Last Updated on October 21, 2021 by admin
How To Become A Physician Assistant In Nevada
If you live in the state of Nevada and you have decided to become a physician assistant, then you should know that these health care professionals enjoy one of the highest average annual salaries in this particular state, physician assistants being very sought-after both in the public and in the private settings. That being said, these are trained and highly skilled health care providers who specialize in diagnosing, treating as well as preventing a series of medical conditions, and there are several specific steps every future PA must take in order to pursue a blossoming career in this state. The first step is to do your research and to find the ARC-PA approved physician assistant training programs in the state, to register and to prepare for the PANCE examination, to apply for a licensure in Nevada as soon as you receive your certification and then to renew your Nevada PA license on a constant basis.
Preparing for your licensure is at least as important as preparing for your certification as a physician assistant in Nevada, and it is important to require an acceptable Graduate Record Examination score (also known as the GRE score) and to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Physician Assistant Studies. As you may know already, all physician assistant training programs (not only in Nevada, but all over the United States of America) require you to complete a series of science courses as pre-requisites. This is why all those who want to apply to a PA training program are advised to complete some courses in Biology, Health, Organic Chemistry as well as nursing.
Physician Assistant In Nevada – Job Description
Physician assistants are professional, skilled, licensed and certified health care professionals who offer medical services of the highest quality, and who are part of a larger healthcare team along with physicians and other health care providers. These professionals work and prescribe medications in all 50 states, including the District of Columbia, and their duties and responsibilities are many, ranging from ordering and interpreting laboratory tests, CT scans and x-rays to diagnosing and treating illnesses, conducting physical examinations, taking your medical history, making rounds in nursing homes and hospitals, writing prescriptions, assisting the physician or surgeon in the surgery room, providing counseling to the patient and his family, to write prescriptions and such.
Nonetheless, it is important to say that the exact duties and responsibilities of the physician assistants do vary depending on their level of experience, their amount of training, the setting where they work as well as the state laws which govern their practice. Physician assistants can be found treating patients in a variety of different settings, ranging all the way from correctional institutions, industrial settings, retail clinics, nursing homes and physician offices to rural and urban community health centers, schools, university-based facilities, state hospitals and so forth.
Licensure And Certification Requirements For Physician Assistants In Nevada
The certification and the licensure are at least as important for a physician assistant in Nevada as his or her training – this is why it is important for every future PA to sit for the PANCE examination as soon as they graduate from the ARC-approved physician assistant training program. If they manage to pass this exam, which is administered and sponsored by the NCCPA also known as the National Commission on the Certification of PAs, then they will receive the Physician Assistant-Certified credential, or PA-C.
After gaining their certification, all certified physician assistants must move on and apply or licensure with the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners, where in addition to providing their official diplomas, their school transcripts and their PANCE scores, all physician assistants must also provide at least two letters of recommendation from practicing physicians. After receiving their license and being able to work legally in the United States of America, all physician assistants must renew their licenses every two years, given the fact that they are set to expire after 24 months. The licenses are issued on July the 1st every odd-numbered year, and in order for the PA to renew his or her license they will have to complete a renewal form and submit proof of at least 40 CME credits.
Salary and Career Info
The interactive chart above is a visual representation of the annual salary of Nevada 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 Nevada
There is only one ARC-PA accredited physician assistant training program in Nevada, and that is the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program which is offered by the Touro University Las Vegas.
List of All Accredited PA Programs
As of November 2014, the accrediting agency is ARC-PA and they have 1 fully accredited AL programs.
1. Touro University Las Vegas
Initial Accreditation Date: September 4, 2004
Next ARC-PA Review: March 2015
Website: http://tun.touro.edu/programs/college-of-osteopathic-medicine/physician-assistant-studies/
