A physician assistant (PA) is a health care professional licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and write prescriptions. Within the physician-PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. A PA's practice may also include education, research, and administrative services.
Physician Assistants that are certified have obtained this title by passing an exam developed by the National Board of Medical Examiners and the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). PAs repeat this exam every six years to ensure competency.
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