Physician Assistant vs Medical Doctor
A comparison of what it takes to get in (GPA, MCAT, GRE scores, prerequisite coursework, and clinical experience), years of training and time in school, job duties, cost of education, average salary, job satisfaction, divorce and burnout rates all compiled into this (very shareable) image.
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A Surgeon Speaks: 7 Reasons Why You Should Choose PA Over MD
I am a fellowship-trained surgeon.
Besides the financial aspect, the following 7 points will make your decision of PA vs. MD easy:
1. It takes on an average at least 15 years (after high school) of head in the sand (books) to […]
Physician Assistant vs. Nurse Practitioner vs. Medical DoctorMedical Profession Comparison Chart:
Medical Assistant vs. Nurse vs. Nurse Practitioner vs. Physician Assistant vs. Family Practice Physician (updated March 2017)
*Programs vary and the following represents averages for each […]
Why my Wife is Happy I am a Physician Assistant and not an MD"In my life family will always be my greatest priority. I love my patients like I love life itself, but I love my family even more than life itself." - Stephen Pasquini PA-C
Years ago I dreamt of being an MD.
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Until you have been a PA and a physician as I have please stop trying to pretend you know the difference. It’s 11 years minimum to have a career in Medicine. But the main difference is that midlevels don’t know what they don’t know. After all, how could they?
The training requirement for physicians is 11 years (4 undergrad, 4 med school, 3 year residency for primary care, longer for subspecialties). Although technically true some states allow general practice after the internship year, we could probably count with one hand the number of physicians who choose this route. 11+ is much more realistic (and accurate). Otherwise, great infographic.
Under training and time in school you state for an MD it takes 4 years undergrad, then 2 years to get an MD. I think you may have meant to say 4 years in undergrad, then 4 years in med school to become an MD, and 3 years specialty training. Thanks for putting this together. It is a nice concise way of noting the differences between PA and MD.
Hi, Jo, you are right this could have been worded a bit better. I was dividing this up by didactic and clinical, but this is a bit confusing. Thanks so much, I have updated this.