Montana is an iconic state in the northern part of the US, and it’s home to some pretty well-known colleges and universities. Still, only one is currently offering a physician assistant (PA) program.
If you want to know the best PA schools in Montana and other relevant information, read through the sections below!
Which Schools in Montana Are Offering PA Programs Right Now?
Currently, only one school in Montana offers a PA program, and that’s Rocky Mountain College.
How to Get Into PA School
First, you need a bachelor’s degree in related science, like biology, nursing, health sciences, chemistry, or microbiology.
It's best to have a GPA over 3.3 and a major GPA above 3.5. Double-majoring will also look good on your application.
As far as the GRE is concerned, you should have a score over 300.
Lastly, mention extracurricular activities related to this field on your application. Remember, PA school is competitive so you need to stand out.
In-Person vs. Online vs. Hybrid Programs
When considering which kind of PA program is right for you, consider your learning style, budget, goals, and timeline.
In-person programs are ideal for students who value peer and professor engagement. In class, students can discuss concepts in depth, between themselves or with the professor.
Online programs provide more flexibility, but they’re just as rigorous as in-person programs. Additionally, they usually take more time to complete, but they are cheaper.
Choose a hybrid program if you want the best of what in-person and online classes offer. You’ll have to attend classes a few times a week, but most of the work will be done online.
How Long Does PA School Take?
Most full-time in-person PA programs take two years to complete. Online and hybrid programs can take longer (2.5-3 years).
There are also accelerated programs for PAs who got licensed before a master’s in physician assistant studies was required—these are 1-1.5 years long, but some can take two years (if you’re not a full-time student).
Is PA School Expensive?
Montana PA students generally spend around $34,000 per year for PA school. The cost can be closer to double that annually if you’re attending a PA program from out of state.
If you decide to learn on campus, you’ll have to pay for room and board or spend money weekly on commuting. You’ll also have to pay for books and study materials. There will also be costs associated with gaining the required clinical experience.
How to Become a PA
The first part of the journey to becoming a licensed PA is going to undergraduate school to earn a bachelor’s degree in a related science.
Once you have this, you can apply to PA school. It'll take you 2-3 years to get your master’s, depending on what kind of program you enroll in.
Upon receiving your master’s, you’ll need to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), which is administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
Once you pass, you can apply to be a fully licensed PA, but you may need to fulfill additional requirements in Montana before you can start working in this capacity.
To maintain licensure, you'll have to get a certain number of continuing education credits every two years, and you'll need to retake the PANCE every ten years.
In addition to licensure, you can pursue specializations and certifications, and these will have to be maintained as well.
What Does a Physician Assistant Do?
A physician assistant is a trained medical professional who will assist doctors, surgeons, and specialists.
They have many of the responsibilities doctors have, but the facility they work at and their specialization collectively determine their day-to-day responsibilities.
It’s often the case that PAs who work for larger medical facilities, especially those in urban areas, have more responsibilities than PAs who work at small suburban clinics.
That said, plenty of PAs at smaller clinics have more responsibilities than their colleagues at larger medical facilities.
Lastly, your experience and qualifications will also play a big role in determining what your responsibilities are.
Below are some of the responsibilities physician assistants have according to the US Department of Labor:
Review the medical histories of patients
Examine patients
Diagnose injuries and illnesses
Order and interpret X-rays, blood tests, and other diagnostic tests
Administer treatment
Prescribe medication
Assess and record patient progress
Educate and counsel patients and their families
Participate in outreach programs to spread disease awareness and promote wellness
Research the latest treatments to deliver better care
How Much Do Montana Physician Assistants Make?
According to the leading sites that track average salaries across industries, Montana PAs can make anywhere from $78,000 to $140,000 in a year. Of course, how much you make depends on the following:
Where do you work in the state
The facility you work at
Your experience
Your qualifications
The certifications you possess
The demand for your specialization
ZipRecruiter claims that physician assistants specializing in emergency medicine can earn as much as $370,000 in a single year, but instances of this happening have to be quite rare.
Is It Easy to Get a Job as a PA in Montana?
Compared to other states, there aren’t a ton of job openings currently for PAs in Montana (<100).
And in this state, PAs must be supervised by a licensed physician.
If you have numerous years of experience, a long list of qualifications, and a handful of certifications under your belt, it should be easy for you to get a good-paying PA job in Montana.
Specializing in a kind of medicine that’s in demand, like emergency medicine, will help too.
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