Career Overview: Roles and Responsibilities of a Physician Assistant (PA)
Physician Assistants are licensed clinicians who practice medicine within a collaborative, team-based healthcare model alongside physicians and other healthcare professionals. Their roles and responsibilities vary depending on specialty, clinical setting, and state law, but they are trained to provide comprehensive medical care across the lifespan.
PAs commonly take medical histories, perform physical examinations, and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests such as laboratory studies and imaging within their scope of practice. They diagnose illnesses and injuries, develop and manage treatment plans, perform procedures and therapeutic interventions appropriate to their clinical setting, and prescribe medications when permitted by state law and practice agreements. In surgical specialties, PAs may assist in surgery and provide perioperative care.
In addition to direct patient care, PAs educate and counsel patients and families about medical conditions, prevention strategies, and treatment adherence. They maintain accurate documentation of patient encounters, collaborate closely with physicians and interdisciplinary team members, and refer patients to specialists when necessary. PAs also engage in quality improvement initiatives and ongoing continuing education to maintain clinical competence and deliver safe, evidence-based care.
- Physicians’ Offices
- Outpatient Clinics
- Hospitals
- Inpatient Settings
- Emergency Departments
- Urgent Care
- Surgical Settings
- Specialty clinics (e.g., orthopedics, cardiology, psychiatry, eyc.)
(After earning a MSPAS)
- Hospital Medicine
- Emergency Medicine and Critical Care
- Internal Medicine
- Family Medicine/General Practice
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pathology
- Pediatrics
- Preventative Medicine
- Surgery
- Oncology
- American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA)
- National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
Most CAA programs require or strongly recommend:
- General Biology – 2 semesters with labs
- General Chemistry – 1-2 semesters with labs
- Organic Chemistry – 1 semester with the lab
- Human Anatomy and Physiology – 2 semesters with labs
- Statistics
- Medical Terminology
- Psychology
Additional Recommended Courses
- Microbiology
- Genetics
AP/IB credit: Many PA programs do not accept AP/IB credit for prerequisite sciences. If you used advanced credit, check each program’s policy and contact admissions for clarification.
Coursework varies by school. Always verify specific requirements on each program’s website.
The GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) is a standardized test designed to test your critical thinking skills in general categories rather than on specific “pre-requisite” content: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing.
After taking the GRE, you will receive a few different scores: a sub-score for your verbal and quantitative reasoning sections (scored between 130-170) as well as a combined score for your quantitative and qualitative reasoning sections (scored between 260-340). Additionally, you will receive a score for your analytical writing on a 6-point scale. Schools that require the GRE will likely report a minimum score needed to apply, or an average score of the previously admitted class/es. As you evaluate your scores, ensure that you are either at/above the minimum, or within a close range of the average.
The PA-CAT (Physician Assistant College Admission Test) is a discipline-specific admissions exam used by some PA programs to assess your knowledge of core prerequisite sciences rather than general test-taking ability. The exam evaluates content in Anatomy & Physiology, General Biology, General and Organic Chemistry, Microbiology, Behavioral Sciences, Genetics, and Statistics. Because it is content-heavy and based on foundational coursework, many students dedicate approximately 3–6 months to prepare.
CASPer is an open-response, situational judgment assessment designed to evaluate your soft skills, like professionalism, ethics, and decision-making skills rather than specific science knowledge. Test takers may be required to answer via written or recorded responses. With this evaluation, there are no right or wrong answers, but rather it serves as a way for raters to understand an applicant’s behavioral tendencies.
It is important to note that not all PA programs require all admissions exams. Some may require the GRE, some the PA-CAT, some both, and others neither. Always review each program’s admissions requirements carefully.
Application: Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA)
- Personal information
- Academic History
Transcript Entry
Standardized Tests - Supporting Information
Evaluations
Achievements
Essay
Experiences
Licenses and Certifications
Memberships - Program Materials
Learn more about the CASPA application
Research Programs: Create a list of programs and review their individual requirements for prerequisite courses, veterinary experience hours, testing (GRE), and letters of recommendation.
Obtain Direct Patient Care Hours: These hours are required for PA admissions and may vary widely in minimum required hours and in which roles count, so be sure to research and confirm for each program. Common ways to earn direct patient care hours include working in roles which may require an additional certification: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Medical Assistant (MA), Phlebotomy Technician, Paramedic, Patient Care Technician (PCT), Physical Therapy Aide.
Typical Expectations
- At least 1,500-2,000 hours of direct patient care hours
- Keep in mind that virtual hours are generally not accepted
- Some experiences such as scribing or volunteering may count towards your hours for some programs but not others
- Be open to working in other settings besides hospitals to increase your chances of obtaining a position
Obtain Shadowing/Observation Hours: Shadowing helps you understand the general organization and structure of a day in the healthcare field. Shadowing a PA specifically can help introduce you to the role of PA and their scope of practice. Most programs expect at least some shadowing of a PA specifically, but shadowing of other clinicians may also be accepted.
Typical Expectations
- Try to gain experience in multiple specialties (primary care, surgery, emergency medicine, etc.)
- Prioritize shadowing a PA, but consider also shadowing physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, or other healthcare professionals to broaden your perspective
- Track shadowing hours and reflect on what you learn about the PA profession.
Be sure to accurately document and organize all your hours by listing the type of experience, with whom you shadowed, their contact information, and a small reflection of your experience.
Letters of Recommendation: Most programs require 3, but no more than 5 letters of recommendation.
- One MUST be from a healthcare provider (preferably a PA)
- One should be from a professor (typically a pre-requisite professor
- Others may be from professors, other healthcare providers, supervisors, or research
mentors
Programs will often specify who is an approved letter writer
To obtain meaningful letters, build relationships early by actively participating in class or clinical experiences, seeking feedback, and demonstrating reliability and initiative. When requesting a letter, ask well in advance, provide your resume, your personal statement, and clearly share deadlines and submission instructions. Thoughtful, detailed recommendations from individuals who know you well can significantly strengthen your application by offering credible, personalized perspectives on your strengths and potential.