Can a nurse become a physician assistant?

Question

Kate Swindlehurst · Accepted Answer

Yes, a nurse can become a physician assistant. In fact, this can be a great transition as nurses already have a strong background in the medical field and therefore can have a higher chance of succeeding as physician assistants.

There are not currently any programs that take you from an RN to a PA, so you do have to go the traditional route of earning a master's degree in physician assistant studies. If you hold a bachelor's degree, you may need to take some prerequisite courses before applying. If you hold an associate's degree, you do need to complete a bachelor's degree before applying.

Once you have finished school, you need to pass the licensing exams and then you can begin practicing as a physician assistant. While there is no direct link between being a nurse and becoming a physician assistant, the foundation nursing gives you can be extremely beneficial while working to become a physician assistant.