Different schools have different admission policies. There are some schools that will allow students to enroll if they have spent some time working in a healthcare position but most of them do require that a degree in the science field is completed prior to enrolling. If you have a science degree and some experience, the admissions committee will welcome you with open arms. The time that is necessary to get you into the school should then include all time working in the healthcare industry as well as the time spent in school.
Here is one very important piece of advice: if you are serious about getting into the school, spend some time doing some research to learn the history involved in the physician assistant position and speak to someone in the healthcare industry that can help you to be more prepared during the interview. These professionals will know what an admissions committee will likely ask. If your application is rejected by the admissions committee, you have to take the time wasted into account just in case you dont get admission in another college.
The AAPA, or American Academy of Physician Assistants, has mandated that each person that wishes to begin working as a physician assistant must first complete twenty six months of classes at an accredited school. This will put an additional twenty six months onto the time that it will take to begin working, and be sure that you are enrolling at a school that is accredited. Each exam will be given and managed by the NCCPA, or National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. You should see if the school can give you some additional information in a packet or in a brochure.
The Physician Assistants admission process requires a student to open an account with Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CAPSA). The applications that are turned in to CAPSA will more than likely not have a quick turn around time. So, you must ensure that you take this CAPSA-process time into account and apply early - it should not be that your application is cleared after the college has started its course. You must ensure that you do not lose any time. Sometimes the college will mandate the students be enrolled in an affiliate university as part of their application processes. If you consider the factors stated above, you will realize that becoming a Physician Assistant is a long process and requires a few years of study and experience, and very careful planning and preparation.
A test is given at the end of the physician assistant course and this will determine if they are able to begin practicing. The exams and testing programs may be different in different states. However, one thing is common and that is all Physician Assistant graduates must successfully complete a licensing exam that is administered by the state. The physician assistant may begin to practice right after they have passed the license exam in some states but others have more requirements. When you are calculating the time that it will take to begin practicing, be sure to include this additional time if it is required. Once the physician assistant has successfully completed the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, or NCCPA, exam, they will have earned the title of PA-C, or Physician Assistant - Certified. In order to keep the C at the end of their PA title, at least one hundred hours of CE (Continuing Education) courses must be taken every two years and they must be tested on their skills one time in each six years.
You must push yourself to be organized and aware during each of the many steps involved in becoming a physician assistant because how long does it take to become a physician assistant depends on your commitment. If your goal is to be successful in this role, then you need to consider all of the requirements and how much time it will take you to accomplish them before you enroll in the course.
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