Physician Associate vs Physician Assistant

Question

Zippia Team · Accepted Answer

A physician associate is a mid-level health care provider, while a physician assistant is just another name for a physician associate.

A physician associate or physician assistant performs a number of different tasks in the medical field. Some of these include taking medical histories, performing examinations, diagnosing illnesses, analyzing test results, and developing management plans for the care of patients.

The majority of physician associates and assistants work in the offices of licensed physicians. They can also work in outpatient care centers, hospitals, and other general medical facilities. It typically takes two years of specific medical education to become a physician's associate or assistant.

The only difference between a physician associate and a physician assistant is a semantic one. Both titles refer to the exact same medical role and responsibilities.