Certified physician assistant vs clinical physician assistant

The differences between certified physician assistants and clinical physician assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a clinical physician assistant has an average salary of $145,549, which is higher than the $126,201 average annual salary of a certified physician assistant.

The top three skills for a certified physician assistant include patients, diagnosis and surgical procedures. The most important skills for a clinical physician assistant are patients, primary care, and medical care.

Certified physician assistant vs clinical physician assistant overview

	Certified Physician Assistant	Clinical Physician Assistant
Yearly salary	$126,201	$145,549
Hourly rate	$60.67	$69.98
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	123,124	94,210
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age	39	39
Years of experience	-	-

What does a certified physician assistant do?

Certified Physician assistants are healthcare professionals who are trained and supervised by a physician to diagnose and treat illness as well as provide preventive care to their patients. These assistants must collaborate with specialists so that they can ensure optimal patient care through formal and informal consultations. They are required to develop and implement new strategies for patient care based on current medical practice guidelines. Certified Physician Assistants must also assist with cases in general surgery such as orthopedic, thoracic, and vascular procedures.

What does a clinical physician assistant do?

A clinical physician assistant is in charge of performing support tasks in clinics, hospitals, and similar establishments. Typically serving as the patients' first point of contact, it is their responsibility to gather the personal and medical information of patients, identify their needs, answer inquiries, and escort them to offices and other rooms. They may also perform clerical tasks such as answering calls and correspondence, arranging appointments, preparing and filing documentation, and coordinating with other offices. Moreover, a clinical physician assistant must maintain an active communication line with physicians and nurses, assisting them as needed.

Certified physician assistant vs clinical physician assistant salary

Certified physician assistants and clinical physician assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Certified Physician Assistant	Clinical Physician Assistant
Average salary	$126,201	$145,549
Salary range	Between $73,000 And $215,000	Between $84,000 And $252,000
Highest paying City	-	Duluth, MN
Highest paying state	-	Minnesota
Best paying company	-	Central Ohio Primary Care
Best paying industry	-	Non Profits

Differences between certified physician assistant and clinical physician assistant education

There are a few differences between a certified physician assistant and a clinical physician assistant in terms of educational background:

	Certified Physician Assistant	Clinical Physician Assistant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common major	Physician Assistant	Physician Assistant
Most common college	Duke University	Duke University

Certified physician assistant vs clinical physician assistant demographics

Here are the differences between certified physician assistants' and clinical physician assistants' demographics:

	Certified Physician Assistant	Clinical Physician Assistant
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5%	Male, 38.0% Female, 62.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 11.2% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 11.5% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between certified physician assistant and clinical physician assistant duties and responsibilities

Certified physician assistant example responsibilities.

Work closely with patients to manage their depression and anxiety beginning with initial diagnosis to med-initiation and follow-up care.
Provide bio-identical hormone replacement therapy to select patients and provide coordination of patient care in a rural primary care setting.
Perform comprehensive history and physical exams and provide a multidisciplinary care plan for patients suffering from acute and chronic pain.
Perform suturing repair for laceration repairs.
Work in an outpatient orthopedic clinic with emphasis on physical medicine, rehabilitation of both chronic and acute orthopedic conditions.
Document all procedures via dictation or handwritten in patient chart.

Clinical physician assistant example responsibilities.

Implement and manage cardiology internship college course.
Work closely with patients to manage their depression and anxiety beginning with initial diagnosis to med-initiation and follow-up care.
Complete nursing assessments, complete care plans, perform ADL's, utilize lifts, alarms and transfer patients safely.
Care for multiple patients in a fast pace setting and provide total care including all treatments, medications and ADL's.
Perform tracheostomy care and suctioning for ventilator dependent patients.
Provide physical therapy services in the inpatient rehabilitation unit and oncology floor.

Certified physician assistant vs clinical physician assistant skills

Common certified physician assistant skills

Patients, 25%
Diagnosis, 7%
Surgical Procedures, 5%
Outpatient Clinic, 5%
Urgent Care, 4%
Internal Medicine, 4%

Common clinical physician assistant skills

Patients, 30%
Primary Care, 6%
Medical Care, 6%
Family Medicine, 5%
Urgent Care, 5%
Diagnostic Tests, 4%

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Certified Physician Assistant vs Clinical Physician Assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

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