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What Can I Expect from an Online Master’s in Physician Assistant (PA) Degree?
In an online master’s program for physician assistants, you can expect to find the same educational quality students have in on-campus classrooms, with a schedule that you can tailor to fit your needs and typically a more affordable price tag. Online physician assistant master’s degree programs can vary greatly. Therefore, it’s important to do your research to find the program that is the best fit for your needs and expectations.
Available concentrations
Since the healthcare field is so broad, you will likely find options in your program to focus on a particular area of interest. Some of the standard concentrations offered as part of PA programs include the following:
Community health: Prepares students to assess the health of community residents and provides the educational foundation needed to address the health inequities often found in diverse populations. Students learn how to engage the community and encourage actions to improve the overall health of residents. With this concentration, a graduate may work as a physician assistant in a community clinic, mobile healthcare facility, or with local healthcare initiatives and programs.
Health services and policy research: Prepares students to use statistics and probability to assess, change, and improve the landscape of current health services and policies. This concentration prepares students for roles as physician assistants in hospitals or health-related government agencies.
Medical education: Shapes students for leadership in a classroom setting, giving them tools to work in a variety of learning environments and the ability to develop effective curriculum. This concentration equips graduates to work as special education directors or administrators for medical education facilities.
Pediatric care: Prepares physician assistants to address the health care needs of infants and children, offering an in-depth look into child growth and development and teaching students the unique skills needed for child health care assessment. Graduates may become physician assistants in hospital pediatric departments or pediatric private practices.
Clinical research: Prepares students to make meaningful contributions to the medical field by leading clinical research studies. This concentration covers protocol design, Good Clinical Practice (GCP) principles, study conduction, and result interpretation. It prepares graduates to become clinical researchers in lab settings, often on college or university campuses.
Common degree curriculum
One of the key things to consider when researching physician assistant master’s programs is the curriculum, as it can vary significantly between programs. You want to make sure you choose a school that offers the courses you need to reach your goals. Also consider that most online MSPAS degree programs include some in-person requirements, such as residencies, internships, or labs. Find out the specifics of these requirements so you can ensure that you can accommodate them in your schedule.
The specific courses you take will depend on your program and concentration. However, some of the standard courses found in physician assistant master’s programs include:
Medical Ethics: Covers ethical issues PAs may encounter in clinical practice and provides the tools to analyze and reflect on these situations so they can navigate them with integrity.
Medical Interviewing: Develops patient interview skills to prepare PAs for clinical work, particularly in regards to obtaining a complete medical history.
Integrated Anatomy and Physiology: Offers a systems-based approach to view physiological and anatomical aspects of the human body.
Applied Clinical Research: Students analyze and select research results using scientific theory, clinical knowledge and other resources.
Certification and license preparation
Certifications and licensing requirements for physician assistants include the following:
Licensed Physician Assistant: All physician assistants must be licensed in their state, and each state maintains its own set of standards. An online master’s in physician assistant program gives you the education you need to pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and required for all state licensing.
Pediatric Physician Assistant: Although not required, the NCCPA offers a Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in pediatric care. Passing the exam to earn this certification shows commitment to the pediatric specialty and an understanding of the specific knowledge it requires.
Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant: This CAQ offered by the NCCPA focuses on emergency medicine, showing the specialized leadership and decision-making skills required to work in emergency medicine.
Hospital Medicine Physician Assistant: The NCCPA’s hospital medicine CAQ exam covers the many health-related topics and conditions commonly found in a hospital setting. Physician assistants who complete this certification demonstrate the broad knowledge base needed to ensure success in a hospital position.
Program accreditation
Accreditation is one of the most important things to consider when deciding on the best online master’s in physician assistant studies program. Accreditation from a reputable agency gives future employers confidence that you’ve received a quality education to prepare you for their open positions and ensures any credits earned count toward future higher education pursuits. Regional and national agencies accredit schools and programs that meet rigorous quality standards in higher education.
Employment Outlook for Master’s in Physician Assistant Graduates
In most states, a master’s degree is the minimum education required for a physician assistant license. Bachelor’s degrees for physician assistants are generally tied to a science-based major, such as biology, with physician assistant studies added as a concentration. To work as a physician assistant, obtaining a master’s degree will provide you with the knowledge you need to pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) and earn your state license. Only then will you be qualified to work as a physician assistant.
Along with opening the door to job opportunities, completion of an online master’s in physician assistant studies can have a positive impact on your salary potential. The type of facility you work in can also affect your salary potential. With an MSPAS degree, you can choose where you’d like to work and be eligible for positions at better-paying facilities.
Physician assistants are licensed to examine and diagnose patients and to treat any conditions they may have. They often work under the supervision of doctors but perform many of the same functions. The tasks delegated to a physician assistant largely depend on the state laws regarding the duties they can legally perform.
Community health workers are responsible for teaching communities about health initiatives and helping reduce the healthcare inequity often present in diverse populations. They often focus on the health of the community rather than just the individual and develop programs and services to help improve the community’s health.
$59,990 per year
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Professional organizations
Professional organizations offer a variety of benefits to physician assistants, including networking opportunities, training tools, and continuing education courses. PAs who join a professional organization will stay up-to-date on the latest in industry news and may have access to relevant job postings. Here are a few organizations you will qualify for with an MSPAS degree.
American Academy of Physician Assistants: This is the largest PA organization in the country. Perks include continuing education credits, publication subscriptions, free webinars, and professional discounts.
National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants: The NCCPA is the organization that offers PANCE and CAQ testing to potential physician assistants. It provides several resources relevant to licensing, including information about state licensing boards and the latest in relevant industry news.
American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants: The AASPA was created for surgical PAs and offers professional development tools and supportive services, such as a resource library, a calendar of industry events, and employment statistics.
Financing Your Online Master’s in Physician Assistant Degree
Despite the lower average cost for online courses when compared to on-campus studies, students enrolled in an online master’s in physician assistant studies program may find themselves in need of help paying for their education. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should always be your first step when seeking financial assistance to give you access to government-funded grants and loans. Several scholarship programs can help bring down your out-of-pocket expenses.
Student Finance Resources and Guides
Many resources are available online to help you plan your financial aid package. Consider the following websites, which may help answer any questions you have about the process:
Learn more about online degrees, their start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
