4 answers
Aniyah
Student
Chesterfield, Virginia
1
Question
Asked
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Is being a PA worth it or rewarding as someone that has wanted to be a doctor but doesn't want that commitment?
I've wanted to be a doctor since I was 5 but now I'm not so sure. I know it's a lot of work and I don't really want to be in school that long, plus once in that field I know it's not a lot of flexibility (looking at being a surgeon or pediatrician as of right now). However, I still have a strong interest in medicine and have a desire to help people through that. I also still have plans of traveling, starting a family, etc. in the future. I've been thinking about being a PA as opposed to going to med school but I'm not sure and I don't know if I should pursue pre-med or pre-pa in college.
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4 answers
Caleb Lindsey
Nursing Assistant
19
Answers
Bloomfield, Indiana
Updated
Caleb’s Answer
Hi Aniyah,
Thank you for your question. I can definitely empathize with your plight because choosing between pre-PA & pre-med was an extremely difficult decision for me, and I'd be lying to you if I did not reconsider my decision several times along the way. I want you to know that its okay to be unsure of which you want to pursue. The best thing I can think to do is to lay out my reasoning for why I am pursuing PA and give you all the information I can to make the best decision for yourself.
PA school is appealing to me for many of the same reasons you mentioned: the shorter duration of schooling, the flexibility to change specialties, and the ability to work collaboratively as a part of a patient's care team. As an example, I once shadowed a PA in emergency medicine who got burned out in that speciality and switched to orthopedic surgery and is now much happier. In knowing myself, I am a person who is constantly pursuing different avenues, so the idea of being able to switch between specialties is very appealing to me. I also am very eager to begin my healthcare career and have other interests I would like to pursue like poetry writing and farming, so the shorter timeline for PA school appeals to me in that sense to. I also recognize that PA school is a 2 year degree, so if you want, you can work as a PA for a few years and then go to med school if you so choose, whereas going to medical school and then deciding to become a PA may prove more difficult.
Conversely, being a PA means you operate under the supervision of a physician. In the emergency department, where I work as a medical scribe, this often looks like physicians signing off on the PAs' charts and providing guidance to PAs and NPs regarding treatment recommendations. As a PA, your scope of practice is also more limited than that of a physician. For example, in the hospital I work in, PAs & NPs are not allowed to administer sedatives, they must have the order submitted by a physician and have a physician at bedside to monitor the patient. In my conversations with PAs in the ED, they also feel they wish they had went to medical school because of the distinct pay gap between PAs & physicians and they often feel they wish they had more education and training. However, this is also in an ED setting, so I am unsure of how the scope of practice differs in other specialties.
You also have to consider the differences in college coursework. Medical schools require both Physics I & II, as well as Organic Chemistry I & II, while PA schools often have varying prerequisite requirements based on the school (some require Organic Chemistry, some don't, some only require Organic Chemistry I, some require Biochemistry... etc, etc). There's also testing to consider, with medical schools requiring the MCAT & PA schools only requiring the GRE or PA-CAT (OR NONE AT ALL BECAUSE SOME PA SCHOOLS DO NOT REQUIRE ANY STANDARDIZED TESTING). It can all get really confusing & difficult!
My advice to you would be to think about what you really want in your healthcare career. Do you want to have complete control of your practice and achieve a high level mastery in a specific area by going to school for 7-11 years (med school and residency)? Do you prefer a shorter education where you may not reach the same level of mastery, but are able to launch your career sooner and have an easier time changing specialties if you so choose? These are very difficult questions to answer, so give yourself some grace and some time to think about what you really want. There is no wrong answer, just YOUR answer.
I truly enjoyed answering your question. I wish you all the best on your healthcare journey and I know you will succeed no matter which career you choose. If you have any other questions, I would be happy to answer them!
Thank you for your question. I can definitely empathize with your plight because choosing between pre-PA & pre-med was an extremely difficult decision for me, and I'd be lying to you if I did not reconsider my decision several times along the way. I want you to know that its okay to be unsure of which you want to pursue. The best thing I can think to do is to lay out my reasoning for why I am pursuing PA and give you all the information I can to make the best decision for yourself.
PA school is appealing to me for many of the same reasons you mentioned: the shorter duration of schooling, the flexibility to change specialties, and the ability to work collaboratively as a part of a patient's care team. As an example, I once shadowed a PA in emergency medicine who got burned out in that speciality and switched to orthopedic surgery and is now much happier. In knowing myself, I am a person who is constantly pursuing different avenues, so the idea of being able to switch between specialties is very appealing to me. I also am very eager to begin my healthcare career and have other interests I would like to pursue like poetry writing and farming, so the shorter timeline for PA school appeals to me in that sense to. I also recognize that PA school is a 2 year degree, so if you want, you can work as a PA for a few years and then go to med school if you so choose, whereas going to medical school and then deciding to become a PA may prove more difficult.
Conversely, being a PA means you operate under the supervision of a physician. In the emergency department, where I work as a medical scribe, this often looks like physicians signing off on the PAs' charts and providing guidance to PAs and NPs regarding treatment recommendations. As a PA, your scope of practice is also more limited than that of a physician. For example, in the hospital I work in, PAs & NPs are not allowed to administer sedatives, they must have the order submitted by a physician and have a physician at bedside to monitor the patient. In my conversations with PAs in the ED, they also feel they wish they had went to medical school because of the distinct pay gap between PAs & physicians and they often feel they wish they had more education and training. However, this is also in an ED setting, so I am unsure of how the scope of practice differs in other specialties.
You also have to consider the differences in college coursework. Medical schools require both Physics I & II, as well as Organic Chemistry I & II, while PA schools often have varying prerequisite requirements based on the school (some require Organic Chemistry, some don't, some only require Organic Chemistry I, some require Biochemistry... etc, etc). There's also testing to consider, with medical schools requiring the MCAT & PA schools only requiring the GRE or PA-CAT (OR NONE AT ALL BECAUSE SOME PA SCHOOLS DO NOT REQUIRE ANY STANDARDIZED TESTING). It can all get really confusing & difficult!
My advice to you would be to think about what you really want in your healthcare career. Do you want to have complete control of your practice and achieve a high level mastery in a specific area by going to school for 7-11 years (med school and residency)? Do you prefer a shorter education where you may not reach the same level of mastery, but are able to launch your career sooner and have an easier time changing specialties if you so choose? These are very difficult questions to answer, so give yourself some grace and some time to think about what you really want. There is no wrong answer, just YOUR answer.
I truly enjoyed answering your question. I wish you all the best on your healthcare journey and I know you will succeed no matter which career you choose. If you have any other questions, I would be happy to answer them!
Evangeline Watkins
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
36
Answers
Santa Ana, California
Updated
Evangeline’s Answer
PA will definitely give you more time outside of school and work to do the things you want to do, but doing MD while still having a life isn't impossible; it will just look different. Most of the prerequisites for PA and MD overlap, and there is no "Pre-med degree," just science degrees. You can always pursue a science degree and do the prerequisites for both at the same time, and make the decision later. PA school is a master's degree, so you will still be in school for at least 6 years, compared to MD, which is 8 years. (This includes undergraduate and graduate school.) After getting an MD, you will need to do about 4 years of residency, which will be similar to schooling, but you will also be getting paid. They both have very different scopes of practice, and everything a PA does needs to be signed off by an MD, so if you don't like someone checking your work, an MD might be better. It also depends on the field of medicine you want to pursue. Not all fields will be accessible as a PA. (Ex: There aren't many jobs where you can do radiology as a PA.) Look into the different scopes of practice and ask around. You can also call PA schools and ask what they teach there and what it will allow you to do in the future. Colleges love talking about themselves to try to get you to go there, but it could also give you a better idea of the lifestyle you will have.
Julia Strojny
Student
4
Answers
Schaumburg, Illinois
Updated
Julia’s Answer
PA school is an excellent path. You can start with a 5-year accelerated program right from high school or opt for a 2-year program after college. In the first year, you'll attend lectures, and then move on to clinical training. You'll complete rotations, similar to a doctor's, and then choose a specialty. A PA degree can be less demanding than an MD, making it a great choice for those interested in medicine. Research schools that match your needs and take the first step!
Charlotte Geiger
Public Health Science Student at the University of Maryland
151
Answers
Sykesville, Maryland
Updated
Charlotte’s Answer
Hi Aniyah,
Being a Physician Assistant (PA) can definitely be worth it, especially for someone who’s always been passionate about medicine but isn’t sure about committing to the long, demanding path of becoming a doctor. If you’re interested in helping people, working in healthcare, and making a real impact, but still want time to travel, start a family, and enjoy some flexibility, PA is a great option to consider. You still get to diagnose, treat, and care for patients, and many PAs find the work just as meaningful and rewarding as physicians do. The training is shorter—usually around two to three years after undergrad—and the job often comes with more consistent hours and the ability to switch specialties without having to go through another residency. Since the coursework for pre-med and pre-PA overlaps quite a bit, you don’t need to decide right away. Taking time to shadow both doctors and PAs can help you figure out what fits best with your goals and lifestyle.
Being a Physician Assistant (PA) can definitely be worth it, especially for someone who’s always been passionate about medicine but isn’t sure about committing to the long, demanding path of becoming a doctor. If you’re interested in helping people, working in healthcare, and making a real impact, but still want time to travel, start a family, and enjoy some flexibility, PA is a great option to consider. You still get to diagnose, treat, and care for patients, and many PAs find the work just as meaningful and rewarding as physicians do. The training is shorter—usually around two to three years after undergrad—and the job often comes with more consistent hours and the ability to switch specialties without having to go through another residency. Since the coursework for pre-med and pre-PA overlaps quite a bit, you don’t need to decide right away. Taking time to shadow both doctors and PAs can help you figure out what fits best with your goals and lifestyle.