This article will uncover the schools with the best PA programs in Washington DC where you can gain your training. In your career as a physician assistant, you’ll have the task of assisting doctors in carrying out their duties and tasks in hospitals. It is quite a rewarding career that will broaden your knowledge in the medical field. So its a career you’ll need to consider. Quickly take a look at some of the things you’ll find in this article in the table of contents below. So let’s delve into the journey.
Who is A Physician Assistant?
A Physician Assistant otherwise known as PA is a trained mid-level healthcare provider who works under the supervision of a licensed medical doctor. In other words, the term Physician Assistant can be defined precisely as a mid-level practitioner who is able to practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician. Usually, the PA does not need to perform his duties only when the supervising physician is around provided he has been well trained and knows how to discharge his duties appropriately. However, there needs to be a consistent method of contact between the supervising physician and the PA at all times.
What are the duties of A Physician Assistant?
The duties of a Physician Assistant are described according to what specialty they want to focus on or what specialty their supervising physician is focused on. A physician Assistant who has under the supervision of orthopedic surgeon will definitely have the task of conducting bone surgeries even when the supervising surgeon is not around. In the same vein, a physician assistant working under a pediatrician will have the responsibility of carrying out what duties the supervising pediatrician does whether he is around or not. These are dependent on the premise that the assistant physician has been properly trained by the mentor. However, on a general note, Physician Assistants perform the following functions.
What Requirements do I need for PA School?
To be considered for admission into any PA program, it is important that you meet these very important requirements coming in the following lines. The first level to becoming a physician assistant is the acquisition of a high school certificate with a strong foundation in sciences like; biology, chemistry, physics, English, etc. Virtually all schools in the US will require the completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. This degree requirement is one of the prerequisites for gaining admission into an accredited PA school. Some schools require a GRE and GPA but some do not really consider it. Furthermore, in your walk to become a physician assistant, you must complete an ARC-PA accredited master’s program. This is one of the requirements you must meet to have a swell time as a physician assistant. After completing a PA program, you’ll take the PANCE to earn certification as a physician assistant, then seek licensure from your state in order to begin practicing.
How long does it take to complete a PA program?
To become a certified physician assistant, one needs to complete something around 8 years of training. The 8 years here are spent in learning various skills that are required to fully become a PA. Firstly, one must earn a bachelor’s degree, which takes roughly four years to complete. This means that you must have also completed your high school education with relatively good grades. The bachelor’s degree which you must have could be in any course at all provided it is related to the medical profession. Acquiring a bachelor’s degree alone does not qualify you to become a Physician Assistant. You’ll need to get a health training which will further widen your knowledge in health care. The health care training could be in the area of paramedics or any other medical-related course. Usually, this training takes about three years to complete. After you have completed the health care training, the next thing will be to acquire a masters degree. The masters program does not take so much time to complete. On average, it will cost you like two years to complete a masters degree program which leads to a career as a Physician Assistant. One more thing will be left for you to do after your master’s degree. That is sitting for the Accreditation test. Only those who graduate from the ARC-PA program (the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant) can qualify to write this test. One can attempt this test up to 6 times in a span of 6 years after which he will need to wait for some time before trying again. In addition, a person who has completed all the rigors and has been licensed to practice as a physician assistant will still need to take council exams periodically to maintain their licensure.
What schools offer Physician Assistant Programs?
There are only 2 notable schools in the whole of Washington DC that offers Physician Assistant programs. So, if you live in Washington DC and you are looking to enroll in PA school soon, here is a list of PA schools where you can pursue PA programs in Washington DC. Explore here below.
List of Best PA Schools in Washington DC
Let us look at the schools more closely.
#1. George Washington University
George Washington University is one of the top schools with PA programs in Washington DC. The school over the years has provided thorough training for students pursuing careers as Physician Assistants. GW’s PA program has been nationally ranked as the number five PA program in the United States by US News. This recognition is the result of the outstanding curriculum and unique community service that introduces students to health care and social services in the Washington DC metropolitan area. The University provides one of the most rigorous PA programs in Washington for students and the program usually lasts between 2 to 3 years. At the end of the training, the student will have experience in the following areas; inpatient medicine, ambulatory care medicine, surgery, pediatrics, women’s health, emergency medicine, behavioral medicine, and an elective that integrates all previous academic, and clinical training.
#2. Howard University
Howard University provides one of the best PA programs in Washington. The Howard University Physician Assistant Department is committed to meeting the needs of underserved populations. Particular emphasis is placed on the University’s achievements in providing educational opportunities for African American students. The program also places emphasis on wellness promotion and disease prevention for the individual patient and the community. The Physician Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Take a quick flight to the school.
PA schools in Washington DC without GRE
GRE has been the nightmare of most students desiring to pursue a career as Physician Assistants. This is because of how rigorous the exam is. If you want to become a physician assistant but you don’t want to write the GRE, there is only one school in the whole of Washington that does not require you to write or present GRE. If you do not want to write a GRE before getting into the PA school, Howard University is the only university and apparently the only PA school in Washington DC that does not require a GRE. Visit school here below.
PA programs in Washington DC with low GPA
If you are looking to enroll in a PA school in Washington but you are looking for a school with a low GPA requirement, it’s sad, the truth is that all the PA programs in Washington Dc require GPA above average. The minimum GPA required to be admitted into Washington PA schools is 2.5. This is quite above average. So you there is actually no PA program in Washington that accepts a low GPA. The average salary for a Physician Assistant in Washington DC is $104,509. According to a report by the BLS, the employment of physician assistants is expected to grow by 31 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. As the demand for healthcare services grows, physician assistants will be needed more to provide care to patients. The Washington Medical Commission charges a non-refundable application processing fee of $116 plus the renewal fee of $379. The lowest GPA to be considered for into pa schools in Washington is 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
Conclusion
Pursuing a career as a physician assistant is a very demanding but lucrative one. You’ll get to spend so much time in school completing your training. It takes about 6 years without healthcare training while it takes 9 years plus with a healthcare training. But is it really worth all the stress? I think it is worth all the stress and even more! An average salary of $104,509 isn’t just huge but promising that more will come. Additionally, you’ll get to work with the specialists in your chosen specialty.
