Alaska is an American state with many great things to offer, but what’s the situation with physician assistant (PA) programs in this state? Are there many? If so, which is best?
For answers to these questions and other relevant information regarding the best PA schools in Alaska, read through the sections below!
Which Alaska PA Program Is Best?
At present, no ARC-PA-accredited on-campus PA programs are offered in Alaska. However, individuals wanting to become physician assistants can enroll in online accredited programs.
Also, some accredited PA schools partner with universities in Alaska to provide PA training.
One can receive this training from the University of Alaska Anchorage (UUA) since they partner with the University of Washington’s MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Program.
In fact, MEDEX Northwest has been training Alaskan PAs for over 50 years.
The two schools teamed up to provide training to PAs who’ll go on to serve rural and underserved communities.
These training programs target community health aides, nurses, and other professionals with relevant health care experience.
The first year of this program is classroom study, while year two is mainly for clinical rotations.
After completing this program, a graduate can sign up to take the National Certifying Examination for Physician Assistants.
How Do You Get Into a PA Program in Alaska?
To get into a PA program, you need a bachelor’s degree in relevant science, like biology, chemistry, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, or nursing.
Your cumulative GPA shouldn’t be lower than 3.25. The same goes for your GPAs in science-related majors.
And on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), you must score at least 300.
Don’t know which PA school pre-req undergrad major is right for you? Choose the subject that interests you most.
If you can engage with the material and you’re eager to learn as much as possible, chances are you’ll do well.
And if you do well, it’s all the more likely that you’ll get into the PA school of your dreams later on.
In addition to science-related courses, a PA school will also want to see that you’ve taken general courses, such as English, math, and cultural studies.
How Long Does a PA Program Take in Alaska?
It usually takes two years to complete a PA program. However, if you’re enrolled in an online or hybrid program, it may take 2.5-3 years.
There are also accelerated courses for PAs who received licensure before a master’s degree was required. These programs usually take 1-1.5 years.
What Does a PA Do?
In a nutshell, a physician assistant helps doctors, surgeons, and other health care professionals.
Physician assistants work in hospitals, clinics, and other health care facilities, constituting an integral part of the health care system.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, physician assistants perform the following duties:
Review the medical histories of patients
Examine patients
Order and interpret X-rays, blood tests, and other diagnostic tests
Diagnose injuries and illnesses
Administer treatment
Educate and counsel patients and their families
Prescribe medication
Assess and record patient progress
Research the latest treatments to deliver better care
Participate in outreach programs to spread disease awareness and promote wellness
The PA's responsibilities are primarily determined by the facility they work for. Therefore, hospital PAs tend to have more responsibilities than PAs in small clinics, but this isn’t always the case.
How to Become a PA in Alaska
To become a PA, you must acquire a bachelor’s degree first.
After that, you will need to achieve a Master of Physician Assistant Studies. That usually takes two years, depending on the program you’re enrolled in.
After earning your master’s, you must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) to be licensed by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
After licensure, you’ll be a Physician Assistant-Certified (PA-C).
To maintain licensure, you need to complete 100 hours of continuing education every two years. Also, you must take a recertification exam every 10 years.
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
The first step is earning a bachelor’s degree. This should be in relevant science, like biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology, or nursing.
A PA program admissions board will also want to see that you’ve taken biochemistry, organic chemistry, genetics, molecular or cellular biology, immunology, and pathophysiology.
Earn a Master’s Degree
The next step is earning a Master of Physician Assistant Studies.
Usually, it takes 147 credit hours to earn this degree. In other words, you’ll need to pass seven semesters of full-time study before your master’s is awarded.
PA programs typically involve 15 weeks of didactic science courses and eight six-week clinical rotations.
Pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE)
After earning your master’s, you’ll need to pass the PANCE.
You can take this test six times over six years.
Once you pass, you can apply for licensure in your state.
Maintain Certification
A physician assistant’s education never ends! That’s because they must get 100 hours of continuing education every two years.
Also, they must pass the PANCE every ten years to be eligible for recertification. So, if a PA doesn’t pass the first time, they have three more chances to do so.
Optional: Pursue Additional Certification
Once you’re a licensed PA, you can earn a specialty or board certification to increase your knowledge, hone your skills, and advance your career.
How Much Does a Physician Assistant Make in Alaska?
According to the US BLS, the average annual salary for a physician assistant is $128,530.
Put differently, the average physician assistant makes $61.79 an hour.
Like with any other profession, how much a physician makes annually is primarily determined by their qualifications, experience, and location.
Contact myPAresource and Simplify the PA School Application Process
Applying for PA school can be a daunting experience, especially since there’s so much competition for every available spot in a PA program.
But with help from myPAresource, you can stand out from other applicants and clearly demonstrate why you’d be a valued addition to any PA program.
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