Last Updated on October 21, 2021 by admin
How To Become A Physician Assistant In Kentucky
If you have decided to become a physician assistant in the state of Kentucky, then you should know that you can do that by enrolling in a four-year Bachelor’s Degree training program, then opting for a Master’s of Science degree providing by one of the accredited physician assistant training schools in the state. All the 50 US states have a governing body that regulates the profession of physician assistant, and although the educational requirements may vary, every single state requires its physician assistant to be fully licensed. Having said that, the first step you need to take is to graduate from high school with good grades, and to take some pre-requisite classes in biology, chemistry or math, as these are the fields that will greatly benefit you later on, during the up to six years of studying for a career as a physician assistant.
That being said, the institutions of higher learning that offer PA training programs should be certified by the NCCPA, or the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, as this is the only way to be sure that you receive education of the highest possible level. After being accepted, you will have to attend both the theoretical classroom courses and the practical laboratory classes and to then graduate from the accredited PA training program. After that, you will need to sit for the PANCE examination.
Physician Assistant Job Description
Working as a physician assistant involves a series of duties and responsibilities that every future PA should be well aware of. In a nutshell, it is the duty of the physician assistant to work closely to a licensed doctor or physician, and these professionals might work in one or more areas of medicine, ranging from family medicine, neurology, cardiac surgery or emergency medicine to oncology, gynecology or orthopedics. These professionals cannot old their job as physician assistants unless they are supervised by a doctor, and although the responsibilities of PAs are limited by the individual states, territories and districts where they work, these professionals can diagnose and treat patients, they can prescribe medications and administer drugs and therapies that were previously prescribed by a licensed physician, they can order, perform as well as interpret various lab tests and scans like EKGs or x-rays, they can educate patients and their families about how to cure or manage a specific illness and condition and such.
Moreover, these health care providers also have several notable administrative tasks to complete as well: for instance, they must check, update and maintain the medical records of patients, and they must also take the medical history of each patient when admitted to the hospital. In some cases, particularly in state hospitals, it is also the duty of the physician assistant to monitor the signs and symptoms displayed by each patient, as well as to report any changes to treatment or therapy directly to the licensed doctor, surgeon or physician who is in charge with supervising the professional activity of the physician assistant in question.
Certification For Physician Assistants In Kentucky
If you have decided to work as a physician assistant in the state of Kentucky, then at the end of your formal training program you will have to pursue your licensure and certificaiton. That being said, students must pursue their certification in order to obtain the designation of PA-C, or Physician Assistant-Certified, which will allow them to work legally in the state. For that to happen, they must meet the eligibility requirements, they must submit their application and the fee and then pass the computerized, multiple-choice PANCE examination.
The examination includes analyzing different symptoms, interpreting images of patient photographs or radiographs, identifying the most suitable pharmaceutical dosage for each condition, memorizing different body parts and so forth. It is also important for all applicants to be fingerprinted and photographed, as well as to agree to a thorough background criminal and financial investigation. If the applicant meets all these requirements and passes the PANCE examination, then he will be awarded the certification. After receiving the certification, physician assistants-certified must maintain it through at least one hundred hours of continuing medical education credits, every 24 months. Also, they will have to sit the Physician Assistant National Recertifying Examination or the PANRE.
Salary and Career Info
The interactive chart above is a visual representation of the annual salary of Kentucky PA’s compared to the national annual salaries, all based on the latest May 2022 Occupational Employment Statistics figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Physician Assistant Schools In Kentucky
There are several notable physician assistant training schools in Kentucky to which you can submit your application, if you have decided to pursue a blossoming career in this field. One of them is the Sullivan University located in Louisville, which requires a TOEFL for all the non-native English speakers. Another notable training institution that offers high-quality PA training programs is the University of Kentucky in Lexington, followed by the University of Cumberlands in Williamsburg.
List of All 3 Accredited PA Programs
As of November 2014, the accrediting agency is ARC-PA and they have 3 fully accredited AL programs.
1. University of the Cumberlands (Provisional)
Initial Accreditation Date: September 6, 2014
Next ARC-PA Review: TBA
Website: http://gradweb.ucumberlands.edu/medicine/mpas/overview
2. Sullivan University (Provisional)
Initial Accreditation Date: March 7, 2014
Next ARC-PA Review: September 2016
Website: http://www.sullivan.edu/project/master-of-science-in-physician-assistant/
3. University of Kentucky
Initial Accreditation Date: November 1, 1974
Next ARC-PA Review: March 2017
Website: http://www.mc.uky.edu/pa/
