A physician assistant/associate is a licensed professional who:

• Practices medicine as part of a team with physicians

• Exercises significant autonomy in medical decision making

• Provides a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services

  • conducts physical examinations

  • diagnoses and treats illnesses

  • prescribes medication

  • assists in surgery

• Performs educational, administrative, pharmaceutical, and medical research 

• PAs have lateral mobility - they can change specialties multiple times within their career without further schooling

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The PA profession is a fast-growing profession in healthcare. Read more about what a PA is from the AAPA here.