A physician assistant (PA) is a medical professional who provides healthcare services typically carried out by a physician under the supervision of doctors and surgeons. A PA must be both nationally certified and state-licensed.
As a member of a healthcare team, PAs are concerned with preventing and treating human illness and damage by offering a wide spectrum of healthcare. Physician assistants work in a wide range of settings and specialties.
Physicians and highly trained PAs contribute significantly to the education of physician assistants in order to ensure that the patient care activities performed by the physician assistant are of a caliber that is comparable to that of the physician to whom they are delegated.
We will be looking at the best PA schools in Alabama in this article, having previously looked at the 6 best PA schools in Illinois, and the 5 best PA schools in New Jersey.
Why Study In Alabama?
Careers in allied health are growing quickly both in Alabama and the United States. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has recently estimated that 16 of the top 30 fastest-growing professions are in the healthcare industry.
With a national employment change of 37.3%, physician assistant employment is predicted to increase specifically five times faster than the average through 2026.
Over the next 10 years, there are expected to be more than 39,000 additional positions for physician assistants (Pas). Additionally, the median annual wage in 2018 was $108,610, and it is anticipated to rise even further! The figures from Alabama show a similar growth rate (36.7%) for Pas.
PA Scope Of Practice
The range of activities a physician assistant may perform includes but is not restricted to
- Examine or record patient medical histories.
- Make physical examinations.
- Order and decipher diagnostic exams including x-rays and blood tests.
- Identify the condition or sickness of a patient by making a diagnosis.
- Treat patients by immunizing them and setting fractured bones, for instance.
- Prescribing drugs.
- To assure the standard of patient care, research the most recent therapies.
- Surgery assistance.
- Perform therapeutic techniques like casting, suturing, and the excision of small lesions.
Work Settings Of A PA
Physician assistants operate in a variety of contexts, such as:
- Hospitals
- Doctor’s offices
- Acute Care Facilities
- Community health centers in the rural and urban areas
- Care facilities
- Retail clinics
- Facilities in schools and universities
- Industrial Environments
- Institutions for correction
- The uniformed services and other branches of the federal government
PA Specialties
Physician Assistants practice medicine in many specialties including:
- Primary Care
- Surgical Subspecialties
- Internal Medicine Subspecialties
- Emergency Medicine
- Pediatric Subspecialties
The List of Best PA Schools In Alabama
Alabama is a state in the United States with 60 colleges and universities. The largest university in the state is the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. However, these are the best PA schools in Alabama.
Faulkner University PA Program
The goal of the physician assistant program at Faulkner University is to prepare qualified and compassionate medical professionals in a Christian setting to care for the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of people in the neighborhoods where they live and work.
The goal of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies is to become known as one of the top contributors to the healthcare industry by producing great Physician Assistants, cultivating eminent faculty, and giving the local community better access to high-caliber healthcare professionals.
Click here for more information.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission make sure you fulfill the following criteria.
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
- Submission of all transcripts
- Completion of all prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C.
- Minimum CGPA of 3.0
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- 100 minimum direct patient care experience hours
- 40 minimum shadowing hours.
- GRE scores
- Complete CASPA application before December 1st.
- Complete supplemental application.
Tuition: click here to see breakdown.
Samford University PA Program
With a low student-to-faculty ratio in both the classroom and clinical settings, this master’s program in physician assistant studies provides students with a personalized educational experience.
The aim of Samford University’s Department of Physician Assistant Studies, which is rooted in Christian doctrine, is to educate and develop students on both a spiritual and academic level so they can provide kind, sympathetic patient care and community service.
Because of the school’s small class numbers, the faculty will know you by name and the school’s fully integrated curriculum will give you in-depth medical knowledge and abilities that will enable you to be practice-ready for a range of clinical settings.
Click here for more information.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission make sure you fulfill the following criteria.
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
- Submission of all transcripts
- Completion of all prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C.
- Minimum CGPA of 3.0
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- Direct patient care experience hours is encouraged.
- Shadowing hours is encouraged.
- GRE scores
- MCAT scores
- Complete CASPA application before August 1st.
Tuition: $90,150 is estimated cost for entire program.
University of Alabama (UAB) at Birmingham PA Program
In 1967, the UAB School of Physician Assistant Studies was established. It was founded just two years after the PA profession was founded and is currently the second-oldest PA program in the country. The UAB PA program offers in-depth didactic and practical training in surgery, general medicine, and primary care.
The school is one of the few PA programs that includes both a live pig lab for a practical, hands-on experience to reinforce the surgical component of their core curriculum and a cadaveric dissection experience to supplement their anatomy course.
The UAB Hospital system, which is regarded as one of the best medical centers in the United States, offers students in the PA program the chance to study there.
At clinical facilities in and near the Birmingham area, students can also conduct clinical rotations in emergency medicine, primary care, trauma, critical care, and surgery.
Graduates receive a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) degree after completing this 27-month program.
Click here for more information.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission make sure you fulfill the following criteria.
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
- Submission of all transcripts
- Completion of all prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C.
- Minimum CGPA of 3.0
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- Direct patient care experience hours is encouraged.
- Shadowing hours is encouraged.
- GRE scores
- Complete CASPA application before August 1st.
Tuition: click here to see the breakdown.
University of South Alabama PA Program
The Physician Assistant Studies PA program was established in 1996 at the University of South Alabama (USA) in Mobile, Alabama. It is a Master’s degree program for physician assistants and is intended for students who already have a baccalaureate degree in any area of study.
The USA physician assistant program is made to prepare students for a range of clinical practice settings while equipping them with the comprehensive medical knowledge, abilities, and attitudes necessary for clinical practice.
A range of teaching methods, including formal lectures, hands-on lab classes, clinical education, and clinical research, are used to educate students in the physician assistant program for PA practice.
Graduates of the physician assistant program gain technical expertise in fields linked to professional practice as well as enhanced clinical problem-solving skills.
Click here for more information.
Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission make sure you fulfill the following criteria.
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
- Submission of all transcripts
- Completion of all prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C.
- Minimum CGPA of 3.0
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- 100 Direct patient care experience hours.
- Shadowing hours is encouraged.
- GRE scores
- Complete CASPA application before October 1st.
Tuition: $117,362 for residents and $196,496 for non-residents.
FAQs
Does Alabama have a PA school?
You have an option between four institutions in Alabama if you want to acquire your physician assistant degree on campus from a recognized program: Faulkner University, Samford University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of South Alabama.
How do I become a PA in Alabama?
- Meet the requirements for programs training physician assistants.
- Finish a physician assistant program that has been accredited.
- Pass the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners’ Licensure and Registration, and the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE).
Does South Alabama have a PA school?
A Master of Health Science in Physician Assistant (PA) Studies is a professional entry-level degree offered by the University of South Alabama.
Does UAB have PA school?
In 1967, the UAB School of Physician Assistant Studies was established. It was founded just two years after the PA profession was founded and is currently the second-oldest PA program in the country.
The UAB PA program offers in-depth didactic and practical training in surgery, general medicine, and primary care.
Can physician assistants practice independently in Alabama?
- A physician assistant must always have a direct, ongoing, and close supervisory connection with the registered physician to whom the assistant is assigned.
- Physician assistants are not allowed to practice independently or unsupervised.
How long is PA school?
Programs to become a physician assistant might last anywhere from 18 to 36 months. The duration is 27 months on average nationwide.
Because each PA program has a distinct objective and has designed its curriculum accordingly, it is crucial to carefully examine the schools of interest.
Is the University of South Alabama PA program rolling admissions?
It is not a practice at the University of South Alabama to accept students on a rolling basis. Decisions about admission are not made until after the deadline of October 1.
How much is the Samford PA program?
The estimated total cost of the Physician Assistant Studies program at Samford University, including tuition, fees, and other expenses, is $90,150.
How long does it take to hear back from the University of South Alabama?
In general, notification takes five business days. A longer processing time can be anticipated during periods of heavy volume.
Logging into the application portal will also allow you to see your acceptance status. Your student ID number will be provided to you along with your admission letter.
Do PA schools accept international students?
At present, there are more than 240 recognized physician assistant programs at American schools and institutions, 140 of which accept applications from outside the country. Do you have suggestions on the PA schools in Alabama? Please leave your suggestions below.