Are you interested in a career as a physician assistant (PA)? PAs have plenty of clinical and non-clinical options within the field, spanning direct patient care, research, education, in-home health services and more. Plus, with additional certifications or experience, you can move between specialties or explore new settings throughout your career.
If you’re passionate about improving the lives of others, this guide to PA career tracks will help you get started.
What is a physician assistant?
A PA is a health care professional licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. PAs examine, diagnose and treat patients, often serving as a primary care provider or working alongside doctors in specialty settings. Their training allows them to perform many of the same functions as physicians, including prescribing medications, ordering tests and developing treatment plans.
What does a physician assistant do?
PAs are highly trained advanced practice clinicians (APCs) who diagnose, treat and prescribe medication, often working in collaboration with physicians. Examples of a PA’s scope include:
- Conducting physical exams and taking patient histories
- Diagnosing illnesses and injuries
- Prescribing medications and managing treatment plans
- Performing minor procedures
- Ordering and interpreting lab tests and imaging
- Educating patients on preventive care and health management
Responsibilities can vary based on the setting or specialty, but in most cases, PAs play an important role in helping people get timely, high-quality care in a hospital or clinic or right at home.
Career opportunities for physician assistants
PAs have a wealth of options across many areas of practice. Some roles involve direct clinical care in traditional places, like hospitals, clinics and in-home settings. Others expand into flexible or remote work, and still others leverage PA expertise in leadership or administrative settings.
Here are some of the most popular career opportunities for PAs:
Clinical roles
Clinical work is the most familiar path for many PAs. These jobs involve hands-on patient care in a variety of clinical environments, such as:
Primary care
Primary care PAs work alongside primary care physicians to provide routine and preventive health care, manage chronic conditions and coordinate care across specialists. There are usually many opportunities for PAs who are interested in primary care roles.
Emergency medicine and urgent care
In emergency medicine and urgent care, PAs respond to acute injuries and sudden illness. Work tends to be fast moving and varied, with a focus on quick assessment and stabilization. These jobs can come with unpredictable schedules and may include high-stress situations.
Hospital
Hospital‑based PAs support inpatient care, assist in rounds and help manage care across departments. They often collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams.
Surgical
Surgical PAs assist in the operating room with tasks that may include helping prepare patients for procedures and supporting post‑operative care. Work schedules can be intensive with long stretches in between breaks.
Specialty
PA specialties include areas such as cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, dermatology and neurology. PAs who go into specialties focus in one area, working with patients who have specific health needs.
Remote and alternative roles
PAs also have roles outside traditional clinic or hospital walls, including these areas:
Telemedicine
Telemedicine PAs provide care through virtual visits, expanding access for patients who prefer remote appointments or have difficulty traveling.
Locum tenens
Locum tenens assignments are temporary clinical positions that allow PAs to fill staffing gaps in different locations. These roles are popular among newly graduated PAs because they build experience, expand networks and offer flexibility in scheduling.
In-home services
In‑home visits bring clinical services directly to people in their homes, allowing more time with each person and an opportunity to practice outside typical health care settings. If you’re interested in this type of work, joining a nationwide clinician network can broaden the range of in‑home opportunities and support you receive as a clinician.
Leadership and administrative roles
Some PAs move into positions that influence care design, policy and operations. While these positions don’t involve patient care, they do leverage clinical insight to improve systems and support other clinicians.
Public health
Public health positions for PAs involve planning and managing health initiatives that reach broad populations. PAs in this area may work with community programs, outreach efforts and preventive campaigns.
Clinic and hospital management
Administrative roles in clinics or hospitals put PAs in leadership positions overseeing operations, programs or clinical teams and require both clinical understanding and organizational skills.
Pharmaceutical
In the pharmaceutical field, PAs might work in medical affairs, drug safety, clinical trials or education. Compensation may include incentives and bonuses, especially when duties involve sales or sales support.
Health care consulting
Consulting roles draw on clinical expertise to help organizations improve performance and patient experience. PAs in consulting usually work with teams to identify challenges and recommend solutions.
Job growth and flexibility for physician assistants
Job growth and flexibility for physician assistants
Job outlook for PAs is growing much faster than the national average for other careers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This means that demand is strong across hospitals, private practices, in-home care and other settings. And this high demand also makes it possible for PAs to move between specialties or transition into different kinds of care throughout their careers.
Some PAs begin in emergency medicine or primary care, then explore specialties or nonclinical roles as their interests change. The generalist training makes it easier to follow new goals without starting from scratch. It’s also a strong next step for people already in health care. In fact, professionals like nurses, paramedics and medical assistants often become PAs to expand their clinical work while maintaining work-life balance.
Why in-home opportunities appeal to physician assistants
Hospital shifts can be intense, fast-moving and mentally draining, so many PAs find themselves looking for roles that allow them to build meaningful relationships with patients while still practicing at a high level. In-home care makes that possible by giving PAs more time with each person and a chance to deliver impactful care without in a non-traditional clinical setting.
Here’s why it’s becoming a popular path:
Closing health care gaps
For PAs who want to make a difference in underserved communities, In-Home Health Evaluations provide a way to reach people who might otherwise miss essential screenings and support. In-home care helps close care gaps by meeting people where they are, especially those facing barriers like transportation, mobility challenges or limited access to primary care.
Achieving work-life balance
Many PAs report better work-life balance compared to other health care roles. But working in a fast-paced hospital or outpatient clinical setting is still demanding and can raise the risk of burnout. That’s one reason more PAs are choosing in-home care; it allows them to keep seeing patients while also having more control over their schedule and making time for rest, family or other priorities.
Having more time for health plan members
With in-home visits, PAs get to slow down, listen and provide more personalized attention to people’s unique needs. Because of the emphasis on education and closing health literacy gaps, these visits can promote improved outcomes.
Find your next role with Signify Health
At Signify Health, we’re proud to support PAs who want to spend more time with health plan members and make a lasting impact through In-Home Health Evaluations. Our nationwide network gives clinicians the flexibility to work in a way that fits your life while still delivering a high-quality visit. With every IHE, you’re helping improve outcomes for people who might not otherwise get the attention they need.
Partner with Signify Health to help improve outcomes and close care gaps.
Frequently asked questions
What other jobs can I do as a physician assistant?
As a PA, you can work in clinical care, research, public health, education, consulting and even pharmaceutical or medical device roles, depending on experience and credentials.
What fields can a physician assistant work in?
PAs can work in primary care, surgery, emergency medicine, behavioral health, pediatrics, dermatology and more, with plenty of opportunities in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
What is the highest paid physician assistant job?
While it varies depending on factors such as location and education level, the highest paid PA jobs tend to be surgical subspecialties, including cardiovascular and orthopedic surgery due to their complexity and demand.
What can I do after being a physician assistant?
After being a PA, if you no longer want to work in a traditional clinical setting, you can move into leadership, teaching, clinical research, in-home care, or consulting or transition to roles in health policy or care coordination.