Last Updated on October 21, 2021 by admin
How To Become A Physician Assistant In Oregon?
The first thing you need to know about becoming a physician assistant in Oregon is that this can turn out to be a very lucrative and financially rewarding career – one that just about anybody can pursue within only five years or even less. Having said that, the first thing you will need and that will also serve as the foundation for your career as a physician assistant in the health care environment is a bachelor’s or at least an associate’s degree provided by an ARC-PA accredited physician assistant training program in the state of Oregon. Once you receive basic training that will allow you to get at least an entry-level position in the medical industry, you will be left with two options: you can either choose to take your PA training a mile further by enrolling in a Master’s degree provided by one of the 150+ accredited programs, followed by the CAQ or the specialization, or you can choose to stick to the regular PANCE examination followed by the state licensure. Most physician assistants who work in Oregon currently hold a Master’s degree in the field, given the fact that this not only helps them secure their job, but it can also increase their median yearly pay.
Your PA education should begin in high school, as it is highly recommended to study in-depth physics, math, biology and chemistry, as these are some of the most important course topics that you will have to deal with throughout the course of your formal training which, as mentioned above, can take anywhere between three and five years, or even more. Some courses in life sciences as well as psychology may also come in handy, and so do courses in pathology, human anatomy, microbiology and biochemistry, as they will significantly increase your chances of being admitted to an ARC-PA approved physician assistant training program, where competition is intense.
Physician Assistants In Oregon – Job Description
When it comes to the job requirements and duties of physician assistants who live and work in Oregon, it must be said that these health care professionals are located right at the intersection of two other important medical careers: nurses and physicians. Otherwise stated, a physician assistant has more freedom and independence in terms of decision making, but he or she will still need to develop a collaborative and mutually beneficial professional relationship with the supervising licensed physician, as physician assistants are not allowed to work independently, without supervision. That being said, physician assistants can order and interpret blood tests and laboratory tests, they can administer injections and immunizations when needed, they can treat sprains, strains and minor wounds, they can assist the physician or surgeon in the operating room, they can perform basic and minor medical procedures and in most cases they are also allowed to prescribe treatments, therapies and medications in order to treat some of the most common conditions patients encounter with nowadays.
Today’s physician assistants are very appreciated in any clinical setting – they can be found in primary care settings where they can choose to specialize in medical fields like geriatrics, pediatrics, orthopedics or family medicine, they can work in hospitals, private clinics, nursing homes, military facilities or even prisons, and in some cases it is not uncommon for physician assistants to also make house calls whenever needed.
Physician Assistant Certification Requirements In Oregon
Certification is an aspect of utmost importance in the life and the medical career of every physician assistant, as these health care professionals are not allowed to practice without one. Fortunately, the certification process is relatively simple and straightforward, as these professionals need to sit for the NCCPA-administered PANCE examination, then to apply for state licensure and then to complete the 100 required CME credits every couple of years in order to maintain their certification option. The physician assistant certification is set to expire on a constant basis, this is why these health care providers need to sit for a recertification every six years.
Salary and Career Info
The interactive chart above is a visual representation of the annual salary of Oregon 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 Oregon
At the time being, there are only two ARC-PA accredited physician assistant training programs that offer high-quality training in the state of Oregon – the first one is the Oregon Health and Science University which is located in the city of Portland, while the second university is the Pacific University located in Hillsboro.
List of All 2 Accredited PA Programs
The accrediting agency is ARC-PA and they have 2 fully accredited AL programs listed as of November 2014.
1. Oregon Health & Science University
Initial Accreditation Date: October 1, 1996
Next ARC-PA Review: September 2015
2. Pacific University
Initial Accreditation Date: October 1, 1997
Next ARC-PA Review: September 2017