Physician Assistant
Description:
Physician Assistants are formally trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive healthcare services, as delegated by a Physician. Physician Assistants work under the supervision of a physician; however, they may be the principal care providers in rural or inner city clinics, where a physician is present for only one or two days each week. These individuals may take medical histories, examine and treatpatients, order and interpret laboratory tests and x-rays, make diagnoses, and prescribe medications.
Educational Requirements:
All states require that new Physician Assistants complete an accredited, formal education program. As of July 2001, there were 129 accredited or provisionally accredited educational programs in the U.S. for physician assistants; 64 of these programs offered a master's degree. The rest offered either a bachelor's degree or an associate degree. Most PAgraduates have at least a bachelor's degree. PA programs usually last at least 2 years. Admission requirements vary, but many programs require 2 years of college and some work experience in the healthcare field.
Wages:
The average annual salary in Maine is $75,171
