Last Updated on October 21, 2021 by admin
How To Become A Physician Assistant In The State Of North Dakota
North Dakota, just like all the other 49 states, is in need of skilled and highly trained physician assistants who can take some of the high amount of workload physicians typically have to deal with in the health care setting. That being said, it is important to say that if you plan to pursue a career in the medical field, you should know that the physician assistant career currently ranks as one of the fastest growing professions as well as one of the most promising ones at the moment. The steps you need to take to become a PA in North Dakota and to enjoy a median yearly salary of around $85,000 a year in this state are as follow: firstly, you must obtain all the necessary pre-requisites and clinical experience that most PA training schools require for admission. This is a highly competitive environment, which is perfectly understandable given the high payment – secondly, it is important to graduate from the PA training program, which can take between two and four years of study, and to qualify for the PANCE examination that is administered by the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants. After passing the certification examination, you will have to apply for licensure and to maintain it active all throughout your career.
Having said that, if you have already passed the GRE at the end of high school and you already have some practical hands-on experience in the health care industry (experience which can be easily achieved by working as a nurse or an EMT), you can apply for a bachelor’s degree where you will need to fulfill PA pre-requisite courses in the following course topics: medical assistant, nursing, public health and pre-medicine.
Physician Assistant Job Description
There are several different aspects that govern the profession of physician assistant and all its adjacent duties and responsibilities. First and foremost, it must be said that these professionals typically work in state hospitals or private physician’s offices, under the supervision of a licensed physician. Given the fact that they are a very important part of the medical team, both the physician and the other health care professionals rely on the physician assistant to perform a series of duties, from administering injections and immunizations or performing tests like x-rays, ultrasounds and electrocardiograms to performing house calls when needed, visit the patient before and after the surgeon, refer the most serious cases to medical specialists, to clean and suture wounds, to manage infections, small strains and sprains, to manage allergies and hypertension as well as other basic medical issues that typically do not pose any risk to the patient’s life. As it happens in most US stated, physician assistants who work in the state of North Dakota are allowed to order tests, to prescribe medications, treatments and therapies that will cure the patient’s illness.
Depending on the work environment, in some cases the physician assistant may also have to perform a series of managerial and administrative duties as well – they will have to book appointments, to update the patient records, to take their medical histories, to maintain the clinic and also to counsel patients and their families on different patient management plans, therapies or treatments.
Certification Options For Physician Assistants In North Dakota
It is an aspect of vital importance that all physician assistants in North Dakota apply for certification and state licensure as soon as they graduated from the ARC-PA approved physician assistant training program. The PANCE examination, as stated earlier, is administered by the NCCPA: in order to qualify, the future PA must submit proof of education, must pay an exam fee and must also sit for the final examination, which is basically a comprehensive and in-depth evaluation of the student’s knowledge regarding the major organ systems and the overall human body. If the student passes the test, he or she will receive the certification, which is valid for a limited period of six years – once that period elapses, the student will need to re-sit for the examination – this time, the PA must take the PANRE exam administered also by the NCCPA.
Salary and Career Info
The interactive chart above is a visual representation of the annual salary of North Dakota 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 North Dakota
Currently, there is only one ARC-PA approved physician assistant training program which is offered by the University of North Dakota, located in the city of Grand Forks.
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. University of North Dakota
Initial Accreditation Date: December 1, 1974
Next ARC-PA Review: September 2016