Career questions tagged physician-assistant
What is the day-to-day work actually like for nurses, CRNAs, NPs, and PAs, and what are some things you wish you knew before choosing your career?
I'm a junior in high school and I've already narrowed down my career/major options but I'm still undecided and am in need of advice.
How can I decide whether becoming a registered nurse, CRNA, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant would be the best career path for me? What are the biggest differences I should consider??
I'm a junior in high school and I've narrowed down my career/major options, but I'm still undecided and am in need of advice.
How can I become a CNA ( without any expensive funds) as a 17 year old who's school doesn't offer CNA classes, & with limited resources ? My local community college offers it but it cost almost 2000$, any opportunities!?
I want to become a CNA / take classes and have a license, to build up for my devotion for healthcare / nursing in the future. I truly believe this experience will give me the expertise and help me to where I want to be! I appreciate any help and advice.
How much autonomy do Physician Assistants actually have, and how does that vary by state or workplace?
I want to become a Physician Assistant for my long term career goal. I would like to know how much autonomy PAs have because my level of autonomy will determine how much independence, responsibilities, and decision-making authority I have in patient care. It also varies widely by state and workplace, which can significantly impact my stress level, job satisfaction, and overall career experience.
In your experience, do you recommend letting people who are in your personal life to read and edit your personal statement for PA school or paying for an editing service?
I will be applying to PA school in 2027, but because I actually don't know any PAs in my life or have any mentors, I am a little lost. I get conflicting advice from people who don't know what I'm going through or who don't have insight into PA school. If any of you are open to mentorship, I would definitely be glad
What is the best part about being a pediatric PA?
I am planning on becoming a PA in the future going into pediatrics.
As a current college sophomore, how do I begin making meaningful connections in the healthcare field?
I am currently studying health science, planning to complete an Masters of Science in Nursing after my undergraduate education.
How to prepare for PA/NP schooling?
Outside of school and prerequisites what should I be doing? #Spring26
What is the hardest part about Physician Assistant School?
I am pursuing a master's degree in physician assistant studies and am nervous about the academic rigor and dedication.
What major I should choose for Pre PA. ?
I am currently enrolled in the CC program and My goal is to become a PA. I planned to earn a bachelor degree after I graduate from the CC program so what major should I choose for Pre PA. People said Public health and Biology degree are best option .What are other options other than these two ?
I am a senior in high school going into my undergraduate year majoring in Kinesiology. What should I minor in? Any tips to help me succeed? What are potential volunteer options for me? Anything to help me get ahead and stay on top of my stuff?
Senior in highschool going to ASU in the fall for Kinesiology.
What is it like to be a physician assistant and what education do I need?
Hi my name is Iker. As of now I am a middle school student here at Crane middle school. I want to know what it’s like to be a physician assistant and what do you experience while you’re on the job? I also want to know what you do and if I would need training to be a physician assistant? Another thing I want to ask about is what education do I need? I also want to ask about what type of certificate and training do I need and how much time would this take. Thank you for your time and guidance.
What is the best part of being a PA? Will all of my hard work translate into a job that I love going to every day? I wonder how successful I would be as a PA?
I am a senior in high school. I attend a program through my school that allows me to do clinical rotations. I am interested in pediatric care, but I don't necessarily like aspects of nursing. I wonder if I should be a biology major or a nursing major, though.
What is the best way to get experience in the medical field?
I have a medical assistant certificate, but I haven't been able to gain experience with it. I want to gain experience while continuing my studies. #Fall25
What is studying neuroscience like? #Fall25
I don't want to know the basics, and I know every school is different. But how does the major differ from other science majors like biology. Especially in a pre-med viewpoint. Will it benefit me studying neuroscience instead of biology? (I do like the topic better) Also, what's the best studying tactics for neuroscience?
How do I pursue a career as a pediatric physician assistant?
I am a senior at my high school, I have a GPA of 3.9 and I am involved in art club and my local church. I had the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Jamaica and it made me realize that I would like to pursue a career as a pediatric physician assistant. *Edited by Admin for clarity
How challenging is PA school and what does it take to get through it?
I am a high school senior and I am trying to figure out if PA school is really for me
What should I do to be sure that a Physician Assistant is what I actually want to do before I continue to take classes and work towards a degree ?
I really want to be a part of the medical field and I have recently learned that physicians assistants are in a growing need. I just want to make sure that before I take out loans and spend money on a degree that this is actually what I want to do for life.
With all the new laws, I am concerned about how to become a Physician Assistant while I cannot take it out in loans. Are there any physician assistants out there with any advice to get through school with little to no loans?
I have a chet account, but it will not get me to my master's degree. People say that private loans are bad so im pretty scared of those. Help!
How do I find local scholarships?
I am a senior in high school, I am interested in majoring in psychology and/or neuroscience and I want to be a Physician Assistant.
What are the best university options for an aspiring Physician Assistant and what major best aligns with prerequisite coursework for graduate school?
I'm in the process of college research and I am struggling to find what schools are best for future physician assistants and it seems as if there are so many options for majors as well.
What do I need to know if I want to be a Physician Assistant?
I feel as though I need to plan for graduate school before I even enter undergraduate school. There seems like there are many prerequisite that I need to meet so I can meet the requirements needed to apply for a Physician Assistant. What do I need to know?
Is Microbiology a good major for a Physician Assistant?
My long term goal is to become a Physician Assistant and I am wondering if Biology or Microbiology is a better major to study to prepare me to apply to graduate school to become a physician assistant.
How do you decide which PA specialty is right for you, especially if you want a good work-life balance and still make a positive impact on patients?
I am a senior in High School and will be attending Slippery Rock University for their Exercise Science, Pre-Physician Assistant (3+2) track in the Fall of 2026
What are the most rewarding experiences you have faced and some of the most challenging moments you have had after becoming a physician assistant?
I am a senior in high school looking for advice on becoming a physician assistant after graduation.
Is trying to become a PA risky, because they are oversaturated?Would it be really hard to find a job as a new grad? Is it worth it to go to PA school then?
(I also have these same questions for NPs). I'm worried that if I choose to go to PA school that I will have a hard time finding a job after and regret it. I heard that in rural areas there is high demand, but if I wanted to live in more of a mainstream/bigger city, would I not be able to get a job for a long time? I heard there are also so many more PA programs now that are contributing to the oversaturation. Especially in the later 2030s or 2040s I feel like it might be hard to get a job and that I would regret not choosing another career path.
What is the best way to study for Biology? #Spring25
I am pursuing Biology and want to do PA after
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.
How is it possible to get clinical hours to be able to apply to Physician Assistant graduate school if I have no experience How do I start off? ?
What is the next stop for me to become successful and reach my end goal of being a Physician Assistant?
What lesser-known experiences and extracurriculars during undergrad helped you stand out when applying to PA or medical school Out of these hobbies, what was your most rewarding experience? #Spring25?
I love getting involved in as much as possible, whether it is medical-related or just things I enjoy. Sometimes I get worried that I can't balance my hobbies with the rigor of my classes and I hope to get some ideas from others on what they found not only most helpful when applying to PA school but also what they enjoyed the most! #Spring25