If you ever thought about pursuing a medical profession, but don’t wish to become a doctor, a good career choice is to become a physician assistant. The profession has been recognized since the early 1960′s, physician assistants work in a range of different hospitals all across Alabama. These are open public health clinics, private practices and colleges. Prior to entering the profession, the majority of physician assistants have a minimum of four years work experience within the health care industry.
Alabama Physician Assistant Responsibilities
As a physician assistant your role will involve the practice of medicine under a doctor’s supervision. They do not take on the same roles as a medical assistant who perform clerical chores and regimen tasks. alternatively their responsibilities are similar to those of a doctor, aside from the more complex functions. The typical duties of a physician assistant are treating and examining patients, using the medical history of a patient, evaluating and ordering lab work, treating injuries of a less serious nature and writing medical prescriptions.
Undergraduate Preliminary School
The majority of physician assistants begin their schooling as an undergraduate; however, there are a few schools offering the program as a bachelor’s degree. There are also some offering associate degree programs. Before you are admitted onto a bachelor’s degree program, you will need to have a minimum of two years in college. If you are applying for a graduate diploma program, you will need to have a four year degree, as well as having earlier work experience within the health care sector. According to the American Academy of Physician Assistants you ought to also take undergraduate classes in humanities, English and social sciences as well as science classes. The science classes that you take must take incorporate chemistry, biology, computers, math, statistics and nutrition.
How To Become a Physician Assistant In Alabama
Before becoming a licensed physician assistant in Alabama (or any state for that matter), you will need to complete an accredited instruction program that is acknowledged by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant Inc (ARC-PA). The US Bureau of Labor Statistics says that over two thirds of these programs provide master’s degrees, and the majority of the others offer a bachelor’s degree. You must choose an entry stage program from one of the 159 (updated early 2012) accredited colleges on the ARC-PA list.
Clinical Coaching And Certification
It usually takes around 26 months to complete your accredited PA program in Alabama. The classes taken in your freshman year incorporate subjects such as physiology, anatomy, biochemistry, clinical medicine and ethics, and microbiology. In your second year you will take up a clinical position in a health care institution, or in a doctor’s office. You will cover subjects such as emergency medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, surgical procedures and radiology.
Alabama State Licensing And Examination
In all 50 states in America (Alabama included) you will require a certification to turn out to be a PA. As well as completing an accredited program, you will also need to pass a national exam from the NCCPA. It is a multiple choice test of surgical and medical details. You can take the test at over 200 locations around the country. Once you have passed you will be recognized as a Certified Physician Assistant in Alabama.
Sustaining Your Alabama PA Certification
Once you have acquired your physician assistant certification you are expected to keep it through continued education, plus examinations. Just about every two years you must complete 100 hours of continuing education, and you must do this for six years. After six years you are required to take another recertification exam. This six year routine repeats itself throughout your career as a physician assistant.
Physician Assistant Programs in Alabama
The following schools and colleges offer Physician assistant programs that are recognized by the ARC-PA. They should be your first choice.
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Ultimate Medical Academy OL
At Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA), healthcare training is all we do. Since 1994, UMA has trained thousands of students for careers in the allied health field. Today, UMA continues to expand its wide-ranging portfolio of healthcare degrees and diploma programs, concentrating on the curricula, skills and certifications essential to meet the growing demand for qualified healthcare professionals.
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Virginia College
Virginia College is a private institution of higher education committed to offering associate degrees, diploma courses, and baccalaureate degrees at its various campuses*. These programs strengthen the student’s ability to enter or advance in a chosen career. The College provides educational opportunities through curricula in business, business-related, administrative, management, technical and professional programs that are designed to prepare the student for direct entry into the job market. * Not all programs are available at all campuses.
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Keiser University eCampus Online
For over 35 years, Keiser University has provided student-centered, quality career education. Keiser University Online offers degree programs online to prepare students for in-demand professions. Degrees are offered with a curriculum that is in pace with technology and workforce demand trends in business, criminal justice, healthcare and computer technology. Our “one-class-at-a-time” approach allows busy students to focus on their education and balance the demands of work and family.
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South University
South University enjoys a long-standing tradition of excellence in education and personalized student attention.
Since its humble beginnings, South University has experienced continued growth transforming from a two-year college into a four-year university offering associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degree programs with campus locations in Columbia, South Carolina; Montgomery, Alabama; Savannah, Georgia; and Tampa and West Palm Beach, Florida.
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Penn Foster Career School
Having the right skills is vitally important in today’s super-competitive job market. With online training from Penn Foster Career School, students are assured of learning up-to-date career skills that will prepare them for the jobs of today and tomorrow. Students at Penn Foster Career School can get the training they need quickly, conveniently, and affordably.
Penn Foster is one of the world’s largest and most respected online education providers. Their programs are job focused, and they offer training for employment in the fastest-growing fields in business, technology, health care, and the trades.
University Of South Alabama
The USA physician assistant program was first accredited on 4/1/1996, and they’re up for review again in September 2013.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham
The PA program at University of Alabama was first accredited on 9/1/1975 and are next due for a review in March 2014.
Required Experience
It is essential that you gain patient care experience within a clinical location for the successful completion of a physician assistant program. During your college years, you must consider working as a medical assistant, or an emergency medical tech (EMT).
Potential And Earnings
The Bureau of Labor Statistics Says that physician assistant jobs will have grown by as much as 39 percent by 2018. To cut down on hospital costs, physician assistants will take over more physician tasks. Most of the growth will be in rural places of Alabama and inner cities. The average annual wage for full time work is $84,830; the hourly wage is $40.78. Those in the top 10 percent of earners earn over $115,080 per year.
Tips And Warnings
The majority of physician assistant packages do not accept volunteer work in a medical location. You must have between two to four years paid medical experience or you will not be accepted onto a program.
It is not easy to get accepted into physician assistant program; there is a lot of competition. Many applicants already hold a nursing degree and have a number of years of clinical experience.