Occupations: Physician Assistants
Physician Assistants
Overview of the profession:
Physician Assistants (PAs) play a crucial role in the healthcare system by bridging the gap between patients and physicians. PAs perform a wide range of diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive healthcare services, working under the supervision of a licensed physician. They practice in various specialties, from primary care to surgery, making them particularly important in underserved areas where healthcare resources may be limited. To become a licensed PA in Michigan, individuals must complete a Master of Science in Physician Assistant from a program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA). To be eligible to apply for full licensure, graduates must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). PAs work in various settings, from hospitals, physician offices, or assisted care facilities. Uniquely, PAs also serve in the United States uniformed services, often serving as officers and in leadership roles in medical units. By collaborating with other healthcare professionals, physician assistants help improve patient outcomes and ensure a more streamlined approach to medical care.
Policy Highlights
Includes recent proposed legislation.
Current Workforce Data
We've provided the latest data from Lightcast below. Click on the images to enlarge them and review them in further detail.
2024 Hourly Wages
10th Percent | 25th Percent | Median | 75th Percent | 90th Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
$46.63 | $50.87 | $61.00 | $64.83 | $71.70 |
Top Posted Job Titles
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Physician Assistants
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Orthopedic Medical Assistants
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Emergency Room Technicians
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Orthopedic Physician Assistants
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Anesthesia Technicians
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Advanced Practice Providers
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Advanced Practice Professionals
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Wound Care Physicians
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Orthopedic Trauma Surgeons
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Surgery Physician Assistants
Index Ranking
Ranked 5th (out of 36) "healthiest" profession according to the 2024 Michigan Healthcare Workforce Index.
Learn more here.
2024 Employment: 5,551
Projected 2034 Employment: 6,580 (+19%)
Highlighted Workforce Initiatives
Name: Future Docs
Prosperity Region: 7
Description: Future DOcs is a pre-college program at Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine. The program exposes high school students from Detroit, Macomb and Lansing areas to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Physician Assistant degree programs at MSU through clinical skills, medical techniques and science education. The programs run on Saturday mornings for a 2-month period. Future DOcs is run by College of Osteopathic students, alumni and faculty who serve as mentors to the high school students. The goal of the program is to encourage high schoolers to pursue careers as physicians and/or physician assistants.
Name: Medical Mentors Pipeline Program
Prosperity Region: 10
Description: The Medical Mentors Pipeline Program provides highly motivated high school or college students with a 6-week summer program that provides direct exposure to a career in medicine. Students explore a variety of medical specialties during three, 2 week long rotations while directly interacting with attending physicians, residents, and other healthcare providers to gain exposure and a better understanding of what is required in order to become a physician. Admitted students complete several required assignments and attend didactics over the course of the program as well. The goal of the program is to increase the number of medical professionals that are from diverse and/or marginalized backgrounds.
Name: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Clinical Support Grant
Prosperity Region: 9
Description: University Of Michigan-Ann Arbor received a 3-year grant from SAMHSA to expand their medical school X-waiver curriculum to their Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) and Physician Assistant (PA) programs to increase the number of APRNs and PAs who can prescribe buprenorphine and ultimately increase access to providers who are trained and willing to prescribe Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD). X-waiver curriculum and training will be included for for primary care nurse practitioner students (family and adult-gerontology), PA students and other APRN students (acute care, midwifery, and pediatric). By the end of the grant period, University of Michigan plans to have trained 300 APRNs, 136 PAs and 510 medical students.
Career Pathway
How to become a licensed Physician Assistant (PA) in Michigan?
First, individuals must complete a traditional or accelerated bachelor’s degree in any discipline, the most common being science or allied health. Then, individuals must complete a master’s level physician assistant program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA). Once graduated, individuals must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) available through
the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) to be eligible to apply for a full Physician Assistant license.
Is a career as a PA a stepping stone to a career as a physician?
No, while new programs are emerging that bridge PA and physician training by recognizing a PA experience, becoming a PA is not a precursor to becoming a physician. PAs who wish to advance their medical careers by becoming physicians must apply to medical school and fulfill practicing physicians' educational, residency, and licensure requirements.
Latest PA News
