What is a Physician Assistant/Associate (PA)?

• Physician assistants/associates, also referred to as PAs, are licensed to perform medical services through physician collaboration in the state of Tennessee.
• PAs are highly trained healthcare providers who have typically earned a master’s degree, though many PAs pursue optional, doctorate degrees.
• Following receipt of a bachelor’s degree at an undergraduate college or university, PA students attend accredited PA programs, which are typically 6-7 continuous semesters in length, and earn an average of 112 credit hours.
• The first part of PA training lasts 3 semesters and occurs in the classroom, with students receiving instruction on basic medical sciences, including anatomy, biochemistry, genetics, immunology, medical terminology, microbiology, molecular basis of disease, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physiology.
• In the classroom, PA students gain clinical decision-making skills by learning how to take a patient’s history, perform a clinical exam, interpret laboratory medicine/imaging/diagnostic results, read EKGs, and utilize point-of-care ultrasound.
• The remaining 3-4 semesters are focused on clinical training, with PAs receiving hands-on training in clinics or hospital settings, often side-by-side with medical students and residents. All students are required to complete clinical rotations in behavioral and mental health, emergency medicine, family medicine, general surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, and women’s health. Optional rotations, in addition to the required rotations, include geriatrics, inpatient care, long-term care, orthopedics, primary care, or specialty/subspeciality care such as cardiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, pulmonology, and radiology.
• During their clinical rotations, PA students learn to perform procedures as basic as suturing, performing biopsies, and draining abscesses, or as complex as inserting chest tubes, placing central lines, performing lumbar punctures, and assisting with surgery.
• After graduation, all PAs are required to become board certified through a written board examination, similar to the process followed by their collaborating physicians. This exam is administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
• PAs that have successfully completed the NCCPA certification are permitted to use the PA-C title after their names. NCCPA certification must be renewed every ten (10) years by retaking and passing the national examination.
• PAs are required to complete 100 hours of continuing medical education (CME) every two years in order to maintain their certification and their state license.
• In their generalist training, PAs receive education, instruction, and experience in all medical specialties – making them flexible providers that are able to fill the needs of patients.
• As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive healthcare, assist in surgery and write prescriptions.