3 answers
Ashley
Student
Pensacola, Florida
2
Questions
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Would it be smart to be a physician's assistant rather than a physician?
I would really like to go into the medical field. I would love to be a physician. However, I was wondering if perhaps being a physician's assistant was a better option. It would be less schooling, which would cost less money. #medicine #school #physician #assistant
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3 answers
Andrea Caprio
Physician Assistant, Master of Business Administration (MBA)
11
Answers
Updated
Andrea’s Answer
Hello,
As a practicing PA for over 15 years, I still ask myself this question. I've had several PA colleagues go back to medical school and become physicians. There are definitely pluses and minuses to both.
If your goal is to practice medicine and treat patients, you can do that as a PA. You can do most of what a Physician does in most specialties, with surgery probably being the main exception.
Main differences are money, status and time. MD requires a lot more years of training, you'll graduate with significant student loans, and it's very difficult to change specialties as a Physician.
As a PA, you can start practicing much earlier. You won't incur as much debt from graduate school, you can easily transition between specialties and you make a very competitive salary; albeit not as much as a physician. Many experienced PAs make over 100,000/yr, but that is still half as much as most physicians.
As a PA, you will not practice alone. You will never be the "boss." There are some patients who will not want to see you because you're "only the PA."
PAs are generally well respected members of the healthcare team. Our doctors appreciate us and our patients value our care. It's a great job, no doubt. But if you want the title and status; or simply want to hold the highest degree in your field, then you might want to go all the way.
There are doctorate degrees for both NPs and PAs these days. But they don't change how we practice or expand the role in any significant way. So, PAs can get doctorate degrees, but I'm not sure how useful that it, considering it doesn't really change anything.
The PA route is a great option for those of us who just want to practice medicine and don't care about the title. You make less money, but you still make a very competitive salary for a Master's degree, and you have a ton of flexibility within the field. You can essentially do anything. But you will always need to work with a physician, and you will always lack some of their expertise, since you simply don't have the same training or experience. It's a trade off, but it's still a really great career.
As a practicing PA for over 15 years, I still ask myself this question. I've had several PA colleagues go back to medical school and become physicians. There are definitely pluses and minuses to both.
If your goal is to practice medicine and treat patients, you can do that as a PA. You can do most of what a Physician does in most specialties, with surgery probably being the main exception.
Main differences are money, status and time. MD requires a lot more years of training, you'll graduate with significant student loans, and it's very difficult to change specialties as a Physician.
As a PA, you can start practicing much earlier. You won't incur as much debt from graduate school, you can easily transition between specialties and you make a very competitive salary; albeit not as much as a physician. Many experienced PAs make over 100,000/yr, but that is still half as much as most physicians.
As a PA, you will not practice alone. You will never be the "boss." There are some patients who will not want to see you because you're "only the PA."
PAs are generally well respected members of the healthcare team. Our doctors appreciate us and our patients value our care. It's a great job, no doubt. But if you want the title and status; or simply want to hold the highest degree in your field, then you might want to go all the way.
There are doctorate degrees for both NPs and PAs these days. But they don't change how we practice or expand the role in any significant way. So, PAs can get doctorate degrees, but I'm not sure how useful that it, considering it doesn't really change anything.
The PA route is a great option for those of us who just want to practice medicine and don't care about the title. You make less money, but you still make a very competitive salary for a Master's degree, and you have a ton of flexibility within the field. You can essentially do anything. But you will always need to work with a physician, and you will always lack some of their expertise, since you simply don't have the same training or experience. It's a trade off, but it's still a really great career.
Shannon Kelley
various roles
49
Answers
Cranston, Rhode Island
Updated
Shannon’s Answer
in addition to the above: as a PA you could own an office practice and employ MD's. you'd be in charge of the business while they'd be in charge in the medical sense. or you could have your own office in a small town, as the only practitioner around, and have an agreement with an MD in another town that they'd be available to help you when you need advice. this is how you could run your own show as a PA.
an experienced PA can be involved in training medical residents as well.
you have to be careful when thinking about school being shorter. MD /DO school is long & hard for a reason. those jobs are really hard! yes PA school is shorter but graduates still do about 85% of what primary care physicians do every day. so consider how you learn best, how much clinical experience you already have, how good you are at critical thinking & decision-making.
an experienced PA can be involved in training medical residents as well.
you have to be careful when thinking about school being shorter. MD /DO school is long & hard for a reason. those jobs are really hard! yes PA school is shorter but graduates still do about 85% of what primary care physicians do every day. so consider how you learn best, how much clinical experience you already have, how good you are at critical thinking & decision-making.
Jenny Boltz
Sales Strategy
11
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Jenny’s Answer
It's a faster path. I have known many friends who have become a PA and are happy with their path. You can't go wrong either way. I would say a PA in a clinical setting makes sense. Be wary that you may be competing or eliminated if the facility requires you to be a physician so you may be limited on the job opportunities.