A Physician Assistant is a medical professional who can offer medical services to patients under the supervision of a doctor or a physician. Physician Assistants (PA) are responsible for implementing the physician directives and assessing the health of the patients by interviewing or examining them and studying their medical history.
Candidates are required to take up various paramedical courses in India to become a Physician assistant. Candidates can pursue top courses such as BSc Physician Assistant, BSc Nursing, etc. The average fee of Government colleges is INR 10,000 to INR 75,000 and the fee in Private colleges is INR 1,00,000 to 4,00,000 to pursue any course to become a physician assistant.
After successfully completing Physician Assistant courses, students are offered various job profiles with an average starting salary of INR 3,50,000 – 4,00,000 per annum. The salary further increases with experience and skill.
- All About Career as a Physician Assistant
- Steps to become a Physician Assistant
- Types of Physician Assistants
- How to Become a Physician Assistant in India
- How to Become a Physician Assistant after 12th
6.2 BSc Nursing
7.1 USA
7.2 Canada
7.3 UK
7.4 Australia
- Benefits of Becoming a Physician Assistant
- Skills Required to Become a Physician Assistant
- Salary of a Physician Assistant
10.2 Experience Wise
10.3 Specialization Wise
10.3 Gender Wise
All About Career as a Physician Assistant
Physician assistants, also known as PAs, practice medicine on teams with the physicians, surgeons, and other healthcare workers. They examine, diagnose, and treat patients.
| Industry | Medical, hospitals, health care centers, diagnostic centers, emergency care units, etc. |
| Eligibility | Bachelors degree in Paramedical Courses |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 20,000 to 30,000 |
| Job Opportunity | Nanavati hospital, Apollo hospital, Indraprastha hospital, Manipal hospital, Mehta multispecialty hospital India Pvt. Ltd. |
Steps to Become a Physician Assistant
The steps to be followed by the candidates who are interested in taking the course after passing 12th grade are mentioned below.
Decision Making: Decision making is an important step before starting anything. Make a decision on what you want to pursue after your 10th exam. Because in India, your career is fully dependent upon your results of both 10th and 12th , so choose your subjects of interest wisely after 10th board.
Subject Choices: In order to become a Physician Assistant one must choose the subjects that are essential for the course. In order to Physician Assistant one must have the mandatory subject combination of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics during their class 12th board exams.
Entrance Exam Preparation: In order to be able to get admission across top colleges students must sit for various entrance exams for Physician Assistant courses. Some of the popular entrance examination are CUCET, CPNET, SUAT, etc. The candidates needs to be through with their research for these entrance examination.
Selection of Colleges: A college with a good academic quality gives better results and also helps the passed out graduates in getting placement. So here also after qualifying the entrance choose a good college to pursue the Physician Assistant course.
After Qualifying the Exam: If the students appearing for the various entrances manage to clear the exam, they are further required to appear for a personal interview round and counselling sessions organised by the respective college itself so as to test the knowledge and experience of the students in the concerned field.
Types of Physician Assistants
As a Physician Assistant you can do various occupations. Every Physician Assistant specializes in their own fields. So here are some types of physician assistants who are employees in different medical, hospital, healthcare sectors.
Radiology Practitioner Assistant
- Radiology Practitioner Assistants are generally worked under the supervision of a senior Radiologist. A Radiology Practitioner Assistant is responsible for protect the patients, keeping the medical records of the patients, diagnose the diseases and also to properly keep the equipment which are uses for taking medical images to diagnose the patients illness.
- In India, there is a high demand for Radiology Practitioner Assistants. The market of this RPA has been segmented. They can work in different private imaging centers, academic centers, hospitals, govt. health care centers, diagnostic clinics, etc.
Pediatric Physician Assistant
- Pediatric Physician Assistants are responsible for collecting medical information, diagnose the diseases, recommending tests to the patients, designing of treatment plans etc.
- There is a huge demand for pediatric physician assistants in the health care centers, pediatric centers, hospitals, etc.
Drug Safety Associate
- The Drug Safety Associate’s task is to assess the safety of pharmaceutical drugs before launching the product in the market. They have to oversee the whole process of drug manufacturing using the standard guidelines so that the medication can’t cause any negative effects in patients. And if the medications are found harmful they have to take away those products from the market.
- The job market in healthcare is increasing and so demand of Drug Safety Associate is also increasing in the job market.
Orthopedic Physician Assistant
- Orthopedic Physician Assistants duty is to help the Orthopedic Surgeon in providing medical care. Their role is to perform examinations to diagnose illness and to prescribe medications to the patients.
- Demand of the orthopedic physician assistant is increasing in job in healthcare centers because the patients need care at the healthcare centers.
Family Practice Physician Assistant
- Their task is to diagnose and treatment of illness, prescribe medications, manage the patients having chronic conditions, make hospitals and nursing home rounds and also to provide home visits. Some family practice physician assistants are responsible for providing health care service to the entire family.
- This type of physician assistant has demand in the job market and it is the highest growing job in this century.
How to Become a Physician Assistant in India?
To become a Physician assistant in India one must have to pass 10+2 in Science from a recognized board.
School Level Preparation
- If you are interested in taking up Physician Assistant course after 12th then you should start preparing immediately after your 10th board exam.
- After passing the 10th board exam, take admission in the Science stream.
- In 12th grade, you must have to secure above 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Mathematics.
- Try to score well in the entrance examination. In the case of merit based admission the candidates are required to score at least 60% or more..
How to Become a Physician Assistant after 12th?
Career opportunities and employment prospects for PA are aplenty since this course has been newfangled and emerged as of seeking great importance in the healthcare services.Students need to pass in the entrance exams of Physician Assistant after completing their 12th examinations. They need to follow the below mentioned preparations to pursue the career as a Physician Assistant.
UG Preparation
- To become a physician assistant, you can take admission in a Bachelor of Science in Biology or Chemistry, etc.
- You can also learn the Physician Assistant course after pursuing B Sc. in Nursing/ B. Pharm/ D. Pharm etc. from a recognized medical college or school.
- Try to score 60% in the graduation level. If possible work as an assistant to a doctor to gain valuable experience
PG Preparation
- In the case of PG Course the candidates are required to maintain a score of 55% so that they can go for various research level courses such as PhD or MPhil.
- The Candidates are required to appear for various internship programs so that they can have valuable experience before they start their career.
How Long Does it take to become a Physician Assistant ?
Candidates often wonder how long does it takes to become a Physician assistant. The answer is that it depends on the types of courses pursued by the candidates. For example candidates who opt for the Diploma in Physician assistant will take 2 years to complete the course and start their practices. However, those who optr for the graduate program such as BSc Physician Assistant and Nursing courses require at least 3 years to become a physician assistant. So to answer the Question. It takes at least 2-3 years to become a Physician assistant in India.
Courses to Become Physician Assistant
The Under-graduate and Postgraduate level courses that can be pursued to become a Physician Assistant are mentioned below.
BSc Physician Assistant
Bachelor degree in Physician Assistant is a 3 year duration degree course one can study after passing HS in Science with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/ Mathematics and English from a recognized board.
Check: Top BSc Physician Assistant Colleges in India.
Admission Process
- The admission process can be either through merit or entrance. It depends on the medical schools where you want to study.
- For the medical schools, where entrance is must, you need to study hard to get admission.
Physician Assistant Certificate Program
The course is for 3 years which focuses on general medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, family medicine, psychiatry, and general surgery.
Admission Process
Admissions in the medical assistant certificate courses are not done in a properly organized manner like that in bachelor and master courses. Certain colleges offer admission based on first come first serve.
- Enrollment in online certificate programs is simply done by applying on the website of the course provider.
- In the case of offline certificate programs, colleges might enroll you on a merit basis. Your score in Class X or XII (as applicable) will be considered in such a case.
- Few colleges conduct their entrance examination followed by a personal interview to enroll in the certification program.
Online Certificate Medical Assistant Courses
The table below shows some of the best Medical Assistant Course certificates available online on different platforms.
| Certificate Name | Provider | Duration | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistant Program | St. Augustine School of Medical Assistants | 6 weeks | INR 1,04,350 |
| The Online Medical Assistant Program | CareerStep Online Education & Training Solutions | 4 months | INR 2,65,112 |
| Medical Assistant Online | Care One Health Training Institute | 7 or 9 months | INR 2,58,111 |
Offline Certificate Medical Assistant Courses
Many institutes offer medical assistant course certificates through classroom methods of teaching. Though the list of such courses is also endless, some of the top courses in the list below.
| Course Name | College Name | Duration | Average Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate in General Duty Assistant | IGNOU, Tech Mahindra SMART Academy for Healthcare | 6 months- 2 years | INR 6,000-12,000 |
| Certificate in Medical Nurse Assistant | Global Institute of Health Management | 6 months | INR 17,500 |
| Certificate in Home Health Assistant | IGNOU | 2 years | INR 6,000 |
| Certificate in Ophthalmic Nursing Assistant | The Sankara Nethralaya Academy | 2 years | INR 40,000 |
Diploma in Physician Assistant
This is a 2 year duration diploma program one can learn after passing their 10+2 in Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology as the main subject) with 50% marks. The program mainly focuses on making expertise one in the health care sector and improving their skills to fit the role as Physician Assistant.
Admission Process
Admission for diploma courses is different for different colleges. While for the admission in PGD, the selection of students is done based on the merit score only.
- For a Diploma in medical assistant courses, some Institutes offer admission based on merit while some conduct an entrance examination. Shortlisted candidates are called for a personal interview to get admission in the desired medical assistant program.
- For PGD in Physician Assistant, an applicant must possess a bachelor's degree in nursing or life sciences with a minimum score of 60% aggregate. The merit score of a candidate is taken into consideration for enrollment.
Eligibility Criteria for the Exam
Here are the eligibility for the diploma course in physician assistant.
- To study the course, interested candidates must have to passed 10+2 or equivalent to it in Science stream with the main subjects, i.e., Physics, Chemistry, Biology.
- They have to score a minimum of 50% marks in the 12th board exam.
Top Diploma Medical Assistant Courses
Some of the popular diploma courses which can be pursued in the field of international business are given below.
| Diploma Name | Colleges Offering | Average Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma in Nursing Administration | Indira Gandhi National Open University | INR 9,000 |
| Diploma in Physician Assistant | SVU- Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Pondicherry University Community College | INR 17,630 |
Top PG Diploma in Medical Assistant Courses
PG Diploma courses are pursued after one has completed his or her graduation or some diploma course. Both should be in the related field only.
| PG Diploma Name | Colleges Offering | Average Fees | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Post Graduate Diploma in Physician Assistant | Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, St. Francis College for Women | INR 20,000-50,000 | Offline |
MSc Physician Assistant
Master of Science in Physician Assistant is a 2 year post-graduate degree program one can pursue after his/ her Bachelor of Science in either other science subject or physician assistant course from a recognized college or university. The course basically studies how to train an assistant in health care sectors. It is a specialized course that sets a bridge between staff nurse and specialist doctors.
Admission Process
Admission is done either though merit based or entrance based. In some universities, the admission is done through a personal interview and counseling session. It depends on different universities.
- Admission process to this course is done on the basis of entrance and marks of previous qualifying exam
- Thus, you should score an aggregate of 55% marks in your UG level to pursue this degree
BSc Nursing
You can pursue a Bachelor degree in Nursing to pursue the MSc degree in Physician Assistant. The duration of this course is 3 years.
Admission Process
- Admission to this course is done through merit basis or entrance exam.
- Several colleges like University of Delhi, Sharda University etc offer direct admission to the BSc Nursing course. Candidates can apply to BSc Nursing colleges through both online and offline mode.
- And to take admission in this course you must pass the 12th board exam with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics as main subjects and English as a compulsory subject from a recognized board.
How to Become a Physician Assistant Abroad
To become a Physician Assistant abroad you need to complete under-graduate degree from a recognized medical college or school. Other than the degree you also must have a license to work abroad.
Physician Assistant in US
To become a Physician Assistant in the US, one must have to pursue a Master’s degree from an accredited institution.
Admission Process
Educational Requirements
- You must have a 4 year under-graduate degree in medical and health science related courses.
- Then you need to apply to ARC-PA accredited programs (Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant).
- After that, you also need to complete a 2 year duration post-graduation degree in Physician Assistant from an accredited institution.
- And then you must have to clear the PANCE licensing exam to become a Physician Assistant in the US.
Other Requirements
- To work there in the US, one must have working experience in a healthcare center.
Top Colleges in US for Physician Assistant Course
| Colleges | Fees(INR) |
|---|---|
| Duke university, Durham, NC | 32,96,000 |
| University of Iowa, Iowa City | 32,98,000 |
| Baylor college of medicine, Houston | _ |
| University of Utah, Salt Lake City | 43,07,000 |
| Emory university, Atlanta | 68,98,000 |
| George Washington University, Washington | 57,01,000 |
| University of Colorado, Aurora | 38,99,000 |
| University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center- Dallas, Texas | 20,70,000 |
| Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem NC | 48,54,000 |
| Drexel University, Philadelphia | 57,76,000 |
Courses Available
| Course Name | Fees(INR) |
|---|---|
| Master of Physician Assistant Studies | 66,73,000 |
| Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Degree | 92,09,000 |
| Physician Assistant Program | 32,96,000 |
| Master of Health Science- Physician Assistant | 75,73,000 |
Physician Assistant in Canada
To become a Physician Assistant in Canada, you must hold a under-graduate degree in any science subject or in a physician assistant course.
Admission Process
Admission to Physician Assistant program is done one the basis of marks of previous qualifying exam and work experience in the field.
Educational Requirement
- Complete your under-graduate degree in any science subject or in physician assistant to become Physician Assistant in Canada.
Other Requirements
- To work as a Physician Assistant in Canada, you first need to be a Canadian Citizen.
- Then apply for the PA program in a globally recognized PA school.
- After finishing the course apply for a Physician Assistant post in a healthcare center or hospital.
Top Colleges
| Colleges | Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| McMaster University, Ontario | 13,58,000 |
| PA Consortium (University of Toronto, NOSM, Michener Institute), Toronto | 53,06,000 |
| University of Manitoba, Manitoba | 8,88,000 |
| Canadian Military PA School | _ |
Courses Available
| Courses | Fees(INR) |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Health Science in Physician Assistant | 8,81,000 |
| Bachelor of Science Physician Assistant Degree | 34,32,000 |
| M.Sc. in Physician Assistant | 5,75,000 |
Physician Assistant in UK
You are eligible to apply for the post of Physician Assistant in the UK after completing an under-graduate degree in a health or life science program. The course is known as a Physician Associate in the UK.
Admission Process
One can take admission to this course after completing under-graduate degree in any subject or in Physician Assistant from a globally recognized university.
Educational Requirement
- You must have to complete an under-graduate course in chemistry/ biomedical science/ biology/ physician assistant/ nursing/ medical therapies/ pharmacy/ biochemistry etc.
- And who have studied these above mentioned courses, they have to pursue a higher degree in Physician Assistant in the UK.
Other Requirements
- To become a physician assistant in the UK you need three A-levels at ABB or equivalent to it.
- And also must have work experience in the respective sector.
Top Colleges
| Colleges | Fees(INR) |
|---|---|
| University of Aberdeen, Scotland | 17,31,000 |
| University of Surrey, Guildford England | 19,36,000 |
| University of Chester, England | 16,50,000 |
| University of Plymouth, England | 4,64,000 |
| University of Manchester, Manchester England | 16,95,000 |
| Brunel University, Uxbridge England | 2,23,000 |
| St. George’s University London, England | 19,63,000 |
| Sheffield Hallam University | 8,03,000 |
| University of Birmingham, England | 8,03,000 |
| University of Liverpool | NA |
Courses Available
| Courses | Fees(INR) |
|---|---|
| MSc in Physician Associate | 8,25,000 |
| Post graduate Diploma in Physician Associate | 9,50,000 |
Physician Assistant in Australia
The course is offered in only some universities in Australia along with the admission process and top courses offered by colleges and universities are mentioned below.
Admission Process
Admission to the course in Australia is based on merit and work experience as a physician assistant.
Educational Requirement
- To study physician assistant in Australia, you need to pass a BSc degree in physician assistant from any recognized university.
- To become a Physician Assistant in Australia you need to complete a 2 year accredited program.
- And for that you have to appear for a PA certifying exam and after passing in the exam you will get a license to work as a Physician Assistant in Australia.
Other Requirements
- After qualifying for the license to work there, you must have to complete 100 hours of education after every 2 years to maintain the license to work there as a physician assistant.
- The non-English speaking students must have to clear the English language exam to become a physician assistant in Australia.
Top Colleges
| Colleges | Fees |
|---|---|
| The University of Queensland, Australia | INR 1,540,000 |
| James Cook University, Australia | INR 2,843,993 |
| The University of Adelaide, Australia | _ |
Courses Available
| Course Name | Fees |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Health Science in Physician Assistant | INR 28,43,993 |
| Master of Physician Assistant Studies | INR 15,40,000 |
| PhD in Physician Assistant | INR 4,44,514 |
Benefits of Career as a Physician Assistant
As a Physician Assistant, you will get more benefits in the working environment. The Physician Assistant is one of the highest paying jobs in this century.
Salary
In this occupation one can earn a good salary package. Average salary of a physician assistant in India is INR 2,51,460 per year. However, the amount of salary may be different in different hospitals, medicals, and healthcare sectors.
Job Security
Physician Assistant has job security in their field. The demand has risen in recent years and hence they have a good career in India. Currently, more than 1,100 employees are there in the PA sector.
Higher Studies
A physician assistant can study their course Ph.D. degree. After that they can apply for a job in any hospital, medical, healthcare sector as a Physician Assistant post. You can study specialization in the PA course after pursuing MSc in Physician Assistant.
Unique Experience
The workplace of the physician assistant is interesting as they are engaged in various activities like, examining samples, analyzing, diagnosing the diseases, treatment of diseases and helping the team and doctors to cure a patient’s health.
Skills Required to Become a Physician Assistant
Some of the top skill sets that are crucial for becoming a Physician Assistant are tabulated below for your reference,
| Good communication | Interpersonal skill |
| Emotional Stability | Medical knowledge |
| Detail oriented | System based practice skill |
| Compassion | Problem solving skill |
Salary of a Physician Assistant in India
The average salary of different types of physician assistants varies in different medical and hospitals. Average salary in this field is INR 2.5 to 4 lakh per annum. The highest salary package is INR 6 to 9.6 lakh on a yearly basis.
Average Annual Salary
| Name of organization | Average salary |
|---|---|
| Govt. | INR 4,00,000 |
| Private | INR 5,00,000 |
Salary Trend Graph
Experience Wise
| Experience | Average salary |
|---|---|
| Fresher | INR 2,50,000 |
| Experienced | INR 6,16,800 |
Salary Trend Graph
Specialization Wise
| Specializations | Salary |
|---|---|
| Radiology Physician Assistant | INR 3,00,000 |
| Ortho Physician Assistant | INR 4,00,000 |
| Personal Health Facilitator | INR 1,33,000 |
| Pediatric Physician Assistant | INR 2,50,000 |
| Medical Assistant | INR 3,03,851 |
Salary Trend Graph
Gender Wise Salary
| Gender | Salary |
|---|---|
| Female | INR 48.000 |
| Male | INR 53,700 |
Salary Trend Graph
How to Become a Physician Assistant: FAQs
Ques. What is the course cost in the Physician Assistant program in India?
Ans. In India, physician assistant course ranges between INR 10,000 to 4,00,000.
Ques. Can I become a PA after completing a BSc degree?
Ans. You are eligible for the Physician Assistant job after completing a BSc degree, but you also need experience of one year to work as a physician assistant.
Ques. Which course is best for Physician Assistant?
Ans. Some top courses which you can study are- BSc in Physician Assistant or another science subject (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Nurse, Pharmacy, etc.), Diploma in Physician Assistant, MSc in Physician Assistant.
Ques. Do I need to appear for any entrance to study the course?
Ans. Not necessary, because in some medical schools or colleges the admission is based on the marks of HS in Science.
Ques. Can the physician assistant earn a good salary in India?
Ans. Yes. Physician assistants can approx. INR 25,000 at the beginning of their career.
Ques. Is there any demand for physician assistants in the job market in India?
Ans. Yes. The demands are rising for the occupation of a physician assistant.
Ques. What is the high salary a physician assistant can earn in India?
Ans. The highest salary of a physician assistant in India is INR 9.6 to 13.7 lakh every year.
Ques. What is the job I can do after a physician assistant?
Ans. The jobs for the physician assistant students are- Dietician, Medical assistant, Personal health facilitator, Radiologist, Ortho physician assistant, etc.
Ques. Can I become a physician assistant abroad after completing the course in India?
Ans. You can but you need to pursue a higher degree in abroad countries and also need a license to work there. In some countries, you need to take the citizenship of that country in order to practice as a physician assistant in that country.
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