Pre-Physician Assistant

About the Profession

Physician assistants, or PAs, are healthcare professionals who provide services in collaboration with a licensed physician. They can conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventative healthcare, assist in surgery, and prescribe medications. Duties of a PA differ from state to state and physician to physician. While they work in collaboration with a physician, they do not need direct supervision of a physician. Many PAs work independently and deliver services determined by state law. PAs are key healthcare providers in rural areas where physician shortages are more prominent.

Work Settings

PAs provide care in many settings, including hospitals, physicians' offices, outpatient centers, and nursing homes. PAs can also work for federal government agencies or in the nation's uniformed services. In rural settings where physician shortages are common, PAs can serve as the patient's principal healthcare provider. Some PAs can also focus on clinical research, healthcare administration, and higher education. Because PAs practice medicine in a variety of settings, their duties and schedules are highly variable, but they play a valuable role in any healthcare team.

Academic Requirements

Most professional programs require an applicant to have obtained a bachelor's degree with a focus in science. Drake's Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences degree provides excellent preparation for PA school. Once you've earned your Drake degree, you'll complete two years of studies in an accredited physician assistant program. These programs are modeled on medical school curriculum. PA students receive both didactic and clinical education training. Their clinical rotations focus on both medical and surgical disciplines.

Additional Information

Following graduation from an accredited program, candidates need to pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). Like most healthcare providers, PAs take a recertification exam every 10 years and participate in continuing education every 2 years. American Academy of PAs (AAPA) partners with 26 specialty organizations that strengthen the knowledge of the field and allow PAs to specialize in a field if they choose to do so. Some specialties include: 

• Addiction Medicine
• Cardiology
• Family Medicine
• Hospice and Palliative Medicine
• Nephrology
• Neurology
• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Pediatrics
• Rheumatology
• Surgery

Why is Health Sciences a great major for Pre-PA?

As a student in our Bachelor of Health Sciences degree, you’ll get the best of both worlds: a rigorous science curriculum that will prepare you for the academic challenges of PA school and an education in healthcare that will help you succeed in your professional career. All Health Sciences students take core courses in the sciences that can be customized based on the required prerequisite coursework you'll need to get into your top choice graduate program. Beyond that, you'll complete our Health Sciences Core Curriculum, which teaches you about every aspect of healthcare and how to be a successful professional once you graduate. The Health Sciences Core Curriculum includes coursework in professionalism, innovation and problem solving, cultural sensitivity, healthcare ethics, and an overview of what to expect when you enter the workforce. This unique curriculum is only offered to Health Sciences majors at Drake and will make you stand out when you apply for PA school.

In addition to your coursework, the Health Sciences Core Curriculum also includes a full-year internship and research. In your senior year, you will be paired with a professional in a career that relates to your own interests and complete an internship with that person at their office or practice site. Drake has numerous placements that relate to PA school, including several partnerships with the local medical school at Des Moines University. You will also conduct an original research project alongside your internship, which is valuable in the graduate school admission process and is the reason why our graduates are so successful in getting into many of their top choice PA schools!