Physician Assistant vs. Nurse Practioner
Not sure if you want to become a Nurse Practitioner or a Physician Assistant? Here are some similarities and differences:
Educational Differences
Path to Become a PA:
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Earn a Bachelors degree in any area, which takes four years to complete
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Earn your Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, which takes roughly 24-30 months
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Pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE)
Path to Become a NP:
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Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), which takes four years to complete
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Pass the NCLEX to become a registered nurse (RN)
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Earn a graduate degree, which in addition to coursework, includes a clinical practicum of 500-650 hours and is roughly 2-4 years long
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Take a National Certification Exam to become a licensed Nurse Practitioner
Specialization Differences
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Physician Assistants are trained as generalists, which means they can switch specialities without the need to go back to school and get additional training
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Nurse Practitioners earn formal education in a specialized field, so if an NP wanted to switch specialties, they would need formal education and licensing to do so
Training and Responsibilities
Physician Assistant:
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Trained in the medical model, so has the ability to provide many of the same clinical services of physicians
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Key responsibilities include interpreting lab tests, performing physical exams, diagnosing and treating patients, assisting in surgery, and more
Nurse Practitioner:
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Trained in the nursing model, following a patient-centered model of care
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Key responsibilities include recording histories, providing physical examinations, diagnosing and treating patients, and prescribing medications
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Nurse Practitioners have full autonomy in 27 states, and can practice independently without physician supervision