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Physician Assistants

Also called: Physician Assistant (PA), Physician Assistant Certified (PAC), Physician's Assistant, Family Practice Physician Assistant

Where in the military? In the military: see titles from the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, or Navy.

What they do:
Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.
On the job, you would:
  • Examine patients to obtain information about their physical condition.
  • Interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal.
  • Obtain, compile and record patient medical data, including health history, progress notes and results of physical examination.

Knowledge

Health
  • medicine and dentistry
  • therapy and counseling
Math and Science
  • biology
  • psychology
Arts and Humanities
  • English language
Business
  • customer service

Skills

Basic Skills
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Social
  • understanding people's reactions
  • looking for ways to help people

Abilities

Verbal
  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
  • notice when problems happen
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
Attention
  • pay attention to something without being distracted
  • do two or more things at the same time
Visual Understanding
  • quickly know what you are looking at

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
helping people, teaching, and talking.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Dependability
  • Concern for Others
  • Integrity
  • Attention to Detail
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Cooperation

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Medical software
  • ChartWare software
  • Electronic medical record EMR software
Spreadsheet software
Internet browser software
  • Web browser software

Education

Education: (rated 5 of 5)
master's degree or
bachelor's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training Find Certifications

Job Outlook

Bright Outlook
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
Salary
$88,660
per year, on average
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about physician assistants.