PA vs. NP

Similarities

Both are licensed healthcare providers who work alongside physicians

Both treat and diagnose illnesses and prescribe medications.

Both require a graduate degree, clinical training, and board certification.

Both can be found in hospitals, clinics, and other settings

PAs must work with a supervising physician, some NPs do not.

PAs take the PANRE every 10 years, NPs the AANPCP every 5 years.

PA school follows the medical model, NPs follow the nursing model.

PAs train as generalists where NP programs have concentrations.

Path to Become a PA:

Earn a Bachelors degree in any area, which takes four years to complete
Earn your Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, which takes roughly 24-30 months
Pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE)

Path to Become a NP:

Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), which takes four years to complete
Pass the NCLEX to become a registered nurse (RN)
Earn a graduate degree, which in addition to coursework, includes a clinical practicum of 500-650 hours and is roughly 2-4 years long
Take a National Certification Exam to become a licensed Nurse Practitioner

Physician Assistants are trained as generalists, which means they can switch specialities without the need to go back to school and get additional training
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

Physician Assistant:

Trained in the medical model, so has the ability to provide many of the same clinical services of physicians
Key responsibilities include interpreting lab tests, performing physical exams, diagnosing and treating patients, assisting in surgery, and more

Nurse Practitioner:

Trained in the nursing model, following a patient-centered model of care
Key responsibilities include recording histories, providing physical examinations, diagnosing and treating patients, and prescribing medications
Nurse Practitioners have full autonomy in 27 states, and can practice independently without physician supervision