Becoming a Physician Assistant via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Kaplan University, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering medical assistant courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
medical assistants,
nurses,
dental assistants,
medical office assistants,
practical nurses, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 76,900 people employed as
physician assistants alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$84,830.
Medical and public health social workers make on average $48,340
per year and there are about 133,510
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Kaplan University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Physician Assistant
- Hospitals
- Medical Research Centers
- Sleep Laboratories
- Urgent Care Centers
- Intensive Care Units
- Doctor's Offices
- Emergency Rooms
- Triage Centers
- Pharmaceutical Facilities
- Nursing Homes
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Physician Assistant
- Opportunity to take on respectable tasks
- Training allows for a wider scope of practice
- Increase in pay with more responsibilities and knowledge
- Improved access to health care
- Many job opportunities
- The demand for physician assistant house officers continues to expand
- Prospect of advancement
- Ability to delegate many tasks in order to provide better services
- Ability to obtain new responsibilities
- New opportunities to work collaboratively with a critical care team
Potential Drawbacks
- Must pass a national exam in order to obtain a license
- Those assisting in surgery stand for long periods of time
- At times, the occupation requires a great deal of walking
- Requires a sense of self-motivation
- Requires the ability to make quick decisions in emergencies
- Constantly supervised by a physician
- Working long hours at times
- Overnight, weekend and holiday shifts
- Designate time outside of the workday for research
- Provide most of the medical care with a physician available a few days each week
Related Professions to Consider
- Physician Assistant
- Pathologist Assistant
- Account Assistant
- Medical Assistant
- Orthopedic Physician Assistant
- Family Practice Physician Assistant
- Internal Medicine Physician Assistant
- Surgical Physician Assistant
- Medical Secretary Administration Assistant
- Pediatric Physician Assistant
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Physician Assistant
- How would two professionals settle a dispute?
- What will you do if you don't make it into our program?
- What is the difference between a PA and a physician?
- What would you do to handle a difficult patient?
- What is your philosophy towards work?
- What person has motivated you the most?
- Name three things you want to change about yourself?
- What has been your biggest professional disappointment?
- What would you tell a patient if asked what your job is?
- Describe a significant life experience?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Audiologists
- Occupational Therapists
- Physical Therapists
- Registered Nurses
- Radiologists
- Chiropractors
- Dentists
- Orthodontics
- Optometrists
- Podiatrists
Physician Assistant Training books
Physician Assistant (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Pathology
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Disease Prevention
- Pharmacology
- Organic Chemistry
- Prescribe Medication
- Molecular Physics
Physician Assistant Salary Information
Category: Medical and public health social workers
| Total # Employed in the US |
133,510 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$23.24/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $13.75 |
$17.35 |
$22.26 |
$28.12 |
$34.22 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$48,340 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $28,600 |
$36,090 |
$46,300 |
$58,490 |
$71,190 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.2% |
6.2% |
10.4% |
6.0% |
42.3% |
32.2% |
1.6% |
|
Medical and public health social workers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$31.86/hr
|
$66,270
|
| New York |
$30.64/hr
|
$63,720
|
| Delaware |
$29.47/hr
|
$61,290
|
| Mississippi |
$28.17/hr
|
$58,590
|
| Colorado |
$27.83/hr
|
$57,890
|
| Indiana |
$27.78/hr
|
$57,780
|
| Virginia |
$27.03/hr
|
$56,230
|
| North Dakota |
$26.15/hr
|
$54,390
|
| Tennessee |
$26.14/hr
|
$54,360
|
| Alaska |
$25.85/hr
|
$53,780
|
| Oklahoma |
$25.59/hr
|
$53,230
|
| North Carolina |
$24.7/hr
|
$51,370
|
| Nebraska |
$24.66/hr
|
$51,290
|
| Kansas |
$24.12/hr
|
$50,170
|
| Missouri |
$24.12/hr
|
$50,160
|
| Puerto Rico |
$23.98/hr
|
$49,880
|
| Montana |
$23.62/hr
|
$49,120
|
| Guam |
$23.55/hr
|
$48,990
|
| District of Columbia |
$23.42/hr
|
$48,720
|
| Wisconsin |
$23.15/hr
|
$48,150
|
| Wyoming |
$22.85/hr
|
$47,520
|
| Idaho |
$22.09/hr
|
$45,940
|
| Iowa |
$22.08/hr
|
$45,920
|
| Kentucky |
$21.98/hr
|
$45,710
|
| South Carolina |
$21.88/hr
|
$45,520
|
| Connecticut |
$21.87/hr
|
$45,500
|
| Hawaii |
$21.69/hr
|
$45,120
|
| Michigan |
$21.42/hr
|
$44,540
|
| Massachusetts |
$21.38/hr
|
$44,470
|
| California |
$21.36/hr
|
$44,420
|
| Washington |
$21.04/hr
|
$43,760
|
| Oregon |
$20.91/hr
|
$43,500
|
| Louisiana |
$20.65/hr
|
$42,960
|
| Utah |
$20.61/hr
|
$42,870
|
| Arkansas |
$20.24/hr
|
$42,100
|
| New Jersey |
$20.17/hr
|
$41,940
|
| Maine |
$20.15/hr
|
$41,900
|
| Alabama |
$20.03/hr
|
$41,670
|
| Maryland |
$19.82/hr
|
$41,220
|
| New Hampshire |
$19.8/hr
|
$41,190
|
| New Mexico |
$19.14/hr
|
$39,810
|
| Ohio |
$18.6/hr
|
$38,690
|
| West Virginia |
$18.45/hr
|
$38,370
|
| South Dakota |
$18.38/hr
|
$38,240
|
| Pennsylvania |
$17.96/hr
|
$37,350
|
| Nevada |
$17.21/hr
|
$35,800
|
Category: Physician assistants
| Total # Employed in the US |
76,900 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$40.78/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $26.86 |
$34.21 |
$40.58 |
$47.86 |
$55.33 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$84,830 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $55,880 |
$71,160 |
$84,420 |
$99,540 |
$115,080 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.0% |
6.7% |
9.0% |
14.2% |
30.6% |
26.6% |
12.0% |
|
Physician assistants — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| New York |
$49.76/hr
|
$103,500
|
| Delaware |
$46.34/hr
|
$96,380
|
| Florida |
$45.97/hr
|
$95,610
|
| Alaska |
$44.32/hr
|
$92,180
|
| North Dakota |
$44.28/hr
|
$92,100
|
| Colorado |
$44.07/hr
|
$91,670
|
| Mississippi |
$43.71/hr
|
$90,920
|
| District of Columbia |
$43.63/hr
|
$90,760
|
| North Carolina |
$43.32/hr
|
$90,100
|
| Tennessee |
$43.15/hr
|
$89,760
|
| Wyoming |
$42.63/hr
|
$88,670
|
| Missouri |
$42.46/hr
|
$88,310
|
| Guam |
$42.4/hr
|
$88,190
|
| Oklahoma |
$42.18/hr
|
$87,740
|
| Nebraska |
$42.17/hr
|
$87,720
|
| Hawaii |
$42.11/hr
|
$87,590
|
| Virginia |
$42/hr
|
$87,360
|
| Wisconsin |
$41.98/hr
|
$87,330
|
| Montana |
$41.81/hr
|
$86,960
|
| Michigan |
$41.32/hr
|
$85,950
|
| New Jersey |
$41.21/hr
|
$85,720
|
| Idaho |
$40.67/hr
|
$84,590
|
| Arkansas |
$40.6/hr
|
$84,460
|
| South Carolina |
$40.33/hr
|
$83,890
|
| New Mexico |
$39.79/hr
|
$82,770
|
| Louisiana |
$39.7/hr
|
$82,580
|
| Puerto Rico |
$39.57/hr
|
$82,300
|
| Maryland |
$39.53/hr
|
$82,230
|
| Maine |
$39.47/hr
|
$82,100
|
| Oregon |
$39.35/hr
|
$81,850
|
| Connecticut |
$39.26/hr
|
$81,650
|
| West Virginia |
$39.2/hr
|
$81,530
|
| Iowa |
$39.09/hr
|
$81,310
|
| Indiana |
$38.35/hr
|
$79,760
|
| Alabama |
$38.34/hr
|
$79,750
|
| Kentucky |
$37.15/hr
|
$77,270
|
| South Dakota |
$36.91/hr
|
$76,770
|
| Pennsylvania |
$36.66/hr
|
$76,260
|
| Kansas |
$34.23/hr
|
$71,200
|
| Massachusetts |
$33.86/hr
|
$70,420
|
| Washington |
$33.21/hr
|
$69,080
|
| New Hampshire |
$32.88/hr
|
$68,390
|
| Utah |
$32.77/hr
|
$68,170
|
| Ohio |
$31.74/hr
|
$66,020
|
| California |
$30.83/hr
|
$64,120
|
| Nevada |
$26.24/hr
|
$54,570
|
Category: Medical assistants
| Total # Employed in the US |
495,970 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$14.16/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $9.98 |
$11.57 |
$13.77 |
$16.23 |
$19.21 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$29,450 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $20,750 |
$24,060 |
$28,650 |
$33,760 |
$39,970 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 4.8% |
29.0% |
37.8% |
16.3% |
9.1% |
1.6% |
1.4% |
|
Medical assistants — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$18.17/hr
|
$37,790
|
| Alaska |
$17.5/hr
|
$36,400
|
| Missouri |
$16.58/hr
|
$34,490
|
| Delaware |
$16.44/hr
|
$34,200
|
| Nebraska |
$15.8/hr
|
$32,870
|
| North Dakota |
$15.75/hr
|
$32,760
|
| New York |
$15.73/hr
|
$32,730
|
| Connecticut |
$15.65/hr
|
$32,550
|
| Indiana |
$15.47/hr
|
$32,180
|
| Puerto Rico |
$15.45/hr
|
$32,140
|
| Tennessee |
$15.42/hr
|
$32,070
|
| Virginia |
$15.37/hr
|
$31,960
|
| Oklahoma |
$15.21/hr
|
$31,640
|
| Mississippi |
$15.18/hr
|
$31,570
|
| Colorado |
$14.89/hr
|
$30,980
|
| North Carolina |
$14.7/hr
|
$30,570
|
| District of Columbia |
$14.69/hr
|
$30,550
|
| Kansas |
$14.59/hr
|
$30,340
|
| Arkansas |
$14.46/hr
|
$30,070
|
| Michigan |
$14.17/hr
|
$29,480
|
| Louisiana |
$13.96/hr
|
$29,050
|
| Iowa |
$13.9/hr
|
$28,910
|
| Hawaii |
$13.84/hr
|
$28,780
|
| Utah |
$13.78/hr
|
$28,670
|
| Montana |
$13.68/hr
|
$28,460
|
| Washington |
$13.66/hr
|
$28,410
|
| Oregon |
$13.63/hr
|
$28,340
|
| New Jersey |
$13.58/hr
|
$28,240
|
| Idaho |
$13.55/hr
|
$28,180
|
| New Mexico |
$13.54/hr
|
$28,160
|
| Kentucky |
$13.16/hr
|
$27,380
|
| South Carolina |
$13.16/hr
|
$27,370
|
| Wisconsin |
$13.04/hr
|
$27,120
|
| Wyoming |
$12.99/hr
|
$27,020
|
| Guam |
$12.95/hr
|
$26,940
|
| Ohio |
$12.79/hr
|
$26,590
|
| Pennsylvania |
$12.78/hr
|
$26,580
|
| Maine |
$12.78/hr
|
$26,580
|
| New Hampshire |
$12.77/hr
|
$26,560
|
| Maryland |
$12.73/hr
|
$26,470
|
| California |
$12.55/hr
|
$26,100
|
| South Dakota |
$12.48/hr
|
$25,950
|
| Massachusetts |
$12.26/hr
|
$25,490
|
| Nevada |
$12.17/hr
|
$25,310
|
| West Virginia |
$12.11/hr
|
$25,190
|
| Alabama |
$11.86/hr
|
$24,670
|
