She also points out that work schedules are fairly predictable and most PAs do not have to be concerned about the business end of practicing, which can be enormously time consuming. The first PA program was opened at Duke University in North Carolina in 1968 to provide instruction to medical corpsmen returning from the Vietnam War, who already had developed many of the necessary skills, but had none of the academic background required for the job. It was converted into a graduate program in 1994. Interestingly, it was not until 1992 that New Jersey became the forty-ninth state in the country to pass legislation allowing PAs to practice within its borders. Fixelle says the training is rigorous, with PA students sharing some of the medical students' first year classes.
Time is divided equally between classes in the basic and clinical sciences, and clerkships.
The director explains that more than 30 percent of current graduates are hired to work in ERs of major medical centers. Many others choose primary care or surgery, where they can serve as first assistants in the operating room, and can specialize in such areas as orthopedics, cardiac and neurosurgery. PAs trained in surgery command the highest pay, says Fixelle, with those in pediatrics and family practice at the lower end of the scale. If you're thinking of this field, keep your marks high, but also learn to communicate well. The interview is critical.