{"id":4864,"date":"2024-11-14T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-14T09:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/?p=4864"},"modified":"2025-09-23T14:04:56","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T22:04:56","slug":"the-most-frequently-asked-questions-about-becoming-a-pa-what-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-most-frequently-asked-questions-about-becoming-a-pa-what-you-need-to-know","title":{"rendered":"The Most Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a PA: What You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">In This Article<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-most-frequently-asked-questions-about-becoming-a-pa-what-you-need-to-know\/#What_are_the_prerequisites_for_a_PA_program_Is_there_a_pre-PA_degree\" >What are the prerequisites for a PA program? Is there a pre-PA degree?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-most-frequently-asked-questions-about-becoming-a-pa-what-you-need-to-know\/#Whats_the_format_of_PA_school\" >What&#8217;s the format of PA school?&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-most-frequently-asked-questions-about-becoming-a-pa-what-you-need-to-know\/#What_are_the_best_resources_I_can_use_to_study_in_PA_school\" >What are the best resources I can use to study in PA school?&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-most-frequently-asked-questions-about-becoming-a-pa-what-you-need-to-know\/#Why_did_you_choose_to_become_a_PA\" >Why did you choose to become a PA?&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-most-frequently-asked-questions-about-becoming-a-pa-what-you-need-to-know\/#Whats_the_job_outlook_for_PAs_and_how_much_do_they_earn\" >What&#8217;s the job outlook for PAs, and how much do they earn?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-most-frequently-asked-questions-about-becoming-a-pa-what-you-need-to-know\/#About_the_Author\" >About the Author<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PAs, or&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/2022\/10\/03\/whats-in-a-name-why-pas-want-to-evolve-from-assistant-to-associate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">physician associates (or assistants)<\/a>, are licensed clinicians who provide medical services to patients of all ages and stages of life while under the supervision of an MD or DO. As this essential profession becomes more popular and the number of PA training programs increases, let&#8217;s take a moment to answer the most frequently asked questions about this rapidly growing healthcare profession. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/osmosify.s3.amazonaws.com\/jHS579oIR0SrA1V8JijNU0e8RKiNgfqg.png\" alt=\"A degree rolled up with a red seal on it.\" style=\"width:513px;height:auto\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_prerequisites_for_a_PA_program_Is_there_a_pre-PA_degree\"><\/span>What are the prerequisites for a PA program? Is there a pre-PA degree?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Similar to other healthcare professions, there are prerequisite classes needed for PA school, such as biology, chemistry, anatomy, and&nbsp;physiology. The good news is that any bachelor&#8217;s or four-year degree will work as long as you&#8217;ve completed the prerequisite courses!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whats_the_format_of_PA_school\"><\/span>What&#8217;s the format of PA school?&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each program has a slightly different format, but there are generally two phases: didactic and clinical. During the didactic phase, PA students are in the classroom and studying the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/2020\/07\/29\/pance-review-essentials-the-osmosis-ultimate-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">basic sciences of medicine<\/a>. During the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/2024\/01\/30\/how-to-use-osmosis-to-help-you-thrive-during-clinical-rotations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">clinical phase<\/a>, students spend most of their time in healthcare settings, interacting with patients while working to understand the clinical nature of medicine and make an accurate diagnosis. Some PA programs also have a research-specific phase where students conduct a study.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/osmose-it.s3.amazonaws.com\/9IaYtutCRICsmLKzmEY4IGp2QTK6VfF5\/_.png\" alt=\"A diverse group of students studying healthcare using Osmosis along with books and other resources.\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_best_resources_I_can_use_to_study_in_PA_school\"><\/span>What are the best resources I can use to study in PA school?&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Great question! Each program will have different ways of testing on various subjects. However, a few great resources exist, including the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/plans\/pa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Osmosis PA Suite<\/a>. My favorite resources are the Osmosis Flashcards and Practice Questions, but the platform is terrific at integrating different&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/2021\/08\/30\/the-osmosis-ultimate-guide-to-studying-styles\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">learning styles<\/a>&nbsp;to master medical material. I typically start with an Osmosis video on a topic, go through a round of flashcards, and then move on to practice questions to make sure I have the material down.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_did_you_choose_to_become_a_PA\"><\/span>Why did you choose to become a PA?&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When choosing a career path in healthcare, one of the most important aspects for me was caring for patients in a variety of age groups and stages of life. It was also really important to me to have lateral mobility, or the ability to change specialties easily, which the PA profession offers! I had some amazing PAs as providers, which also helped me decide to become a PA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are many reasons to pursue this fulfilling career, from job security to travel opportunities. And while PA school does have its challenges (like any other career in healthcare), it&#8217;s also an incredibly rewarding experience. It&#8217;s been the best experience of my life, and I&#8217;d highly recommend it to anyone who wants to become a healthcare clinician!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/osmosify.s3.amazonaws.com\/assets\/2069e710-c1ee-11ea-b6fb-9970d537c6b0..png\" alt=\"The Mo character, smiling with a blue scrub top on and a red stethoscope around its neck.\" style=\"width:416px;height:auto\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whats_the_job_outlook_for_PAs_and_how_much_do_they_earn\"><\/span>What&#8217;s the job outlook for PAs, and how much do they earn?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/healthcare\/physician-assistants.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">US Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a>, the job outlook for physician assistants (PAs) is very positive, with employment projected to grow by 28% over the next decade, which is significantly more than the majority of occupations. The median pay is $130,020 per year or $62.51 per hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"About_the_Author\"><\/span>About the Author<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Madison Donnelly is a PA student at Hofstra University in her final semester. She&#8217;s especially passionate about neonatal critical care and obstetrics and aspires to make a difference in PA education, leadership, and advocacy. Outside of the classroom, you can find her baking sweet treats, enjoying a nice cup of coffee, and watching Disney movies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ready to give Osmosis a try? Sign up for a free trial today!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/osmosis.org\/create\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/osmose-it.s3.amazonaws.com\/tX7ge25WS_6Sf4lZOb8_b1t5Tp_drCD8\/_.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PAs, or&nbsp;physician associates (or assistants), are licensed clinicians who provide medical services to patients of all ages and stages of life while under the supervision of an MD or DO. As this essential profession becomes more popular and the number of PA training programs increases, let&#8217;s take a moment to answer the most frequently asked [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":188,"featured_media":4865,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[6,38,37,46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4864","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-career-advice","category-pance","category-pa","category-student-stories"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Most Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a PA: What You Need to Know - Osmosis Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-most-frequently-asked-questions-about-becoming-a-pa-what-you-need-to-know\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Most Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a PA: What You Need to Know - Osmosis Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"PAs, or&nbsp;physician associates (or assistants), are licensed clinicians who provide medical services to patients of all ages and stages of life while under the supervision of an MD or DO. 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