1. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
A certified physician assistant works under the supervision of a physician to care for patients. Although they are not a doctor themselves, a certified physician assistant can still diagnose and treat basic illnesses. They can prescribe medication and order additional tests, such as X-rays, if they need more information to make a diagnosis.
For many patients, a certified physician assistant is their primary care provider, and they only see a supervising physician if they have a particularly complicated medical problem. Even then, a certified physician assistant is usually on hand to help develop treatment plans and assist with surgical procedures.
By definition, a certified physician assistant needs to get a certificate from the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants. They need to renew their certification every few years. Before getting certified, most physician assistants get a master's degree from a physician assistant program. They also have some hands-on medical experience through internships. It takes many years of hard work to become a certified physician assistant, but it pays off with an average annual salary of $143,430.
