Last Updated on October 21, 2021 by admin
How To Become A Physician Assistant In Nebraska
The career path you need to take in order to become a reputable physician assistant in Nebraska is simple and straightforward – every physician assistant program in the state requires you to have a bachelor’s Degree in the field, as well as to complete a Master’s program in Physician Assistant Studies. Both of these degrees must be provided by an ARC-PA reviewed and accredited physician assistant training school, otherwise they may not be recognized. The training program typically lasts for 24 months, and it includes several clinical rotations that last five to six weeks each.
The clinical rotations are extremely valuable for every future physician assistant, as it offers the student an in-depth insight into the profession. The good news is that those who want to increase their chances of being accepted into one of the few accredited PA training programs in Nebraska (where competition is intense) can easily expedite the process by getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology or similar sciences that are adjacent to medicine. If you do not do this, you may need to take some extra hours of pre-requisite laboratory science courses prior to applying to the desired physician assistant training program in Nebraska.
Physician Assistant In Nebraska – Job Description, Duties And Responsibilities
It must be said that the exact role and responsibilities of the physician assistant vary greatly from one clinical setting to another, as well as from one state to another, depending on the state laws which govern their practice. That being said, it is important to mention that physician assistants are not nurses or medical assistants, as this seems to be a very common confusion – these are mid-level health care providers that are more advanced than medical assistants from a clinical and an educational standpoint, yet that are not as advanced as medical doctors or licensed physicians.
That being said, a good physician assistant inspects, diagnoses and treats patients who seek medical attention in a public hospital or a private clinic, they work in medical offices, they can assist a licensed surgeon in the surgery room, they can prescribe medications, therapies and treatments and they usually have more independence and clinical authority than most nurses. Nonetheless, the physician assistant always works under the careful supervision of a licensed and more experienced surgeon or physician, and they often perform minor medical procedures exactly like a physician. These health care professionals can also choose to focus on various medical specialties, ranging all the way from surgery, cardiology and orthopedics to internal medicine and family medicine.
Certification And Licensure Requirements For Physician Assistants In Nebraska
All physician assistants must pursue the nationally recognized certification followed by the state licensure that will allow them to practice their profession safely and legally. Having said that, the first step every physician assistant needs to take after completing an ARC-PA accredited training program is to sit for the PANCE examination, which is administered by the NCCPA, and which aims to measure the knowledge, the skills and the medical comprehension of the student. The PANCE examination is a 300-question, computerized test and there are numerous practice exams that students can take on the official website of NCCPA, if they want to test their current skills and knowledge.
After passing the PANCE certification and receiving their designation of PA-C, these professionals can apply with the Nebraska’s Dept of Health and Human Services for further licensure, and then it is the duty of the certified physician assistant to maintain both their PA license and their certification active, valid and in good standing. The license is set to expire every odd-numbered year, and it is important for these health care professionals to gather a minimum of 50 continuing medical education credits that are approved by the Department of Health and Human Services in order to keep the license active and valid. The certification must also be renewed regularly by sitting for the PANRE examination.
Salary and Career Info
The interactive chart above is a visual representation of the annual salary of Nebraska 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 Programs In Nebraska
If you have decided to become a professional physician assistant, then you should know that there are two formal training institution that offers PA training programs: one of them is the Union College in Lincoln, and the other one is the University of Nebraska in Omaha.
List of All 2 Accredited PA Programs
As of November 2014, the accrediting agency is ARC-PA and they have 2 fully accredited AL programs.
1. Union College
Initial Accreditation Date: October 1, 1997
Next ARC-PA Review: March 2017
Website: https://www.ucollege.edu/pa
2. University Of Nebraska (D)
Initial Accreditation Date: November 1, 1974
Next ARC-PA Review: March 2017