Where PAs and Physician Associates Can Work Internationally

The contemporary physician assistant/associate (PA) movement began in North America and Africa in the mid-1960s. What started as a bold experiment to expand access to quality healthcare has blossomed into a global workforce revolution.

As of 2026, the PA model has spread to every inhabited continent, with more than 60 countries worldwide now operating PA or PA-equivalent education programs, according to the International Association of Physician Associate Educators (IAPAE).

This year brings landmark regulatory milestones — from the UK's historic GMC regulation of PAs (December 2024), to Ontario's formal CPSO regulation (April 2025), to New Zealand's designation of PAs as a regulated health profession (2025). The PA world is changing fast, and for good reason: PA-trained clinicians deliver physician-equivalent quality of care at a fraction of the cost and training time, filling critical gaps in both urban and rural healthcare systems worldwide.

Below we examine 20 countries where the PA model is most established or rapidly evolving, with the most up-to-date facts we could find. This edition adds four East and Southern African nations — Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, and Malawi — whose PA-equivalent clinical officer systems are among the most important and underappreciated in global healthcare, plus a look at Saudi Arabia's pioneering military PA program. Bookmark this page — this is your definitive 2026 guide to international PA practice.

Thinking about working internationally as a US PA? Check out our guide: The Globalization of Physician Assistants and our resource for International Medical Graduates Interested in US PA Programs.

Countries Where PAs and PA-Like Clinicians Practice (2026)

1. Canada — Physician Assistants ⭐ Now regulated in Ontario by CPSO (2025)
2. United Kingdom — Physician Associates ⭐ Now GMC-regulated (Dec 2024)
3. The Netherlands — Physician Assistants
4. Germany — Physician Assistants ⭐ Explosive growth: 26 programs, 5,000+ students
5. New Zealand — Physician Associates ⭐ Newly regulated health profession (2025)
6. Ireland — Physician Associates
7. Australia — Physician Assistants
8. South Africa — Clinical Associates
9. Ghana — PA Medical (Medical Assistants)
10. Kenya — Clinical Officers (CO)
11. Liberia — Physician Assistants
12. Malawi — Clinical Officers & Medical Assistants
13. Mozambique — Técnicos de Medicina
14. Tanzania — Clinical Officers & Assistant Medical Officers
15. Uganda — Clinical Officers
16. India — Physician Associates ⭐ National standardized curriculum launching 2025-26
17. Israel — Physician Associates ⭐ New regulatory law effective August 2024
18. Saudi Arabia — Physician Assistants (Military)
19. Bulgaria — Physician Assistants
20. Afghanistan — Physician Assistants ⚠️ Significant healthcare crisis under Taliban rule

🇨🇦 PAs in Canada

Canadian PA Quick Facts (2026):

• Title: Physician Assistant
• Can US PAs practice in Canada? Yes — NCCPA-certified PAs may challenge the Canadian PA Certification Exam (PA Cert Exam) administered by PACCC
• Canadian PA Salary: Approximately CAD $115,000–$130,000/yr (≈ USD $85,000–$96,000/yr)
• Number of PA Programs: 5 active programs (University of Manitoba, McMaster University, PA Consortium Toronto, University of Calgary, and the University of Saskatchewan — launched Fall 2025)
• Number of PAs Practicing: ~1,000–1,200, with approximately 600 in Ontario alone (as of CPSO registration in 2025); CAPA reported 1,215 members in 2023
• Prescription Rights: Yes — PAs cannot prescribe narcotics or controlled substances under any circumstance
• Regulatory Body (Ontario): College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) — effective April 1, 2025
• National Professional PA Association: Canadian Association of Physician Assistants (CAPA)
• Canadian PA Certification Exam: PA Cert Exam — 4 hours, 250 multiple-choice questions (PA Cert Exam Blueprint)
• Certification Maintenance: 40 credits annually; minimum 25 credits in each MOC section per 5-year cycle
• Canadian PA Day: November 27th

The Canadian PA model traces its roots to the Canadian Armed Forces, approximately 50 years ago, transitioning to the present civilian PA concept in 1984 and revised in 2002. Today, the profession is experiencing rapid and exciting growth.

The most significant development of 2025 is formal regulation in Ontario. After years of operating under a physician-supervised model without dedicated professional regulation, Ontario PAs are now registered with the CPSO. This landmark change brings accountability, public trust, and professional clarity to approximately 600 PAs in Canada's most populous province. Ontario has also announced a major expansion of PA training seats, with $16 million dedicated specifically to funding up to 150 new PA student education seats beginning in 2026–27, according to IAPAE.

A new PA program at the University of Saskatchewan launched in Fall 2025 with 20 seats in its inaugural cohort — the most competitive new PA program in Canada, receiving 340 applications for those 20 spots — further expanding geographic access to PA education in Canada. This brings the total to five non-military university PA programs across the country.

Estimated distribution: 38% of Canadian PAs serve in primary care, 13% in internal medicine, 18% in surgical practice, and 19% in emergency medicine.

Good news for US PAs: NCCPA-certified American PAs can practice in Canada. Once they've completed an accredited US PA program and passed the PANCE, they may challenge the PA Certification Exam overseen by PACCC. If they pass, they receive the "CCPA" (Canadian Certified Physician Assistant) designation. Unfortunately, the reverse is not yet true — Canadian-trained PAs cannot sit for the PANCE.

Resources:

• Canadian Association of Physician Assistants (CAPA)
• Physician Assistant Certification Council of Canada (PACCC)
• CPSO Physician Assistant Registration (Ontario)
• PA Programs in Canada — CanadianPA.ca
• Ontario's Major Expansion of PA Training Seats — IAPAE

🇬🇧 PAs in the United Kingdom

UK PA Quick Facts (2026):

• Title: Physician Associate
• Can US PAs practice in the UK? Yes — NCCPA-certified PAs may apply to the GMC register
• UK PA Salary: Approximately £35,000–£55,000/yr (≈ $44,000–$70,000 USD); Band 7–8a NHS pay scales
• Number of PA Programs: 30+ programs (see current list via FPA)
• Number of PAs Practicing: Over 3,500 PAs working in the NHS across England (as of 2024–2025), with plans to expand to 10,000 by 2036/37
• Prescription Rights: No — PAs still cannot prescribe in the UK as of 2026; the Leng Review (July 2025) recommends a future pathway to prescribing with additional training, but no law change has occurred yet
• Regulatory Body: General Medical Council (GMC) — effective December 13, 2024
• Professional PA Association: Faculty of Physician Associates (FPA) of the Royal College of Physicians
• UK PA Certification Exam: Physician Associate National Certification Exam — 200-question SBA exam + 14-station OSCE
• Recertification: Recertification exam required every 6 years; 3 attempts allowed
• GMC Registration Fee: £320

The UK PA story in 2026 is one of incredible growth — and significant debate. The GMC now regulates PAs as a multiprofessional regulatory body, the first such expansion of GMC's remit since its founding. This brings PAs the professional accountability, identity, and patient trust they've long deserved. Registration was phased in starting December 16, 2024, with mandatory registration required by December 2026.

The Leng Review, an independent government-commissioned review of PA and Anaesthesia Associate (AA) roles published in July 2025, made 18 recommendations aimed at improving deployment, supervision, and the safe expansion of the roles. Key recommendations include: requiring newly qualified PAs to spend at least two years in secondary care before moving to primary care or mental health; developing national standards for supervision and credentialling; and creating a pathway for PAs to eventually gain prescribing rights with appropriate additional training (though no prescribing authority has been granted yet). The UK government endorsed the Leng Review recommendations, though some are being legally contested by the PA trade union UMAPS.

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan envisions 10,000 PAs working in the NHS by 2036/37, with annual training places expanding to over 1,500 per year by 2031/32. Despite strong advocacy from the BMA (British Medical Association) for limiting the PA role, the broader government consensus strongly supports expanding the PA workforce to address NHS demand.

For US PAs interested in working in the UK: NCCPA-certified PAs can apply directly to the GMC register. This is one of the most accessible international pathways for US-trained PAs.

Resources:

• GMC: Regulation of Physician Associates Begins (Dec 2024)
• The Leng Review — Final Report (July 2025)
• Faculty of Physician Associates (FPA)
• Physician Associate National Certification Exam
• NHS England: Update on Physician Associates and Anaesthesia Associates

📖 Want to learn more? Read our in-depth article: Why You Really Need PAs in the UK — The British Physician Associate

🇳🇱 PAs in the Netherlands

Netherlands PA Quick Facts (2026):

• Title: Physician Assistant (Protected title since July 1, 2018)
• Can US PAs practice in the Netherlands? Yes, though Dutch language fluency is required
• Netherlands PA Salary: Approximately €82,000–€95,000/yr (≈ USD $90,000–$104,000/yr)
• Number of PA Programs: 5 Master of Physician Assistant (MPA) programs
• Number of PAs Practicing: Over 2,300 registered PAs
• Prescription Rights: Yes! PAs in the Netherlands are legally authorized to practice medicine autonomously, including prescribing medication, always in collaboration with a supervising physician
• Title Protected: Since July 1, 2018, "Physician Assistant" is a legally protected title; all PAs must hold an accredited MPA degree and be listed in a public register
• Professional PA Association: Dutch Association of Physician Assistants (NAPA)
• Certification Exam: None — must complete an accredited MPA program to practice
• Re-registration: Every 5 years; minimum 16 hours/week of clinical practice and 200 hours of CME over the 5-year period required
• Annual Training Seats: 250–270 students/year (subsidized by Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health)

The Netherlands remains one of the most mature and progressive PA systems in the world. The PA role was first introduced in 2000 using extensive experience from the US, and after a five-year experiment, the Dutch parliament granted PAs and NPs full independence in diagnosing, initiating treatment, and prescribing medication — a level of authority that US PAs don't even uniformly enjoy.

Since July 2018, the title "Physician Assistant" has been legally protected in the Netherlands. Only graduates of Dutch-Flemish accredited MPA programs who are clinically active can be listed in the public quality register — giving Dutch patients confidence in their PA's qualifications.

The five MPA programs are offered across the country, and the Dutch PA model is unique globally: students spend one day per week on campus acquiring generic competencies, while simultaneously working 32+ hours per week in a specific medical specialty under a training-and-employment contract. The result? Dutch PAs are not only broadly competent but also deeply specialized, and are found in subspecialty settings in far greater numbers than PAs in other countries.

Resources:

• Dutch Association of Physician Assistants (NAPA)
• European Network for PA Education (ENPAE) – Netherlands

📖 Want to learn more? Read our in-depth article: PAs in the Netherlands — The Dutch Physician Assistant

🇩🇪 PAs in Germany

German PA Quick Facts (2026):

• Title: Physician Assistant
• Can US PAs practice in Germany? Unlikely without fluent German; regulatory framework differs significantly
• Germany PA Salary: €1,800–€5,400/month depending on experience and location (≈ $1,980–$5,940 USD/month); average approximately €3,500/month
• Number of PA Programs: 26 universities now offering PA Bachelor's degrees (Winter semester 2024/25); plus the first Master's degree PA program launched in 2021 at Fliedner University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf
• PA Students Enrolled: 5,081 PA students as of 2024
• Total PA Graduates (through 2024): ~2,454 Bachelor's graduates + 22 Master's graduates (~2,476 total)
• New First-Year Enrollments (2023/24): Over 1,700 — a massive increase from ~260 in 2018
• Prescription Rights: No — PAs cannot prescribe medication, order ionizing radiation diagnostics, make independent treatment decisions, administer blood transfusions, or perform transplantation
• Professional PA Association: ENPAE Germany Network
• Common Specialties: Surgery, internal medicine, and emergency medicine are most common; PAs work primarily in inpatient hospital settings
• Nationwide Recognition: Still in progress — all 16 German states must formally recognize the PA profession; progress is ongoing

Germany's PA story is one of the most dramatic in the world. What began with a single private university program at Steinbeis University Berlin in 2005 has exploded into a national movement. As of Winter 2024/25, 26 universities and colleges — an increasing number of which are public institutions — offer PA degrees. The profession enrolled more students in 2024 alone than existed in all previous years combined.

In 2021, Germany added its first Master of Science in Physician Assistant program at Fliedner University of Applied Sciences in Düsseldorf — further professionalizing the field. PA programs are 36-month Bachelor's degrees offered through universities of applied science (Fachhochschulen).

Despite the scope of practice limitations — German PAs work in a strictly delegation-based model and cannot prescribe — the profession is growing precisely because Germany's hospital system needs hands-on, medically trained clinical support staff. Access and efficiency pressures within the medical system are driving acceptance across Germany's traditionally physician-dominated hierarchy.

Physician Assistant Programs in Germany (partial list):

• Steinbeis University Berlin (SUB)
• Praxis Hochschule University of Applied Sciences
• University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
• Fresenius University of Applied Sciences (Frankfurt am Main and Munich)
• University of Applied Sciences Landshut
• Full list of 26+ PA programs in Germany — MyGermanUniversity

Resources:

• ENPAE — Germany
• Brief Introduction to PAs in Germany (PMC)

🇳🇿 PAs in New Zealand

New Zealand PA Quick Facts (2026):

• Title: Physician Associate
• Can US PAs practice in New Zealand? Yes — regulation now paves the way for clearer pathways
• New Zealand PA Salary: Approximately NZ$130,000–$150,000/yr (≈ USD $78,000–$90,000/yr)
• Number of PA Programs: No local training program yet — regulation is expected to pave the way for a local program to build a sustainable workforce
• Number of PAs Practicing: Approximately 50 PAs working across Aotearoa/New Zealand (as of 2025), employed in approximately 27 health services
• Prescription Rights: Not yet granted — remains a limitation
• Regulatory Body: Medical Council of New Zealand — designated by the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (Designation of Physician Associate Services as Health Profession) Order 2025
• Professional PA Association: New Zealand Physician Associate Society (NZPAS)
• Practice Settings: Mostly rural general practice clinics; also hospitals

New Zealand's PA journey began with interest in 2000 and pilot studies in 2010. For years, a small but dedicated group of mostly US-trained PAs worked in New Zealand without formal regulatory recognition. That changed dramatically in 2025.

In April 2025, the New Zealand Minister of Health announced that Physician Associates would formally become a regulated health profession under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 — the same legislation that governs all regulated health professionals, including doctors. The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (Designation of Physician Associate Services as Health Profession) Order 2025 (SL 2025/74) formally designated the Medical Council of New Zealand as the regulatory authority for PAs.

On December 2, 2025, the Medical Council of New Zealand opened public consultation on the regulatory framework, inviting feedback from the public, medical professionals, PAs, educators, and stakeholders. This is a pivotal step toward building the full regulatory infrastructure.

With formal regulation in place, New Zealand is now also expected to develop its first local PA training program — a critical step toward building a sustainable domestic PA workforce rather than relying solely on internationally trained PAs. The 50+ PAs currently practicing in NZ work primarily in rural general practice and hospital settings, reflecting exactly the workforce gaps PAs are designed to fill.

Resources:

• New Zealand Physician Associate Society (NZPAS)
• Medical Council of New Zealand — Physician Associates
• HPCA Designation Order 2025 (Official NZ Legislation)
• IAPAE: NZ Physician Associates Regulation — A Boost to Quality Care

🇮🇪 PAs in Ireland

Republic of Ireland PA Quick Facts (2026):

• Title: Physician Associate
• Can US PAs practice in Ireland? Possibly — check with the Irish Society of Physician Associates (ISPA) and the Medical Council of Ireland
• Ireland PA Salary: Approximately €70,000–€85,000/yr (≈ USD $76,000–$93,000/yr)
• Number of PA Programs: One — the MSc in Physician Associate Studies at RCSI
• Total PA Graduates: 76 graduates to date; 60% working in public hospitals, 40% in the private sector
• Prescription Rights: No prescription rights currently
• Professional PA Association: Irish Society of Physician Associates (ISPA)
• Regulatory Status: The Medical Council of Ireland issued a position statement on statutory regulation in December 2024; RCSI responded calling for a clear regulatory pathway
• Program Status: Curriculum review underway; January 2025 intake closed; next application cycle update expected Spring 2026

Ireland's PA profession remains in an early but promising stage. The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) launched Ireland's only MSc in Physician Associate Studies program in 2016 following a successful two-year pilot project in 2015. That pilot brought four North American PAs — three Canadian and one American — into surgical subspecialties in Dublin.

As of 2026, 76 PAs have graduated from the program, with graduates evenly distributed between public hospital and private sector settings. The profession is growing steadily, but a key development for 2026 will be the outcome of the statutory regulation conversation. RCSI has publicly called for a clear pathway to statutory regulation, and the Medical Council of Ireland's December 2024 position statement signals that this debate is actively advancing. In November 2024, senior US accreditation officials visited the RCSI PA programme — a signal of growing international confidence in Ireland's program.

Ireland's program is offered in a hybrid format, making it accessible to working healthcare professionals. The 24-month MSc prepares graduates for hospital-based roles across surgical and medical specialties.

Resources:

• MSc in Physician Associate Studies — RCSI
• Irish Society of Physician Associates (ISPA)
• RCSI Statement on Statutory Regulation (Dec 2024)

🇦🇺 PAs in Australia

Australia PA Quick Facts (2026):

• Title: Physician Assistant
• Can US PAs practice in Australia? Extremely limited — PAs are not a registered profession with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency), and there is no recognized licensing pathway for foreign PAs
• Australia PA Salary: Approximately AU$90,000–$110,000/yr (≈ USD $58,000–$71,000/yr) where employed
• Number of Active PA Programs: None — JCU program has closed; University of Queensland's program closed in 2011; University of Adelaide's Master of Physician Assistant Studies status is uncertain following the 2026 merger with UniSA to form Adelaide University
• Number of PAs Practicing: Approximately 40 locally trained PAs — a workforce that will decline without new training pathways
• AHPRA Registration: No — PAs are an unregistered profession in Australia
• Medicare Recognition: No — PAs are not recognized under the Medicare Benefits Schedule or the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
• Prescription Rights: No — PAs cannot prescribe in Australia; in Queensland they may administer non-restricted medicines via hospital imprest systems only
• Employment: Queensland is the only state that has formally allowed PAs in the public health system; approximately 3 FTE PA roles existed in Queensland public health as of 2024
• Professional PA Association: Australian Society of Physician Assistants (ASPA)

Australia's PA profession has faced a difficult decade. The University of Queensland launched the country's first PA program in 2009, but closed it in 2011 due to lack of institutional support and competing priorities within the School of Medicine. James Cook University in Townsville took up the mantle in 2012 with a bachelor's-level program focused on rural, remote, tropical, and Indigenous healthcare — exactly the patient populations that need PA-level care most. That program has now also ceased operations, leaving Australia with no active domestic PA training pipeline.

The profession's struggles are structural, not clinical. PAs in Australia are not registered with AHPRA, which means they fall outside the national health practitioner regulation framework that governs nurses, physios, pharmacists, and every other allied health professional. Without AHPRA registration, PAs cannot access Medicare billing, cannot be recognized in most state health system frameworks, and face significant barriers to employment.

In 2024, Queensland Health explored expanding its PA workforce from approximately 3 FTE roles to 16 — a modest proposal by any measure. It triggered an immediate and forceful response from organized medicine. AMA Queensland successfully lobbied to delay the proposal before the state election. In November 2024, AMA President Dr. Danielle McMullen wrote directly to the federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, warning against any expansion and stating that Australia's health system "does not require the introduction of a new health profession." The RACGP President, Dr. Nicole Higgins, called the idea "deeply concerning," citing impact on doctor training and health equity.

The AMA also cited patient safety concerns emerging from the United Kingdom, where physician associate scope-of-practice controversies had drawn significant media attention — a direct import of that debate into the Australian context.

For US-trained PAs considering Australia: at this point, the practical reality is that Australia is not a viable destination for US PA practice. There is no AHPRA registration category, no Medicare recognition, no established state licensing frameworks, and organized medical opposition remains strong. Advocates within ASPA, ACRRM, and the RDAA continue to fight for the profession's future, but meaningful change would require federal regulatory action to create a new AHPRA registration board — a long-term proposition.

Resources:

• Australian Society of Physician Assistants (ASPA)
• Physician Assistants: Help or Harm? — MJA InSight+ (2024)
• AMA Puts Physician Assistants on Notice with Minister — AMA (November 2024)
• What Are Physician Assistants? Can They Fix the Doctor Shortage? — The Conversation

📖 Want to learn more? Read our in-depth article: The Australian Physician Assistant — What You Need to Know

🇿🇦 PAs in South Africa

South Africa Clinical Associate Quick Facts (2026):

• Title: Clinical Associate
• Can US PAs practice in South Africa? Yes — registration with HPCSA required
• South Africa Clinical Associate Salary: Approximately R180,000–R250,000/yr (≈ USD $9,800–$13,700/yr)
• Number of Clinical Associate Programs: 3 (University of Witwatersrand, University of Pretoria, Walter Sisulu University)
• Annual Graduates: 70–140 clinical associates graduate annually; registered with HPCSA
• Workforce Need: National Task Team estimates 11,500 clinical associates will be needed by 2030
• Prescription Rights: Yes
• Regulatory Body: Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)
• Professional Association: Professional Association of Clinical Associates in South Africa (PACASA)
• Degree: 3-year Bachelor of Clinical Medical Practice (BCMP)

South Africa's Clinical Associate program, established in 2002 and graduating its first cohort in 2011, continues to expand to meet the country's massive need for district hospital healthcare workers. Nearly all graduates are employed in district hospitals, primarily in rural and underserved areas across all nine provinces.

The National Task Team's projection that 11,500 clinical associates will be needed by 2030 underscores the scale of South Africa's healthcare workforce challenge — and the enormous opportunity for this profession. With 70–140 graduates per year from three programs, scaling up training is essential. Advocacy continues for additional programs and increased government investment in this critical mid-level health workforce.

Clinical Associates provide emergency care, conduct rounds, perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and manage common acute and chronic conditions — making them the backbone of district-level healthcare in South Africa.

Resources:

• The Role of Clinical Associates in South Africa: A Scoping Review (PMC, 2024)
• University of Pretoria — BCMP Program
• Make a Difference — Train PAs in Sub-Saharan Africa

📖 Want to learn more? Read our in-depth article: South Africa's Clinical Associate — The PA Model Around the World

🇬🇭 PAs in Ghana

Ghana PA Quick Facts (2026):

• Title: Physician Assistant (Medical Assistant)
• Can US PAs practice in Ghana? Credential evaluation and local licensing required
• Ghana PA Salary: Approximately GHS 3,000–5,000/month (≈ USD $200–$340/month)
• Number of PA Programs: 7+ accredited programs, with additional institutions seeking accreditation
• Number of PAs: 2,500+ Medical Assistants serving Ghana's 33 million+ people
• Prescription Rights: Yes — with certain restrictions per Ghana Health Service (GHS) guidelines
• PA Types in Ghana: PA-Medical (Medical Assistants), PA-Dental (Community Oral Health Officers), PA-Anesthesia (Nurse Anesthetists)
• Professional PA Association: Ghana Physician Assistants Association (GPAA)
• Certification Exam: Licentiate Examination administered by the Medical and Dental Council of Ghana
• BSc Programs: University of Cape Coast currently has ~420 students enrolled in its BSc PA Studies program

Ghana pioneered the PA profession in Africa, with training beginning in 1969 at what is now the College of Health and Well-Being in Kintampo. In a country with limited physician resources, Medical Assistants (MAs) are literally the backbone of primary healthcare, seeing 90–150 patients per working day.

The 2025 Provisional Register of Physician Assistants and Certified Registered Anesthetists published by the Medical and Dental Council demonstrates ongoing commitment to professional standards and accountability. A growing number of universities — including the University of Cape Coast, Pentecost University, Presbyterian University, Kaaf University, and Garden City University College — now offer BSc Physician Assistantship programs, with additional institutions seeking accreditation.

Women now make up approximately 50% of the Ghanaian PA workforce — a dramatic and inspiring shift from the historically male-dominated profession. Ghana's MAs serve the primary care needs of approximately 70% of the population, operating primarily in rural and remote communities.

Resources:

• Medical and Dental Council of Ghana
• College of Health and Well-Being
• University of Cape Coast — Department of Physician Assistant Studies

🇰🇪 Clinical Officers in Kenya

Kenya Clinical Officer (CO) Quick Facts (2026):

• Title: Clinical Officer (CO)
• Can US PAs practice in Kenya? Yes — must achieve designation as a clinical officer; see AAPA guidance
• Kenya CO Salary: KES 50,000–80,000/month (≈ USD $380–$615/month)
• Number of CO Training Institutions: Over 70 training institutions (government, faith-based, private, and university)
• Number of Registered COs: Approximately 31,000 Clinical Officers serving a population of over 52 million (per 2025 Kenya Economic Survey data)
• Prescription Rights: Yes — full prescribing rights
• Professional Regulatory Body: Clinical Officers Council (COC)
• Professional Association: Kenya Clinical Officers Association (KCOA)
• Certification: COC pre-internship examination; unlimited practice rights after registration
• Specialization: Pediatrics, orthopedics, psychiatry, anesthesia, reproductive health, and more

Kenya's Clinical Officer (CO) model is one of the oldest and most established PA-equivalent systems in the world, dating to 1928. Today, with approximately 31,000 registered COs, Kenya relies on this workforce to deliver physician-level services across district hospitals and rural areas — supporting a population of over 52 million people.

The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), with its 70+ campuses nationwide, trains over 90% of Kenya's mid-level healthcare workers, including clinical officers. Despite this impressive scale, Kenya still faces significant healthcare workforce shortages. The country has approximately 30 doctors, nurses, and clinical officers per 10,000 people — well below the WHO's recommended 45 per 10,000. This gap means the CO workforce remains critically important.

Clinical Officers in Kenya serve as the primary care clinicians for millions of Kenyans, and the profession's role is increasingly being redefined: moving from "substitute clinician" to professional "primary care clinician" with a fully recognized scope of practice. Kenya's CO system is a model that many emerging nations look to when developing their own mid-level health professional programs.

The 27th Annual KCOA Conference (2025) and the planned 2025 IAPAE Conference co-hosted by the Kenya Clinical Officers Association signal Kenya's growing prominence in global PA/CO education dialogue.

Resources:

• Clinical Officers Council of Kenya (COC)
• Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO)
• Clinical Officers in Kenya — Comprehensive Overview for PAs (International Medical Aid)
• Family Health Clinical Officers: Key Professionals in Primary Healthcare in Kenya (PMC)

🇱🇷 PAs in Liberia

Liberia PA Quick Facts (2026):

• Title: Physician Assistant
• Can US PAs practice in Liberia? Yes
• Liberia PA Salary: Approximately 169,000–200,000 LRD/yr (highly variable; significantly below US salaries)
• Number of PA Programs: Multiple programs (Tubman National Institute of Medical Arts, Baptist Missionary PA Program, Cuttington University, Mother Pattern College of Health Sciences)
• Number of PAs: Close to 1,000 PAs trained since 1965
• Prescription Rights: Yes — PAs may perform all medical activities except surgery
• Professional Association: Liberia National Physician Assistants Association (LINPAA)
• Certification Exam: State Board Exams administered by the Physician Assistant Association Board of Examiners and Licensure
• License Period: 1 year (working toward 2-year renewal cycle)
• Accreditation: LINPAA has validated its first formal accreditation guidelines, a major step toward standardizing PA education

Physician assistant training in Liberia has one of the longest histories in the world, dating to 1966. In a country where physician access is severely limited, Liberian PAs are essential — providing comprehensive medical care (except surgery) at hospitals, clinics, and community health facilities across the country.

A landmark development is LINPAA's validation of its first formal accreditation guidelines for PA programs — a critical step toward standardizing PA education and protecting the quality of training. The profession has evolved over decades from primary health workers to secondary and tertiary care practitioners, requiring increasingly rigorous academic preparation.

Resources:

• Liberia National Physician Assistants Association (LINPAA)
• LINPAA Validates First Accreditation Guidelines (FrontPage Africa)

📖 Want to learn more? Read our in-depth article: Physician Assistants in Liberia — A Deep Dive

🇲🇼 Clinical Officers & Medical Assistants in Malawi

Malawi Clinical Officer Quick Facts (2026):

• Title: Clinical Officer (CO) / Medical Assistant (MA)
• Can US PAs practice in Malawi? Yes — credential evaluation and registration with the Medical Council of Malawi required
• Malawi CO Salary: Highly variable; public sector salaries are government-set and significantly below international levels
• Training Duration: Clinical Officers — 3-year Diploma in Clinical Medicine + 1-year internship; Medical Assistants — 2-year Certificate in Clinical Medicine (can upgrade to CO via 2-year bridging course)
• Total Health Workers: 47,555 total health workers in 2024 (up 38.7% from 34,287 in 2019), though significant shortages remain: 32% gap for Medical Officers/Specialists, 25% gap for Medical Assistants
• Prescription Rights: Yes — within approved scope of practice
• Regulatory Body: Medical Council of Malawi
• Key Training Institutions: Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (formerly College of Medicine/Malawi College of Health Sciences), multiple district health training institutes
• Strategic Framework: Health Sector Strategic Plan 2023–2030 prioritizes health workforce expansion and professional development

Malawi relies on Clinical Officers and Medical Assistants as the primary providers of healthcare across its district hospital system — a country where physician density is critically low. COs form the backbone of patient care in district hospitals, independently managing emergencies, deliveries, surgical procedures, and complex medical cases. Medical Assistants typically serve health centers and rural posts, working more closely under CO or physician supervision.

A 2025 study published in the Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare highlighted an identity crisis among Clinical Officers in Malawi's public hospitals — as functional review reforms have shifted some traditional CO responsibilities to nurses, COs are increasingly advocating for clearer professional recognition and career progression pathways. The Health Sector Strategic Plan 2023–2030 explicitly addresses health workforce professional development as a priority, which should clarify and strengthen the CO role moving forward.

Despite impressive workforce growth — a 38.7% increase in total health workers since 2019 — Malawi still faces a 25% deficit in the Medical Assistant cadre. This gap is acutely felt in rural health centers, which are often staffed by a single MA serving thousands of patients.

Resources:

• Case for Clinical Officers and Medical Assistants in Malawi (PMC)
• WHO Africa: Malawi Health Labour Market Analysis
• Identity Crisis Among Clinical Officers in Malawi (2025)

📖 Want to learn more about Sub-Saharan Africa PA models? Read: Train the Next Generation of PAs in Sub-Saharan Africa

🇲🇿 Técnicos de Medicina in Mozambique

Mozambique Técnico de Medicina Quick Facts (2026):

• Title: Técnico de Medicina Geral (TMG) — "Medicine Technician" or "Clinical Technician"
• Can US PAs practice in Mozambique? Yes — credential evaluation and Ministry of Health registration required; fluency in Portuguese is essential
• Mozambique TM Salary: Significantly below international levels; public sector wages reflect one of the world's lowest-income economies
• Training Duration: Approximately 30 months post-10th grade; training costs estimated at one-tenth that of a physician, with salaries approximately one-quarter of physicians
• Physician Density: Only ~0.26 trained physicians per 1,000 persons — one of the lowest in the world; Técnicos de Medicina are the de facto primary care providers
• Prescription Rights: Yes — within their broad scope of practice, including antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and management
• Regulatory Body: Mozambican Ministry of Health (MISAU — Ministério da Saúde)
• Key Training Institutions: Multiple MISAU-affiliated health training institutes throughout the country
• Specialty Extension: Advanced cadres include Técnicos de Cirurgia (surgery technicians) who perform emergency C-sections and other obstetric surgeries

Mozambique's Técnicos de Medicina represent one of the most compelling examples of the PA model's power to transform healthcare in resource-limited settings. After Mozambique's independence in 1975, most of the country's Portuguese physicians left — leaving a catastrophic healthcare vacuum. The government's response was to massively expand the TM cadre, creating a mid-level clinician workforce that could deliver essential healthcare to millions of Mozambicans at a fraction of the cost of physician training.

TMGs provide primary healthcare, manage HIV/AIDS and ART programs, deliver maternal and child care, diagnose and treat acute and chronic conditions, and in more advanced forms, perform emergency surgical procedures. Research has consistently shown that TMGs deliver quality, physician-equivalent ART services — a major finding in global health, given that Mozambique has one of the world's largest HIV burdens.

The Técnico de Cirurgia — surgery technician — deserves special mention: these PA-level providers perform emergency cesarean sections, hernia repairs, and other lifesaving procedures in settings where no surgeon would otherwise be available. Studies have shown outcomes comparable to physician-performed surgeries. This model of "task-shifted" surgical care is now being studied and replicated across sub-Saharan Africa.

For US PAs thinking about global health volunteering, Mozambique offers one of the most meaningful — and humbling — settings in the world. Organizations like Doctors Without Borders (MSF) maintain a significant presence in Mozambique and welcome experienced allied health professionals.

Resources:

• The Role of Nonphysician Clinicians in the Rapid Expansion of HIV Care in Mozambique (PMC)
• Major Surgery Delegation to Mid-Level Health Practitioners in Mozambique (BioMed Central)
• Mozambique Ministry of Health (MISAU)
• MSF (Doctors Without Borders) in Mozambique

🇹🇿 Clinical Officers & Assistant Medical Officers in Tanzania

Tanzania Clinical Officer / AMO Quick Facts (2026):

• Titles: Clinical Officer (CO) / Assistant Medical Officer (AMO)
• Can US PAs practice in Tanzania? Yes — credential evaluation and registration with the Medical Council of Tanganyika required; Swahili proficiency strongly recommended
• Training Duration: Clinical Officers — 3 years (diploma level); Assistant Medical Officers — additional 18-month upgrade from Clinical Officer level (equivalent to an abbreviated medical school program)
• Historical Roots: Clinical Officers introduced in the 1930s; Assistant Medical Officers in the 1960s
• Role: COs serve health centers; AMOs serve district and regional hospitals independently, including providing most emergency surgical obstetric care in non-urban settings
• Prescription Rights: Yes — both COs and AMOs have prescribing authority within their scope
• Regulatory Body: Medical Council of Tanganyika
• Key Training Institutions: Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS); multiple regional health training institutes
• Clinical Rotations for US PA Students: James Madison University's PA program maintains Tanzania as an optional international clinical rotation site

Tanzania's three-tiered system of mid-level clinical providers — Clinical Assistants, Clinical Officers, and Assistant Medical Officers — represents one of the most sophisticated PA-equivalent frameworks in sub-Saharan Africa. AMOs in particular occupy a uniquely important role: trained in an abbreviated medical school model, they work independently as the highest-trained practitioners in rural settings and provide the majority of emergency obstetric surgical care outside of Tanzania's major cities.

The AMO cadre is especially critical for emergency cesarean sections, blood transfusions, and acute trauma management in district hospitals — procedures that would otherwise require a physician. Research published in peer-reviewed global health journals consistently demonstrates that AMOs deliver outcomes in emergency obstetric surgery comparable to physician-delivered care, making them an extraordinary example of what mid-level clinicians can achieve with appropriate training and supervision structures.

For US PA students and practitioners interested in global health, Tanzania is increasingly recognized as an important international rotation destination. James Madison University's PA program lists Tanzania as an optional international clinical rotation site — one of the few PA programs actively facilitating US PA immersion in the East African clinical officer system.

Resources:

• WHO: Tanzania's Clinical Officers and Assistant Medical Officers
• Tanzania Assistant Medical Officers and Clinical Officers — Social Innovations Journal
• The Tanzanian Assistant Medical Officer (PubMed)
• JMU PA Program — Tanzania International Rotation

🇺🇬 Clinical Officers in Uganda

Uganda Clinical Officer Quick Facts (2026):

• Title: Clinical Officer (Medical Clinical Officer, Anaesthetic Clinical Officer, Ophthalmic Clinical Officer, ENT Clinical Officer)
• Can US PAs practice in Uganda? Yes — registration with the Allied Health Professionals Council (AHPC) required
• Uganda CO Salary: Government-set public sector salaries; highly variable by position and setting
• Training: 3-year postsecondary Diploma in Clinical Medicine + 2-year internship; can upgrade to Bachelor of Clinical Medicine and Community Health (BCMCH) at Kampala International University (3 additional years for practicing COs; 4.5 years for new graduates)
• Historical Roots: Uganda has been training Clinical Officers since 1918 — one of the longest CO training histories in the world
• Prescription Rights: Yes — full prescribing rights within scope of practice
• Regulatory Body: Allied Health Professionals Council (AHPC) of Uganda — established under the Allied Health Professionals Act
• Key Cadres: Medical Clinical Officers (general), Anaesthetic Clinical Officers, Ophthalmic Clinical Officers, ENT Clinical Officers, and more
• Government Sponsorship: Since 2014, Uganda's Higher Education Students' Financing Board has sponsored 400+ students/year pursuing the BCMCH at Kampala International University

Uganda's Clinical Officer profession is one of the oldest in the world, tracing its formal origins to 1918. Today, COs are regulated by the Allied Health Professionals Council (AHPC) — Uganda's statutory body for regulating, supervising, and controlling the training and practice of allied health professionals.

Ugandan COs are recognized as performing roles "very similar to that of a physician associate/assistant in the United States." They take the Hippocratic Oath upon registration and are held to the same ethical and professional standards as their physician colleagues. The AHPC registers multiple CO cadres — General Medical, Anesthetic, Ophthalmic, ENT, and others — allowing for meaningful specialization within the clinical officer framework.

A key development in Uganda has been the formal Bachelor of Clinical Medicine and Community Health (BCMCH) degree pathway at Kampala International University — a deliberate investment in elevating the clinical officer's academic credentials. Uganda's government has sponsored over 400 students annually since 2014, and graduates of the BCMCH program are increasingly filling leadership roles in district health management. Uganda is described as "one of the pioneers in career progression and professional development of Medical Clinical Officers" in global health literature.

Resources:

• Allied Health Professionals Council of Uganda (AHPC)
• Uganda Institute of Allied Health and Management Sciences — Mulago
• Clinical Officers in Uganda: Training and Workforce Role (PubMed)
• In Uganda, Clinical Officers Rise to the Challenge (Clinical Advisor)

🇮🇳 PAs in India

India PA Quick Facts (2026):

• Title: Physician Associate (increasingly adopted)
• Can US PAs practice in India? Yes, though local licensing required
• India PA Salary: ₹20,000–₹60,000/month depending on specialty and city (≈ USD $240–$720/month)
• Number of PA Programs: 47+ programs across 10 universities
• Geographic Distribution: Majority (46 programs) in southern India (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu)
• Prescription Rights: Yes, limited — specified areas and under specified conditions
• Regulatory Framework: National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) — provides formal legal recognition
• Professional PA Association: Indian Association of Physician Assistants (IAPA)
• National Curriculum: Standardized curriculum launched 2025–26; mandatory from 2026–27
• Annual Conference: IAPACON 2025 — 21st Annual Conference, October 2025, Chennai

India's PA profession has one of the most fascinating origin stories: it began in 1992 under the supervision of US-trained cardiac surgeon Dr. K.M. Cherian at the Madras Medical Mission in Chennai. Today, with 47+ programs across 10 collaborating universities, India has one of the largest PA education infrastructures in the world — even if the profession is still maturing in terms of standardization.

The single most important development in India's PA landscape is the formal legal recognition granted by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) — a body established to regulate allied health professions across India. The NCAHP has mandated that all universities offering PA programs implement a standardized national curriculum beginning with the 2025–26 academic year, with implementation becoming mandatory from the 2026–27 academic year. This will be transformational for consistency and quality of Indian PA training.

Prior to PA entry, candidates must hold at least a Bachelor's degree in a medical field (nursing, physical therapy, etc.) and have direct patient care experience. Programs range from 2–4 years and grant degrees from baccalaureate to postgraduate diploma level.

Resources:

• Indian Association of Physician Assistants (IAPA)
• India's PA Profession Gains Ground — IAPAE
• The Journey of Physician Associates in India — IAPAE
• Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

📖 Want to learn more? Read our in-depth article: The Indian Physician Assistant — Past, Present, and Future

🇮🇱 PAs in Israel

Israel PA Quick Facts (2026):

• Title: Physician Associate
• Can US PAs practice in Israel? Yes — certified PAs from other countries are eligible to apply to the Israeli PA training program
• Israel PA Salary: Approximately ₪250,000–₪320,000/yr (≈ USD $68,000–$87,000/yr)
• Number of PA Programs: Ministry of Health-run training programs at major hospitals (academic transition planned)
• Number of PAs Practicing: Approximately 100+ PAs, working exclusively in Emergency Departments
• Prescription Rights: Yes — limited prescribing rights in specific settings
• Regulatory Body: Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH) — now with formal legal basis under Amendment No. 8
• Eligible Applicants: Israeli-trained paramedics, certified PAs from other countries, MDs whose degrees have been approved for licensing by the Ministry of Health
• Note: A moratorium on new PA hiring in the public health service was announced in March 2025

Israel's PA profession emerged from urgent necessity — hospital overcrowding and an acute physician shortage drove the Ministry of Health to launch the first PA training program in 2016 at Tel Hashomer Sheba Medical Center. The first class of 35 students — mostly experienced paramedics with bachelor's degrees — graduated in July 2017 and began working in urgent care centers across Israel.

The landmark legal development of 2024 is Amendment No. 8 to Israel's Medical Professions Law, which took effect on August 7, 2024. This formally regulates Physician Associates and defines their scope of practice — giving the profession a statutory foundation it previously lacked.

However, a moratorium on hiring new PAs in the public health service, announced in March 2025, reflects ongoing tensions within the Israeli healthcare system about scope of practice and workforce integration. Despite this, Israel's Aliyah community organization Nefesh B'Nefesh formally included PAs in its 2025 healthcare recruitment efforts — suggesting positive long-term prospects for the profession.

Resources:

• Israel Begins to Regulate Physician Associates — IAPAE
• Israeli Ministry of Health — Physician Assistant Information
• Physician Associate — Nefesh B'Nefesh Aliyah Guide

📖 Want to learn more? Read our in-depth article: PA Pioneers in Israel — The Israeli Physician Assistant

🇸🇦 PAs in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia PA Quick Facts (2026):

• Title: Physician Assistant (PA)
• Can US PAs practice in Saudi Arabia? No — there is no civilian recognition or licensing pathway for foreign PAs
• Number of PA Programs: One — the Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences (PSMCHS) PA Program, Dhahran
• Program Length: Approximately 28 months (post-baccalaureate)
• Degree Awarded: Master of Physician Assistant Studies
• Number of PAs Practicing: Unknown — limited to Saudi Armed Forces Medical Services
• Prescription Rights: Within military healthcare settings only
• Regulatory Body: Saudi Armed Forces Medical Services — not the Ministry of Health
• Eligible Applicants: Saudi military personnel with an existing health sciences background

Saudi Arabia launched its first — and to date, only — PA training program in 2010 at Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences (PSMCHS) in Dhahran, in partnership with the US Army Medical Department. The program was designed to expand the capabilities of Saudi military medical personnel, particularly in deployed or austere settings where physician coverage is limited.

Graduates earn a Master of Physician Assistant Studies and are commissioned officers serving within the Saudi Armed Forces Medical Services. The curriculum follows a model closely aligned with US accreditation standards (ARC-PA), and the program has drawn international attention as a potential template for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) PA expansion.

Despite this promising start, the PA model has not expanded into Saudi Arabia's civilian healthcare system. The Ministry of Health's Vision 2030 healthcare transformation plan has focused on expanding nurse practitioner and specialist nursing roles rather than introducing PAs. As of 2026, there is no Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) certification category for Physician Assistants, and no civilian training programs have been accredited.

For international PAs considering the Middle East, the UAE remains the most viable option in the region for internationally trained PAs. Saudi Arabia's military program is a fascinating development in global PA history, but it does not translate into a practical opportunity for US or internationally trained PAs at this time.

Resources:

• Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences — Official Website
• Physician Assistants in Saudi Arabia — Background and Program Overview (PubMed Central)
• The PA Profession in the Middle East — JAAPA

🇧🇬 PAs in Bulgaria

Bulgaria PA Quick Facts (2026):

• Title: Physician Assistant
• Can US PAs practice in Bulgaria? Yes, though EU credential evaluation required
• Bulgaria PA Salary: Approximately BGN 20,000–30,000/yr (≈ USD $11,000–$16,500/yr)
• Number of PA Programs: Initially 2 (Trakia University Stara Zagora; Faculty of Public Health, Sofia) with additional programs in Ruse, Burgas, and Plovdiv in development
• Number of PAs Practicing: Growing steadily since first graduates entered the workforce in 2018; exact nationwide count not yet publicly reported
• Prescription Rights: None currently
• Regulatory Status: Listed in the EU register of regulated professions since January 2016
• Professional Association: Bulgarian Association of Physician Assistants and Feldshers (BAPAF) — established by National Assembly vote in April 2024
• Professional Framework: 4-year Bachelor's program with ~5,000 combined classroom and clinical hours; 3 national graduation examinations required

Bulgaria established its formal PA training in 2014, building on the American PA curriculum model. The profession replaced the feldsher role — a PA-equivalent that served Bulgaria from 1878 until 1999, when a physician surplus led to the discontinuation of feldsher training. With physician distribution becoming a renewed challenge, the PA model was reintroduced to fill critical gaps.

Since January 2016, Bulgarian PAs have been included in the EU register of regulated professions, giving them European recognition and credentialing. In a landmark April 2024 development, Bulgaria's National Assembly unanimously passed amendments establishing the Bulgarian Association of Physician Assistants and Feldshers (BAPAF) as the official national professional organization — a significant step in professionalizing and unifying the PA community. With graduates now entering the workforce since 2018, the profession is steadily building its clinical identity within Bulgaria's healthcare system.

Resources:

• Trakia University Stara Zagora
• EU Register of Regulated Professions
• From Feldschers to Physician Assistants in Bulgaria (PubMed)
• New Law in Bulgaria Provides Regulation for Physician Assistants — IAPAE

🇦🇫 PAs in Afghanistan

Afghanistan PA Quick Facts (2026):

• Title: Physician Assistant
• Can US PAs practice in Afghanistan? No — not recommended given current political and security situation
• Number of PA Programs: Status unknown under current Taliban government
• Number of PAs Practicing: Unknown
• Prescription Rights: Unknown
• Professional PA Association: None

Afghanistan's PA program was established in 2010 through a NATO training mission as an urgent response to one of the world's most under-resourced health systems. Located at the National Military Hospital compound in Kabul, the program offered a 12-month academic curriculum with a month-long pharmacology course and 16-week clinical phase. Graduates served in military settings, with plans to eventually expand into civilian healthcare.

The current situation under Taliban rule (since August 2021) has fundamentally altered Afghanistan's healthcare landscape. The Taliban's December 2024 ban on women in medical education — including nursing and midwifery schools — compounds an already desperate healthcare crisis. Women who need female healthcare providers are increasingly unable to access care, particularly in rural areas. Human Rights Watch's 2024 report describes Afghanistan's healthcare situation as "a disaster for the foreseeable future."

The fate of the original military PA program and its graduates under the current government is not publicly documented. Organizations like Doctors Without Borders (MSF) continue to provide emergency medical services in the country.

The Future of International PAs: Looking Ahead to 2030

The PA profession's global growth story is one of the most exciting narratives in modern healthcare. According to the International Association of Physician Associate Educators (IAPAE), more than 60 countries worldwide now have PA or PA-equivalent education programs — a remarkable expansion from the handful of pioneering nations just a decade ago. Africa alone has more than 20 countries with PA or PA-analogue clinical practitioners, and Asia has more than 15.

The drivers remain constant: PA training is less expensive and less time-intensive than physician training. PA graduates are more likely to fill roles where physician scarcity is most acute — rural areas, underserved communities, and high-demand specialties. And decades of evidence consistently show that PAs deliver physician-equivalent quality of care while improving access and reducing costs.

The regulatory milestones of 2024–2025 — GMC regulation in the UK, CPSO regulation in Ontario, New Zealand's formal PA health profession designation, Israel's new PA law, and India's national curriculum standardization — signal that the world is not just embracing the PA model, but institutionalizing it for the long term. The next frontier will be expanding prescribing rights internationally, developing more local training programs, and creating clearer international reciprocity pathways for PA credentials.

For US PAs thinking globally: the world has never been more open to your skills. The challenges are real — language barriers, credential evaluation, scope limitations — but the opportunities are extraordinary. Whether you dream of practicing in the rolling highlands of New Zealand, the vibrant cities of the UK, or the rural communities of sub-Saharan Africa, there is a place for passionate PAs in the global healthcare story.

Interested in international PA opportunities? Read our guides:

• The Globalization of Physician Assistants
• Navigating the Path to Becoming a PA: A Guide for International Medical Graduates
• US PA Programs That Accept International Students
• Working as a Physician Assistant Overseas — Haiti Medical Mission

Key Global PA Resources (2026)

• International Association of Physician Associate Educators (IAPAE) — the global hub for PA education
• IAPAE International PA Map — explore PA programs around the world
• International PA Timeline — Physician Assistant History Society
• European Network for PA Education (ENPAE)
• Determinants of the Physician Assistant/Associate Concept in Global Health Systems

Download the Infographic: Countries Where Physician Assistants Can Work Around the World

View the full infographic here →

Last updated: March 2026. International PA regulations and program numbers change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the relevant national PA association or regulatory body before pursuing international practice.

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