Is a Master of Physician Assistant Studies Right for You?

Key Takeaways

• Physician assistants (PAs) are licensed clinicians who examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the supervision of a physician.¹
• The profession is expected to grow 20% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.²
• PAs tend to be collaborative, adaptable, motivated lifelong learners.
• A Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) is the required credential to enter the profession.
• Chamberlain University’s MPAS program can be completed in as few as two years at campuses in Chicago, Phoenix, or Richmond, California.

If you are drawn to medicine, enjoy working closely with patients, and want to make a real difference in people’s health, a career as a physician assistant may be exactly what you are looking for. Rather than spending seven or more years in medical school and residency training to become a doctor, you could earn a Master of Physician Assistant Studies in as little as two years and start working toward a clinical career.

But is becoming a physician assistant the right choice for you? This article breaks down what physician assistants do, the personal qualities that tend to make someone successful in the role, and how the right PA program can prepare you to enter the field with confidence.

What Is a Physician Assistant?

A physician assistant (PA)—also sometimes referred to as a physician associate—is a licensed clinician who practices medicine as part of a collaborative healthcare team. Working under the supervision of a physician, PAs are trained to:¹

• Examine patients 
• Diagnose illnesses 
• Develop and implement treatment plans 
• Order and interpret diagnostic tests
• Prescribe medications 
• Counsel patients on their health

The scope of a PA’s role is broad. Physician assistants work across virtually every area of medicine: surgery, primary care, emergency medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, dermatology, and more. 

One of the most distinctive features of the profession is its flexibility. Because they are trained as generalists, PAs can move between specialties throughout their careers. According to the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), half of all board-certified PAs have switched specialties at least once, and nearly 31% have changed specialties two or more times during their careers.³

You may be wondering about the difference between a physician and a physician’s assistant. While PAs and physicians share many responsibilities, these are two different roles with two different educational paths. 

Physicians complete medical school, residency, and often fellowship training, all of which typically takes seven or more years beyond a bachelor’s degree. PAs earn a graduate-level degree, generally in about two to three years, and practice in a team-based model with physician oversight. Physicians and PAs both play essential and complementary roles in patient care.

What Does a Physician Assistant Do Day to Day?

The daily responsibilities of a PA vary by setting, but a typical workday might include:¹

• Conducting complete physical exams and recording detailed patient histories
• Ordering, performing, and interpreting diagnostic tests
• Applying principles of clinical diagnostics to identify illness and injury
• Diagnosing acute and chronic conditions using pathophysiology knowledge
• Prescribing medications informed by clinical pharmacology
• Assisting in surgical procedures, including first-assisting in the operating room, suturing, and performing procedures such as chest tube insertions and central line placements
• Educating and counseling patients and their families on treatment options, lifestyle changes, and ongoing care
• Collaborating with physicians, nurses, specialists, and other members of the healthcare team

That variety is part of what makes clinical practice so appealing to many physician assistants. No two days are exactly alike, and the work is intellectually demanding in a way that keeps practitioners engaged throughout their careers.

Is a PA Career Right for You? Six Qualities to Consider

What does it take to be a physician assistant? Thriving in this role tends to come down to certain personal qualities and professional values. If the following traits describe you, PA medicine may be an ideal fit.

1. You are motivated by science and lifelong learning.
   PA training is academically rigorous. You will study pathophysiology, clinical pharmacology, clinical diagnostics, anatomy, and more. 
   If you enjoy understanding how the body works and how illness disrupts those systems, you will find that curiosity is one of your greatest professional assets. Medicine evolves constantly, so PAs who embrace continued learning tend to flourish.
2. You want to make a meaningful impact through patient care.
   PAs are not on the periphery of patient care; they are central to it. If you want to be the provider who examines a patient, makes a diagnosis, and develops a treatment plan, this role puts you in exactly that position. Every shift, a PA has the opportunity to directly affect someone’s health outcome, whether that means catching a serious condition early, managing a chronic disease, or helping a patient understand their treatment options.
3. You value collaboration over working in isolation.
   Physician assistants work within integrated healthcare teams. If you are energized by collaboration, such as sharing information with physicians, consulting with specialists, coordinating with nurses, the team-based model of PA medicine will feel natural. The PA profession was built on the principle that better outcomes come from working together.
4. You are adaptable and drawn to variety.
   Because PAs can work across specialties, the profession attracts people who like variety and do not want to feel locked into a single path. Whether your interests lean toward emergency medicine, behavioral health, surgery, or family practice, a PA credential can open doors across many healthcare fields. However, if you do develop a passion for a specialty, you can immerse yourself in it as a physician assistant.
5. You have strong communication and empathy skills.
   A significant part of a PA’s role involves translating complex medical information in ways that patients and families can understand and act on. Empathy, patience, and clear communication are as important as clinical knowledge. If your friends and colleagues would describe you as a good listener who puts people at ease, those skills will serve you and your patients well.
6. You are ready to commit to graduate-level study. 
   Becoming a physician assistant requires completing a graduate-level program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), followed by passing the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). Physician assistant schooling is intensive by design. It has to be, because graduates are expected to step into high-responsibility clinical roles. 
   If you have the discipline and motivation to see a demanding program through, the investment can pay off in a career with real depth and purpose.

A Profession With Strong and Growing Demand

The healthcare workforce is changing, and physician assistants are playing a growing role in meeting patient needs across the country. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physician assistants is projected to grow 20% from 2024 to 2034—much faster than the average for all occupations—with approximately 12,000 openings anticipated each year during that period.²

Much of this demand is tied to an aging population, the increasing prevalence of chronic disease, and a growing recognition that team-based care models, where PAs work alongside physicians, are effective and efficient ways to deliver high-quality healthcare. PAs are especially vital in underserved communities and rural areas where access to physicians may be limited.

Career satisfaction in the profession is notably high as well. A 2024 report from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) found that 87.1% of PAs reported being satisfied with their career choice, and 83.6% expressed satisfaction with their current position.⁴

Chamberlain University’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program

If you’re ready to explore physician assistant schools, Chamberlain University offers a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program designed to prepare students for practice in as few as two years.

Where You Can Study

Chamberlain’s MPAS program is offered at three campus locations: Chicago, Phoenix, and our newest location in Richmond, California, which will have its first class start in September 2027. Each campus provides dedicated physician assistant examination rooms, simulation labs, and engaged faculty who teach through a combination of in-class instruction, case-based learning, and skills training.

Hands-on Simulation Training

Chamberlain’s SIMCARE CENTER™ gives students the opportunity to practice medical procedures in replicated hospital and clinical environments before ever setting foot in a real patient care setting. Students can hone physical exam skills, practice suturing, use ultrasound imaging, and work through complex clinical scenarios using advanced simulators and a Sectra anatomy table. This kind of experiential learning helps build competency and confidence.

Diverse Clinical Experiences in Your Second Year

During the second year of the program, students rotate through ten specialty areas, gaining hands-on experience across a broad range of patient populations and practice settings, including rural, urban, specialized, and underserved communities. Chamberlain takes care of securing these clinical placements through its established network of healthcare partners, connecting students with experienced preceptors who guide them through real-world clinical practice.

Preparation for the PANCE

The program is structured to prepare graduates for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), the national certification exam required to practice as a physician assistant. Success on the PANCE is the final step in becoming credentialed and entering the profession.

What You Need to Apply

To apply to Chamberlain’s MPAS program, students need a bachelor’s degree in any major along with completion of prerequisite science courses. Students may apply to all three locations or one Chamberlain campus. The Richmond, California, campus will have its first class start in September 2027.

The Chamberlain Difference

With more than 135 years of history preparing healthcare professionals, and a community of more than 185,000 students, faculty, and alumni[LC5.1], Chamberlain brings deep experience to health professions education. The university’s guiding philosophy, Chamberlain Care®, reflects a genuine commitment to student success, accessible healthcare education, and preparing graduates who are equipped to make a difference in their communities.

Take the Next Step

If you are ready to explore what a career as a physician assistant could look like for you, learn more about Chamberlain’s MPAS program and request information to connect with an Enrollment Representative.

Chamberlain University, an HLC-accredited institution, offers bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and certificate programs in nursing and healthcare professions. With a growing network of campuses and robust online programs, Chamberlain continues to build on more than 135 years of excellence in preparing extraordinary healthcare professionals.

¹Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-2 
²Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm 
³Source: www.nccpa.net/pas-have-flexibility-to-change-specialties
⁴Source: www.nccpa.net/2024-statistical-profile-of-board-certified-pas-report