医师助理s (PA) practice medicine under the supervision of a physician and are able to examine and treat patients, 看一下病史, 开药, 协助手术, and perform minor medical procedures. 医师助理s complete a master’s degree through a program lasting 25 to 28 months and then must pass the 医师助理 National Certifying Examination and apply for a state license.
The 应用人类生物学 major is one path to a career as a physician assistant. Many other majors are suitable, but students may need supplemental courses at SPU or after graduating. Because coursework requirements vary from school to school, it is essential for students to become familiar with the specific prerequisites of the PA schools to which they intend to apply. Most physician assistant programs require a high score on the 医师助理 College Admission Test (PA-CAT). A few schools accept Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores instead. 不像医学院, PA schools require students to have significant work experience in a patient-care setting prior to applying. 出于这个原因, most applicants wait until a year or two after earning a bachelor’s degree before applying to PA school.