when possible and when it does not present a legal or regulatory conflict.

"PAs should continue to use “physician assistant” or “PA” as their official legal title in a professional capacity, particularly in clinical settings and with patients, until the jurisdiction governing their licensure and practice has formally adopted the title of “physician associate.” AAPA’s legal counsel, Foley & Lardner LLP, recommends that PAs refrain from representing themselves as “physician associates” at this time."

For the latest information on the physician associate name change, click here.

And, if you may be wondering, I also suggest you continue to write “physician assistant (PA)” on your CASPA personal statement.

2. Do you capitalize the word physician assistant?

The general rule is no; physician assistant is not capitalized.

If you doubt my word, check (other:-D ) reliable sources — medical dictionaries, for one, like the U.S. Library of Medicine.

Many medical schools, PA studies programs, and universities have writing guides with the correct way to spell or cite various professions. They’re usually on the school’s website.

Of course, there are exceptions.

The main one relates to formal titles. Anytime you’re citing a specific program name or degree title, you’ll capitalize the words. For example, it’s “Rutgers University Physician Assistant Program,” and “Master of Physician Assistant Studies.”

It’s also possible that a specific school will have a different opinion about the subject. Always check the school website to see if physician assistant is capitalized and, if so, in what context. Follow the school’s lead!

Examples of correct usage:

“I will be the best physician assistant the world has ever seen.”
“In order to be the best physician assistant the world has ever seen I need to complete the Brown School of Physician Assistant Studies.”

Examples of incorrect usage:

“I will never get into Physician Assistant school because I don’t know the rules.”
“My interest in becoming a Physician Assistant started when my parents said they wouldn’t pay for medical school.”

"There is one mistake that pretty much guarantees your application will go out with the recycle. That’s getting the name of the profession wrong."

By the way, most professions are not capitalized. That includes physician, doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, and dietitian to name a few. Look it up before you use it.

A mistake in capitalization doesn’t mean your application will necessarily land in the reject pile. However, there is one mistake that pretty much guarantees your application will go out with the recycle.

That’s getting the name of the profession wrong.

3. It is not physician’s assistant. Ever!

When I interviewed Admissions Directors and faculty across the country about writing these essays for our book, “How To Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement,” all said getting the name of the profession wrong is a big red flag. It tells them that people likely just looked at a website to learn about the profession and have no clue what it’s really about.

Examples of correct usage: We repeat, there is never a time when you will write physician’s assistant.

Examples of incorrect usage:

“I want to be a physician’s assistant because it sounded like fun when I read about it on the Internet.”
“I want to be a Physician’s Assistant because it sounded like fun when I read about it on the Internet.”

4. The possessive and the plural of PA

Just to be clear, the possessive of physician assistant is physician assistant’s or if using the acronym, PA’s. The plural is physician assistants or, if using the acronym, PAs.

Examples of correct usage:

“The physician assistant’s demeanor was warm and welcoming.” (possessive)
“The PA’s demeanor was warm and welcoming.” (possessive)
“The physician assistants I shadowed were warm and welcoming.” (plural)
“The PAs I shadowed were warm and welcoming.” (plural)

Examples of incorrect usage:

“The physician assistants demeanor was warm and welcoming.”
“The PAs demeanor was warm and welcoming.”
“The physician assistant’s I shadowed were warm and welcoming.”
“The PA’s I shadowed were warm and welcoming.”

We’ve spelled it out for you. Now it’s up to you to spell it right!

You can download a FREE PDF version of this guide: How to Write Physician Assistant the Definitive Guide

A note from Stephen:

To show you just how important this is, here is a personal email I received from Janette Rodriguez, editorial director at The American Academy of Physician Assistants. She knows a thing or two about writing the word physician assistant, and here is what she had to say about my poor PA prose:

From: Janette Rodrigues
Subject: Apostrophes

Message Body:

Stephen,

We haven’t talked for a while, but you know I’m a fan. You are one of the best PA bloggers out there, and you’ve created something amazing with The PA Life. But you’re killing me with the creative grammar.

The plural of PA is PAs, not PA’s.

Take care,

Janette at AAPA

See, none of us are immune to looking like an idiot 😉

So please, don’t repeat my mistake. Spell the name of our profession right.

Not only will your essay or blog post avoid the trash compactor, but you may also find yourself outsmarting many well-intentioned pre-PAs or PAs like myself who didn’t know any better!

Are you looking for some more inspiration?

Lookok at these 31 sample PA school personal statements shared through members of our community. Use it as a guide to see what works and what doesn't as you sit down to write your 5,000-character CASPA essay.

View all posts in this series

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Sue Edmondson (Essay Collaborative) Editor

Sue Edmondson is an award winning freelance writer who has written in Northern Nevada and Northern California since 1999. Her articles have appeared in magazines such as Edible Reno-Tahoe, Reno Magazine, reno.com, Enjoy, Family Pulse and RLife, and the Reno Gazette Journal and Mountain Echo newspapers. She dabbles in fiction, has sold several children’s short stories and was awarded first place for short fiction by the Reno News and Review. Edmondson is co-author of “How to Write Your Physician Assistant Personal Statement,” for which she interviewed Admissions Directors and faculty from top physician assistant programs across the country. Her other career is as an attorney and judicial officer. After spending several years practicing family law, she spent the next 19 years at the District Attorney’s Office before serving as a family court master for eight years.

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About this webinar Are you applying to PA school but worried about writing a compelling personal statement that will grab the admissions committee’s attention? Do you want to learn the secrets of crafting a PA school essay that stands out from the crowd and showcases your personality, motivation, and fit for PA school? If so, then you don’t want to miss our webinar on Crafting Your Best PA School Personal Statement. In this webinar, you will learn the following: What a personal statement is and how schools use them. You will understand the purpose and expectations of writing a personal statement and how schools use this information during the admission process. What to do before you start writing. You will learn how to prepare and organize your thoughts, research, and brainstorm your strengths and achievements. A successful structure for your personal statement. You will learn how to craft a clear, coherent, and compelling narrative that showcases your personality, motivation, and fit for their program. Common mistakes to avoid. You will learn how to polish your personal statement and avoid errors that could undermine your credibility or impact. By joining this webinar, you will gain valuable insights and tips on how to write a personal statement that increases your chances of admission to your desired PA school. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and get feedback from our experienced PA school coaches. Don’t miss this chance to learn how to write your best PA school personal statement. Register now and secure your spot for this webinar. You won’t regret it!

Comments

Dave Mittman, DMSc (hd), PA, DFAAPA says

January 5, 2023 at 1:31 pm

A few thoughts…..

1. Our profession is now titled Physician Associate.
2. Both names should be capitalized when speaking about the profession specifically. It is less confusing and better as people do not know it’s a professional title.
3. If speaking in a story or article as “I saw a physician associate in the Urgent Care yesterday”, caps are not needed.
4. Doctor is not capitalized but Medical Doctor is. Doctor of Physicial Therapy is. Registered Nurse usually is, many times in articles also.

If you are not ready for associate, use PA. Unless you help someone diagnose and treat and do not do it yourself.
Dave

Krishnapriya p.r says

June 17, 2018 at 11:32 am

Physicians can add Dr in front of their name