Certified physician assistant vs physician assistant student

The differences between certified physician assistants and physician assistant students can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a physician assistant student has an average salary of $139,236, 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 physician assistant student are patients, physical exams, and emergency medicine.

Certified physician assistant vs physician assistant student overview

	Certified Physician Assistant	Physician Assistant Student
Yearly salary	$126,201	$139,236
Hourly rate	$60.67	$66.94
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	123,124	58,769
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
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 physician assistant student do?

Physician assistant students enjoy salaries of $80K to $84K per year and must have 2 years of postgraduate education. This position calls for skills in communication, practice-based learning environments, and professionalism. Those who choose this career will be expected to provide diagnostic and therapeutic patient care, take patient histories, perform physical exams, order lab and diagnostic work, and administer precise medications.

Certified physician assistant vs physician assistant student salary

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

	Certified Physician Assistant	Physician Assistant Student
Average salary	$126,201	$139,236
Salary range	Between $73,000 And $215,000	Between $80,000 And $240,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between certified physician assistant and physician assistant student education

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

	Certified Physician Assistant	Physician Assistant Student
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common major	Physician Assistant	Biology
Most common college	Duke University	Duke University

Certified physician assistant vs physician assistant student demographics

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

	Certified Physician Assistant	Physician Assistant Student
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5%	Male, 30.8% Female, 69.2%
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, 5.4% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 11.3% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between certified physician assistant and physician assistant student 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.

Physician assistant student example responsibilities.

Perform therapeutic procedures by administering injections and immunizations; suturing; managing wounds and infections.
Work closely with patients to manage their depression and anxiety beginning with initial diagnosis to med-initiation and follow-up care.
Obtain a detail medical and psychiatry history from each patient.
Train in current cardiology standards of care and appropriate medications.
Conduct procedure-based interventions including suturing, incision and drainage, splinting, and administration of local anesthesia.
Perform well and sick visits, consisting of both comprehensive and focuse history and physical examinations of pediatric patients, respectively.

Certified physician assistant vs physician assistant student skills

Common certified physician assistant skills

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

Common physician assistant student skills

Patients, 19%
Physical Exams, 7%
Emergency Medicine, 6%
Family Medicine, 6%
Patient Care, 5%
Internal Medicine, 4%

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Certified Physician Assistant
Certified Physician Assistant vs Physician Assistant Student

Updated January 8, 2025

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