Physician assistant programs are offered in many states however, those who are looking to start a career might want to look at the programs offered in California. Students like this have great options in California because there are already nine programs that are accredited by the ARC-PA. California only trails Pennsylvania and New York in the number of programs for physician assistants that carry the required accreditation. Based on the program that students end up picking, they can get a mere certificate, an associates degree, a bachelors degree or even a masters degree.
Eligibility requirements can differ based upon the school and physician assistant program chosen by the student. Some schools might require two years worth of college credits as an example of a prerequisite for entry. A student must also possess a minimum number of hours working with patients to fulfill a requirement that most colleges and universities have for their physician assistant programs. It also will not hurt to already have some prior experience in the field of healthcare. Schools can also be quite selective when admitting students into their program by requiring them to have a minimum GPA before being accepted.
California has a great number of physician assistant programs. Stanford School of Medicine in Palo Alto is one of the schools that provides physician assistant programs to those who are interested. Students who enroll in this school can take programs that will allow them to receive a certificate or associate's degree. Students also have the option to enroll in programs that lead to them earning a bachelor's or master's degree when they choose the Stanford School of Medicine.
The state also has other great school choices too. Riverside Community College located in Moreno Valley is another choice for interested students. Students could also choose to enroll at San Joaquin Valley College in Visalia. These schools offer students programs that culminate in them earning an associate's degree.
On top of these choices, there are still other schools that offer physician assistant programs in California. Touro University, Loma Linda University, Western University Health Sciences, The University of Southern California (Keck), The University of California Davis School of Medicine in Sacramento, and Samuel Merritt University are some of the other schools.
Students who are very serious about doing the hard work that it takes to become a physician assistant have to be certain if they are first eligible to make an application to the program and the school of their choice. Each school in California that offers physician assistant programs has a different set of requirements for eligibility. Thus, it is recommended that students directly get in touch with the school that they have their sights set on. The school that the student applies to will most definitely be assessing the student's personality, academic record, and their experience.
In California, a student must understand that completing an accredited program will not be sufficient to become a physician assistant. Students are going to be made to take and then pass the national certification examination referred to as the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination. The laws regarding the practice of physician assistants vary from state to state. Still, one of these requirements has to do with passing the certifying exam that is administered by the NCCPA. Once the student has passed the exam, they are allowed to attach the title of Physician Assistant-Certified to after their name
This is, however not the end of the certification process. Obligated to complete continuing education courses, a physician assistant must complete 100 hours of courses every two years. On top of the education, a physician assistant is required to successfully complete a recertification exam every six years ; differently, the choice can be made to enroll in another program and complete a home certification examination.
Enrolling into one of the better programs should be the goal of a student who wants to get into a physician assistant program. The better programs are the natural choice for students who want an advantage over their competition because these programs are more adept at preparing their students for the day to day challenges they will face as well as preparing them for the examinations required. These factors should be considered by the students:
Physician Assistant Programs that have a high percentage of students who pass the PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certification Exam) are usually among the better programs to attend. Students want to look at which programs produce students who score high on this examination since that shows they have been more than adequately prepared by the program.
Rankings should alert students about which programs are academically competitive with each other. They should be regarded by students as a guide. Usually, the ratings show that Duke University is number one, followed closely behind by the following universities: DC's George Washington University, Georgia's Emory University, the University of Utah, and the University of Iowa.
Students should also weigh into account their compatibility with their program of choice. The cost, campus environment, and the location can affect the compatibility. Being one of the most overlooked, students must factor in the compatibility of the school with their goals. Students in a physician assistant program that is not convenient in terms of how much they have to pay, where it is located and what the environment is like will not be able to make the most of their enrollment.
Physician assistant programs in California come in all forms, mainly because quite a few schools in the state offer them. Students wanting to enroll in one of these programs must understand the various programs before applying because not all physician assistant programs are created equally. Without this consideration, the student may be accepted into a program that will not be conducive to their style of learning. Cost, location, and the campus environment are all factors to consider.
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