As a medical assistant, one of your responsibilities will be to help doctors in hospitals with their duties and tasks. Your medical knowledge will grow as a result of this fulfilling employment. So, it’s a career you should think about.
So if you are considering a career as a physician assistant, this article contains all the information you need regarding PA programs in Washington, DC.
If you reside in Washington and wish to pursue a career as a physician assistant, the following article is just designed for you.
This post will reveal the Washington, DC, colleges where you can receive your training and find the greatest PA programs.
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Are There PA Schools In Washington?
Yes, there are a few Physician Assistant schools in Washington; these schools are:
- Shenandoah University
- University of Lynchburg
- James Madison University
- Eastern Virginia Medical School
- Howard University
- Heritage University
- George Washington University
- University of Washington Medicine
- University of Washington Northwest MEDEX
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How Do I Get Into PA Schools In Washington?
To be considered for admission into any PA program, you must fulfill the standards listed below.
Obtaining a high school diploma and a solid background in the sciences, such as biology, chemistry, physics, English, etc., is the first step to becoming a medical assistant.
Completing a bachelor’s degree from an authorized college or university is a requirement for almost all US institutions. One of the requirements for enrollment in an accredited PA program is this degree requirement.
Some institutions demand a GRE and GPA, while others don’t care.
In order to become a physician assistant, you must also finish a master’s degree accredited by the ARC-PA. One prerequisite to enjoying yourself as a physician assistant is to fulfill this one.
You must pass the PANCE to get certified as a physician assistant after completing a PA program, after which you must apply for state licensing to start practicing.
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How Long Are Physician Assistant Schools In Washington?
Approximately 27 months are spent in a PA program, according to the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).
But it can take as little as two years or as long as four years or longer to finish any given degree. Current PAs without a master’s degree may finish bridge programs faster.
Can Physician Assistants Practice Independently in Washington?
Beginning on July 1, 2021, a new practice agreement procedure will take the place of the current delegation agreement procedure between doctors and medical assistants.
Beginning on July 1, 2021, physician assistants can work in remote locations without requesting permission from the Washington Medical Commission.
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What are the Best Physician Assistant Schools in Washington?
Heritage University
A Master of Science in Physician Assistant (MSPA) degree is offered through the 24-month active Heritage University Physician Assistant program.
The faculty-to-student ratio for the PA program is roughly 1:8, keeping with Heritage’s heritage of small class numbers and knowledgeable instructors. Each year, we provide 32 places for each class.
Our professors’ expertise and passion for developing skilled doctors for underserved or rural populations is one of our greatest assets.Â
The combined faculty has more than 40 years of experience in medical education.
The first 12 months of the PA program’s classes are held on the Toppenish, Washington, campus of Heritage University.
The curriculum is organized around organs and systems, and each module integrates basic sciences with clinically relevant disciplines. The program strongly emphasizes cultural sensitivity, professional ethics, health promotion, and illness prevention.Â
The class schedule is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, with sporadic workshops on Saturdays.
George Washington University
George Washington University is one of Washington, DC’s leading universities offering PA programs. For students wishing to become physician assistants, the school has, over the years, offered rigorous instruction.
US News has recognized the GW PA program as the fifth-best PA program in the country. This award results from the excellent curriculum and distinctive community service that exposes students to the health care and social services available in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.
One of Washington’s most challenging PA programs is offered by the university to students, typically lasting two to three years.
The student will have experience in the following fields by the time the program is complete: inpatient medicine, ambulatory care medicine, surgery, pediatrics, women’s health, emergency medicine, behavioral medicine, and an elective that combines all prior academic and clinical training.
Howard University
The Howard University Physician Assistant Program’s purpose is to find and train caring, capable physician assistants with a background in clinical decision-making, research, and problem-solving so they may improve public health and advance their field locally, nationally, and internationally.
Within the framework of responsible and ethical behavior, the program encourages critical thinking, self-inquiry, active learning, and service.
Additionally, the program offers students with strong intellectual potential a unique educational experience, with a special emphasis on giving talented kids access to educational possibilities.
Black students and other minorities of various ethnicities.
Additionally, the Program is devoted to attracting and retaining a group of professors that, via their research and teaching, are dedicated to the advancement of healthcare professionals and the search for strategies to deliver high-quality healthcare both domestically and internationally.
University of Washington Medicine
The UWMC Cardiovascular Advanced Practice (CV APP) Fellowship trains postgraduate APPs (Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners) in using evidence-based practice and developing specialized skills for providing care to patients with chronic and acute illnesses throughout the continuum of cardiovascular specialty and subspecialty areas.
The newly licensed APPs will gain in-depth cardiovascular knowledge, advanced skills, and mentorship through the UWMC CV APP Fellowship, a rigorous, highly structured, comprehensive program that will prepare them to provide safe, high-quality care that complies with practice standards at a quaternary medical center.
The Fellowship is intended for recently licensed graduates who are self-driven, enthusiastic, talented, and knowledgeable, excelled in their APP training, and now seek to advance those talents at a high-acuity medical center.
The Fellowship consists of a year-long practice-based learning experience and didactic exercises to advance cardiovascular care professionals.
Tuesday, November 1, 2022, marks the start of the 2022/2023 CV APP Fellowship, which will end on Friday, October 27, 2023. Candidates must plan on finishing their national certification exams by August 31, 2022, given the credentialing and licensing procedures.
Eastern Virginia Medical School
The EVMS Physician Assistant program aims to train students in the medical arts and sciences in a welcoming, multicultural environment that is committed to providing patient-centered care, while also fostering a strong commitment to clinical and community partnerships.
This will enable students to provide healthcare in a variety of medical settings.
The primary objectives of the PA program are to train graduates to deliver high-quality healthcare and to develop them as skilled leaders in situations involving clinical, research, and community involvement.
The following objectives and performance indicators show that the program’s mission has been successfully accomplished:
James Madison University
This PA program is one of the smaller ones, only taking one class of no more than 32 students each year. This small size gives professors plenty of chances to interact closely with students and gives students a lot of access to the faculty.
In Virginia’s Harrisonburg, the university is situated. A little over 50,000 people live in the charming Shenandoah Valley hamlet of Harrisonburg. JMU has roughly 20,000 students enrolled.
PAs fill positions in a variety of medical settings and specialties. Students with a wide range of interests, backgrounds, and skills are welcome here.
The school’s goal is for graduates to combine their passions and backgrounds with their PA education and go on to work in a variety of roles, helping people from all backgrounds with diverse healthcare, needs, and expectations.
University of Lynchburg
The University of Lynchburg School of PA Medicine supports important commitments that will help the department accomplish its goals and deliver results at the program level. All PA graduates are expected to succeed in this degree and find rewarding careers both domestically and abroad.
The University of Lynchburg School of PA Medicine’s goal is to train PAs to be kind healthcare professionals with a focus on patient-centered care, teamwork, and communication.
The innovative, interdisciplinary advanced curriculum will promote the greatest level of patient care while also developing leaders in the medical field, in local and international communities, and in the profession as a whole.
The University of Lynchburg School of PA Medicine’s goal is to train PAs to be kind healthcare professionals with a focus on patient-centered care, teamwork, and communication.
Shenandoah University
The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Shenandoah University is a thorough graduate entry-level professional program that equips you to work in primary care.
The curriculum places a strong emphasis on providing care to medically underserved groups and using a team approach to do so.
Working alongside doctors to satisfy the needs of society’s patients, you’ll be an essential component of the healthcare team as a physician assistant.
You’ll work in all medical specializations, treating patients’ ailments and wounds while also instructing them on good health and disease avoidance.
You’ll make decisions independently and offer a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic services.
Although the primary focus of physician assistant practice is patient care, there may be chances to work in clinical, educational, research, and administrative capacities on the national and international levels.
University of Washington Northwest MEDEX
MEDEX Northwest, which serves the states of Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho, is a division of the University of Washington School of Medicine (the WWAMI medical education region).
Additionally, MEDEX has a campus in Hawaii and a contract with the state of Nevada. MEDEX, one of the country’s first physician assistant (PA) schools, has a history of enlisting, preparing, and deploying second-career students with a focus on primary care dating back more than 40 years.
Since 1968, when MEDEX Primary Care Training received its first federal demonstration grant, the program’s objective has been to increase access to high-quality healthcare by preparing midlevel second-career clinicians to engage in primary care.
The University of Washington’s MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant program has received accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
Graduates of accredited institutions are eligible to take the national PA board exam administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
What Are The Easiest Washington Physician Assistant Schools To Get Into?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of physician assistants (PA) is anticipated to grow by 37% over the following ten (10) years (BLS).
The result will be the emergence of physician assistants (PA), one of the medical specialties with the fastest anticipated development.
At most colleges, admission rates have decreased as a result of the practice of selecting just a few tens or hundreds of candidates from a pool of thousands.
This results from the increase in candidates looking for positions as PA assistants. The majority of universities similarly severely restrict their GPA criteria to help in the selection of the best applicants. There will undoubtedly be a struggle for dominance.
The easiest PA schools in Washington to get into are:
- Shenandoah University
- University of Lynchburg
- James Madison University
- Eastern Virginia Medical School
- Howard University
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How Much Does A Physician Assistant Make In Washington?
As of July 26, 2022, the average Physician Assistant – Medical pay in Washington is $121,087. However, the range frequently ranges from $111,460 to $133,502.Â
Salary ranges might vary significantly based on the city and several other crucial aspects, such as schooling, certifications, supplementary talents, and the length of time you’ve worked in a given field.
What are the Best Physician Assistant Programs in Washington?
You have three options if you want to enroll in a university in Washington and get the top medical assistant degree on campus from a recognized school.
As a result, there are fewer options, but those seeking more options can also look into certified online programs that can be finished while a state resident.
- Heritage University Physician Assistant Program
- George Washington University Physician Assistant Program
- University of Washington Northwest MEDEX Physician Assistant Program
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What are the PA Schools in Washington That Don’t Require Gre?
Most students who want to become physician assistants have made the GRE their worst nightmare. This is a result of how difficult the exam is.
Only one institution in all of Washington does not need you to write or present the GRE if you want to be a physician assistant but do not want to take the test.
Howard University is the only university and reportedly the only PA school in Washington, DC that does not require a GRE if you do not want to take one before applying to the program.
Are there Physician Assistant Master’s Programs in Washington?
YES
There are master’s programs for medical assistants in Washington.
The Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree, a graduate program with a coursework component, was created to educate generalist healthcare professionals to sit the Manitoba physician assistant licensing exam.
PA colleges that provide the PA Master’s program are listed below.
- Howard University
- Heritage University
- George Washington University
- University of Washington Medicine
- University of Washington Northwest MEDEX
Are there Online Physician Assistant Courses in Washington for International Students?
Online physician assistant programs allow you to attend lectures from your living room, office, or any other suitable learning space. You can save time by reducing commutes because you can learn from anywhere.Â
Depending on the online program you select, you can have additional layers of flexibility built in, such as the opportunity to finish a class whenever it’s convenient for you.
Even though self-paced learning does not allow you to participate in class discussions or have a traditional classroom experience, it does allow even the busiest students to fit a degree into their schedules.
The PA schools that offer online courses are:
- Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- Pace University
- Touro College
- University of Nebraska – Medical Center
- University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley
- University of Wisconsin
What are the Cheapest Physician Assistant Schools in Washington?
The state where the PA program is housed charges between $75,000 and $80,000 on average for tuition to physician assistant schools. Tuition and fee prices rose by over 9% last year.
Physician assistant training will save you significantly more money—on average, roughly $95,000—if you don’t live in the state where the school is located.
The most affordable PA programs in Washington are shown below.
- Shenandoah University
- University of Lynchburg
- James Madison University
- Eastern Virginia Medical School
- Howard University
What are the Accredited PA Programs In Washington?
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant is in charge of establishing standards for PA education and overseeing institutions to ensure they follow those standards (ARC-PA).
The ARC-PA is dedicated to protecting the general public’s legal rights and current and future PA students. It is the sole body in the US that certifies physician assistant graduate schools.
Here are some accredited PA schools:
- Heritage University
- George Washington University
- University of Washington Medicine
- University of Washington Northwest MEDEX
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How To Become A Physician Assistant In Washington?
The following instructions on how to become a physician assistant in Washington are available to current or previous students who are thinking about a career in the field:
Step 1: Research Physician Assistant Programs in Washington for Licensure
There are two crucial factors to consider while looking at Washington physician assistant programs for licensure: admission standards and accreditation. Students must complete a PA program in Washington that has received accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
Step 2: Obtain NCCPA Certification
The Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam, which all aspiring PAs in Washington are required to pass, is administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) (PANCE). The primary organ systems of the body are examined, along with the illnesses that may be present in each of them. It has 300 multiple-choice questions that must be answered within five hours. Starting 90 days before their PA degree program ends, students can sign up for the PANCE for a $475 fee. A student can obtain the NCCPA designation of “Physician Assistant-Certified” by
bypassing the PANCE (PA-C). Online resources include practice tests and the closest testing facility.
Step 3: Application to the Washington Department of Health
After confirming the application satisfies the requirements and is complete, the Washington Department of Health and the Medical Quality Assurance Commission (MAC) is in charge of granting a PA License.
Step 4: Renew your Washington, Pennsylvania, driver’s license
Online or paper renewal applications are accepted for PA licenses, which have a two-year cycle for renewal. With a minimum of 40 of the required 100 hours of continuing medical education (CME) at the Category I level, a $202 renewal fee must be paid. To satisfy the state’s CME requirement, PAs must maintain their NCCPA accreditation. PAs can join a professional organization like the Washington Academy of Physician Assistants to learn about CME credits, network with peers, or remain updated with the most recent professional news (WAPA).
Physician Assistant Certification Council of Washington.
NetCE is jointly recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) in support of enhancing patient care.
NetCE is permitted to grant Category 1 CME Credit to physician assistants who have obtained certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants as a jointly accredited provider (NCCPA).
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Conclusion
Being a physician assistant is an extremely rigorous yet rewarding professional path. You’ll have plenty of time to finish your training at school. Without any healthcare training, it takes roughly 6 years and more than 9 years.
But is all the worry worth it? I believe it is worth every bit of difficulty and more! A $104,509 average annual pay is enormous and encouraging that more will follow.Â
You will also get to collaborate with experts in your chosen field.Â
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is PA school in Washington state?
Approximately 27 months
PA programs are approximately 27 months, according to the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).
Can a PA practice independently in Washington state?
Physician assistants may practice in any area of medicine or surgery as long as the practice is not beyond the supervising physician’s own scope of expertise and clinical practice and the practice agreement.
How much does PA school cost in Washington state?
Tuition for the bachelor’s is $6,280.50 per quarter for a total of 8 quarters plus additional fees. Tuition for the master’s is $7,588.33 per quarter for a total of 9 quarters plus additional fees. All prerequisites must be completed by the application deadline, Oct.
References
